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Legal costs depend on the agreed scope, complexity and progress of your matter. We confirm the charging basis and provide an estimate or range for the proposed work.
Unless expressly agreed to be a fixed fee or cap, an estimate is not a quotation or maximum. Actual costs may be higher or lower because of the work reasonably required, new information, changes in scope or the conduct of other parties. We disclose substantial changes to the estimate or other required costs information in writing as soon as reasonably practicable.
This page gives general information about our approach to costs. Your matter-specific Client Agreement, costs disclosure and any agreed written variations set out the scope and charging arrangements for your engagement. To the extent of any inconsistency with general information on this website, those matter-specific documents prevail, subject to applicable law.
Nothing on this website or in those documents excludes or restricts rights or obligations that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted. This page does not replace the costs disclosure provided for your matter.
Your Client Agreement and costs disclosure identify the proposed work, exclusions, charging basis, estimate or range and relevant assumptions. Please read them and ask us about anything you do not understand. You may negotiate the agreement and seek independent legal advice before accepting it.
Work beyond the agreed scope or stage requires an agreed variation. A staged estimate does not replace any disclosure of estimated total costs required by law.
Queensland law governs costs disclosure, billing and costs agreements, subject to any applicable interstate costs-law rights. Where disclosure is required, it includes the charging basis, estimates, billing arrangements and your rights.
Costs disclosure is ongoing. We disclose substantial changes in writing as soon as reasonably practicable. An estimate, fixed fee or staged arrangement does not itself remove those obligations.
Our fees are generally calculated on a time-costed basis unless a fixed fee is expressly agreed for a defined scope. The applicable rates, charging basis and treatment of expenses and disbursements are set out in the engagement documents.
A fixed fee applies only to the work included in the agreed scope. Additional work, changes to that scope and third-party expenses may involve further costs. Any proposed fixed fee or staged arrangement will be confirmed for the particular engagement.
We may request money in trust for anticipated fees and outlays for the agreed work, including reasonable written requests for further funds as the matter progresses. Trust money is held for the identified person and purpose, and may be applied only under the required authority and applicable law.
Before making a first payment, paying changed bank details or responding to an unusual payment request, call us on an independently verified telephone number to confirm the payment instructions. Read our email disclaimer and payment security guidance.
Discuss the next step: tell us about your matter, the key documents and any deadline. We will identify the information needed to assess the proposed work and costs.
