It is important for you to be well informed about the fees and expenses you can expect.

FEES

It is not always possible to anticipate how the case will develop and therefore to anticipate what the eventual fees and expenses will be.

The importance of the case, its complexity, its urgency, the experience of the lawyer handling the case and of course the results all play a role.

The basic rate is €120/hour.
For specialised and urgent assignments €175/hour is charged.

With very high stakes, higher rates can be decided or in addition to the hourly rate, an agreed surcharge will be invoiced, expressed in a percentage of the obtained or declined interest assessable in money depending on the client’s position.

If the dispute covers more than one instance, the applied percentages in principle will be increased by 50% per instance.

It is usual to request a retainer for the fees as well as for the expenses.

For the handling of a large number of debt files for one client, fees can be fixed in accordance with Article 2 of the Royal Decree of 10 August 1998 (Belgian Official Gazette 08.09.1998) including the establishment of regulations and pay scales for determining the expenses and fees of receivers.

Other arrangements can, however, be made with the client depending on the nature or importance of the case(s).

What is important is that the agreements are clear so that you know where you stand.

EXPENSES

A significant part of the general fixed and variable office expenses cannot directly be attributed to a specific case. Inevitably a significant part of the fees is used for the settlement of these expenses.

As far as specific case-related expenses are concerned, a simple method was chosen in order to avoid complex statements and time-consuming data input: a fixed sum corresponding to 25 % of fees is added.

This fixed amount covers the costs of opening the file, its administrative management, typing, postage and telecommunication costs (not including international conversations) and photocopy costs (not including an exceptionally large number of copies). It also covers the subsequent archiving of the case.

The following are invoiced separately :
- Advanced court and bailiff costs (which in theory are paid directly by the client)
- Cost of registered letters
- Courier costs
- Travel expenses outside of Brussels (€0.40 per km)
- Expenses for translations, expert’s reports, etc., and in general all expenses incurred outside the office
- VAT: under current legislation lawyers are not subject to VAT, so no VAT will be charged

PAYMENT TERMS

Fee and expense statements as well as deposit requests are payable within 14 days via deposit or transfer. Cheques are not accepted.

Failure to pay within this period will lead to the owed amounts expiring and becoming immediately due legally and without formal notice.

From the expiry date for each started month a late interest of 1% shall be charged or at least an interest that cannot be lower than that established by the European Central Bank, increased with points, based on the Law of 2 August 2002 on the fight against payment arrears. The expired amounts shall be increased with a loss compensation of 10%, with a minimum of €100 and a maximum of €1,000.00.

The courts of Brussels shall be competent.