Step 9 The Attorney And Contingency Client Must Combine Signatures, This paperwork can only hold the entities we have identified earlier obligated to its terms if both provide a valid signature after reading and approving the articles it contains. (See Los Angeles Bar Assn Form.Opn. The Service Provider is: (check one). He or she must read every article of the completed agreement, sign his or her name on the Clients Signature line, report the current Date immediately after signing (on the blank line to the right), then print his or her full name on the Print Name below. * For more information about The Florida Bars Fee Arbitration Program visit this link or contact the Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP) at 8663520707. I received a copy of the agreement when I signed it. The only cost will be if the attorney wins the case and funds are received. A contingency agreement is especially popular with legal matters related to personal injury, medical malpractice, property damage, or any case where damages can be proven. 0000000016 00000 n 13. This is often seen in the legal and consulting industries. 0000205298 00000 n At the end of the proceedings, the court may submit a bill to one or more parties for things such as the costs of serving the complaint, keeping or digitizing the file, for court reporters who can attend hearings or trials and prepare transcripts, and for jurors when the case is heard before a jury. 1. Each of us wants the other to achieve a positive and meaningful result. If the Attorney has devoted a great amount of time to the Clients case this could have severe repercussions on his or her ability to continue operations. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This includes, but is not limited to, supplies, equipment, operating costs, business costs, employment costs, taxes, Social Security contributions and/or payments, disability insurance, unemployment taxes, and any other cost that may or may not be in connection with the Services provided by the Service Provider. If the attorney providing the service is not successful in their obligations then the client is not required to pay the contingency fee or any other payment. However, in the hybrid, he may charge a reduced rate of $150 per hour and accept a 20 percent contingency on the total of the outcome of the case. Therefore, the Ethics Committee of the State Bar Association has given the green light to hybrid fee agreements, provided that the total amount of fees is reasonable and complies with all applicable judicial regulations. is for information only andmustnot be relied on in any way. If the claim is filed in court, the court will charge a filing fee to the plaintiff or plaintiffs who file the claim. All fees for service contracts must contain the following provisions: A statement of the rate to be charged, whether hourly, flat fee, statutory fee, costs, or any other charges that can reasonably be anticipated. Only the service provider and the client are legally required to sign the document. Where the maximum compensation is limited by a maximum hourly rate the client should expect that rate to be higher than the lawyers normal hourly rate, particularly where the base hourly rate is substantially below the lawyers normally hourly rate i.e. This is a sum released to the Attorney in advance and will be deducted from the final (contingency) payment. At Kirkland, 103 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 105 /H [ 766 274 ] /L 158131 /E 81301 /N 32 /T 155952 >> endobj xref 103 16 0000000016 00000 n In practical terms, such an acknowledgement can be inserted into the agreement along with a place for the client to initial that he read and understood his right to consult with another lawyer and, nonetheless, has agreed to the charging lien. Under the Rules of the Profession, Rule 4-200(a), a lawyer cannot enter into or collect an agreement on illegal or unscrupulous fees. 2. Download: Adobe PDF. endstream endobj 158 0 obj <>stream No legal advice is sought by browsing this site, and none is given. This agreement represents the full agreement between Client and Lawyer. %PDF-1.3 % Barry P. Goldberg is the principal of Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation, located in Woodland Hills. The attorney will have to judge the hours needed on the case, the chance of winning, and the total amount that can be feasibly collected before agreeing to work with the client. %%EOF It requires attorneys to have a written agreement whenever it is reasonably foreseeable that the client's total expense, including attorneys' fees, will exceed $1,000. 