Consultation and legal-service fees
Consultation fees and starting fees for legal services are listed below. The written engagement agreement confirms the scope, rate, and any required advance for representation.
Consultation fees
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday consultation | $100 | A 30-minute consultation. Have your relevant documents available during the appointment. |
| Optional advance document review for a weekday consultation | +$150 | $250 total with the weekday consultation. Review takes place before the appointment. Submit the requested documents by the deadline provided by the firm. |
| Weekend consultation | $300 | A 30-minute consultation, by appointment request and written confirmation. Complete the intake form, then use the calendar to request an available weekend time. |
Court docket and document purchases
If court records must be obtained for the consultation, the firm will provide a separate Docket Retrieval Agreement for your authorization. It covers retrieval of the complete available docket and documents, including routine filings. Actual court and records-platform charges are separate from the consultation fee, with no markup or attorney or staff time charged under the retrieval agreement. Payment is required before the firm purchases records. The firm provides an itemized statement of charges and electronic copies under the agreement's delivery terms. Retrieval does not retain the firm in the underlying case or include continuing docket monitoring.
Representation
| Engagement | Fee | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney time | Typically $300–$600/hr | The matter-specific rate is confirmed in the written engagement agreement; complexity, urgency, forum, and required expertise may affect the quote. |
| Support-staff time | $0/hr | The firm does not separately bill the client for support-staff time. |
| Evergreen trust balance | Generally $1,500 | Hourly matters ordinarily require the client to replenish the trust balance to at least $1,500 after invoices are applied. This does not apply to flat-fee matters unless expressly stated otherwise. |
| Contract drafting | $500+ flat | Starting fee for defined-scope drafting. The final flat fee depends on the document, scope, and complexity of the work. |
| Negotiation / non-litigation | $2,500 advance | Hourly representation; advance held in trust and applied to itemized invoices as earned. |
| Litigation | $5,000+ advance | Hourly representation; replenishing trust balance and itemized monthly billing. |
| Appeals | Case by case | Quoted after review of the order, record, deadlines, preservation, and issues. |
| Trademark application package | $2,500 flat | Defined search, advice, and federal application scope; USPTO fees and expenses separate. |
| Trademark prosecution | $2,500 advance | Hourly office-action and post-filing work outside the application package. |
| International business / trade | By review | Matter-specific flat or hourly scope. |
| HOA mediation - Zoom | $200/hr | Two-hour minimum. |
| HOA mediation - in person | $350/hr | Two-hour minimum. |
An initial advance is not an estimate of the total cost of litigation. Total fees depend on the scope, duration, opposing party, discovery, motions, and whether the case proceeds to trial. Hourly advances and evergreen balances are held in trust and transferred only as fees are earned. Replenishment does not make the funds nonrefundable. Flat fees are earned as stated in the written engagement agreement. Any unearned balance is refunded at the conclusion of the engagement as required by Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(d). Filing fees, court costs, experts, travel, and other third-party expenses are separate unless expressly included. The firm does not accept contingency-fee matters.