Michael Vassili

Litigation - Court work

 

Comparing hourly rates for lawyers is like comparing apples with oranges. What one experienced lawyer may do in an hour may take another much more time. You should be more concerned with the range estimates which a lawyer provides as that is a better indicator of costs in litigation. Listen carefully to the strategy and solutions  a lawyer provides at your conference and judge the real value in the people you are engaging. If a case is conducted properly the rewards should outweight the fees and, indeed, fees may be recoverable from costs orders (even in criminal matters) if the matter is conducted properly (depending on the circumstances of each case). Also see if your lawyer will appear for you or want to "Brief" the matter. Often Briefing a matter is almost like jumping into a Cab only to find that the Cab driver rings someone else to drive the Car. If that happened in a Cab you would be alarmed, yet this often happens in legal matters.

 

We charge different rates for our Principal to that or our other solicitors. We do not hide our fees or "buy your work" with "cheap" rates. We are up front. Our fees are not cheap.

 

Our Principal is charged at $660 per hour / $3,800 per half day and $4,800 per day (including GST). While those rates are not the "cheapest" our Principal has appeared as advocate for decades in Courts of Record including the Supreme Courts throughout Australia and the High Court of Australia as a Trial Advocate in contested complex matters.

 

Our Senior Associates to the Principal who also conduct contested hearings in Superior Courts of Record throughout Australia as Trial Advocates are charged at $440 per hour / $2400 per half day / $3,300 per full day (including GST). These lawyers work in conjunction with our Principal in a "Team Litigation" model to conduct your matter to a very high standard.

 

Our Associates work with our Senior Associates as often the "backbone" to preparation and appearance work in your matter. They provide key day to day litigation and legal support in matters. Our Associates are charged at $380 per hour / $1,800 per half day / $2,800 per full day (Including GST). These lawyers all have advocacy experience including defended hearings and appearances on appeal in Superior Courts of Record, so while they are billed at a lower rate they are often more experienced and knowledgable than many Junior Lawyers around town who simply brief appearances. These Associates not only can "talk the talk" but they also can and do  "walk the walk" when it comes to litigation.

 

We have an out of hours "Flag Fall" (That is, a flat fee plus our hourly rate therafter) in, for example, criminal custody matters, is charged at $1,500 per call out (outside 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday).

 

 

We are not "Cheap" but our results allow us to brag that we are extremely good value. In a recent Family Law Property matter, for example we achieved an 85% award to the Wife. In another we achieved 75%. In both of those cases we achieved those results through thorough preparation and a very sound litigation strategy based upon our decades of expeience. "Cheap" approaches to litigation rarely provides returns - it sounds good up front but invariably leads to poor outcomes which cost you in the end.

 

Even in criminal matters we always seek costs when they are available and we have a solid strike rate on those applications.

 

In simple terms we sell our time and expertise. We value our time and expertise and charge for it in working to achieve excellent outcomes for clients. That is why around 90% of our client base is referral.

 

"Cheap" approaches to litigation, also often do not encourage early settlement. We work extremely hard to save you cost by early settled outcomes. Any lawyer, working hard for you and adopting a proper approach will be seeking to avoid a litigated outcome and we work tirelessly to do so. However, we approach all cases with an aggressive "win" strategy which often encourages a settlement and if not settled a win.

 

However, we are always willing to disuss capped and flat fee arrangements and carry costs of proceedings in certain matters. Again, be careful o fcomparing other "flat fee" costs quotes because you generally get exactly what you pay for and sometimes, sadly, less than you pay for. You want a result focus on litigation and not a cost only focus as often the two approaches do not co-exist.

 

Don't be fooled by comparing apples with oranges with legal fees, come and speak to us (no charge) and determine for yourself the difference. If you are not convinced we are all we say we are, then there is no cost to you for that time. We are sure you will determine the value we bring to your matter with knowledge, expertise and sheer enthusiasm in representing clients from the first time we meet.