ALG gives the client value by offering several alternative fee arrangements

ALG | Attorneys is committed to an aggressive alternative fee arrangement program and has encouraged our lawyers to find opportunities to engage in alternative fee arrangements as a means to provide predictable costs to our clients, reduce billing complexities, and align the cost and value of our legal services. As part of this commitment, ALG has instituted a Project Management Best Practices Program for attorneys to meet clients’ expectations of efficiency, predictability and value. The program stresses the key elements of effective matter management: communication and mutual understanding between ALG and the client; legal strategy; planning and monitoring timelines, tasks and budgets; and delegating and motivating the legal team.

As part of our commitment to the use of alternative fee arrangements we have developed a variety of creative billing arrangements with our clients. Although our experience is that some matters are more suitable for alternative arrangements than others, we are willing to consider alternative billing methodologies for most matters. Our alternative fee arrangements, detailed below, may be for the life of the matter, for a phase of a particular matter or monthly based on an annual fixed amount:

Fixed Fee

Under a fixed-fee arrangement, the client pays an agreed-upon sum of money for an agreed-upon amount of work and ALG assumes the risk of overruns. If the hours billed to the engagement are less than expected, ALG benefits. Shared savings can be negotiated into the flat fee arrangement. Retainers are similar to fixed fees, except ALG receives the money upfront.

Phased Fee

In a phased-fee arrangement, ALG and the client agree upon the fees for discrete phases of the work. This type of arrangement works well for Litigation and Transactional matters with defined segments that can be estimated and scope of work well delineated.

Collared Fee

An agreed-upon fee is established with a collar, typically 10%. Should the value of fees be above or below the collar, ALG and the client agree on a percentage of the overage/underage to be credited or paid. The percentage is normally 50%. The purpose of this type of deal is to limit risk to both the client and the law firm.

Value Fee

ALG might be paid a fraction of its fee under an hourly arrangement, and an additional amount if the result exceeds the agreed-upon criteria. The additional amount might be an agreed-upon sum or percentage of the recovery. ALG and the client share the upside of a favorable outcome. ALG is also negatively affected by an unfavorable outcome, but does not assume the entire risk.

Holdback

Under a holdback fee arrangement, the client withholds an agreed-upon amount or percentage of the fee until an agreed-upon milestone or result is achieved, or until completion of the engagement.

Blended Rate

A blended rate is an agreed-upon hourly rate that applies to all lawyers working on a matter. It can be effective for highly leveraged engagements where less-expensive lawyers can be utilized.

Contingent Fee

Under a contingent fee arrangement, ALG gets paid only if it achieves a financial recovery or other result for the client, typically, a percentage of the total recovery. When a contingency fee is utilized, ALG assumes the risk of a cost overrun and also of a bad outcome.

By definition, alternative fee arrangements achieve cost savings for the client and the firm, but for the savings to be effective, the specifications regarding the work to be done need to be clear. We truly believe alternative fee arrangements are the wave of the future and we are willing to work with our clients to craft such arrangements as appropriate.