TRANSPARENCY

Practice Information

Jonathan de Mounteney is a barrister, practising as a sole practitioner from chambers at Whistley Court Farm, near Reading in Berkshire.

His areas of practice are intellectual property law, entertainment law, company and commercial law and employment law, in relation to which Jonathan provides the following services:

• advice to clients in relation to law and practice
• the drafting of commercial and court documents for clients
• representation for clients at hearings (in the High Court, the County Courts, the Copyright Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal, and well as arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution procedures)

For information, such services do not extend to tax law or insolvency law.

Fees

We most often charge a fixed fee for attending a hearing, for providing written opinions and drafting some documents (broadly those whose complexity is known with reasonable certainty at the outset). For other work, we most often charge an hourly or daily rate. 

We do not generally accept instructions on a “no win, no fee” basis, but we aim to be flexible in agreeing a fee arrangement that is appropriate for the work in hand. Such arrangement may include cost controls such as: 

• an estimate of what we think the work is likely to cost (revisited from time to time to check for reasonable accuracy, by reference to the actual progress of the case);
• the agreement of a spending limit or costs authorisation points; and
• (where a fee is payable at an hourly or daily rate) the provision of a daily record of time spent on your case, which is available on request and in event which is provided along with related invoices. 

VAT is payable on fees. All fees are quoted excluding VAT but you will be reminded of this if/when a quote is given and again (if/when you wish to engage us) in the relevant client care letter. We will re-quote “including VAT” on request.

Client Care Letter 

A sample client care letter and terms of engagement can be found here. Please note that this sample is for information only. Actual client care letters will reflect the needs of the specific client and the case concerned.  

Indicative Rates

Fees vary according to the type and complexity of the work, but indicative rates for work related to employment are currently as follows:

For Employment Tribunal cases and other advice and representation for employers, employees and other workers, we generally charge a fixed fee for:

• advice on making or defending a claim
• advice on entering into a compromise agreement
• the preparation of tribunal documents (ET1/ET3 etc)
• hearings (including directions and remedies)

For other work, such as conferences, preparation of bundles, drafting contracts, policies, ongoing advice and assistance (for example in relation to consultations) we generally charge an hourly rate. 

Whether we agree a fixed fee or an hourly rate (or a combination of the two), there are also likely to be additional charges, for example if the case involves travel or the need for overnight accommodation, then travel and accommodation costs are charged to you at cost. If a case requires travel for over two hours in any given day day, a fee of (typically) £80 per hour of travel on that day is charged in addition to the costs referred to above and the fees indicated below.

All the fees stated on this page are exclusive of VAT, which will be charged in addition to the prices stated.

If we charge fixed fees, these may vary depending on your needs – for example, your fees may be towards the higher end of the range if you have a more complex case, for example if there are claims in addition to ordinary or unfair/wrongful dismissal. 

If you have a particularly complex case, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below.

 Fixed Rates

Hourly Rates

In providing services, we do not often incur third party charges, but where we do, (for example travel costs, accommodation or other third party charges relating directly to the work undertaken) we would expect to recoup them from you, by prior arrangement. Again we would agreed the basis for any such recoupment (including any pre-authorisation arrangements) in clear terms in the relevant client care letter. We would provide a break-down of any such charges and, upon request, provide copies of relevant receipts.

Regulatory and Complaints Information

As a barrister practicing from chambers, Jonathan is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standards Board’s website: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record/the- barristers-register.html. This shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this (or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).

Chambers’ Complaints Procedure provides information about:

• Our complaints procedure;

• Any right you may have to complain to the Legal Ombudsman – the independent body which can help you if you have complained to your lawyer and are not happy with their response; <
• How to complain to the Legal Ombudsman; and
• Any time limits for making a complaint.

You can also search the decision data on the Legal Ombudsman’s website:
http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/raising-standards/data-and-decisions/#ombudsman- decision-data. This shows providers which received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months, and whether the Legal Ombudsman required the provider to give the consumer a remedy. Alternatively, you can contact the Legal Ombudsman on 0300 555 0333 to ask about this (or e-mail enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk).

Practising Certificate, Professional Indemnity Insurance and Regulation

As a self-employed barrister practising in England Wales, Jonathan:

• holds a self-employed practicing certificate issued by the Bar Council
• is a member of, and holds professional indemnity insurance with, the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund
• is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.