Question 1

Conveyancing

Accepted Answer

Residential Conveyancing
All our residential conveyancers have at least 2 years&#8217; experience in this area of law and some have more than 20 years&#8217; experience. Qualifications are set out in the individual profiles on the &#8216;Our People&#8217; section of this website.
Supervision of the department is undertaken by office team leaders and by the Head of the Conveyancing Department, Alistair Everett.
Set out below are some examples of the legal fees and disbursements on a range of property transactions.
Residential Property &#8211; Purchase of a Freehold House
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your home.
Here is a typical range of our fees and disbursements:-
Purchase Price £125,000

Legal fee £1,450
VAT payable £290
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £0
Search fees £200 to £300
HM Land Registration fee £100.00
HM Land Registry Search fee £22.80
Total £2098.80 to £2198.80

Purchase Price £400,000

Legal fee £1,595
VAT payable £319
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £7,500.00
Search fees £200 to £300
HM Land Registration fee £150.00
HM Land Registry Search fee £22.80
Total £9,822.80 to £9,992.80

Purchase Price £1m (£1,000,000/00)

Legal fee £1,950
VAT payable £390
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £41,250.00
Search fees £200 to £300
HM Land Registration fee £295.00
HM Land Registry Search fee £22.80
Total £44,143.80 to £44,243.80

Residential Property &#8211; Purchase of a Leasehold Flat
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your leasehold flat.
Here is a typical range of our fees and disbursements:-
Purchase Price £125,000

Legal fee £1,950 (inc LH Fee)
VAT payable £390
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £0
Search fees £200 to £300
HM Land Registration fee £100.00
HM Land Registry Search fee £22.80
Landlord&#8217;s fee (estimated) £50.00
Total £2,748.80 to £2,848.80

Purchase Price £400,000

Legal fee £2,095 (inc LH Fee)
VAT payable £419
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £7,500.00
Search fees £200 to £300
HM Land Registration fee £150.00
HM Land Registry Search fee £22.80
Landlord’s fee (estimated) £50.00
Total £10,472.80 to £10,572.80

Purchase Price £1m (£1,000,000.00)

Legal fee £2,450.00 (inc LH Fee)
VAT payable £490
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £41,250.00
Search fees £200 to £300
HM Land Registration fee £295.00
HM Land Registry Search fee £22.80
Landlord’s fee (estimated) £50.00
Total £44,793.80 to £44,893.80

In addition with leasehold purchases the following disursements can apply
Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50-£250.
Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) @ This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50-£250.
Deed of Covenant fee &#8211; This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £50-£250.
Certificate of Compliance fee &#8211; To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £50-250.
You should also be aware that with leasehold property ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property.
We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. The examples indicated above assume that the property you are purchasing is already registered and is not a transfer of part. If this is not the case then the land registry fee will be double the fee indicated.
Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC&#8217;s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority&#8217;s website here.
One further thing to note in relation to this is that if you are purchasing a buy to let property and already own a property then the stamp duty payable will differ from the examples given above as stamp duty is payable at the higher rate. You should calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC@s website as above.
Residential Property &#8211; Sale of a Freehold House
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home
Here is a typical range of our fees and disbursements:-
Sale price £125,000

Legal fee £1,450
VAT payable £290
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
HM Land Registry document fee £14.00
Total £1,790.00

Sale price £400,000

Legal fee £1,595
VAT payable £319
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
HM Land Registry document fee £14.00
Total £1,964.00

Sale price £1m (£1,000,000.00)

Legal fee £1,950
VAT payable £390
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
HM Land Registry document fee £14.00
Total £2,390.00

Residential Property &#8211; Sale of a Leasehold Property
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your leasehold flat.
Here is a typical range of our fees and disbursements:-
Sale price £125,000

Legal fee £1,950 (inc LH Fee)
VAT payable £390
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Landlord&#8217;s fee (estimated) £50.00
HM Land Registry document fee £14.00
Total £2,440.00

Sale price £400,000

Legal fee £2,095 (inc LH Fee)
VAT payable £419
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Landlord&#8217;s fee (estimated) £50.00
HM Land Registry document fee £14.00
Total £2,614.00

Sale price £1m (£1,000,000.00)

Legal fee £2,450 (inc LH Fee)
VAT payable £490
Electronic money transfer fee £36.00
Landlord&#8217;s fee (estimated) £50.00
HM Land Registry document fee £14.00
Total £3,040.00

Residential Property &#8211; Remortgage of a Freehold House
NEW MORTGAGE AMOUNT £200,000.00

Legal fee £950 in total to include all disbursements and VAT

This fee is on the assumption that the property is registered and there will be no change in ownership. If it is not a straightforward remortgage then we may not be able to do it under an all-inclusive remortgage fee.
Note
Please note that legal fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Our fees assume that:

a standard transaction with no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) issues relating to missing planning permission or building regulation approval, a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
on a leasehold transaction there is a transfer of an existing lease not the grant of a new lease
the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise
all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
the property is registered at the Land Registry
on a purchase, the transaction is not a new build property or a purchase of just part of an existing property, the Help to Buy Scheme does not apply and it is not a low cost/shared ownership scheme
no additional searches are required beyond the usual searches
no additional indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required
the property is in England, so Stamp Duty Land Tax applies. If the property is in Wales, Welsh Land Transaction Tax will apply and may be at a different rate to SDLT. We will let you know the exact figure at the time of giving you a fee quote.

