No win no fee - is it possible to negotiate the success fee?
Discussion
Hi All
Would you know if you can negotiate success fees with lawyers please? I have a high profile whistleblowing case that is likely to generate a lot of other enquires/ claims and hence income for lawyers. I suspect this is one of reasons the lawyers would be happy to represent me (along with it being a very strong case) They have offered a no win no fee arrangement for 25% success fee
Thanks
24/7
Would you know if you can negotiate success fees with lawyers please? I have a high profile whistleblowing case that is likely to generate a lot of other enquires/ claims and hence income for lawyers. I suspect this is one of reasons the lawyers would be happy to represent me (along with it being a very strong case) They have offered a no win no fee arrangement for 25% success fee
Thanks
24/7
Thank you
Blacktails all I know at moment is it's a 25% success fee. I don't have the detail yet but I think it will be a damages based success fee
If my evidence and public disclosure generates 100+ additional claims as an example then surely room for negotiation ?
However they may argue my evidence likely to become public for free if I did not make a claim ,as it is very likely I would be subpoenaed by prosecuting body
Blacktails all I know at moment is it's a 25% success fee. I don't have the detail yet but I think it will be a damages based success fee
If my evidence and public disclosure generates 100+ additional claims as an example then surely room for negotiation ?
However they may argue my evidence likely to become public for free if I did not make a claim ,as it is very likely I would be subpoenaed by prosecuting body
OP here:
Thank you everyone for your very helpful comments. I have been flat out with work and this is my first opportunity to reply.
Blacktails, I think my case is being taken on for the publicity, the cause, and the additional claims it is likely to generate as it appears the legal firm wish to raise public awareness on the matter .
I wish for my case to me made public because of the cause, but as I have made a loss, also to recoup this.
I am not a lawyer but I believe the current unidentified additional claims may be considered low value (in terms of general and punitive damages) guessing - £5,000- £20,000 per claim, but I expect there could be many hundreds and it will cause an even greater headache for defendants. I recognise however, like Jeremy 75 says, claimants may not wish to use their legal firm , and this weakens any negotiation I may try to minimise my legal fees
Re MBVitoria’s point, I am not sure how the limitation period would apply if the claimants didn’t know the matter , occurred without their knowledge, (until it is publicised) .
Forester 19, your point “If your case is so good, why don't you pay the 25% and negotiate a success fee with solicitors where you get a cut of their fees for all the other claimants? That would dwarf your 25% and reduce their risk, a win win.” Although an interesting suggestion I don’t think this would be ethically appropriate …..
But perhaps I could ask if a lot of claimants came forward by my supporting publicising the matter, that I would receive the full damages due (if the other claims generated awards that would cover my share of legal fees )??
Many thanks again everyone
Thank you everyone for your very helpful comments. I have been flat out with work and this is my first opportunity to reply.
Blacktails, I think my case is being taken on for the publicity, the cause, and the additional claims it is likely to generate as it appears the legal firm wish to raise public awareness on the matter .
I wish for my case to me made public because of the cause, but as I have made a loss, also to recoup this.
I am not a lawyer but I believe the current unidentified additional claims may be considered low value (in terms of general and punitive damages) guessing - £5,000- £20,000 per claim, but I expect there could be many hundreds and it will cause an even greater headache for defendants. I recognise however, like Jeremy 75 says, claimants may not wish to use their legal firm , and this weakens any negotiation I may try to minimise my legal fees
Re MBVitoria’s point, I am not sure how the limitation period would apply if the claimants didn’t know the matter , occurred without their knowledge, (until it is publicised) .
Forester 19, your point “If your case is so good, why don't you pay the 25% and negotiate a success fee with solicitors where you get a cut of their fees for all the other claimants? That would dwarf your 25% and reduce their risk, a win win.” Although an interesting suggestion I don’t think this would be ethically appropriate …..
But perhaps I could ask if a lot of claimants came forward by my supporting publicising the matter, that I would receive the full damages due (if the other claims generated awards that would cover my share of legal fees )??
Many thanks again everyone
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