Our Fees

Our firm charges our services based on an hourly rate. 

The rate we charge depends on the type of work we do. Our hourly rate is between $100 to $250 per billable hour of work done. This rate will increase substantially if we are required by you to work after normal working hours (after 5pm), on weekends, and on holidays. 

For all hourly matters we require an upfront retainer fee generally this will be $2,000 but can be more or less depending on the complexity of your case. 

A retainer fee is a fee a client pays to cover the future legal costs.  

Contingency based fess is when a lawyer or paralegal charges a client not hourly, but on a basis of what the client wins at the conclusion of their case. This is often commonly known as percentage based or if we don't win you don't pay. 

WE will consider working on a contingency basis in some cases, such as:

• Human rights disputes before the HRTO or the CHRT,

• Workers compensation disputes before the WSIB, the WSIAT, and/or the HRTO,

• Civil disputes before the Small Claims Court of Ontario 

Each case will be carefully reviewed to determine the level of risk to determine whether it is warranting of us agreeing to take your case on a contingency fee basis. If we do not agree to take your case on a contingency fee basis you may still retain us on an hourly basis. 

Please note that:

• Our standard contingency is 30%, plus HST, of any awards you receive,
• No discounts will apply when we work on a contingency fee basis,
• You will be required to pay any disbursements (any expenses such as court filing fees, service etc.),
• You can end the contract for legal services with us at any time. However, know that you will be required to pay our services based on an hourly rate, up to the time you end the contract for legal services, 
• In Small Claims Court matters, you can ask and be compensated for any legal costs regardless of any contingency fee agreement, and
• Also, in Small Claims Court matters, you could be ordered to any legal costs of the opposing side if you lose.   

It is very important to take your time when retaining legal services. 

Most importantly, BEFORE signing any legal contract for services, you carefully review and FULLY understand the legal contract for services. That you have read and fully understand the Law Society of Ontario's Guide entitled Law Society’s Contingency fees: What you need to 

We will be very happy to provide you a copy of the guide in hardcopy paper or in an Adobe PDF copy. 

On occasion we may take on a pro bono case or we may waive our fees until you win your case. Unfortunately, we are currently not accepting any pro bono cases at this time. 

We are also not accepting clients who pay when they win. 

These decisions unfortunately are based on our own commitments to meet our financial obligations.  

We do offer special discounts for our services. 

This does not include any discounts on any disbursements, reimbursements, court fees or any other costs we pay. 

McMaster University Discount

We presently offer a 15% discount on our fees to all McMaster Students and staff. 

Proof of being a student or staff member is required.  

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce

We presently offer a 15% discount on our fees to all Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Members. Proof of membership is required. 

JusticeNet

We are a member of JusticeNet which is a is a not-for-profit service helping people in need of legal expertise, whose income is too high to access legal aid and too low to afford standard legal fees.  

Proof of eligibility is required.

We reserve the right to cancel any of the above discount programs at any time. 

The above discounts are NOT to be combine together or used with a contingency fee.