Personal
Even with the best intentions, disputes can arise that require expert legal advice. If you are involved in a disagreement or facing civil court proceedings, having the right support at an early stage can make a significant difference. Our experienced civil solicitors are here to help you understand your options and take the most appropriate course of action.
Civil litigation is the process of resolving disputes between individuals and organisations, either through negotiation or, where necessary, through the courts. Taking advice early can often help prevent matters from escalating and may open up alternative ways to resolve the issue.
Hewitts provides a professional yet approachable dispute resolution service, built on clear, straightforward legal advice. Our civil litigation solicitors work on your behalf to resolve disputes in the most effective way for you, whether that is through court proceedings or alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation.
We regularly act for individuals in a wide range of civil disputes, including:
Our focus is always on achieving a practical resolution while protecting your interests and keeping matters proportionate.
Most of the work that we undertake is charged on an hourly rate basis. Our hourly rates range between £160 + VAT (for a Paralegal or Trainee Solicitor) and £295 + VAT (for a Partner, or a Solicitor with 8+ years qualified experience). If there is a defined limit to the work that we are instructed to undertake (such as drafting a single letter, or a Court document on your behalf) we may be able to act for you pursuant to a fixed fee, which would be discussed and agreed with you in advance of commencing any work on your behalf.
These costs apply where your claim is issued at court. You as the Claimant are responsible for paying the issue fee which is dependent upon the value of your claim. This fee will be in addition to our hourly rate fees as above.
Below is an overview of our typical range of fees chargeable in a standard, undisputed Debt Recovery case. These fees are based on the estimated level of work required, applying the hourly charges referred to above and are used as an example of what you could expect to pay. Each claim will incur its own level of costs based on the value and complexity of the dispute. We will always discuss costs with you from the outset, and we aim to be realistic with our estimates.
| Debt value | Court fee | Our fee (excl. VAT) | VAT on our fee | Total (incl. VAT) |
| Up to £5,000 | £35-205 | £1000 – £3,000 | £200 – £00 | £1200 – £3,600 |
| £5,001 – £10,000 | £455 | £2,000 – £5000 | £400 – £1000 | £2,400 – £6,000 |
| £10,001 – £200,000 | 5% of the value of the claim | £3,000 – £10,000 | £600 – £2,000 | £3,600 – £12,000 (plus Court fee) |
| More than £200,000 | £10,000 | £5,000 – £25,000 | £1,000 – £5,000 | £16,000 – £40,000 |
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:
Our fee includes:
Matters usually take 4 – 26 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.
You can view our Dispute Resolution team members here. All members of the team have extensive experience acting for individuals in civil disputes, including debt recovery matters ranging from small claims under £10,000 to multi-track claims involving the recovery of six-figure sums. We regularly represent clients in both undisputed and disputed debt claims.
Each member of our team is experienced in managing cases through the court process, including taking enforcement action where required. Throughout your matter, we will provide clear guidance, keep you informed at every stage and work diligently to achieve the best possible outcome.
