In short. We start by reading your papers and telling you, in writing if you wish, whether you have a claim or a defence, which court it goes to, what the deadlines are and what the costs will be. Our professional fee is agreed in writing at the first meeting, stage by stage. Court fees and mediation costs are separate and are explained before anything is filed.
The first meeting
Bring, or send in advance, the contract or purchase orders, the invoices, proof of delivery or completion, the ledger or account statement, and the emails, messages and notices exchanged. If you have been sued, bring the summons and the complete plaint with its documents, and note the date you received them, because the deadline runs from that day.
In the meeting we check four things before anything else: whether the claim is within limitation, whether it is a "commercial dispute" of Rs 3 lakh or more, which court has jurisdiction, and whether there is a quick route such as a summary suit or an urgent order. You leave with a clear next step and a timeline.
Stages of a matter
Review and advice
Reading the documents, checking limitation and jurisdiction, and advising on the options: notice, mediation, summary suit, regular suit, urgent relief, or settlement.
Legal notice and mediation
Drafting and sending the notice, and representing you in pre-institution mediation under Section 12A before the Legal Services Authority.
Filing
Drafting the plaint with the statement of truth and full document disclosure, paying court fee, filing (e-filing where available) and seeking any urgent order.
Hearings until judgment
Written statement or replication, admission and denial of documents, case management hearing, evidence by affidavit, cross-examination and final arguments.
Appeal and execution
Appeal within 60 days if needed, and execution of the decree by attachment of bank accounts, receivables and property.
How fees work
We do not publish fee amounts. The Bar Council of India rules do not allow advocates to advertise fees, and the right fee depends on the amount involved, the court, the urgency and how much the other side contests. Fees are discussed at the first meeting and agreed in writing for each stage, so you know in advance what each step will cost.
| Cost | What it is | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Professional fee | Our fee for advice, drafting and appearances, agreed stage by stage | Agreed in writing with you |
| Court fee | Fee paid to the court on the plaint, usually ad valorem (a percentage on a sliding scale of the amount claimed) | State court fee law; check the current schedule |
| Mediation | Pre-institution mediation through the Legal Services Authority carries a small prescribed fee | Mediation rules |
| Out-of-pocket costs | Process fee, notarisation, certified copies, stamp papers, travel for out-of-station hearings | Actual expenses |
| Associate counsel | Where a case is in another city or needs Supreme Court filing | Agreed with you in advance |
If you win, the court may order the other side to pay costs. Commercial courts are expected to award realistic costs, but how much is recovered is for the court to decide.
Keeping you informed
After every hearing you get a short note of what happened and what comes next. Before each deadline you are told what we need from you and by when. Copies of everything filed are shared with you.
To start, book a consultation or read the documents needed for a recovery suit.
Frequently asked questions
Do you charge for the first meeting?
Whether a consultation fee applies is explained when you book it. Any fee for the matter itself is agreed in writing before work starts.
Can the fee be linked to the amount we recover?
No. Under the Bar Council of India Rules an advocate cannot charge a fee that depends on the result or take a share of the amount recovered. Fees are fixed for the work done.
Do I have to come to court?
Usually not for routine hearings. You may need to sign the plaint and affidavits, attend mediation, and give evidence if the case goes to trial. Many hearings now take place by video.
Can you handle a case outside Delhi NCR?
Yes. We draft and run the strategy, and work with associate counsel in that city for appearances, so you deal with one team.