What legal help typically costs
Estimated ranges for representation in 24 kinds of matter. Before any engagement fee is collected, your lawyer gives you a written estimate for your own case.
Why the same kind of case can cost USD 3,000 or 20,000
Legal work is priced on the time and expertise a matter actually needs. Four things decide where a case falls in its range.
-
How complex the facts are
One bounced cheque between two parties is simple. Several cheques, a disputed debt and an accusation of intent are not.
-
How far the case goes
Most cases settle and stay near the lower end. Full hearings, expert evidence, appeals and cross-border enforcement push the cost up.
-
Where it is heard
A matter in one country is simpler than one that needs proceedings in two countries at once.
-
Experts and third parties
Forensic accountants, medical specialists or valuers bill separately, often USD 1,000 to 10,000 or more. We tell you in writing before any such cost is incurred.
A wide range is not guesswork. We do not quote low to win a case and raise the fee later: after the first consultations your lawyer gives you a tighter written estimate for your own matter.
How you pay
Two stages, so you never commit to a case fee before you know what the case involves.
-
Stage 1
Platform access retainer
USD 300
Non-refundable
Opens your client account and covers up to five consultation sessions of up to one hour each: intake, assessment of your matter and orientation on the procedure. It does not cover formal representation.
-
Stage 2
Case engagement retainer
Quoted after assessment
Typically 50–60% of the estimated fee
Collected only after your lawyer gives you a written assessment and you authorise the engagement in writing. It is applied to fees as work progresses, and any unused part is refunded at the end.
Court filing fees, expert witnesses, translation and international coordination are not included. Each is disclosed in writing and needs your separate approval before it is incurred.
Typical ranges by matter
Totals for representation, excluding the platform retainer and disbursements. Open a matter to see what moves it up or down the range.
Criminal and fraud
-
Criminal and penal cases USD 3,500 – 25,000+
What drives the cost. Number of charges, hearings and jurisdictions involved.
- Simpler case · ~USD 4,000
- A single assault charge resolved by plea
- Complex case · USD 20,000+
- A multi-country fraud prosecution going to full trial
-
Fraud and scam cases USD 4,000 – 20,000+
What drives the cost. Cross-border recovery, civil and criminal tracks run together, asset tracing.
- Simpler case · ~USD 5,000
- A local fraud complaint against one defendant
- Complex case · USD 18,000+
- A cross-border investment scam pursued in three jurisdictions
-
Cybercrime and online fraud USD 5,000 – 30,000+
What drives the cost. Digital forensics experts (USD 150–400 an hour, billed separately) and the number of jurisdictions.
- Simpler case · ~USD 6,000
- An identity theft case in one country
- Complex case · USD 25,000+
- An extortion and hacking case needing forensic experts across borders
-
Forex and cryptocurrency cases USD 5,000 – 35,000+
What drives the cost. Asset tracing, regulatory filings, enforcement in several jurisdictions.
- Simpler case · ~USD 7,000
- A frozen broker account claim in one country
- Complex case · USD 30,000+
- A multi-exchange crypto fraud pursued in four jurisdictions
-
Breach of trust and misappropriation USD 4,000 – 20,000+
What drives the cost. Forensic accounting, asset tracing, structures with several entities.
- Simpler case · ~USD 5,000
- An employee diverting company funds, settled
- Complex case · USD 18,000+
- Misappropriation across several companies, through trial
-
Forgery and forged documents USD 3,000 – 15,000
What drives the cost. Forensic document experts (USD 500–2,000, separate) and the depth of trial preparation.
- Simpler case · ~USD 4,000
- A disputed signature on a single contract
- Complex case · USD 13,000+
- Corporate document forgery with forensic experts and full trial
-
Anti-money laundering and terrorism financing USD 8,000 – 50,000+
What drives the cost. Regulatory investigations, asset freezes, international compliance.
- Simpler case · ~USD 10,000
- An individual caught in a compliance review, one jurisdiction
- Complex case · USD 40,000+
- A company facing an AML investigation by several regulators
Debt and damages
-
Bounced cheque cases USD 1,500 – 8,000
What drives the cost. Criminal or civil track, contested or not, number of cheques.
- Simpler case · ~USD 2,000
- A single dishonoured cheque, settled quickly
- Complex case · USD 7,000+
- A contested cheque case with a dispute over intent, at trial
-
Debt recovery and financial claims USD 1,500 – 12,000
What drives the cost. A demand letter or full litigation, domestic or international enforcement.
- Simpler case · ~USD 2,000
- A demand letter and a simple court filing
- Complex case · USD 10,000+
- Enforcing a judgment across two countries
-
Compensation claims USD 2,500 – 15,000+
What drives the cost. Experts to quantify the loss (USD 200–500 an hour, separate), settlement or trial.
