Fee Discounts

As regular visitors to this blog will know I have, especially in the early days of writing, made a habit of posting on the nuts and bolts of mediation practice.

It has always seemed a valuable space to fill.

Like most mediators my standard mediation agreement, which I provide to parties to sign prior to the mediation, contains a cost sharing provision — where the parties each pay half of my fees. No problem so far.

Today I received an e-mail from a lawyer in a recent mediation asking me to reconsider the half share of my fee that I had invoiced his client soon after the mediation for a number of reasons – all adding up to his client having fallen on hard times.

“Hi Geoff,

Thanks for your invoice. Great work on getting us all signed up… this is a bit awkward but I need to talk to you about your fee….”

To be honest I’ve never been that focused on the level of my fees — on the basis that I believe in the long view in a small legal community like NZ – repeat lawyers need to know they can talk to me around fees in deserving cases.

But what to do about today’s request – they agreed to both share costs – can I now simply reduce one party’s share?

I think not.

Well then, reduce both shares? Well heck no! – given the other side is a well heeled corporate and has already paid.

What then?

I think the only transparent way of doing this is to go to the other side and advise of the request and see if they have a problem – if they do then I would decline the request.

Any other takes on this?

                       

Geoff Sharp

Geoff Sharp is a Commercial Mediator from Wellington, New Zealand. Geoff works in the Asia Pacific region, including New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and Pacific Islands. He is a mediator resolving business problems. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and mediates complex and hotly debated litigation covering… MORE >