1. Fees

The fees cover the services and duties carried out by the lawyer or their office. The lawyer reserves the right to involve one or more lawyers, (internal/external) colleagues or associates, who will act under the lawyer’s responsibility.

The fees cover all of the lawyer’s intellectual services, such as, for example, exchange of correspondence, drafting procedural documents (summons, applications, submissions, agreements etc.), drawing up agreements, meetings for negotiations, interviews both with the client and with third parties (opponents, notaries, experts etc.), both at the office and elsewhere, as well as telephone interviews, research of the legal literature and case law, consultations etc. The fees also cover travel and waiting times in the courtroom and at meetings outside the office etc.

The fees are charged to the client at the hourly rate of €150 excluding VAT, i.e. €181.50 including VAT of 21 % both for the dominus litis and for colleagues or associates, this rate being deemed to be an average rate. A weighting of 1.5 applies for all extremely urgent duties carried out. The rate is index-linked on 1 January of each year based on the consumer price index for the previous December, the base index being that of December 2016.

Furthermore, the lawyer can claim a success fee, if this was agreed when the case was opened, in addition to the hourly rates agreed. If the case can be financially assessed, the success fee cannot exceed 10% of the amount at stake in the dispute.

All intellectual and non-intellectual services will be charged based on the actual time spent. This also applies to:

• phone calls made or received, with however a minimum charge of 5 minutes per call,
• writing outgoing letters, with however a minimum charge of 10 minutes per page
• reading of incoming information, with however a minimum charge of 5 minutes per piece of incoming information

Invoicing includes a provision for at least 10 hours when the case is opened and is then monthly. Invoices are payable on receipt. If payment is interrupted, the lawyer will suspend the services.

2. Expenses

Administrative expenses, such as, for example, copies, typing, accounting, postal charges, travel expenses, stationery, email etc. are added to the fees at an inclusive rate of 7% of the fees, excluding VAT.

3. Court costs

 Court costs and outlay are also charged in addition to the fees, increased where appropriate by VAT of 21%.