Our prices, published up front.

We generally base our fees on hourly rates although on some work we are able to offer fixed fees. The current members of our team and their hourly rates are as follows:

• Principal Solicitor£350 + VAT / hr
• Junior Solicitor£165 – £185 + VAT / hr
• Trainee Solicitor£150 + VAT / hr

Our Grant only service can be a cost effective way to obtain a Grant of Probate for a simple estate. Using this service, AV Law Solicitors will draft a Grant of Probate (or Grant of Letters of Administration) using information provided by the family. The Grant only service is only available where no inheritance tax is due. The family will be responsible for dealing with the estate once the Grant has been received.

Our Grant only fees are:

• Where a simplified estate form (IHT205) is submitted£2,000 + VAT
• Where a full estate form (IHT400) is submitted£3,300 + VAT

The estimated legal fees (above) are for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There are no unusual funeral requests in the will
• The executors are willing and able to act in the administration of the will
• There are no claims against the estate by relatives, creditors or others and no caveats lodged at the Court
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 6 bank or building society accounts
• There are no shareholdings (stocks and bonds) in the estate
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are no more than 10 beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
• The estate is solvent

If your case is more complex than the above example, we can give you a more accurate estimate of these costs once we have more information. If the scope of the work required is beyond what is listed above, we would seek to provide you with an estimate after you have provided more information to us.

Additional likely expenses (for all estates):

• Probate application fee of £155 plus 50p per copy for any additional copies of the Grant required.
• £5 for the swearing of the oath (per executor), plus £2 for each will and codicil.
• Between £100 – £150 for placing an advert in The London Gazette and a local newspaper.
• Between £200 – £300 for valuation fees.

These additional expenses are costs related to your matter that may be payable to third parties, such as court fees. Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included but we do offer a Conveyancing service and so can help you with this.

Time frames

On average, estates that fall within the above range are dealt with within 6 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 12–20 weeks. Collecting in the majority of the assets (i.e. closing bank accounts and selling shares) generally takes up to 12 weeks after obtaining the Grant of Probate. After all the liabilities of the estate have been paid and any cash legacies distributed (provided we are not awaiting clearance from HMRC for either IHT or income tax) we are usually in a position to distribute the estate within 10–15 weeks of collecting in the assets of the estate.

Disbursements (standard extra costs) excluded, but often payable in addition to this fee:

• Death certificates£14.00
• Official copies of the Land Registry title of the deceased's real estate£3.00 (£3 for the plan too)
• Probate application fee (estate value over £5,000)£215.00 — free if less
• Extra copies of the grant of probate£1.50 each
• Swearing of the oath (per executor)£10.00
• Bankruptcy-only£2 per beneficiary
• Advertisement in The London Gazette (per notice event)£73.20 + VAT
• Advertisement in local newspaper(s)£215.00 + VAT

London Gazette and local newspaper adverts help protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. Please note that the above disbursements table does not contain an exhaustive list. Additional fees and disbursements will depend on the type of transaction. Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

We have a dedicated team of highly skilled and client focused solicitors, each supported by an exceptional team of devoted support staff. Our conveyancing team is not only technically excellent and knowledgeable, but also sensitive and empathetic to help guide you through the process as smoothly as possible. We pride ourselves on our availability to talk to you or your estate agent, whenever necessary — you will not get our answer phones over the lunch hour!

Fixed Legal Fees

Whether you are buying or selling a property, it is most likely to be one of the biggest financial transactions you will enter into. Whilst our Conveyancing team have the necessary expertise to ensure that your transaction proceeds smoothly to a successful completion, occasionally transactions can become complicated. To help give you piece of mind, AV Law Solicitors offer a fixed legal fee from the offset — you will not find any hourly charges or hidden rates at our firm.

