Fees, Disbursements & Billing Methods
We are a law firm dedicated to only charging clients in accordance with strict guidelines established by the Law Society of Ontario, which set out that lawyer fees must be "fair, reasonable and disclosed to the client in a timely manner." When you work with our law firm, we generally utilize two billing methods — fixed fees or hourly charges.
Billing Methods at a Glance
Quick comparison of our two billing structures| Matter Type | Billing Method |
|---|---|
| Residential real estate transactions | Fixed Fee |
| Notarization of documents | Fixed Fee |
| Simple incorporations & minute books | Fixed Fee |
| Certain commercial contracts | Fixed Fee |
| Certain corporate & government filings | Fixed Fee |
| Complex real estate transactions | Hourly Rate |
| Corporate share purchase transactions | Hourly Rate |
| Complex or lengthy commercial contracts | Hourly Rate |
| Legal consultation & advisory | Hourly Rate |
Fixed-Fee Charges
Predictable pricing — no surprisesIf we offer you a fixed fee for performing a matter, unless otherwise stated in our initial retainer with you, the fee will not change regardless of the amount of time spent on your matter. As such, we only offer fixed fees on matters where we can estimate with relative accuracy the amount of time that will be spent.
Examples of scenarios where our law firm will offer fixed fees include:
- Certain residential real estate transactions
- Certain commercial contracts
- Notarization of documents
- Certain corporate and government filings
- Certain small-sized corporate transactions
- Simple incorporations and preparation of a minute book
If we offer you a fixed fee for the completion of a certain matter, this will be explicitly set out in our initial retainer agreement with you. The retainer agreement will also set out matters that are specifically excluded — referred to in the legal industry as a limited-scope retainer.
For example, while we may offer you a fixed fee for a real estate transaction, any extensions of the closing date may not be included in the fixed fee. These exceptions will be clearly set out in your retainer agreement before you retain us.
Hourly Charges
Time-based billing for complex mattersOn matters where we charge an hourly rate, our retainer will specifically set out the hourly rate for our lawyer(s), student(s), or law clerks who work on your matter. In certain scenarios, it may be possible for us to provide you with an estimate of the number of hours we predict will be spent on your matter.
Examples of matters where we typically charge an hourly rate include:
- Certain complex real estate transactions
- Most corporate share purchase transactions
- Drafting of complex or lengthy commercial contracts
- Legal consultation and advisory
In some matters your case may be ongoing and we may not be able to provide an accurate estimate. We will always keep you informed as your matter progresses.
Disbursements
Expenses paid on your behalf — always itemizedAnytime you work with a lawyer, you will likely be responsible for payment of disbursements in addition to fees. Disbursements are expenses that a lawyer pays on your behalf to third parties, or expenses incurred by the lawyer while moving your matter forward.
Disbursements are divided into two categories:
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | Not paid directly to a third party; internal expenses incurred during your matter. | Photocopies, postage, software fees |
| Hard | Expenses paid directly to a third party on your behalf. | Application fees, land registration fees, government fees |
Invoices you receive from our firm will always have a dedicated section for disbursements so you can see exactly what was incurred on your behalf.
Payment Methods
Flexible options for your convenienceOur payment methods include the following. Prior to being charged, our office will always send you an invoice in draft format so you can review all charges before payment is collected. Once payment has been made, you will receive a finalized invoice as proof of payment.
Cash retainers are limited to the maximum amount authorized by the Law Society of Ontario. All payments are processed securely and transparently.