1. In addition, even if a case is suitable for a contingency fee agreement, we must carefully manage our resources. Once youve done so, locate the words The Law Offices Of at the top of the page. The blank lines placed below this phrase expect the legal name and business address of the Law Firm or the Attorney entering this contract. 5. Most personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if you recover any money from the person that injured you, the attorney will receive a percentage of that recovery as payment for his services. Subject to some exceptions, the negotiation of a fee agreement is an arms-length transaction. (See Ramirez v. Strurdevant (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 904, 913, citing Seltzer v. Robinson (1962) 57 Cal.2d 213, 217.) This may include any amounts collected for the plaintiff by the attorney. Los Angeles, California 90067 (323) 403-5900. The law firm then bears the risk that the restructuring will be long, inadequate or non-existent. In addition, because many business cases potentially involve the award of attorney fees, how those awards will be handled are of critical importance. A charging lien in this circumstance is considered an adverse interest requiring compliance with that rule. endstream endobj 160 0 obj <>stream With a hybrid, the clients resources can be extended. 3. State Bar Ct.Rptr. 12. Section 6147 provides, in pertinent part: (a) an attorney who contracts to represent a client on a contingency fee basis shall, at the time the contract is entered into, provide a duplicate copy of the contract, signed by both the attorney and the client, or the clients guardian or representative, to the plaintiff, or to the clients guardian or representative. HW]sH}W2U?2Tblh2Xb%n 19N&!Ij"_:_Tg/O^MI/KNl3fm|_D%-lv|%d>bti&?hlbmQG7*R4zSECn#ksMFHC_wgRRKzSVm2/iL(&/1w+cw*nZR_iUUM startxref If the prospects of recovery are good, the lawyer may be willing to agree to a relatively low base hourly rate, but if the prospects of recovery are poor, or uncertain, the lawyer may require a base rate close to his or her normal hourly rate. Where the contract is silent on the handling of attorney fee awards, the award probably will go directly to the client and would not be considered a recovery out of which the attorney thought he would be receiving a percentage. %PDF-1.6 % 8. Nevertheless, the committee said: We believe that the lower risk to the lawyer will be offset by the lower premium in the event of a successful closing, as defined in the mandate agreement. If the lawyer does not meet any of the requirements of section 6147, he or she will make the agreement voidable at the choice of the plaintiff, and the lawyer will have the right to charge a reasonable fee thereafter. ( 6147 b) A percentage of contingency fees is typically 25% to 40% of the amount recovered for a client, but may be higher or lower depending on the case. There SHALL NOT be a contingency-fee arrangement as part of this Agreement. The percentage recovery will be calculated [BEFORE/AFTER] outstanding medical bills, expenses and costs of suit are deducted. The fee agreement contract helps both a client and a hired person know exactly how much to expect for the work or service completed. In order for the hybrid relationship to work for the attorney, the attorney must be able to protect himself against the client eliminating the benefit of the upside contingency for his own business reasons. In such a case, the client is not obligated to pay by the hour or other fees. This will give a point of reference and solidify the agreements timeline. A contingency fee is mostly used when hiring an attorney to represent a client in a civil case. (1984) 37 Cal.3d 122, 134.) Per Job. Depending on the nature of the case, the amount of the dispute, and the terms of an arbitration agreement, these arbitration bodies will charge one or both parties a filing fee to initiate the arbitration. Authority to Represent and Contingency Fee Agreement Client Engagement Letter Conflict Waiver Joint Representation of Multiple Clients Contract for Legal Services - Sample 1 Contract for Legal Services - Sample 2 Fee Agreement Fee Contract Clause - Consent to Arbitration * Follow up Representation Letter to Initial Interview An attorney may accept a case from a client in return for a percentage (%) of the total proceeds ($) received by the other party. + 8o A hybrid is a contingency fee agreement with all its requirements. As part of the Service Providers Pay: (check one), There SHALL be a contingency-fee arrangement in accordance with: (check applicable). This Retainer Agreement (Agreement) is made effective as of [DATE], 20[YEAR], by and between: 2. Popular for personal injury but can be for any case where the client has . at 370.) SERVICES. A written fee agreement is not required Thus, use the blank line in V. 0000004643 00000 n More contingency fee lawyers are being asked to prosecute business litigation cases. 