1.-Clients
will be informed of having their case accepted, the expected
cost of the case in terms of the fees payable
to the firm, as an approximate sum whenever possible,
as well as any expected increases or changes in the estimate
that may occur (appeals, incidents, other costs, etc.),
and costs for the involvement of other professionals that
may be required (solicitors, expert witnesses, etc.),
which may be freely chosen by the client, without prejudice
to the firm contracting them on its own behalf if not
indicated on the contrary.
2.-
In extrajudicial actions, fees shall
be paid as a general rule, and without prejudice to other
specific actions with fixed prices or percentages, using
the system of payment of fees per hour ofprofessional
work.
3.-
The firm has established a system for permanent
consultancy for businesses based on the payment of a fixed
monthly sum for the period agreed upon. Serveral
versions and prices are applicable, depending on whether
this consultancy includes more or less extensive service
and/or legal claims. These versions include one for unlimited
verbal consultancy, with a fixed annual cost of 250 Euros.
4.-
In general, the payment method for all
legal matters requested will be 25% on
acceptance of the case, a further 50% thorughout the process,
and the remaining 25% on pronouncement of the sentence
or when the matter comes to an end. Identical
criteria will be used for appeals before other Courts
apart from those involved in the principal case.
5.-
In the case of extrajudicial matters,
due to their special characteristics and peculiarities,
a provision of funds will be requested
and specified at the start of the process, invoiced as
indicated at the end of this tariffs booklet.
6.-
All provisions of funds that the firm
may request from clients on initiating actions will be
extended to include amounts requested by other
professionals takingpart in the case (such as
Solicitors and Expert Witnesses) or for essential
expenses involved (Notaries, Registry offices,
solvency reports, expert opinions, transportation costs
for professionals working in outside of the area, etc.).
7.-
The firm will use the quota litis system (charging
a percentage of the economic result of the case with a
minimu to cover basic fees and expenses in the event of
failing to obtain positive results), providing this is
practical depending on the nature of the case. This system
will be especially used when the client requests services
for the recovery of debts or claims for amounts in any
specialized area (civil, employment or administrative
law), civil liability claimed in criminal cases, insurance
or compensation. In these cases, no prior provision
of funds will be requested by the firm, except for amounts
strictly necessary to pay expected costs and those of
other professionals whose involvement is necessary.
8.-
In all cases an initial fixed sum of 45 euros
will be charged to ‘open a file’,
to pay for general fixed costs arising from the case (office
materials, photocopies, reports and sending correspondence
to clients, telephone calls, etc.).
9.-
All prices of the services offered by this firm are established
based on the characteristics and prestige of the firm
and its specialities, although with reference
to the currently applicable Standard Guidelines for Professional
Fees produced by the Administrative Board of Valencian
Bar Associations.
10.-All consultations will be charged, except when these correspond to cases currently being processed or the consultancy is requested by usual clients of the office (those whose cases being currently processed or been processed are more than three). When a case is ordered as a consequence of this consultation the charge for the consultancy will be discounted from the budget or the final cost of the same.
11.-
On requesting any service, and in order to offer better
guarantees to clients, a professional service
form will be filled in, describing as clearly
and precisely as possible the economic conditions agreed
between the firm and the client for the matter in question.
12.-
The following issues are taken into account when
producing an estimate:
-time necessary to carry out work.
-external professionals required in case
(solicitor, experts, consultancy, notary, etc.).
-Travel costs, meetings and/or negotiations to be carried
out by professional responsible for the case.
-Possible expenses involved.
-Speciality or difficulty of material involved in request
made.
-Professionals and other elements of the firm involved
in the case.
-Economic or similar importance of the case.
-Final results obtained.
13.-
All prices charged to clients are
standardized (all pay the same amount), alhtough
discounts may be applied in special cases
depending on the number/importance of new cases
instructed, or the presentation of new clients to the
firm (discount system in this case).
14.-
In the case of professional activities carried out that
are not specifically included for payment using the fee
system, providing no written agreement exists for the
specific issue in question, and without prejudice to the
application of these tariffs whenever possible, the
guidelines detailed in the ninth general rule shall also
be charged as applicable at the moment of producing and
charging the invoice for fees in question.
15.-
These tariffs shall be updated twice yearly
as from 1st September 2002 (these are reviewed as of 01.09-06), with the client required
to pay those applicable at the moment of completing the
matter in question and charging the resulting fees, despite
having signed other previous amounts. All tariffs
for fees applicable at any given moment will be on display
to the public in the reception area of the Firm and on the website of the same, and shall
be the only requirement so that they are applicable. During
the two-month period following each update, clients with
matters underway may request that the repealed tariffs
be applied to their case, in the event of which the firm
reserves the right to bill all professional fees due up
to that moment, and to cease all professional activity,
granting permission to continue with the matter to the
lawyer the client appoints for this purpose.
16.-
The client will be given a copy of the tariffs in use
by the firm at any given moment whenever so requested.
17.-
Using these tariffs of fees, the firm Zanón&Asociados
aims to define a clear and transparent price policy
for the services it offers, recommending that clients
consult specific cases if they are not included in the
specific guidelines that follow.
