Helms & Greene Billing Practices

Billing Practices
These commitments are applicable to legal matters handled by Helms & Greene for all clients.

Billing Arrangements
Helms & Greene from its inception, has been able to offer lower hourly rates than other law firms because we efficiently organized and strive to efficiently manage our caseloads. We leverage technology, avoid non-productive payroll and minimize overhead expenses. Our hourly rates vary with the attorney's experience and area of practice. Generally, our rates are approximately 25% less than firms with comparable talent and experience.

In this endeavor, we have considered a variety of alternatives to the hourly-basis billing methods. Alternative billing arrangements may result in sharing both the risk and reward.

The following are examples of the kind of arrangements we offer:

Flat phase-based or task-based fee:
We are paid up to a predetermined fee for representation in a particular matter or for the performance of a specific phase or task.

Blended or fixed hourly rate:
All lawyers assigned to a particular matter are billed at the same hourly rate, instead of different rates based upon the experience of the various lawyers.

Volume discount:
Reduced hourly rates upon commitment to direct a particular volume of business to Helms & Greene.

Contingency fee, or reverse
or defense contingency fee:
We are paid a specified portion of any recovery obtained for the client in a particular matter. Fee partnering is accomplished by paying Helms & Greene a reduced rate for representation in a matter with the understanding that a bonus would be paid in the event we obtain a “favorable result.” Client and counsel would reach an agreement as to what would constitute a “favorable result” at the outset of the representation.

Disbursements
Helms & Greene does not seek payment for firm overhead from its clients. Reimbursable disbursements are charged at actual cost to the Firm. Actual cost is defined as the amount paid by Helms & Greene, net of any discounts, to a third-party provider of goods or services.

Helms & Greene will NEVER charge for the following services and items because we consider them to be overhead:

Secretarial services (including overtime)
Proofreading
Librarian services
Word processing
Computer printing
Temporary help
Office filing
Office machine attendants (photocopy or fax "tending")

Travel Expenses
Helms & Greene will seek reimbursement for necessary and reasonable travel expenses only. We will make all reasonable efforts to limit travel (for example, in litigation matters, many “local rules” allow for counsel traveling from outside the particular county to appear telephonically at case management conferences and the like) and avoid overnight stays.

We will seek out the lowest rate available on all airline, hotel, and car rental reservations. We will comply with your company's policy regarding travel expenses, if furnished to us.

Staffing
We know your organization selected Helms & Greene on the basis of our expertise and experience. Accordingly, prior to commencing representation in a particular matter, we will discuss with you the specific professionals who will be primarily responsible for handling the matter. Our lawyers and paralegals have expertise in specific substantive areas and this knowledge will dictate assignments. We will staff all matters efficiently. A matter will be staffed after consultation with and approval by the client. If a staffing change is necessary, Helms & Greene will not charge for any “learning time” that may result. Because we all have “big firm” or corporate practice experience, our invoices do not include time spent educating ourselves on basic substantive law.