• Leasehold Sales or Purchases£1,000 + disbursements (~£100 – £200)
• Sale of Property£1,000 + disbursements (~£100 – £200)

Residential Conveyancing — Purchase of Freehold or Leasehold Residential Property

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your property, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax ("SDLT") if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

Our Fees & Disbursements

The fees quoted above are exclusive of Value Added Tax ("VAT") and disbursements. VAT at 20% is charged on all transactions.

Additional Fees

• Administration Charges£50.00 – £100.00 + VAT
• Bank Charges Administration£37.50 + VAT (£7.50)

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Bank Charges£25.00
• Official Copy of Register Title£6.00
• Land Registry Title Plan£3.00
• OS1 Search£12.00
• ID Check£12.00
• Searches£350 – £700 + VAT
• Land Registry Fees£20 – £910 + VAT
• Stamp Duty Land TaxDepends on purchase price (HMRC)

Search fees vary due to where the property is located (for instance the local authority fees are different for each local authority and we may need to do a specific search for your property due to its location). Land Registry fees vary based on the purchase price of the property. Stamp Duty depends on the purchase price of your property — you can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website. The above additional fees and disbursements table does not contain an exhaustive list. Additional fees and disbursements will depend on the type of transaction.

Leasehold-specific anticipated disbursements

• Notice of Transfer fee£50 – £150 (typical)
• Notice of Charge fee (if mortgaged)£50 – £150 (typical)
• Deed of Covenant fee£150 – £300 (typical)
• Certificate of Compliance fee£50 – £150 (typical)

These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

Stages of the Process (Purchase)

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Request management pack (leasehold only)
• Raise enquiries on the management pack (leasehold only)
• Read and advise on the lease and raise enquiries (leasehold only)
• Carry out searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Personal attendance with you to go through the paperwork and sign the contract
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Complete purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty / Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
• Deal with post completion Notices (leasehold only)

How long will my property purchase and sales take?

How long it will take depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8–12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a freehold house with a mortgage in principle, it could take 8–10 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property with a Management Company it can take from 12–16 weeks especially if there is a chain.

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your property, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax ("SDLT") if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

The fees quoted above are exclusive of VAT and disbursements. VAT at 20% is charged on all transactions.

Additional Fees

• Administration Charges£50.00 – £100.00 + VAT
• Bank Charges Administration£37.50 + VAT (£7.50)

Disbursements

• Bank Charges£25.00
• ID Check£20.00 + VAT (£4.00)
• Land Registry Fees£3 – £12 (varies)

Land Registry fees vary depending on what documents we need to obtain. There are certain disbursements set out in the individual lease relating to the property. This list is not exhaustive — other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller's solicitors.

Leasehold-specific disbursements

• Management pack£250 – £500 + VAT (typical)
• Licence to assign fee£500 – £750 + VAT (typical)
• Deed of Covenant fee£150 – £300 + VAT (typical)

Stages of a sale

• Taking your instructions and give you initial advice
• Preparing a sales pack comprising title information, tenancy documentation, planning information and standard replies to enquiries (with your input)
• Drafting, negotiating and agreeing the sale and purchase agreement
• Negotiating and agreeing the form of transfer to the buyer
• Dealing with additional enquiries raised by the buyer's solicitors and preparing replies to those enquiries with your input
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Advising you on the terms of the sale
• Agreeing a completion date (date from which you will sell the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Completing the purchase
• Repaying any bank loan, agents fees and sending you the net proceeds of sale

How long will my property sale take?

How long it will take from the offer being accepted until the sale completes will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6–12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.

