Hourly & Fixed Rates
We have proven expertise in handling complex commercial litigation cases in all courts for 25 years. We have represented businesses and companies, large and small, as well as financial institutions including NAB, United Credit, Bank of Melbourne and Bank of Queensland.
Our fixed fees/rates for commercial contract work are extremely competitive compared to the rates charged by other commercial law firms. We deliver practical cost effective fixed prices for all of our legal work. For all litigation cases we also offer fixed payment plan fees as an alternative.
Our rates and fixed prices are lower than the prices charged by many Perth Commercial law firms because we own our offices so we don't pay the exorbitant St George's Tce rent that many commercial law firms do.
Having worked at Freehills, one of Australia's largest national law firms, for several years and becoming a partner of a middle sized firm, Marcus Ahern has seen the best and worst efficiency in legal practice.
Aherns Lawyers rates and prices for partners, solicitors and law clerks are fixed for all commercial work. Our rates and prices are extremely competitive when compared with the hourly rates of other law firms. Read on below to see our fixed rates.
Perth Lawyers Alternative Billing Methods/Fixed Fees
We can act for parties in litigation on the basis of a fixed, affordable, payment plan fee as opposed to charging an hourly rate. If we are engaged on that basis you can pay a set fee, in return for us remaining on the record as acting for you in the action for a fixed period. During that fixed period we will represent you and deal with whatever matters arise in the litigation during that time, including all court appearances and drafting of all court documents.
We deliver practical cost effective legal advice.
OVERCHARGING
The most important factor in selecting a law firm is to plan who will appear for you at trial and assess how many staff are needed to work on the case. It is inefficient for several solicitors and partners to spend time perusing a file and all working on it and charging their hourly rates. The cumulative effect of law clerks charging $280 per hour, solicitors charging $430 per hour and partners charging $520 per hour is that well over $1000 per hour is spent on the file. The most efficient practice is to have tasks carried out by the least expensive person available who has the experience necessary for the task.
The Supreme Court of Western Australia Scale of Fees is calculated on the basis of an hourly rate for Senior Practitioners of $506.00. The hourly rates charged by most senior practitioners on commercial and commercial litigation matters in other law firms are way in excess of that hourly rate.
The highest hourly rate charged on our complex commercial litigation files in the District and Supreme Courts is $520 per hour.
Our rates are generally 20% lower than most Law Firms.
In our experience sometimes clients shop around with quotes that we provide, which of course is their right. We always tell clients, therefore, if they receive what they think is a better price they can forward it to us and we will match it.
Fixed Prices
Our aim is to have transparent pricing at commercially sensible rates. We prepare the best commercial contracts for companies and individuals. We generally charge a fixed rate for drafting contracts, subject to the complexity of the contract.
Fixed prices are as minimum prices subject to confirmation:
Commercial Agreements
- Partnership Agreement - From $1,500.00
- Shareholder Agreement - From $1,500.00
- Joint Venture Agreement - From $1,100.00
- Loan Agreement - From $1,200.00
- Terms and Conditions of Trade - From $1,500.00
Commercial advice on Contracts
- Legal advice on Sale of Business Agreements - From $2,000.00
- Legal advice on Commercial Contracts - On Enquiry
- Legal advice on Commercial Terms and Conditions - From $800.00
- Legal advice on Contract Terms for Industry - steel work/mining/building contracts - From $800.00
- Legal advice on Terms & Conditions of Contracts - From $700.00
- Review of Binding Financial Agreement - From $1,500.00
All Other Matters
- All commercial contracts including construction and mining - On Enquiry
- Joint Venture Agreements - From $2,000.00
- Personal Guarantees - $1,200.00
- Sale of Business Agreements - From $2,00.00
- Business Terms and Conditions - From $1,500.00
- Subcontractor's Agreements - From $1,500.00
- Advice on Commercial Construction Contracts - On Enquiry
- Advice on Residential Building Contract - From $800.00
- Business Confidentiality Deeds - $1,500.00
- Advice on and preparation of franchise documentation - On Enquiry
- Deeds of Settlement - On Enquiry
- Director Agreements - From $2,000.00
- Preparation of Building and Construction Contracts - On Enquiry
- Partnership Agreements - $2,000.00
- Commercial Leases – Advice on - From $1,500.00
- Commercial Leases – Drafting - From $2,000.00
- Employment Agreements - From $1,500.00
- Executive Service Agreements - From $1,500.00
- Supply Contracts - From $1,200.00
- Licensing Agreements - From $1,200.00
- Manufacturing Agreements - From $1,200.00
- Distribution Agreements - From $1,200.00
Business, Corporate and Property Law
- Leases - $1,500.00
- All Commercial Contracts - On Enquiry
- Purchase and sale of properties - On Enquiry
- All company searches and business name searches - On Enquiry
- Preparation of standard terms of trading inc. securities clauses & costs recoverable clauses - From $1,500.00
- Advising on and preparing documentation on business structures - On Enquiry
- Purchase and sale of business or companies - On Enquiry
- Advice on Settlements - From $700.00
We also offer fixed prices on the following matters:
- Debt Recovery and Litigation
- Negotiations
- Letter of Demand
- Acknowledgment of Debt
- Preparation of Binding Financial Agreement - From $2,400.00
- Caveat - From $600.00 plus disbursements
- Statutory Demand (undisputed debt) - From $1,100.00
- Magistrates Court Summons and Claim - From $700.00
- District and Supreme Court Final Notice - From $1,500.00
- District and Supreme Court Summons and Claim - From $2,500.00
- Bankruptcy Notice - From $600.00 plus disbursements
Property and Conveyancing
- Mortgages - From $900 plus disbursements
- Extension of Lease - From $1,200.00
- Assignment of Lease - From $1,200.00
- Notice to Remedy a Breach - From $600.00
- Contract Sale of Commercial Land - From $2,000.00
- Contract Sale of Business - From $2,000.00
Franchising
- Review of Franchise Documentation - From $2,500.00
- Confidentiality Agreement - $1,200.00
Dispute Resolution
- Contract review and contract negotiation
- Breach of Contract Advice - from $750.00
- Building and Construction Advice - from $890.00
- Director and Shareholder Disputes - from $750.00
Civil Law
- Defamation, letter to cease and desist - from $900.00
Please note that all fixed prices are exclusive of GST and disbursements.
Financial Review
The following extract is from an article in the Australian Financial Review on 16 May 2005 which discussed fees charged by law firms and supports the philosophy that is held by Aherns Lawyers.
"The cheapest qualified person to do each task that is required to be done on a file should do that task" Please see our fees and hourly rates above which sets out our approach in this regard.
Australia's largest law firms are coming under pressure from corporate clients to deliver more services for less money as organisations search for new ways to reduce costs. David Krasnostein, general counsel for the National Australia Bank, said 'If you step back and think about how a law firm can be efficient, what you want is the fewest number of hours put in a matter by the most expensive lawyers' he says. 'And you want the most amount of hours by the cheapest lawyers or paralegals, while at the same time maintaining a level of quality that you need'.