Lawyers’ fees are freely set but must be agreed in writing beforehand. A written fee agreement is mandatory except in emergencies, force majeure or legal aid cases (Article 10 of the Law of 31 December 1971). It specifies the amount or calculation method for foreseeable work and anticipated expenses.
Three methods may be combined: time spent at an hourly rate with detailed records; fixed fees for a specific act or stage such as a consultation, agreement or application; and a success fee, which may only supplement other fees. Fees based solely on the outcome are prohibited.
Customarily fees take account of the client’s financial position, difficulty of the case, expenses, the lawyer’s reputation and work performed (the same Article).
My fees are on the Fees page: fixed-price consultations from €150 to €900 excl. VAT, fixed fees for the main acts and an hourly rate of €300 excl. VAT. Payment by instalments may be agreed.