SRA Price Transparency
As required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, we have detailed our estimated charges below. For a personalised quote based on your individual case, please get in touch with our team.
Our Fees and Charges
Our fees consist of the costs for the legal work we carry out, together with any disbursements. Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as barristers, experts, or court fees. Where appropriate, we may arrange payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure the process runs smoothly.
Where VAT is mentioned, it will be applied at the prevailing rate, currently 20%.
Your matter will be managed by a trusted and experienced member of our litigation team. Our team comprises qualified solicitors and skilled paralegals who specialise in this area of law. Once your case is allocated, we will provide you with details of the individual responsible, including their background and professional qualifications. Information about our team’s experience and the types of work they typically undertake is also available on our website.
All cases are supervised by our team, ensuring that your matter receives senior oversight and professional care throughout.
Unless an alternative funding arrangement has been agreed, our solicitors charge on a fixed hourly rate basis as outlined below:
Legal Role
Partner / Solicitor (8+ years PQE)
Solicitor (4+ years PQE)
Solicitor (under 4 years PQE)
Trainee Solicitor / Paralegal
Hourly Rate (plus VAT)
£550.00 (plus VAT)
£400.00 (plus VAT)
£300.00 (plus VAT)
£200.00 (plus VAT)
At Themis Law Partners LLP, our team of solicitors is dedicated to assisting individuals and businesses in recovering outstanding debts, regardless of the amount involved, provided the debtor is based in England and Wales.
If you decide to proceed with a claim, please note the following:
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The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from the debtor.
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Interest and compensation may increase the total debt amount.
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The costs outlined below do not include enforcement action (for example, if bailiffs are required to recover the debt on your behalf).
Stage 1: Pre-Action
Our debt recovery process begins by sending you a Client Care Letter along with a copy of our Standard Terms & Conditions. Once we receive your signed acceptance, we will prepare and issue a pre-action letter (Letter of Claim) to the debtor, setting out the background of the dispute and the precise sum owed.
If the debtor agrees to pay the outstanding amount promptly, our legal fees will be approximately £1,000 plus VAT.
The letter before action gives the debtor 21 days to respond (for both individuals and companies). However, in more complex matters, the debtor may have up to three months to reply.
Below is an estimate of our fees for a straightforward debt recovery matter:
Pre-Action
Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
Undertaking appropriate searches
Sending a letter before action
Receiving payment and forwarding to you, or if unpaid, preparing and issuing a claim
Individuals
£550.00 (plus VAT)
£400.00 (plus VAT)
£300.00 (plus VAT)
£200.00 (plus VAT)
Companies
£550.00 (plus VAT)
£400.00 (plus VAT)
£300.00 (plus VAT)
£200.00 (plus VAT)
Stage 2: Issuing Legal Proceedings
If the pre-action letter does not result in payment, we will issue a claim in the County Court or High Court, as appropriate. This involves preparing and filing a Claim Form and Particulars of Claim to recover the outstanding debt.
The defendant has 14 days to respond. If they file an Acknowledgment of Service, they will have a further 14 days to file a Defence. If no Acknowledgment or Defence is received within the specified period, we can request a Judgment in Default.
To reduce costs and stress, we may also engage in settlement discussions or mediation before the matter reaches trial.
Additional fees may apply if proceedings are issued, including Counsel’s fees and expert fees, which depend on the complexity and duration of the case.
Legal Proceedings
Applying to the court for Judgment in Default where no Defence is received
Upon receiving Judgment in Default, writing to the debtor to request payment
If payment is still not received, advising you on next steps and likely costs
Individuals
£350.00 (plus VAT)
£150.00 (plus VAT)
£500.00 (plus VAT)
Companies
£350.00 (plus VAT)
£150.00 (plus VAT)
£500.00 (plus VAT)
Court Fees
Court fees vary depending on the value of your claim. Below is a guide to estimated court fees, including our preparation and filing costs.
