Fees

For Criminal defence representation

With my firm there are no surprises when it comes to fees. Since my firm generally works on a block fee basis rather than on an hourly rate, you’ll know what your defence will cost as we move through each stage of the process. You may even qualify for a Legal Aid Ontario Certificate, in which case the Province of Ontario will cover your legal fees.

If you are not eligible to receive a Certificate, you will need to arrange a retainer. Together, we will come up with a payment plan for the retainer that will work within your household budget. You may pay by cheque, debit, Visa or MasterCard.

Once we meet and have our initial interview to go over the chronological progress of your case and what should happen next, I require a valid Legal Aid Certificate issued by Legal Aid Ontario, or a deposit toward the retainer fee.
The initial block fee covers a brief appearance or two in court, and the review and analysis of the case against you.

Once I have received disclosure, and formed the legal opinion as to how to proceed, I will quote you the full retainer fee (where your fees are not covered by legal Aid Ontario). In many cases, I will quote you a fee for an ultimate plea of guilty, and, a fee for going to trial. The retainer varies substantially, depending on the seriousness of the charge, the estimated length of time it will take to resolve, and the amount of work that will be required to defend you.

For professional and institutional clients

Let's meet to discuss what I can do to work with you toward achieving your goal. My retainer will reflect the level of involvement I have in your project.