Jake L Attorneymann Dewey Cheatem and Howe 7788 Lawyer Circle AnyCity, Oklahoma, 55555 Eighteenth day of April, 2008 John E Doe 5522 AnyAddress AnyCity, Oklahoma, 55555
RE:
Agreement for Legal Services
Dear John E Doe: This letter will serve to confirm that you have retained this firm as counsel in connection with { insert __________________}, and to confirm the fee arrangement that will be used for this matter. 1. Fees for Service. Our billing practice is to charge for our services based primarily on the number of hours devoted to the matter multiplied by the hourly guideline billing rates of each of the particular professionals performing the service. These hourly guideline rates are based upon experience, expertise, and standing within the legal community. It is our practice to record all of the time spent by each of the attorneys, paralegals, and law clerks within the office and to apply to such time the hourly guideline rate of that professional. The hourly guideline rates, which are periodically adjusted, for professionals within the firm presently range from $325 per hour for our newest associates to $650 for our most senior partners. My current hourly guideline rate is $375 per hour. We normally treat our hourly rates as guidelines and do not always multiply the time by the hourly rate to determine the proper fee. When billing a particular matter, we review the computer prepared time records carefully and make appropriate upward or downward adjustments if required in the particular circumstances. 2. Out-of-Pocket Costs and Disbursements. In the normal course of our representation, we may incur certain ordinary expense items, such as long distance telephone charges, copying charges, filing and recordation fees, postage, messenger service, computer-aided legal research, word processing, and staff orvertime. In such circumstances, we will reflect such charges on the regular monthly statement. To the extent that our representation involves the incurring of any extraordinary expenditures, such as airfare, hotel accommodations, expert witness charges, etc., we will generally require that the client provide those sums to us, in advance, before we incur them. 3. Monthly Statements. Our practice is to send a monthly statement for services rendered and disbursements incurred during the previous month. The detail in the monthly statement will inform you as to both the nature and progress of work and the fees and disbursements which have been incurred. Our fee structure is based upon the premise that all statements are due and payable upon receipt, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days thereafter. If payments are delayed beyond the
due date, we will reserve the right to charge interest at the highest rate permitted by law from the due date until the date when paid. While we do our best to ensure that our clients are satisfied with both our services and with the reasonableness of the fees charged, if you have any questions regarding a statement or regarding the basis for our fees, please feel free to raise such questions directly with me. Pursuant to your instructions, unless I hear from you to the contrary, we will send our monthly statements directly to you at the same address as used in this letter. 4. Future Conflicts. We already have discussed the potential conflicts that may arise. Our undertaking to represent you in the above matter(s) will not act as a bar so as to prevent us from representing any existing or future client with respect to a claim adverse to you which does not arise out of the matter at hand. We reserve the right to withdraw from representing you should we determine that a conflict of interest has developed for us. 5. Ongoing Representation. In the event we represent you on other matters in the future related to the instant claim or otherwise, then the terms and conditions of this agreement shall apply to the same. 6. Nature of Relationship. The attorney-client relationship is one of mutual trust and confidence. If you have any questions at all concerning the provisions of this agreement, we invite your inquiries. We also invite your inquiry about any monthly statement that is in any way unclear or appears to be unsatisfactory. If you are in accord with the foregoing, please sign and date the duplicate copy of this letter in the space provided and return the same to me in the enclosed return envelope. We look forward to working with you. Very truly yours, ________________________________ Dewey Cheatem and Howe By: _____________________________ Jake L Attorneymann THE FOREGOING IS AGREED TO: _________________________________ John E Doe Date: ____________________________