Sample Billing Arrangements

The policy of Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, P.C., is to tailor billing methods to reflect client preferences and to correlate our charges to the value of the services rendered. Currently, more than half of the charges billed by the firm are on a basis other than straight hourly fees. Examples of billing methods currently employed by the firm are:

• Straight hourly plus costs. The client is billed for the number of hours expended multiplied by an agreed-upon rate, plus any costs incurred. The rate charged per hour is determined by the experience and level of expertise of each attorney or paralegal.
• Straight hourly plus costs with volume discount. The client is billed one hourly rate for an agreed-upon number of hours per month, quarter or year, plus any costs incurred. Hours worked that exceed the agreed-upon number of hours are billed at a discounted rate.
• Fee retainer plus costs. The client agrees to pay a flat or negotiated fee per month, quarter or year, plus any costs incurred. Alternatively, the client and firm may negotiate a predetermined fee for a particular project or projects.
• Flat retainer. The client is billed a flat amount per month, quarter or year. Costs incurred are absorbed into that amount.
• Schedule fee. A predetermined standard fee is available for certain common legal undertakings.
• Mixed flat retainer and hourly. The client is billed a flat retainer for an agreed-upon number of hours or for a certain project, and is then billed hourly for any additional hours or work.
• Contingent fee plus costs. The client is billed monthly, quarterly or yearly for costs incurred. The fee is determined when the matter reaches resolution. Factors to be considered in determining the fee are agreed upon in advance.

For further information contact Tammy Bauer at (406) 443-6830 or via e-mail at tammy@bkbh.com.