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TERMS
OF BUSINESS
1. Our Professional Relationship
Our
objective is to provide you with a high quality legal service
tailored to meet your requirements and to develop a close working
relationship with you.
1.1
Wherever practical we would like you to give or confirm initial
instructions to us in writing and we will assume that whoever
gives such instructions has authority to do so. It is vital that
you provide us with all information relevant to the matter and
that you keep us informed of any changes.
1.2
The information that you give us is kept strictly confidential
and disclosed only on your authority or as required by law. If,
on your authority, we are working in conjunction with other professional
advisers we will assume that we may disclose any relevant aspect
of your affairs to them unless you advise us otherwise. We will
also assume that you consent to the disclosure of our involvement
as your legal advisers in this project for the purposes of publicity
following completion of the transaction unless you advise us to
the contrary.
1.3
On any particular matter, either you or we may bring instructions
to an end at any time but we will not normally do so unless a
conflict of interest arises or we consider that it would not be
in your best interests for us to continue to represent you.
1.4
On completion of a matter and payment of any outstanding accounts
we will, on request, return documents lent to us by you for the
purposes of the matter. Our working papers, draft documents and
copies of all letters sent by us will remain our property.
1.5
We do not undertake to retain your files for any particular period
of time but generally keep all files for a minimum of six years.
We may destroy files, without further reference to you, six years
after completion of a matter.
1.6
We maintain professional indemnity insurance.
2.
Managing and Supervising Your Work
Our
objective is to ensure that the conduct of each matter is properly
managed so that it is dealt with by those with the right level
and area of expertise.
2.1
Where your work is not being handled by a Partner we will wherever
possible nominate a partner to be a point of contact with the
firm. He will maintain regular contact to review the service we
are providing.
2.2
The choice of partners and fee earners handling your work will
be organised to ensure that your work is handled as efficiently
and cost effectively as possible.
2.3
The frequency of regular progress reports on your work will depend
on the nature of the matter and will be agreed with you from time
to time. At reasonable intervals reports on progress will be provided
on request.
2.4
We will keep you informed of any unexpected delays or changes
in the character of the work being undertaken.
3.
Fees and Payment
Our objectives are to determine a proper fee for your work based
on a system of charging agreed with you in advance and to ensure
prompt billing and settlement of accounts.
3.1
We will attempt to agree our charges with you in advance. Our
charges are mainly based on the time spent on your work. In addition
however the charge may take into account other factors such as
the complexity of the issues involved, the speed of action required,
the expertise or specialist knowledge required and if appropriate
the value of the transaction to the client as well as the other
factors set out in the Solicitors/Non-Contentious Business Remuneration
Order 1994.
3.2
Costs incurred by us on your behalf, together with disbursements
such as fax and photocopying charges, travelling expenses and
VAT, will be charged in addition to our fees.
3.3
Where we consider it appropriate we will ask for monies on account
to cover us for the fees which will become due to us as a result
of the transaction. We will always require cover from you if we
are to incur disbursements in excess of £200.00 and this will
include cases where we are asked to give an undertaking to a third
party for sums in excess of that amount.
3.4
Where we consider it to be the most effective way of dealing with
your matter we will instruct agents at your expense. We will consult
you before engaging Counsel or experts for whose fees you will
be responsible and we will inform you of any other substantial
costs to be incurred on your behalf. We will assume that we have
authority to discharge any fees necessary or desirable to achieve
your objectives.
3.5
If instructions are terminated you will only be liable for fees
arising and payments made or committed up to the date of termination
of the instructions together with any fees or payments for work
necessary to transfer the matter to another adviser.
3.6
Our accounts are due for payment on presentation. We reserve the
right to charge interest at the rate of 3% above Barclays Bank
PLC base rate on all invoices which are more than 28 days overdue.
Money received from you to be applied on your behalf will be held
in a separate client account subject to the strict provisions
of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules. Deposit interest paid to UK
residents by us will be paid without deduction of tax unless we
are required to deduct by law. It will be your responsibility
to declare the sum so received for tax purposes.
3.7
If we provide an estimate then this is an indication given in
good faith of the likely costs of carrying out the work concerned
based on the information which we have at the time the estimate
is given. Unless otherwise indicated at that time it is not a
contractual commitment to carry out the work within that estimate.
We will try to tell you promptly if it becomes apparent that our
fees are likely to exceed the estimate which we have given.
4.
Complaints
If
you are dissatisfied with our work or wish to make a complaint
you should raise it as soon as possible with the partner responsible
for the work concerned. If your complaint relates to that partner
or remains unresolved after discussion with her you should contact
Ms. Reena Ghai. We have a complaints handling procedure which
operates in accordance with Law Society requirements and we make
every effort to deal with and resolve any complaint as soon as
possible.
5.
General
These
conditions apply to all work done by us on behalf of clients and
no variation will be effective unless it is made in writing and
signed by a Partner on behalf of the firm.
VAT
No.: 6692 803 02
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