Level 1 Applications

• Travel Documents
• Replacement Residence Permits (BRP, NTL)
• Costs £300 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Level 2 Applications

• Visit Visa
• Naturalisation / Citizenship — £250 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary
• EEA / EU Residence and Permanent Residence
• Costs £550 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Level 3 Applications

• Family Reunion
• Spouse, Partner, Civil or Unmarried Partners of Non-EU Nationals
• Parent Route Applications
• Dependent Child Visas
• Student Visas
• Long Residence in the UK
• Costs £1,200 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Level 4 Applications

• Adult Dependent Relatives
• Points Based System Applications
• Immigration Bail
• Costs £2,500 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Level 5 Applications

• Asylum Claims
• Human Rights Applications
• Costs £3,000 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Level 6 Applications

All other applications including:

• Deportation
• Judicial Review (Excluding Counsel's Fees)
• Costs £5,000 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Level 7 Applications — Appeals

• Completing and submitting an appeal form
• Costs £400 plus Home Office fee and additional disbursements that may vary

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. The disbursements listed below do not attract VAT.

• Home Office Application feesSee UK visa application fees (Home Office)
• Immigration Health Surcharge — student / Youth Mobility Scheme visa£470 per year
• Immigration Health Surcharge — applicants under 18£470 per year
• Immigration Health Surcharge — all other applications£624 per year
• Biometric enrolment£19.20

The above table does not contain an exhaustive list. Additional fees and disbursements will depend on the type of transaction. Your matter will always be supervised by the principal solicitor. Work will be completed by lawyers of varying experience. The estimated fee quotes are premised on the work being completed by lawyers across a range of levels, with time estimates using an average hourly rate to reflect the involvement of different lawyers. The quotes assume that each stage of the work is conducted by an appropriate level of lawyer; if client preference dictates work be completed at a higher level, this will impact fee estimates.

This fee quote assumes you meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules, EEA Regulations or British Nationality Act 1981 (as applicable) without requiring discretion to be exercised. It also assumes there are no other factors which make the application more complex such as a criminal record or a history of non-compliance with UK immigration.

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case, such as:

• The complexity of the legal issues involved
• The urgency of the matter
• The level of documentation available and any issues in obtaining this
• Where the application is being made and any particular additional services you wish to use
• Whether the application is an initial one, an extension or an application for indefinite leave to remain
• Whether there are any dependants and their personal circumstances
• The nature and number of any required supporting statements
• If we are required to liaise with third parties such as accountants or financial institutions
• If Counsel is required to provide written advice and/or to represent you as part of an appeal process
• The number of tribunal appearances required

What services are included?

The work will involve:

• Taking full instructions from you in order to provide initial assessment, advice on the key requirements and how these apply to your circumstances
• Providing a comprehensive list of necessary documents and information, and templates where appropriate
• Reviewing and collating supporting documents
• Liaising with third parties where required to obtain additional evidence
• Preparing the relevant application forms, submitting these on your behalf and booking any necessary appointments
• Drafting a comprehensive covering letter in support of your application
• Advising on the application submission options and procedure, and on likely time frames
• Advising you on the outcome of the application and explaining your new immigration or nationality status, including information about how to remain compliant with your visa conditions and the eligibility criteria for extensions and indefinite leave to remain

The costs quoted here do not include any disbursements related to your matter. The processing times for your application will vary depending on the application service you select and where the application is being made. We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application but we can give further information on the application options and likely time frames as part of the advice we will provide to you if instructed. All applications are likely to vary and we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case.

Every case is different and many of our cases are complex and involve multiple parties and claims and difficult legal issues. There is no such thing as a typical case. However, for convenience we have divided employment tribunal claims into three bands according to complexity.

An employment tribunal claim involving only claims of unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal will normally, but not always, be a simple claim.

The services we provide include both pursuing and defending employment tribunal claims and appeals. Most of the claims in which we act are complex claims involving not only claims of unfair and wrongful dismissal but also whistleblowing, discrimination, equal pay or other claims. Whilst we do straightforward claims from time to time it is always necessary to weigh up whether the potential outcome of the matter can justify the costs involved.

Factors that make cases more complex

• If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if an employee is dismissed after making a public interest disclosure (blowing the whistle on the employer).
• If there are allegations of discrimination or other claims which are linked to the dismissal.
• If there are multiple claimants or respondents to the claim.
• If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim.
• Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties) or whether the tribunal is able to hear the claim due to jurisdictional or time limit issues.
• The number of witnesses and documents. If there is a large volume of documents it may be necessary to use e-disclosure software to manage the process.
• Evidence of expert witnesses including experts' reports.
• Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person.
• Making or defending a costs application.

Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal

• Simple case£20,000 – £60,000 (excl. VAT)
• Medium complexity case£30,000 – £120,000 (excl. VAT)
• High complexity case£80,000 – £250,000 (excl. VAT)

These figures are all based on the case continuing through to trial. In reality most cases are resolved before trial. Cases of medium or high complexity may include claims of wrongful or unfair dismissal but will usually involve other claims as well. Typically high complexity cases will involve claims of discrimination or whistleblowing. Each day of a tribunal hearing will incur a charge based on the time spent and the hourly rate of the lawyer. This will typically be over £2,000 (excluding VAT). In addition counsel's fees will be incurred each day that the hearing continues (see below). These costs are included within the bands of fees outlined above. Generally, we would expect a hearing lasting 1–2 days for a simple case, 2–4 days for a medium complexity case and 5 days or more for a high complexity case.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as counsel's fees, expert's fees, travel expenses and court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. Counsel's fees vary according to the experience of the individual counsel. Fees for a hearing are usually based on a brief fee which covers the cost of preparation and the first day of the hearing and a "refresher" or a daily rate which is payable for the second and each subsequent day of the hearing. Typical fees for counsel are as follows:

Simple case

• Brief fee£2,000 – £4,000 (excl. VAT)
• Refresher£1,000 – £2,000 (excl. VAT)

Medium complexity case

• Brief fee£4,000 – £12,000 (excl. VAT)
• Refresher£1,000 – £3,000 (excl. VAT)

High complexity case

• Brief fee£6,000 – £75,000 (excl. VAT)
• Refresher£1,500 – £5,000 (excl. VAT)

Key Stages

The key stages of a claim which are covered within our normal fees are as follows:

1. Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
2. Entering into Early Conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached
3. Preparing claim or response
4. Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
5. Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
6. Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
7. Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
8. Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
9. Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
10. Preparing bundle of documents
11. Reviewing and advising on the other party's witness statements
12. Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
13. Preparation and attendance at trial including any separate hearing to determine compensation, including instructions to Counsel

The key stages set out above are an indication. If some of the stages are not required, the fee will be lower. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged in accordance with your individual needs. If there are additional stages the costs will be higher. Additional stages include: making or responding to additional applications, for example applications for specific disclosure, to strike out a claim, to seek additional time to take a step in the process, to seek an unless order to compel the other side to complete a step in the process; joining additional parties or dealing with additional parties; amending pleadings; dealing with appeals.

Work we do not undertake

• We advise on employment but not on tax or pensions. If you need specific advice on these matters we can arrange for you to receive this from other specialists in these fields.
• When advocacy is required we generally instruct counsel save for some preliminary hearings which we conduct ourselves.

How long will my matter take?

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 2–4 weeks. The aim of employment tribunals is to conclude all cases within 26 weeks of the claim starting but in reality it may take longer to conclude, often 40–60 weeks from the claim starting to the final hearing. This is an estimate and we will be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

Admin costs will be added after consultation based on the anticipated volume of documents to be dealt with. It ranges between £30 – £100.

• Possession£1,000 – £3,500
• Eviction from possession£950 – £2,500
• Neighbours Dispute / Disrepair£1,000 – £2,500
• Harassment / Illegal Eviction£1,000 – £7,500

• Issuing Proceedings / DefenceFrom £1,200
• Preparation of Statement of Case / Witness StatementFrom £750
• Directions / Trial BundleFrom £750
• Advocacy (half day)From £750*
• Advocacy (full day)From £1,500*

*Capped at solicitors' hourly rates / advocates' daily rate for full length of the hearing.