9ui*\jhJUc_'1kZ?RrB4_\C/6@+37>p#q}74`wf(d3A@#^S{1fU)lr,V'U 48.&:l44d"Q50mK4zZnzMm1V z5h"KH\Xz9J/Qoi{)q[jMfMht}(r-3eLF 4HvXkH%7EX?[dFZ -hYik{b>|biM&XXikY?Wp*W/GdJk4R:hu>G'm]XoX&W P#ZO4j2\qWk\uQ#l-LPG& Sample: Retainer Agreement. 0000002574 00000 n ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS. A clause in a mandate contract that prohibits the client from settling or rejecting his claim without the consent of his lawyer is void against public order. By using the website, you agree to our use of cookies to analyze website traffic and improve your experience on our website. 0000001682 00000 n For larger matters, however, the standard 33-1/3/% fee earns more money for the lawyer. $1g1s i"_hRxq~~qY!Wx59a;:{;6B,K(}-oj&eK{dXO?0`G` Lawyer 0000005329 00000 n Step 5 Discuss The Concerned Legal Matter. HVQo0~#Lc'ZR6 "a2Q(4p%WV Bww"yn,Z*+T8v4Z;#w0DH dT[#mDgFlSRL7[#u=;sGBj>'pCX zIX?Etj|.NA%drdU'Z:o*zH(' ]$r-NLmw`yGT`0275g+ XO0!4T.:VP0!`3 z*")Pe{p` InI&d`(X0XAvcQX6I567LVh,[6\qd8.^(C0fXuAX In certain matters, we have taken part of our fee in equity or stock. 5. Search, Browse Law If there is no one that comes to mind, checking online resources is the next best solution to find the ratings and reviews of qualified attorneys. In the right case, we and our clients can benefit from a contingency fee agreement as our interests align with those of the client. ASSIGNMENT AND DELEGATION. FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. The award cannot be considered part of the recovery obtained by the attorney because that would simply add to the prevailing partys contract fee obligation: In other words, it would be paying (the attorney) attorneys fees for getting attorneys fees. (Mahoney v. Sharff, supra, 191 CA2d at 197 (parentheses added)). xbbd`b``3= * Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. PAYMENT. Retainer Agreement Samples Sample #1. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. endstream endobj 161 0 obj <>stream endstream endobj startxref Contact us. c.) Making payments of taxes incurred while performing the Services under this Agreement, including all applicable income taxes. South Dakota Office. Client agrees that Lawyer cannot promise or guarantee a particular result. 10. Created byFindLaw's team of legal writers and editors . Sample #2. "kpJ#3-!-U6y8R_&LP*QYy,Eok#2&'B! |lLtTH[Da! TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location, Begin typing to search, use arrow The second and last signature area can only be satisfied with by the Attorney or a representative of the Law Firm entering this agreement. xb```b``e`e`s`b@ !f da a`Pq```dbg`sw@Kz}{ bl `5 I^09|-)lBs'pr091t7m`|=L g`Me`H37@ =)= For reprint permission, contact the publisher: www.plaintiffmagazine.com, California Jury VerdictsVerdict searchReport your recent verdict, Copyright2023 by Neubauer & Associates, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Hybrid fee agreements for business litigation, Attorney's Fees (see also Contingency Fees). Therefore, the client can unilaterally decide to settle or reject the claim, no matter how the lawyer thinks about it and no matter if it would destroy a valuable success commission. The agreement should state that the attorney will be retroactively paid his customary hourly rate should the client pull the plug on the case. Upon either party may terminate this Agreement with [#] days notice. What to Expect Regarding Fees and Billing. Thus, if the contingency- fee agreement calls for a fee . 2446 0 obj <>stream Hb```f``2A@l(T0K@{WZ`6Dp~c``8@! As with any contingency agreement, the attorney has an incentive, not just to litigate the case, but to successfully conclude the case for the maximum amount possible whether by trial or settlement. 0000001047 00000 n INDEMNIFICATION. The American Bar Association (ABA) states the following: In a contingent fee arrangement, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage (often one-third (1/3)) of the recovery, which is the amount finally paid to the client. Said fees are subject to increase via attorney motions and court orders. 6. A contingency fee allows a client to only make a payment for the services if the contingency is met. 523 (2009) including court-awarded attorney fees in total recovery for purpose of percentage fee calculation does not violate CRPC 1320(A) prohibition on fee-splitting with nonlawyer); (c) The fee agreement may provide that any court-awarded attorney fees belong to the attorney, not the client. (See, Denton v. Smith (1951) 101 CA2d 841, 844); (b) The fee agreement may provide that any court-awarded fees will be included in the total recovery for purposes of calculating the attorneys percentage fee. Service Provider shall be paid, in accordance with section IV: (check one). 