What is Civil Litigation?
Civil litigation is the process of dispute resolution between members of a community through the court system. Civil law grants to individuals the right to sue for compensation or for specific action in matters such as breach of contract, defamation and negligence.
When can I sue someone?
If you feel that you’ve been wronged but it’s not a criminal matter to be dealt with by the Police, then you may be able to commence a lawsuit against someone. The kinds of disputes that are dealt with under civil law include disputes between:-
- Neighbours
- Customers and suppliers
- Business partners
- Landlords and tenants
- Buyers and sellers of property
- Homeowners and builders
- Employees and employers
- Executors or beneficiaries in deceased estates
- Owners of copyrights and patents
- Creditors and debtors
- Accident victims
Different kinds of legal cases have different time limitations imposed so it’s important that you seek legal advice quickly to find out if you can commence legal proceedings.
How to file a Claims – the civil litigation process
Prior to court proceedings being commenced, the first course of action is always to seek a resolution to the dispute, saving both time and money. There are a number of alternative dispute resolution methods which can be used including round table negotiation, conflict mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. Dispute resolution lawyers can assist with this process.
If all attempts to settle the dispute fail, then the dispute will be taken to trial.
Trial proceedings are lengthy and somewhat complex.
The particular court forms which need to be completed to commence a civil suit vary according to the type of dispute so its best to seek legal advice regarding this.
How we can help
We are experienced dispute resolution civil litigation solicitors and have proven experience across a wide range of civil suits including:-
- Commercial litigation
- Business litigation
- Employment litigation
- Unfair dismissal
- Divorce disputes
- Will disputes
- Debt recovery
- Building and property disputes
- Dividing fence disputes
- Breach of contract
- Breach of copyright
Contact us for more specific advice from an experienced litigation solicitor in London about how we can assist you with settling your dispute.
Fees
We provide expert advice and assistance on civil matters and have expertise to represent you at all levels at Court and Tribunals for those areas that are listed.
Hourly rates
Our charges are either hourly rated or fixed fee where applicable. You will be advised at the commencement of your instruction if your matter is suitable for or will be chargeable on fixed fee.
Our hourly rates set out below are net of VAT. This mean Value added tax is chargeable at the current rate of 20% for the total fee chargeable. We review our hourly rates each year on 1st November to consider increases in costs. We will notify you in writing if the rates you are being charged are increased and the date from which the increases will apply.
We will charge you £300.00 for each hour spent on your matter by [Gafar Gbadamosi or equivalent person responsible for the case].
Where others are required to assist with your matter, we will charge you the following hourly rates for their work:
| Grade | Description | Hourly rate |
| 1 | Solicitors with over 8 years’ post-qualification experience | £300.00 |
| 2 | Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years’ post-qualification experience | £265.00 |
| 3 | Solicitors of less than 4 years’ post-qualification experience, legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience | £240.00 |
| 4 | Trainees, paralegals and fee earners of equivalent experience | £220.00 |
All routine correspondence which we write will be charged at 1/10th of the hourly rate, while routine correspondence we receive will be charged at 1/20th of the hourly rate.
All routine telephone calls, either made or received, will be charged at 1/10th of the hourly rate.
More complicated correspondence and telephone calls will be charged at the hourly rate for the actual time they take.
Disbursement Charges
Additional charges may be payable for Disbursement. This are charged at the rate of the Home Office prescribed fee chargeable. This amount payable depends on the category of relevant application being submitted on your behalf including the National Health Service surcharge for your age group (either adult or child) and Biometric Centre (external agent) charges. There may be separate charges payable if you are appealing the Home Office decision. Please enquire within.
Other expenses
There may also be other expenses which we need to pay on your behalf. These can include:
- court fees.
- fees for expert reports.
- barristers’ fees.
These will be listed separately on your bill, and you may be charged VAT in relation to these expenses too.