- Simpler case · ~USD 3,500
- A straightforward financial loss claim settled before trial
- Complex case · USD 13,000+
- Moral and material damages with expert evidence at trial
Family and inheritance
-
Family and personal status cases USD 2,000 – 12,000
What drives the cost. Contested or agreed, number of hearings, jurisdictions.
- Simpler case · ~USD 2,500
- An uncontested guardianship order
- Complex case · USD 10,000+
- A contested personal status case over several hearings
-
Divorce, maintenance, custody and visitation USD 3,000 – 20,000+
What drives the cost. Contested custody is the most expensive family matter. Mediation costs far less than full litigation.
- Simpler case · ~USD 4,000
- An agreed divorce with settled terms
- Complex case · USD 18,000+
- A fully contested custody case through trial
-
Inheritance, wills and estate disputes USD 3,000 – 18,000+
What drives the cost. International estates, several heirs, contested wills. Probate fees are separate.
- Simpler case · ~USD 4,000
- Validating a will with two heirs, one country
- Complex case · USD 16,000+
- An international estate with a contested will and several heirs in court
Employment
-
Employment and labour disputes USD 2,000 – 10,000
What drives the cost. One claim or many claimants, the regulatory complaint stage, how far the case goes.
- Simpler case · ~USD 2,500
- A single dismissal claim settled early
- Complex case · USD 8,000+
- A wage dispute for several employees through the labour court
Real estate
-
Property sale and purchase disputes USD 3,000 – 20,000+
What drives the cost. Property valuers (USD 500–1,500, separate), developer disputes, settlement or trial.
- Simpler case · ~USD 4,000
- A buyer–seller contract breach settled before trial
- Complex case · USD 18,000+
- A developer non-delivery dispute with valuers, through full litigation
-
Rental disputes, landlord and tenant USD 1,200 – 7,000
What drives the cost. Eviction or a commercial lease dispute, damage claims, number of hearings.
- Simpler case · ~USD 1,800
- A straightforward eviction
- Complex case · USD 6,000+
- A commercial lease dispute with damage claims over several hearings
Commercial
-
Commercial and corporate disputes USD 5,000 – 40,000+
What drives the cost. Shareholder actions, governance disputes, number of parties, volume of evidence.
- Simpler case · ~USD 6,000
- A two-party partnership dispute settled by mediation
- Complex case · USD 35,000+
- A minority shareholder action against a board, through full trial
-
Contractual and commercial obligations USD 3,000 – 20,000+
What drives the cost. Contract value, number of parties, performance or damages.
- Simpler case · ~USD 4,000
- A standard supply contract breach claim
- Complex case · USD 18,000+
- A high-value multi-party contract dispute through arbitration
-
Bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring USD 5,000 – 30,000+
What drives the cost. Court-supervised proceedings, creditor negotiations, number of filings.
- Simpler case · ~USD 6,000
- A small business restructuring with few creditors
- Complex case · USD 25,000+
- An insolvency with several classes of creditor, through court
-
Insurance claims and disputes USD 2,500 – 15,000+
What drives the cost. Policy analysis, bad-faith refusal, expert evidence, complexity of cover.
- Simpler case · ~USD 3,500
- A refused property insurance claim
- Complex case · USD 12,000+
- A bad-faith life insurance case with expert witnesses
-
Medical liability and compensation USD 6,000 – 35,000+
What drives the cost. Medical experts (USD 300–600 an hour, required and billed separately), trial preparation.
- Simpler case · ~USD 8,000
- A clear misdiagnosis claim settled with one expert
- Complex case · USD 30,000+
- A surgical error case against a hospital group, through full trial
Arbitration
-
Local and international arbitration USD 8,000 – 50,000+
What drives the cost. Arbitral institution fees (USD 2,000–10,000+, separate), number of rounds.
- Simpler case · ~USD 10,000
- A domestic commercial arbitration, one round
- Complex case · USD 40,000+
- A multi-round international arbitration
Immigration and residence
-
Immigration, residence and deportation USD 2,000 – 12,000
What drives the cost. A visa appeal or a deportation challenge, corporate compliance reviews.
- Simpler case · ~USD 2,500
- A straightforward visa appeal
- Complex case · USD 10,000+
- A deportation challenge over several hearings
Maritime and transport
-
Maritime, shipping and transport disputes USD 6,000 – 40,000+
What drives the cost. Cargo claims or vessel arrest, collision liability, charter party arbitration.
- Simpler case · ~USD 7,000
- A cargo damage claim against one insurer
- Complex case · USD 35,000+
- A vessel arrest and collision liability case through the courts
Estimates are in US dollars. Work carried out in the UAE may be invoiced in dirhams at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725 to USD 1.
All figures are reference estimates, not a quote and not a guarantee of any result. The fee for your matter is confirmed in writing before formal representation begins.
Request received
A member of our client team will contact you within one working day. For anything urgent, message us on WhatsApp.
Message us on WhatsApp