Bell Lax pioneered ‘no win, no fee’ litigation for all types of commercial and civil disputes. Over the past decade, we have offered ‘no win, no fee’ agreements for cases ranging from consumer contract disputes to multi-million pound commercial litigation and everything in between.
We have a good reputation with litigation insurers, who offer after the event insurance to our clients. This protects clients from the risk of adverse costs orders in the event their claim is unsuccessful.
Unfortunately, on 1 April 2013, reforms to the justice system made by Lord Justice Jackson meant that success fees and after the event insurance premiums are no longer recoverable from the losing party in litigation. This made funding litigation much more difficult for our clients, who now either have to share their winnings with lawyers and insurers, or take the risk of losing the claim and being responsible for the other party’s legal costs. This means that there are fewer cases that are suitable for "no win, no fee" agreements. More claims remain suitable for ‘no win, low fee’ agreements.
Bell Lax remains committed to leading the profession in offering alternative funding arrangements which help those otherwise unable to bring good claims.
“No win, no fee”
Conditional Fee Agreements, or “no win, no fee” agreements, where the firm is only paid in the event that our client’s claim or defence succeeds, are still financially viable for certain claims, typically those over £50,000. Bell Lax will still consider claims for “no win, no fee” agreements.
Sometimes we will need to charge a client to assess whether their case is suitable for no win no fee funding. Sometimes the case is more straight forward and we can offer no win no fee funding without needing to charge the client to assess its suitability.
“No win, low fee”
In appropriate cases, we are able to offer discounted conditional fee agreements, or “no win, low fee” agreements, to clients. These are claims where clients only pay part of our hourly rates and the remainder is only payable based upon what Bell Lax recovers or saves for our client. This links what we recover for our clients to what we are paid.
In these sorts of agreement, our clients would pay us percentage of our fees at our hourly rates as the claim proceeds, with the remainder only payable in the event that the claim is successful.
Damages Based Agreements
It is now possible for solicitors to offer agreements to clients where they pay us part (or even none) of our fees as the case progresses, in return for the firm taking a share of their damages. Although this funding arrangement has only been permissible in court proceedings since April 2013, Bell Lax already have considerable experience in offering damages based agreements in adjudication and employment matters.
Fixed Fees
Bell Lax is also sometimes willing to quote a fixed fee for a piece of work, rather than charging at an hourly rate based on time spent on the claim. This gives clients the benefit of certainty over what they will be charged for a piece of work and enables them to budget with confidence for the legal work carried out by this firm.
Legal expenses insurance
Many of our clients find they have legal expenses insurance as part of their house or business buildings or contents insurance. If you do, we will notify your insurers for you and you do not have to pay. By law, insurers must let you have the solicitor you choose when you are involved in a court case. Our clients choose Bell Lax because, whilst your insurers pay the bill, we fight for you.
If you have a dispute and would like to discuss your funding options, please give us a call. One of our lawyers will speak with you about your claim and what we can do to help without any costs commitment from you.
