Canadian Lawyer

22 A P R I L 2 0 1 8 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m NATIONAL NATIONAL (1 to 4 lawyers) BUSINESS LAW Securing financing agreement $1,000 - $2,000 (29%) $1,000 - $2,000 (37.5%) Simple, small business incorporation $700 - $800 & $1,001 - $700 - $800 (27.69%) $1,200 (23%) Simple prospectus $10,000 - $15,000 (6%) $10,000 - $15,000 (8.06%) CIVIL LITIGATION Civil action up to and not $10,000 - $15,000 (26%) $10,000 - $15,000 (29.63%) including trial (two days) Civil action up to and not Less than $35,000 (17%) Less than $35,000 (23.53%) including trial (five days) Civil action up to and not Less than $55,000 (16%) Less than $55,000 (17.31%) including trial (seven days) Civil action — appeal only $10,000 - $15,000 (26%) $10,000 - $15,000 (25%) Interlocutor y motions, such as injunctions $5,000 - $10,000 (37%) $5,000 - $10,000 (40.38%) ADR, including mediation (up to three days) $8,000 - $10,000 (18%) $8,000 - $10,000 (18 %) CRIMINAL LAW Summary criminal offence (one-day trial) $2,500 - $3,500 & $5,501 - $6,000 (20%) $5,501 - $6,000 (15%) Bail hearing $1,001 - $1,500 (28%) $1,001 - $1,500 (28%) Criminal offence (one-day trial) $5,001 - $6,000 & $5,001 - $6,000 & $7,001 - $8,000 (16%) $7,001 - $8,000 (20%) Simple plea of guilt $1,001 - $2,000 (33%) $1,001 - $2,000 (36%) Contested matter (day-long trial or $4,000 - $5,000 (26%) $4,000 - $5,000 (28%) day-long contested plea) Longer trial (longer than seven days) $20,001 - $26,000 (16%) $20,001 - $26,000 (20.83%) Summary conviction appeal $5,000 - $8,000 (28%) $5,000 - $8,000 (24%) Appeal to court of appeal $10,000 - $20,000 (26%) $10,000 - $20,000 (20%) Uncontested divorce $1,401 - $1,600 (24%) Less than $1,000 (25.40%) FAMILY LAW Contested divorce $7,500 - $10,000 & $10,001 - $12,500 (13%) $7,500 - $10,000 (14.52%) Separation Agreement $1,500 - $2,000 (34%) $1,500 - $2,000 (38.71%) Child custody and support agreement $1,500 - $2,000 (33%) $1,500 - $2,000 (34.43%) Trial up to two days Less than $12,000 (18%) Less than $12,000 (19.35%) & $19,001 - $20,000 (18.18%) Trial up to five days Less than $23,000 (11%) Less than $23,000 (11.48%) Marriage/co-habitation agreement $1,400 - $1,700 (21%) $1,400 - $1,700 (24.59%) Spousal support agreement $800 - $1,600 (27%) $800 - $1,600 (33.9%) Division of property/assets agreements $1,300 - $1,800 (20%) $1,300 - $1,800 (25.81%) HOURLY RATES to increase their rates any further. Meanwhile, junior lawyers com- mand higher rates as they gain more experience. The general practice is to exam- ine the final bill based on the hourly rate to ensure it is fair and reason- able and then allow for adjustments. But, overall, Mills says, there is defi- nitely no downward momentum on billing rates. Pricing strategy has become an area of concern for some firms, with 16 per cent changing their process from the previous year and another 17 per cent considering changing their pricing strategy. In the Edmonton area, Duncan Craig LLP's chief operating officer, Greg Miskie, is seeing more detailed requests for proposals from some institutional clients, and fees are a part of that. "Blended rates is actually what we've been dealing with a lot over the last three or four years, I'd say," he says. Those clients, he says, want to have a deeper appreciation of the team involved, which leads to discus- sions about many components of the service. And while it's more work for the firm of 42 lawyers and a total 1 to 4 lawyers $390.10 5 to 25 lawyers $417.64 26 to 50 lawyers $497.44 51 to 100 lawyers $453.82 More than 100 lawyers $511.47 Western $410.77 Ontario $445.20 Atlantic/Quebec $339.87 National $413.83 PRACTICE AREA Business Law $429.17 Civil Litigation $433.43 Criminal Law $431.01 Family Law $382.64 Immigration Law $416.67 Intellectual Property Law $488.00 Labour & Employment Law $405.14 Real Estate Law $402.93 Wills & Estates Law $393.11 MORE THAN 20 YEARS

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