FEES

Our approach to fees is so simple, it is almost revolutionary. Fees should be based on three elements:

1. What is the value of the services to the client? Not value in terms of a law firm's economic overhead. Should you pay a lawyer an hourly rate designed to cover his firm's overhead, and generate a predictable income-per-partner, or should you pay a lawyer based on the value you receive?

2. Sometimes the billable hour works; sometimes it doesn't.

3. Fees must strip-out the three cardinal sins of billing by lawyers:

    A. Wheel-spinning

    B. File-churning

    C. Associate-shuffle.

Law Office of Christopher Olander & Associates LLC believes fee arrangements should be fair to both parties, based on reasonable expectations, defined objectives, and budget-conscious choices. We offer the following options to our clients:

1. Hourly-based representation. Chris surveyed his peers (in terms of practice areas and experience), found that most of them charged between $450 and $650 per hour, assumed an average overhead rate of 55% for most law firms, and calculated his hourly rate by taking the median rate, and stripping out the overhead factor implicit in law firm hourly rates. The result is an hourly rate of $250 per hour. One of Chris' clients recently remarked: "I get you for what I used to pay a low-level associate at _____."

2. Fixed-Fee representation. Sometimes, it is in the client's interest to get the job done at a pre-defined cost, not an open-ended hourly-rate arrangement. Chris accommodates this need whenever asked to do so. He will negotiate a fixed fee arrangement, usually paid in advance, or with a substantial retainer, that locks-in the cost of the engagement for the client - no matter how long it takes, or how difficult it may become.

3. Fee Plus Equity. For growing private companies, and small or micro-cap public companies, Chris is willing to negotiate a reduced hourly rate fee, or discounted fixed fee, in exchange for warrants or stock in addition to the fee. This can be an attractive alternative for his clients. Note, however, that Chris will NOT entertain this form of fee arrangement in situations in which he must deliver legal opinions on which public investors rely. The neutrality and integrity of a public company's lawyer must remain invincible.