Claim Amount
Up to £300
£300.01 – £500
£500.01 – £1,000
£1,000.01 – £1,500
£1,500.01 – £3,000
£3,000.01 – £5,000
£5,000.01 – £10,000
£10,000.01 – £100,000
£100,000.01 – £200,000
Over £200,000
Paper Form Fee
£35
£50
£70
£80
£115
£205
£455
5% of the claim
5% of the claim
£10,000
Online Claim Fee
£25
£35
£60
£70
£105
£185
£410
4.5% of the claim
Not applicable (paper only)
Not applicable (paper only)
Our Fee (plus VAT)
£150.00
£175.00
£200.00
£250.00
£350.00
£450.00
£550.00
£1,500.00
£3,000.00
£5,000.00
Disbursements
In addition to our fees, you will be responsible for disbursements — third-party costs associated with your matter, such as application fees and barristers’ fees.
It is difficult to provide a fixed estimate without reviewing the specifics of your case. Please contact us for a tailored quotation.
Timescales
The duration of a debt recovery matter depends on various factors, particularly the stage at which resolution is reached.
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If settlement is achieved during the pre-claim stage, the process may take approximately 4–8 weeks (excluding the debtor’s response time).
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If the case proceeds to a final hearing, it may take between 24 and 52 weeks, depending on court availability and the complexity of the claim.
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For more complex cases, trials may be scheduled over a year from the initial claim.
These are only indicative timescales; we will provide a more accurate estimate as your case progresses.
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Price transparency regulations apply solely to summary-only motoring offences as defined under Part I of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and/or section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. These include, for example:
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Driving while disqualified
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Driving without valid insurance
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Careless or inconsiderate driving
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Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report it
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Speeding offences
Typical Costs
Early guilty plea: £400 plus VAT
Trial: £1,200 plus VATPlease note that fees may vary depending on the specific details of your case. Factors that may affect pricing include:
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The need to instruct expert witnesses
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Taking witness statements
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Providing advice or representation in a “special reasons” hearing
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Assistance with an appeal
Trial and Appeal
Our costs are charged at a fixed rate according to our published pricing structure. However, should your case involve greater complexity or proceed to appeal, the total cost is likely to exceed the standard fixed-fee range.
Disbursements
In addition to our fees, you may incur disbursements — expenses payable to third parties. These could include:
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Representation and attendance at a single hearing in the Magistrates’ Court (for either a guilty plea or an adjourned trial date)
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Expert witness fees
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Costs for obtaining medical reports or records
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Taking witness statements
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Advice or representation in appeal or special reasons hearings
While it is not always possible to quote a fixed fee in advance, we are happy to provide a tailored estimate once we have reviewed your individual circumstances.
Key Stages of a Typical Case
The fees outlined above usually cover the following stages of magistrates’ court traffic work:
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Discussing your situation and advising on your legal options throughout the process
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Explaining the requirements of the relevant road traffic legislation and court procedures
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Assessing whether you meet certain criteria and advising how any shortfall might be addressed
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Reviewing and considering the evidence you provide
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Advising on the likely sentence
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Attending court with you and meeting beforehand to prepare your case
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Discussing the court’s decision with you afterwards. (Further advice or representation on appeal will incur an additional fee.)
Estimated Timescale
It is not possible to give an exact timeframe for when your hearing will take place, as this is determined by the court’s listing schedule on the day.
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Statutory Demand
A Statutory Demand is a formal written request for payment of a debt that is either undisputed or acknowledged by the debtor. It is typically served within 48 hours.
Our fee for preparing a Statutory Demand is £500 plus VAT.If the debtor fails to respond or is unable to make payment, you may take further action — such as issuing a bankruptcy petition if an individual owes you £5,000 or more, or applying to wind up a company if the debt owed by a business is £750 or more.
Bankruptcy Petition
A bankruptcy petition can be filed at court to request that an individual’s assets be taken and sold to repay the debt owed to you.
The court charges a £990 petition deposit and £280 court fee.
Our professional fee for preparing and submitting a bankruptcy petition is £1,000 plus VAT.
Insolvency (Company Winding-Up Petition)
If a company is unable to pay its debts, you may apply to place it into compulsory liquidation through a winding-up petition. Once granted, the company’s assets are sold and distributed to creditors.
The court costs for winding up a company include a £1,600 petition deposit and a £280 court fee.
Our fee for handling a winding-up petition is £1,000 plus VAT.