My Fees

My present hourly rate is £180 and my minimum fee is £60. I reserve the right to vary the rate, in respect of extremely urgent work or work done outside ordinary office hours or at the weekend.

Fixed Fees

I may in the case of straight forward matters agree with you beforehand a fixed fee. If, however, at the appointment the matter proves to be more complicated or there are more documents or people involved than you indicated or legalisation is required, I reserve the right to renegotiate the fee or agree to charge you at my hourly rate.

V.A.T

I am currently not registered for V.A.T.

Disbursements

You are responsible for all payments which I make on your behalf. Typical examples are legalisation fees paid to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and/or an Embassy, legalisation agents’ fees, Companies Registry fees, couriers fees and special postage charges. However I shall not incur these expenses without first obtaining your consent to do so. Also, where the Embassy fees are high, I may need to ask for a payment on account of these prior to forwarding documentation.

Payment

My charges are normally payable on the signing of the document or on the receipt of the notarised document. If I render a bill in respect of the work, payment will be due when you receive the bill.

Time Charge

This includes all work undertaken on your matter from start to finish including preliminary details and advice, preparation, attendances, drafting, phone calls, correspondence including emails, faxes, copying documents and the completion of my register and protocol.

Preparation

This includes checking and dealing with any documents presented by you, any instructions accompanying the documents, consideration and drafting of documents before, during or after attendances, attending to any amendments or completing any blanks in the documents, binding the documents securely and dealing with any special requirements or formalities of the foreign country.

Your Own Professional Adviser

It is not my responsibility to give you legal advice concerning the document. My role is to be satisfied that you understand the content of the document and that you intend to be bound by it. You are advised to seek first the advice of your own independent legal or other competent professional adviser who practises in, or is skilled in the law of the jurisdiction to which the document will be sent.

My Responsibilities

I have to be satisfied as to your identity, your legal capacity, your authority and your understanding and approval; in certain instances I may insist on a translation; I shall try to ensure that the document, in the manner of its execution, its form and substance will achieve its purpose; I must be satisfied that it is your voluntary act and that no fraud, violence or duress are involve and that other stipulated formalities either under English or foreign law are observed. If I am not satisfied about any one of those things I can refuse to undertake the matter.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office and/or Consular Legalisation

Some countries require a document to be legalised. This the process by which a state agency confirms that my seal and signature are those of an English notary. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office attach an apostille to the document. Sometimes the document then has to go to the London Embassy for the country to where the document will be sent. The Embassy will then attach its own certificate to the document. Your lawyer will probably advise you of the need for legalisation. If not, you should ask him about it. I shall be able to obtain the necessary legalisation and shall discuss with you time scale and whether we should use legalisation agents or couriers if speed is required. However you can deal with legalisation yourself if you wish.

Register and Protocol

At the end of the matter, I make a formal entry of the main details in my register and I keep copies of the notarised document and proof of identity in my protocol.

My liability

I carry professional indemnity liability cover of £1 million which is the level of cover approved by the Master of the Faculty.

The relevant law

The law which governs my contract with you is English Law and it is agreed that any dispute relating to my services shall be resolved by the English courts.