If the matter becomes disputed, any additional work engaged by us over and above the normal steps identified above will be charged at an hourly rate. A fee earner of the appropriate level of experience will be allocated to the disputed matter, in dealing with your case. Details of any additional costs will be provided to you once it becomes clear if any additional work will be necessary.

It may be necessary to appoint a barrister to attend a hearing on your behalf; this will result in an additional charge. We will notify and agree the likely cost with you.

For all other fixed fee quotes please enquire within or call — 020 8561 5559 or 077 99 29 29 10.

Should you be unhappy with any aspect of your matter, feel free to raise the issue with the relevant person dealing with your matter. Should you not be able to resolve the matter between yourselves, you are welcome to contact Mr Amit Pal Verma, the Principal in charge of client care. We endeavour to ensure that matters are dealt with both discreetly and promptly.

If you do make a complaint it will be acknowledged by us within 7 working days. In that acknowledgement we will indicate the likely timescale for a definitive response to your complaint which in any event will be within an 8 week period. If we are unable to resolve the matter then you could consider making a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. Their address is as follows:

Information about complaints against solicitors can be found on the Legal Ombudsman website at www.legalombudsman.org.uk. A complaint must be referred to the Legal Ombudsman within a 6 month period which runs from the earlier of the expiry of that 8 week period or the definitive response received from the firm.

You should also be aware that you are entitled to question or complain about any invoice that we send to you. In the first instance we request that you contact the person dealing with your work and if you are still not satisfied that you contact your client care representative. In the event that you are not satisfied after the involvement of the client care representative you may have the right to object to the bill by making a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman and/or by applying to the court for an assessment of the bill under Part III of the Solicitors' Act 1974. If you would like any further information concerning your rights please request a copy of our complaints procedure. You should be aware that where a bill is unpaid or partially paid we are entitled to rely and enforce condition 4.3.

Normally, you will need to bring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of receiving a final written response from us about your complaint or within six years of the act or omission about which you are complaining occurring or, if outside of this period, within three years of when you should reasonably have been aware of it.

The SRA work with solicitors, firms, other types of lawyers and non-lawyers to make sure that we comply with their principles, to make sure we behave independently, fairly and with integrity to best serve the interest of our client and the public interest.

Kindly note that the SRA do not deal with issues of poor service. If your complaint is in relation to poor service you would need to exhaust our internal complaints procedure. If you are still not satisfied you have a right to bring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman.

When can you make a complaint to the SRA

The SRA deal with cases where firms or those who are regulated have breached SRA Principles. You should report the matter directly to the SRA if you think we or anyone regulated by the SRA has breached an SRA Principle.

The Principles

There are seven Principles that all people and law firms we regulate must meet. This means that they must act:

1. In a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice.
2. In a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
3. With independence.
4. With honesty.
5. With integrity.
6. In a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion.
7. In the best interests of each client.

You can also report a firm or someone regulated by the SRA for non-payment of professional fees (such as agent or expert fees) if:

• You have a County Court judgment in respect of the fee, and
• the judgment relates to the practice in connection with providing a legal service.

The SRA has stopped authorising solicitors who wish to act as an Insolvency Practitioner. If your complaint is in connection with the solicitor's appointment under the Insolvency Act 1986 please contact the Recognised Professional Body that is now authorising the individual. If the solicitor has taken an appointment and is not authorised by a Recognised Professional Body then he or she may be committing a criminal offence.

How to Report a Solicitor or firm to the SRA

To make a report against a solicitor or firm please visit the link below, which will enable you to download / print the SRA Report Form and also have the relevant details of where to send your report.

https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/report-solicitor/

The SRA will aim to acknowledge all initial reports of information within 20–30 working days. Their acknowledgement will include: thanking you for providing them with the information, and it will also confirm how they will handle your information.

Should the SRA need to contact you again, it may be for you to provide further information to either take action or where you may required to act as a witness or to provide a witness statement.

For more information on the SRA's approach to handling information that you send to them and about different regulatory outcomes, click on the above link.