Our Fees And Billing Practices

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Our fees are as follows:

A.        Initial Consultation:

What it is:  Our first “meeting” with prospective clients takes the form of what we call an “Initial Consultation.” Our Initial Consultations are not like most initial attorney consultations: they are intended to provide prospective clients with information, understanding, advice and a “game plan” of sorts, so that when the Initial Consultation is over, they are capable of taking action to address their matter of concern on their own, or if they wish, with our assistance. Significant time and effort is devoted to learning all we can about you, your matter of concern, and your overriding goal(s). Alan L. Sklover attends all Initial Consultations; depending on your matter of concern, a second attorney may attend (at no additional cost).

Where, When and How: For those residing outside the New York metro area, Initial Consultations usually take place by telephone. In-office consultations take place at our Rockefeller Plaza office. Most initial consultations last between 1-1/2 hours and 2 hours. They are usually scheduled for 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Fee:  The fee for an Initial Consultation is $750.00, with two infrequent exceptions:

1. If you have concerns about two distinct matters taking place at or near the same time, and each entails prior review of documentation, such as (a) severance negotiations, and (b) new job negotiations, then prior to setting a date and time we may request an additional fee of $250.00, thus totaling $1,000.00.
   
   
2. In certain, limited circumstances, and if your matter does not entail review and analysis of substantial documentation, then the fee may be reduced to $450.00.

There is no additional fee if the Initial Consultation lasts longer than 2 hours, although that is not common. Nor is there any refund if the Initial Consultation lasts less than 1-1/2 hours, which is uncommon, as well.  

Payment: Payment for Initial Consultations is expected (a) prior to Telephone Consultations, and (b) immediately following In-Office Consultations. We accept all major credit cards and personal checks.

A Common Question - Can my spouse/partner attend? We strongly encourage the participation of spouses and partners in Initial Consultations, for a variety of reasons. That being said, if the presence of a loved one will likely impede open and constructive dialogue, their participation is not encouraged.

A Second Common Question – If I draft a memo to my employer, will you review it?:  Many of our clients choose to commence negotiation of a matter by themselves, through the use of a written memo to their employers. We do offer our services to review, edit and/or revise such memos at an additional fee of $275.00.

To Schedule an Initial Consultation:  If you are interested in scheduling an Initial Consultation, or have any questions about the process, please call our Firm Coordinator, Phyllis, at 212-757-5000.

B.   Retention of our Firm: There are three basic ways we charge our clients:

To become a client of the firm, you must sign a written Retainer Letter, and provide an Initial Retainer Deposit.

Initial Retainer Letter:  No one can be considered a client of our firm until and unless we are in receipt of a signed Retainer Letter.

1. Hourly Retention: Hourly Rates (Plus 2% of Recovery on Contested Matters)
   
   This is the most common way our clients pay for our services.  Mr. Sklover’s fee is $575 per hour and the remainder of our attorneys fees range from $375 to $250 per hour.  We charge for our time in 6-minute increments, that is, in increments of one-tenth of an hour. Statements for services are transmitted by email at the beginning of the month following the month in which the charges are incurred.
   
   In what we call “Contested Matters,” which include without limitation severance negotiations, arbitration, mediation and litigation, and the like, we also charge a fee of Two Percent (2%) of the increase in “Recovery” over and above that amount, if any, that was offered to you prior to our engagement. [To be entitled to a credit for any such prior offer, a client must specify what the “prior offer” was, and when the “prior-offer” was made on his or her written retainer agreement.]  We define “Recovery” broadly, to include compensation of any kind we attain for you, inclusive of such things as cash settlement, equity awards we are able to get vested for you, and payment of health care premiums for you in the future.
   
   
2. Half-Hourly Retention: Half of Usual Hourly Rates (Plus 20% of Recovery)
   
   For those concerned about out-of-pocket expense, we also offer a Retainer Basis that is based on one half of our usual hourly rates, plus an additional Twenty Percent (20%) of your Recovery, over and above any prior offer listed on your written Retainer Agreement.
   
   
3. One Third Contingency Retention: In rare circumstances, perhaps two or three times yearly, we agree to represent clients on matters on a One-Third-of-Recovery basis. 

All Clients are Responsible for Expenses: Regardless of the Retention Basis, all clients are responsible for Disbursements and Expenses for such items as Court filing fees, Federal Express, postage, photocopies, facsimiles and local travel costs. [Expenses for travel outside the New York metro area are not incurred until written payment arrangements are made.] All clients are charged a monthly computerized legal research fee of $75.00, regardless of the extent of use.  

All Clients Must Make an Initial Retainer Deposit:

To initiate retention of our firm, each client must make an initial deposit of $5,000.00, which is placed into an attorney “IOLTA” escrow account. [“IOLTA” stands for “Interest on Legal Trust Accounts,” a New York State program that mandates banks collect and pay over interest on such deposits to New York State; the interest is then devoted  to providing legal services for the poor.] Such deposits are then drawn down monthly as payments for services, costs and disbursements come due. If any balance remains after representation is concluded, it will be refunded within thirty (30) days.

We do not render any services, assume any responsibilities or render any legal advice until a formal, written retainer agreement is signed by both the client and a member of our firm.

All Fee Structures And Fixed Fees Are Subject To Upward Modification At Any Time Without Notice, Until A Written Retainer Agreement Is Signed.