How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8 to 12 weeks.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. If you are buying a leasehold property which requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 4 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, some key stages include:

Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender&#8217;s solicitors if needed
Receive and advise on contract documents
Carry out searches
Obtain further planning documentation if required
Make any necessary enquiries of seller&#8217;s solicitor
Give you advice on all documents and information received
Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
Send final contract to you for signature
Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
Complete purchase
Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Question 2

Debt Recovery

Accepted Answer

All debt recovery work will be supervised by Mrs Rachel Fereday, Head of Litigation and Employment.
Please click here for general information and details of the experience and qualifications of the team members.
Fees for debt recovery work will usually be charged based on an hourly rate. Our hourly rates vary depending on the fee earner dealing with the matter as follows:

Solicitors &#8211; £245 to £270 plus VAT
Trainee Solicitors &#8211; £150 plus VAT

Fixed fees options are available in some cases but will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the case. Fixed fees will be provided for specific stages of the case.
We have a minimum charge of £500 plus VAT.
Court Claims
These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.
If the debt is disputed the level of fees will vary depending on numerous factors including, but not limited to, the following:

Nature and complexity of the defence
Number of witnesses who will need to give evidence on the facts
The requirement (or not) for expert evidence
The likely length of any hearing
The conduct of the other party and their representatives

For undisputed cases our average fees will usually be within the following ranges:

Debt Value
Court fee (depends on value of the claim)
Our average fee range
Total

Up to £5,000
£50 &#8211; £205
£600 to £1,000 plus VAT
£770 to £1,405

£5,001 &#8211; £10,000
£455
£750 to £1,500 plus VAT
£1,355 to £2,255

£10,001 &#8211; £50,000
5% of the value of the claim
£1,000 to £2,000 plus VAT
£1,700 to £4,900

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:-

The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
Legal costs (other than a minimal fixed sum) are not usually recoverable from the other party, even if you win, if the value of the claim is less than £10,000
Court fees are usually recoverable from the other party if you win
Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
The costs quoted above are not for defended cases or matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

Our fee includes:

Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation.
Undertaking appropriate searches.
Sending a letter before action.
Receiving payment and sending onto you,
If the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim.
Where no Acknowledgement of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default.
When Judgement in default is received, write to the other side to request payment.
If payment is not received within 28 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs.

Matters usually take 8 to 16 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgment in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.
Timescales are also subject to the speed with which the courts deal with matters.

Question 3

Employment

Accepted Answer

Employment &#8211; pursuing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal
All employment work will be supervised by Mrs Rachel Fereday, Head of Litigation and Employment.
Please click here for general information and details of the experience and qualifications of the team members.
Fees for employment work will usually be charged based on an hourly rate. Our hourly rates vary depending on the fee earner dealing with the matter as follows:
Solicitors &#8211; £245 to £270 plus VAT
Trainee Solicitors &#8211; £150 plus VAT
Fixed fees options may be available in some cases but will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the case. Fixed fees will be provided for specific stages of the case.
In certain cases we may consider acting on a contingency fee basis. A contingency is an agreement under which we agree not to charge you fees for the work we carry out on your behalf if your case fails but if you win your case (or successfully settle), we will charge you a fee equivalent to 33% of your compensation. You will be required to pay expenses (such as tribunal fees, if applicable), win or lose.
We have a minimum charge of £500 plus VAT.
Average fees
If your case settles before a tribunal claim needs to be issued, our average fees, based on an hourly rate charge, will usually be within the following ranges:
Simple case : £750 &#8211; £1,250 (excluding VAT)
Medium complexity case: £1,000 &#8211; £2,000 (excluding VAT)
High complexity case: £2,000 &#8211; £3,000 (excluding VAT)
If employment tribunal proceedings are required the fees will depend on the stage that the claim reaches and are likely to fall within the following average ranges (inclusive of the fees set out in the above averages):

Stage of proceedings
Complexity of Case
Shortly after the claim is issued (before a response is filed)
During proceedings
At a final hearing

Simple case
£1,000 to £1,500 plus VAT
£2,000 to £5,000 plus VAT
£5,000 to £8,000 plus VAT

