SRA Compliance and Costs
Solicitors Regulation Authority Compliance
We want to give you the best possible service. However, if at any point you become unhappy or concerned about the service provided then you should inform us immediately, so that we can do our best to resolve the problem.
In the first instance it may be helpful to contact the person who is working on your case to discuss your concerns, at the same time notifying Karin Walker by email on karinwalker@kgwfamilylaw.com. If you would like to make a formal complaint then you can read our full complaints procedure in our Terms & Conditions which will have been provided to you ahead of your first meeting. If you require a further copy, please contact Helen Farmer on helenfarmer@kgwfamilylaw.com. Making a complaint will not affect how we handle your case.
If the issue remains unresolved you should, in the first instance, contact Karin Walker on karinwalker@kgwfamilylaw.com who will arrange a free of charge consultation to discuss and hopefully resolve those issues.
What to do if we cannot resolve your complaint
The Legal Ombudsman can help you if we are unable to resolve your complaint ourselves. They will look at your complaint independently and it will not affect how we handle your case.
Before accepting a complaint for investigation, the Legal Ombudsman will check that you have tried to resolve your complaint with us first. If you have, then you must take you complaint to the Legal Ombudsman:
- Within six months of receiving a final response to your complaint
- No more than six years from the date of act/permission; or
- No more than three years from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.
If you would like more information about the Legal Ombudsman, please contact them.
Contact details
Visit: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Call: 0300 555 0333 between 9.00 – 17.00
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806
Wolverhampton
WV1 9WJ
What to do if you are unhappy with our behaviour
The Solicitors Regulation Authority can help if you are concerned about our behaviour. This could be for things like dishonesty, taking or losing your money or treating you unfairly because of your age, a disability or other characteristic.
Please visit their website to see how you can raise your concerns with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
When you are in the midst of change, it is essential to have a clear idea of the likely costs involved in resolving issues. The level of costs will depend on which process is followed. We shall provide you with clear and transparent information about this from the outset.
First Meeting
Your first meeting will be on a fixed fee basis and the fee will be dependent upon the solicitor with whom that meeting takes place. The meeting is likely to be up to an hour and a half in duration and will include a full written report following the meeting. The cost is limited to an hour of the fee earner’s time + VAT.
The charges are as follows:
Karin Walker £395 + VAT
Simon Clark £325 + VAT
Kim Parry £250 + VAT
Amy Cooper £250 + VAT
The first meeting can either take place face to face or on Zoom/other video conferencing platforms. It is up to you as to what you prefer.
Ahead of the first meeting you will receive a new client questionnaire to provide us with information before we meet with you. We will ask that this is returned ahead of the meeting.
During the first meeting we will discuss options with you to resolve your case and the likely costs of each option moving forwards.
We will then provide you with a clear estimate of your likely costs. These of course depend upon which option is chosen.
During your case
As your case develops, we will keep you updated on your costs position. You will receive interim invoices on a month by month basis and we will advise you if the initial costs estimate needs to be reviewed.
Fixed Fee Options
We offer fixed fee options for certain types of work including a fixed fee divorce package accessible via our website. The cost for this service is £300 inclusive of VAT plus the Court fee on presentation of a petition for divorce. This is on the basis that the proceedings are undefended.
We also offer fixed fees if you wish us to assist you with particular aspects of your case or for drafting particular documents such as a Prenuptial Agreement, Separation Agreement or application for Order by Consent.
Mediation
We offer both the “classic” and “hybrid” models for mediation.
In the “classic” model the sessions will be an hour and a half in duration and the cost between the couple inclusive of VAT is £750.
In the “hybrid” model the meetings are two hours in duration and the cost between the couple inclusive of VAT is £1000.
At the commencement of the mediation process, each of the couple will have an individual intake meeting which is approximately 30-45 minutes in duration for which the cost inclusive of VAT is £180.
We also offer a Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting for which the cost if £180 inclusive of VAT.
Arbitration
Karin Walker is a qualified Arbitrator dealing with financial and child related issues. Simon Clark is a qualified Arbitrator dealing with child related issues.
The cost of the Arbitration process including a one day hearing and written award is likely to be in the region of £4,500 inclusive of VAT.
An Arbitration “on paper” will attract a lower fee.
Specific fees on a case by case basis will be discussed at the pre-commitment meeting (which is free of charge if the couple decide not to proceed).
How to pay
We accept payments by card, cheque or bank transfer.
Please contact us on 01483 375788 if you wish to make a card payment.
Funding options
Where matters are resolved out of Court, whether through mediation or collaborative process, legal costs are paid following each session.
If out of Court settlement is not possible and a Court application is necessary, we also recommend that clients pay their costs on a regular basis during the course of the case.
We do however recognise that there are times where this is not possible and, in those circumstances, we will discuss a range of funding options so that you are able to fund you case, for example borrowing from family or a personal loan. We can also discuss other funding options with you.
We appreciate that it can be difficult for people to meet their costs, particularly in Court proceedings. We will assess the options available to you prior to the institution of Court proceedings.
