© Copyright | YMCLAW | Yves-Michel Crvcanin-Boivent | Attorney at Law | Avant-Poste 19 | 1005 Lausanne | Switzerland | Phone: +41 79 410 32 53
At our first meeting we will discuss in a clear and transparent manner all matters related to fees and expenses.
There are no fixed or recommended fees for lawyers’ services in Switzerland. Lawyers are in principle allowed to freely determine their own fees' policy.
Nevertheless, the Vaud Lawyers’ law lists (art. 45, para.1) the elements that are to be taken into account : the time devoted, the emergency, the deadlines, the difficulty of the case, the issues involved, the effectivness and the result.
It must be noticed that in Switzerland lawyers are not allowed to waive their fees if the client loses in litigation. It is also prohibited to make the fees depend only on the outcome of the case, as a percentage of the amount received by the client in a settlement or award (pactum de quota litis).
Conversely, a so-called pactum de palmario – an accord foreseeing a contingent fees as a premium added to the normal fees – is permitted. Accordingly, when appropriate, we will decide by mutual agreement on a share of the amount gained or saved by the client through our efforts, which will be due in addition to the regular fees calculated at the agreed rate. Effectiveness and success are thus fairly rewarded.
In accordance with the law and the practice of the profession, we request retainers at regular intervals as the case proceeds.
Invoices will be mailed at regular intervals. They are payable within 30 days.
The client may request at any time a detailed list of our billed activities.