Medium complexity
£2,000 to £3,000 plus VAT
£3,000 to £8,000 plus VAT
£8,000 to £12,000 plus VAT

High complexity
£3,000 to £5,000 plus VAT
£5,000 to £15,000 plus VAT
£15,000 to £30,000 plus VAT

These fees do not include assistance in enforcing a tribunal award, should that be necessary.
The complexity of the case depends on numerous factors, the most significant of which are usually the number of incidents/allegations, the amount of paperwork and the number of potential witnesses.
A simple case would usually involve just one incident/allegation and minimal paperwork
A medium complexity case might have 2 or 3 incidents/allegations and a moderate amount of paperwork
A high complexity case might have several incidents/allegations and a large volume of paperwork.
Constructive unfair dismissal cases are usually, by their very nature, more complex and will therefore usually fall within the medium or high complexity ranges.
Factors that could make a case more complex and cause fees to exceed the above estimates:-

If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim.
Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person.
Making or defending a costs application.
Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties).
The number of witnesses
The amount of documents.
If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer.
Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal.

If the case involves discrimination, or any claim other than wrongful or unfair dismissal, the costs are likely to fall outside of the ranges given above.
Disbursements (expenses)
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court or tribunal fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
It may be necessary to engage a barrister (and this will be necessary if hearings are required). Barrister&#8217;s fees are usually between £900 and £3,000 per day (depending on the experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation). Barrister’s fees may also be incurred for advice during the process, and/or if any interim hearings are required. The more complex the case, the more barrister&#8217;s input is likely to be required.
Key stages
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).
Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
Preparing claim or response.
Reviewing and advising on claim or response from another party.
Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process.
Preparing or considering a schedule of loss.
Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing.
Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents.
Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses.
Preparing bundle of documents.
Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements.
Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list.
Preparation and attendance of Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel.

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs. The ranges above assume we are dealing with all matters on your behalf.
How long will my matter take?
The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 4 &#8211; 12 weeks.
If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 36-50 weeks. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and the matter progresses. Timescales will also depend on the capacity of the tribunal, the complexity of your case and the length of the hearing required. The wait for a hearing in more complex cases and/or cases which require more than one day for the hearing are usually much longer.

Question 4

Probate

Accepted Answer

All probate work will be supervised by Megan Miller, Head of the Private Client Department. Please click here for general information and details of experience and qualifications of the team members.
We offer a free consultation for 60 minutes with no obligation to instruct us. When someone has passed away our supportive and friendly team can provide a helping hand. During the meeting we can discuss:

Who needs to be informed.
How best to protect the house and contents.
Whether or not a Grant of Probate will be needed.
Any inheritance tax liability and potential savings that could be made.
Guidance on dealing with the Estate.
What our charges will be if you need our help.

Our aim is to be as clear as we can be in terms of how much our services cost and how long certain tasks take.
Fixed fee options are available in some cases so that you have the certainty of knowing where you stand. The fee will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the case and if you wish for us to undertake all aspects of the Probate or if you intend to administer some aspects of the estate yourself.
Three Levels of Service
We offer three levels of service for you to choose from:
Probate Only
We will obtain the Grant of Probate (or Grant of Letters of Administration if there is now a Will) and you deal with the administration.
Probate Plus
This level of service couples our Probate Only service together with expert advice and assistance with the administration of the estate. You choose the level of service that you require.
Probate Complete
We will complete the whole of the administration of the estate on your behalf, taking the burden from you. We act promptly and will keep you informed of progress along the way.
Our costs only

Probate only
Probate Plus
Probate Complete

Straightforward case
£2,500-£3,000 Plus VAT
£3,500-£4,500 Plus VAT
£5,000-£7,000 plus VAT

Medium case
£3,500-£4,500 Plus VAT
£4,950-£6,500 Plus VAT
£7,500-£13,900 Plus VAT

Complex case
£5,000-£8,000 Plus VAT
£12,500-£20,000 Plus VAT
£35,000-£50,000 Plus VAT

Please note that for very high value estates the cost of Probate Complete may be beyond that stated above. Moreover, certain estates have unusual and/or complex factors which may mean that that a bespoke costs range will be required. However, please rest assured that such a range will be agreed with you.
Costs can also depend on who deals with your matter and the time that personnel spend on progressing it. Hourly rates can vary between £200-£275 plus VAT for Solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives and lower ranges starting at £180 plus VAT for non qualified staff.
Simple Case
A simple case has the following factors:

A valid Will which clearly sets out what is to happen to the Estate.
Only one property which has been registered at the Land Registry.
All of the assets are in England and Wales.
There are no more than three bank or building society accounts.
There are no other intangible assets.
There are no more than two beneficiaries.
There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets.
The Will is not going to be challenged.
There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC.
There are no claims made against the estate.

