Estate Planning, Probate & Litigation Fee Policy
By requesting or accepting services from Lee Kiefer & Park, LLP (the “Firm”), you agree to the terms of this policy unless the Firm agrees otherwise in a signed document. If you disagree with anything in this policy, in a fee agreement, or in any communication from the Firm regarding billing, you must instruct the Firm not to render any services until you and the Firm have signed a written fee agreement; otherwise, you will be bound by the terms of this policy, any fee agreement, and all billing-related communication.
Hourly Charges; Billing Rates. When services are billed by the hour, you agree to pay for the time that the Firm expends on your case, as calculated at its standard hourly rates that are in effect at the time the services are rendered. The Firm reserves the rate to update its hourly rates.
As of August 30, 2023, the standard hourly billing rates for the professionals in the Firm are:
- Kennedy E. Lee $395
- Daniel P. Kiefer $395
- Matthew W. Park $395
- Greg Carlson $395
- Suzanne R. Fitts $355
- Jordanna Evans $385
- Chase T. Pittsenbarger $300
- Devin Earl $325
- Law Clerks $200
- Paralegals $190
If a different billing rate is agreed upon for specific circumstances, the rate must be specified in a separate document signed by the Firm.
Time is billed in tenth-hour (six-minute) increments, rounded to the next highest tenth of an hour.
Billable time will include all time expended on your matter, including the time the Firm spends meeting or communicating with you, your advisors, opposing parties and their counsel, and/or other third parties that are involved in the matter. The time expended on your matter will include the time to prepare for, travel for, and attend meetings, consultations, and hearings.
More than one professional may work on your case, and you will be billed for the time of each professional, even when the professionals confer or work together on your case.
The value of the Firm’s services is measured by factors other than just the amount of time required, such as the novelty and complexity of the questions involved, the skill required, familiarity with the specific area of law, the preclusion of other engagements caused by the acceptance of the subject engagement, the magnitude and scope of the Matter, the results achieved, customary fees for similar services, the nature and length of the Firm’s relationship with you, and other similar considerations.
Interest; Default. From the date of each invoice that is not paid within one calendar month of the invoice date, the Firm has the right to charge interest at the rate of 12% (twelve percent) per calendar year. Even if invoices do not show interest charges, we have the right to add interest at any time retroactively to the date of the earliest invoice that remains unpaid. The Firm has the right to suspend all work on any matter, or to withdraw from any matter in the even the Firm does not receive timely payment on any matter. By accepting partial payments, we do not agree to do so in the future or waive the right to seek immediate collection of all amounts due.
Expenses. You agree to reimburse the Firm for expenses incurred on your behalf, such as (but not limited to): postage, recording fees, filing fees, court reports costs, transcripts, and travel.
Personnel. The Firm has the right to select from its professionals the person(s) who will perform the services to be rendered. A non-attorney professional (such as a paralegal) may be used by the Firm to perform some of the work.
Fee Disputes. If a dispute arises between the Firm and you regarding the Firm’s fees, the parties agree to resolve that dispute in the relevant court that has jurisdiction of the matter or through the Nevada State Bar’s Fee Dispute Committee’s Arbitration Program, at the Firm’s election. If the Firm elects Arbitration, and the entire dispute cannot or will not be heard by the Nevada State Bar’s Fee Dispute Arbitration Program, then the entire dispute shall be submitted for arbitration before a neutral arbitrator at Advanced Resolution Management located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Firm reserves the right to seek any and all other legal remedies to collect amounts due to the Firm.
Client Cooperation. You agree to cooperate fully and candidly with the Firm with respect to a matter. You agree to provide all information known by or available to you which may aid the Firm in representing you in a matter. You agree to be available to the Firm for consultation on reasonable notice, and will provide such decisions or directions as the Firm may need for the appropriate handling of a matter.
Client Disagreements. In the event you perceive any actual or possible disagreement with the Firm or the Firm’s handling of a matter, you agree to promptly and candidly discuss the problem with the Firm.
Confidential Communications. All communications between you and the Firm – whether written, oral, or electronic – are confidential, and you agree to take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the confidentiality of these communications is preserved. This includes, at a minimum, ensuring that (i) written communications are not read by other persons, (ii) oral conversations are not overheard by other persons, (iii) electronic communications are not accessible by other persons, and (iv) the communications between you and the Firm are not disclosed to other persons.
Fiduciary. In the event you are appointed in a fiduciary capacity, the court may order payment of the attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the Matter. However, in no event does your appointment absolve you of personal responsibility for the attorney’s fees and costs in the Matter. During the period of the engagement, you will continue to receive monthly statements, but such statements will be for your information only and will not be due or payable until a court either approves or denies an application for fees and/or costs. To the extent the court denies any fees or costs incurred in the Matter, then the outstanding amount shall be paid form your beneficial interest in the trust or estate, or, if applicable, from your compensation as fiduciary.
Work Product. All of the Firm’s work product will be owned by the Firm, but may be utilized in whole or in part by the Firm or you in other projects.