171 0 obj <>stream At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. Non-Contingent Fee AgreementsB&P 6148 Business and Professions Code Section 6148 governs non-contingent fee agreements. ______________________________________ The only cost will be if the attorney wins the case and funds are received. It strains reality to think that when a lawyer sits down to negotiate at arms-length with a prospective client, as part of that negotiation, he must recommend to that the client in writing that he consult with a different lawyer before agreeing to such a charging lien. The blank lines in this article allow a direct report of this description. He has written and lectured extensively about UM/UIM Arbitrations and is a member of CAALA and the San Fernando Valley Bar Association. CONTINGENT FEE AGREEMENT - BASIC (Sample - Modify) I, [Client], retain [Attorney], Attorney at Law, to represent me for recovery of damages arising . The contingency payment amount must be solidified, and this will be accomplished by defining it as a percentage in article IV. For example, an experienced trial attorney may command $400 per hour. All these cashless solutions create problems for the prosecutor to actually be paid. 15. Finally, if an attorney fails to comply witany provision of h the statute, the fee agreement becomes voidable at the client's option and the attorney is only entitled to a reasonable fee. The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar, Best Practices for Remote Court Proceedings, RULE 4-1.5 FEES AND COSTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES, Fee Contract Clause Consent to Arbitration. In the absence of a contract expressly providing that he (attorney) may receive those fees in addition to his compensation under the contract; those fees must be credited to the amount payable under the contract. (Mahoney v. Sharff (1961) 191 CA 2d 191, 195, (emphasis in original; parentheses added), Court-ordered fees are designed to relieve the prevailing party of a fee obligation. All rights reserved. 21. To pick the simplest illustration, a lawyer who settles 100 cases for $1,000 each on the sliding scale will rake in a hefty $50,000 in fees, compared to only $33,333 earned by a lawyer who uses the traditional 33-1/3% formula for the same cases. At first glance, the client may perceive this hybrid structure as a better option than a traditional hourly agreement, as the reduced rate should theoretically lead to a reduction in expenses and the law firm should theoretically be motivated to maximize recovery to increase its emergency payment. Making Federal and/or State unemployment compensation contributions on the Service Providers behalf; and. 8. A fee agreement is a document signed between a client requesting the services and a service professional that sets out the terms under which a service provider will do the work. Client agrees not to settle the case without Lawyer's participation and consent. 7. 4. Violation of that rule renders the lien unenforceable. After the agreement has been signed, its time for the client to pay the retainer amount. }AF`^={t.k:vhl5)65%pfPkjjmupW.R~2z&gy&3H@B[ dMd{u5p=h The Committee recognized that a lawyer who charges a modified contingency fee avoids the total risk of not receiving a claim (since the lawyer receives an hourly fee). A contingency fee agreement is a legal document that governs the relationship between an attorney and client where the attorney's fees are based on a percentage of the amount recovered. 0000000671 00000 n Not required to pay for any expense in connection with the Services provided. Sample Contingency Fee and Retainer Agreement Forms . This Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, promises, conditions, or understandings between the Client and Service Provider. @ agreement (hereinafter "the Agreement") was the subject of the underlying action. Create a high quality document online now! The agreement will detail compensation, hours, contingencies, and any other terms for the services provided. (Hall v. Orloff (1920) 49 Cal.App 745.) On a weekly monthly quarterly basis beginning on [DATE], 20[YEAR]. 0000006693 00000 n Sometimes some lawyers are willing to change the terms of an agreement, including the type, price, and/or amount in which fees are paid. A clause in a retainer agreement prohibiting the client from settling or dismissing his lawsuit without the consent of his attorney is void as against public policy. CLIENT: [NAME] with a street address of [ADDRESS], City of [CITY], State of [STATE] (Client). 