Medium Case
A medium case has the following factors:

A valid Will which clearly sets what is to happen to the estate
There may be more than one property which has been registered at the Land Registry.
All of the assets are in England and Wales.
There are no more than five bank or building society accounts.
There are some intangible assets.
There are 3 – 8 beneficiaries.
There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets.
The Will is not going to be challenged.
There is no inheritance tax payable but the executors need to apply to transfer an unused Nil Rate Band or submit a full account to HMRC.
There are no claims made against the estate.

Complex Case
A complex case has some of the following factors:

A valid Will which sets out what is to happen to the estate but there may be an element of uncertainty which needs investigating
There may be multiple properties which have been registered at the Land Registry
Not all of the assets are in England and Wales.
There are multiple bank or building society accounts.
There are some intangible assets which may require specialist advice.
There are multiple beneficiaries.
There is a potential for dispute between beneficiaries.
The Will may be challenged.
There is inheritance tax payable and the executors need to submit a full account to HMRC.
There may be claims made against the estate.
A complex Deed of Variation may be necessary
Post Death Tax Planning is required
Winding up a Trust that is aggregated with the free estate.

Disbursements
In addition to the various levels of service mentioned above there may be additional costs that the Estate will need to incur, which are entirely separate to our costs. These costs, often referred to as disbursements, are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as Court fees. We can handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. Examples of disbursements include the following which is not an exhaustive list:

The Probate application fee which presently stands at £300 plus £1.50 for each copy of the Grant. It is anticipated that the Government may increase these fees in the future
Bankruptcy and the Land Charges Department searches (£2.40 per beneficiary).
£84.60 in the London Gazette which protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
Post in the local paper to protect against unexpected claims. It is not possible to be exact with the cost of this as all local newspapers charge different fees.

Potential additional Legal Costs

If there is no Will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we are aware of the circumstance of the case.
Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property or asset in the estate is not included.
Drafting Deeds of Variation.
Post Death Tax Planning.
Preparing a Deed to wind up a trust is aggregated with the free estate.

There may be other additional legal costs and we will advise you of the same if they are or become applicable.
Timescales
Timescales can vary greatly depending on the circumstances of a case. A probate from start to finish can take anywhere on average between 12-24 months from the time of making the application. Typically obtaining the Grant of Probate takes 12 to 20 weeks.
There can be delays with the Court processing applications which may mean it takes much longer.
Collecting assets then follows which can take between 6 to 12 weeks; a lot depends on how quickly the organisations that hold assets process requests.
Once this has been achieved, we can distribute the assets which normally takes 6 to 8 weeks.
Please note that timescales can be affected by matters which are outside of our control, for example, public holidays and slow responses from third parties to our correspondence. The timescale may be longer than that stated if the estate is subject to Inheritance Tax, has foreign assets or if an estate is complex or is subject to legal proceedings.
Our Probate Service from start to finish would include the following:

A dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter.
Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries.
Accurately identify the type of Probate application that you will require.
Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application.
Complete the Probate application and the relevant HMRC forms.
Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf.
Obtain the Probate and court sealed copies.
Collect and distribute all assets in the estate.

Legal Fees

Our Fees

Residential Conveyancing

Court Claims

Employment – pursuing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal

Average fees

Disbursements (expenses)

Key stages

How long will my matter take?

Three Levels of Service

Our costs only

Simple Case

Medium Case

Disbursements

Potential additional Legal Costs

Timescales

Quick enquiry.

News

Grandparents – the impact of relationship breakdown

Debt Value	Court fee (depends on value of the claim)	Our average fee range	Total
Up to £5,000	£50 – £205	£600 to £1,000 plus VAT	£770 to £1,405
£5,001 – £10,000	£455	£750 to £1,500 plus VAT	£1,355 to £2,255
£10,001 – £50,000	5% of the value of the claim	£1,000 to £2,000 plus VAT	£1,700 to £4,900

Stage of proceedings Complexity of Case	Shortly after the claim is issued (before a response is filed)	During proceedings	At a final hearing
Simple case	£1,000 to £1,500 plus VAT	£2,000 to £5,000 plus VAT	£5,000 to £8,000 plus VAT
Medium complexity	£2,000 to £3,000 plus VAT	£3,000 to £8,000 plus VAT	£8,000 to £12,000 plus VAT
High complexity	£3,000 to £5,000 plus VAT	£5,000 to £15,000 plus VAT	£15,000 to £30,000 plus VAT

	Probate only	Probate Plus	Probate Complete
Straightforward case	£2,500-£3,000 Plus VAT	£3,500-£4,500 Plus VAT	£5,000-£7,000 plus VAT
Medium case	£3,500-£4,500 Plus VAT	£4,950-£6,500 Plus VAT	£7,500-£13,900 Plus VAT
Complex case	£5,000-£8,000 Plus VAT	£12,500-£20,000 Plus VAT	£35,000-£50,000 Plus VAT