13. . A recurring payment used for an ongoing relationship between the client and the consultant. 2397 0 obj <> endobj HVMO@W1^{U! Lawyer will bear the cost of the arbitration. As long as the hybrid arrangement does not constitute a double fee, it should be permissible. We cannot accept or agree to make every case on a contingency basis every emergency offered to us. RETAINER AGREEMENT. Limiting the maximum compensation to the lesser of the two will to the benefit of the plaintiff, but depending on the risks involved may not be acceptable to the lawyer. 0000005382 00000 n Sample Contingency Fee and Retainer Agreement Forms %gA`A`A`A`A`ao z&M7eoNST8NST8NST8NST8(Q6G1f1x1x1x1x7`3vh48:4 fg~w~w~w~w~wj6B_P8qUyIs !] & oFvoH;eL1 v#Go+fK")M60[m@L{sMU= G5;J);q MG U@\7B].S!*-n:ZoU.);P8~{}q5br0F` vtyr#vDz(E4n!_iU;sI! Accordingly, the Service Provider will not disclose or use, either during or after the term of this Agreement, any proprietary or confidential information of the Client without the Clients prior written permission except to the extent necessary to perform the Services on the Clients behalf. The Retainer is: (check one). All of these non-cash resolutions create problems for the prosecuting attorney to actually get paid. 0,2j K,Sj-hI171,Y`XQY0sgG1nkFc3z#D3Yy=xO7>xN9"F8ojR _@zxgL;J "n. J| HA W x%.r3vh2"Q Responsible for all expenses. Legally defining the hybrid arrangement is not so easy but it is possible. 1999-1 (opining that as long as the client enters into the fee agreement in an arm's length transaction and agrees to the fee with informed consent, such arrangements The Court concluded that the statutory requirements on contingency fee contracts in Business and Professions Code 6147 apply to hybrid agreements. Step 3 Set A Specific Date To Apply To This Paperwork, It will be important to attach a specific Date for this agreement. A contingency fee is an amount of money that is only paid if certain parameters are met. (Arnall v. Superior Court (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 360, 369.) Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), OpenDocument, Step 1 Acquire Your Copy Of The Contingency Agreement Through This Site. All Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act ("MICRA") contingency-fee agreements must comply with Business and Professions Code section 6146. . Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument. This Agreement shall remain in effect in the event a section or provision is unenforceable or invalid. 0000205595 00000 n 0000001357 00000 n 11. Step 6 Document The Agreed Upon Retainer Status, Some legal procedures or cases may go on for a significant amount of time. (1974) 11 Cal.3d 558, 563; see also Tarver v. State Bar of Cal. Legal Matter, will seek a reasonably adequate description of the case the Attorney handle. Accordingly, the centerpiece of any hybrid fee agreement should be an enforceable lien and an upward readjustment of the attorneys hourly rate to compensate for the loss of the contingency. 18. Lawyers who charge by the hour will do what they are paid for charge hours. endstream endobj 170 0 obj <>/Size 148/Type/XRef>>stream 0000003081 00000 n For some analysis on ethical issues related to hybrid fee agreements, see Bar Association of San Francisco Formal Ethics Opn. 6. SEVERABILITY. It is common in a retainer agreement for a clause to read: No work may begin until the retainer has been paid in-full by the client. If the requirements are not followed, the fee agreement is void. xref E}E2RqHKKEg>eS06EO*r6WdlWK'_!,[^*A36=n'hkTET^(+J59zrxH)"~n}W6\[qt4iFG!4Zw*Siij?69y-OkMB}MJ e-X=wu^ZPtL\(d$EUj\'ygE1y:U} Z\Jox]:p]^)q>tn:'[Rz"v9sr!. The retainer agreement acts as both an agreement for services and allows the service provider to collect pre-payment for future services. COMPENSATION. 14. Lawyer reserves the right to terminate this contract if at any time he/she concludes that the claim is without merit. 8c!&uTC#yg \|a >)!Pip g:h29}pq+kqOTyL.0u)$n[IsJFgy>]%w*. 1. The email address cannot be subscribed. Client agrees to pay Lawyer's fee for professional services as follows: ______ percent of any settlement or recovery, and _______ if the case is appealed. Example: A client pays a retainer of 10 hours for accounting services every month. Name on Why Should We Have Free Trade Agreements, Which of the following Best Describes a Conditional Insurance Contract. 0000009888 00000 n Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. 148 24 1997) 3 Cal. Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument. Thus, if a retainer fee will be paid as per this agreement, you must mark the first checkbox in this section (III. Contingent Fee AgreementsB&P 6147 Business and Professions Code Section 6147 governs contingent fee agreements. Below is a sample of how that agreement might look. uIP^S:u$ }^3I=lRTf. The attorney, instead of being paid by the hour, will receive a portion of the total amount of funds collected from the other party after a settlement or judgment. TERM. In consideration for the Services provided, the Service Provider is to be paid in the following manner: (check all that apply). The parties will negotiate the hourly rate, contingency, retainer amount, and terms of termination. 9. Mr. Goldberg has been in practice since 1984 and attended the University of California, Los Angeles undergraduate and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. 0000001197 00000 n 2023 by the author. Client agrees to pay costs of investigation, out-of-pocket costs and expenses [ON A MONTHLY BASIS]/[AS THEY ARE BILLED]/[BY REMITTING $_________ PER MONTH]/[OTHER ARRANGEMENT]. Moreover, many business litigation cases simply stall as the pre-trial hourly attorney fees escalate beyond the clients ability to pay. A retainer can be set up as a one-time payment or for a recurring period. In practice, however, hybrid pricing schemes often do not offer the expected benefits. When the terms of the retainer agreement are agreed upon by all parties, its time to sign the agreement. It contains the Depending on the type of arrangement made, a retainer payment may be requested to get working on the matter. The pages above explain how a lawyer and client may agree to a hybrid fee agreement under which the lawyer is paid a low hourly fee as the claim proceeds and is then paid a bonus if there is good recovery on the clients claim. A hybrid is a contingency fee agreement with all its requirements, There is a recent case where the court determined, as a matter of first impression, that a hybrid fee agreement was a contingency fee agreement subject to all the statutory requirements. A reasonable alternative is to insist on a hybrid fee agreement wherein the attorney is paid a reduced hourly rate, but accepts an upside on contingency. The profitability of a law firm is no different. The type of contingency fee agreement requires us to carefully select contingency fee cases. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. With a few exceptions, negotiating a fee agreement is a transaction on market terms. (See Ramirez v. Strurdevant (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 904, 913, citing Seltzer v. Robinson (1962) 57 Cal.2d 213, 217.) Since many business cases can involve the allocation of attorneys` fees, how these allowances are handled is crucial. However, it does not invalidate the underlying fee agreement or preclude the attorney from otherwise recovering the agreed-upon contractual fee. The above wording is merely an example and the figures would need to be adjusted for each particular case by taking into account the lawyers normal hourly rate, the clients ability to pay a base hourly rate, and each of the lawyers and clients willingness to accept risk. If the courts rule that the subject warrants a retrial or that one must be conducted by an appellate court and the Attorney will gain a contingency payment from any sum paid to the Client as a result, then fill in the percentage defining this expected payment on the fourth blank space of this section. 0000008662 00000 n CONTINGENT FEE CONTRACT (Addendum to Retainer Agreement) DATE: _____ . In conclusion, a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached if counsel pays close attention to the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct concerning charging liens and contingency fees. To share the risk and benefits of uncertain recovery the Firm and the Client agree to variable fees as set out below and the following defined rates apply to calculation of such fees: Fees calculated based on the time spent on the Clients Case and using the Minimum Hourly Rate (the Minimum Fees) will be payable to the Firm by the Client as and when accounts are rendered regardless of the amount, if any, ever recovered on account of the Clients Case. By law, fee agreements with your lawyer must be in writing when the lawyer anticipates fees and costs for your case to total $1,000 or more. The Service Provider represents and warrants that all employees and personnel associated shall comply with federal, state, and local laws requiring any required licenses, permits, and certificates necessary to perform the Services under this Agreement.