Terms of Business
Fees and Expenses
Our fees are calculated having regard to:
(i) the time spent working on the matter;
(ii) the complexity, difficulty or novelty of the matter;
(iii) the specialised knowledge and responsibility of the lawyer involved;
(iv) the circumstances in which the matter is transacted, including its urgency;
(v) the value of the matter.
All monies disbursed by us on your behalf, whether or not in respect of the matter upon which
we have been instructed, will be recoverable from you in full.
We may require payment on account of fees or disbursements before commencing or continuing
work on any matter.
Billing and Payment
We may submit fee notes at our discretion, either as a final account for all work done or as
interim accounts. All fee notes are due for payment in full in sterling on receipt, and without any
deduction for bank or other charges or by way of set-off or counterclaim.
If a fee note is not paid within one month from delivery, we reserve the right to charge interest on
the balance outstanding at 3 per cent per annum over Lloyds TSB Bank Base Rate from time to
time in force until payment is made.
If a fee note is overdue, or a request for money on account is not paid within seven days of
request, we reserve the right to stop work (and to instruct our agents to stop work) on all matters
in which we act for you, and to charge for all work done for you to that date. We reserve the
right to deduct, without prior notice, amounts invoiced to you from amounts held for you in our
client account for you. In the case of contentious matters, we reserve the right to satisfy any
outstanding amounts, including interest, out of any sums recovered for you from third parties.
We will be entitled to recover on a full indemnity basis any costs incurred and court costs (in
Guernsey or elsewhere) by us in collecting overdue amounts, including all the costs of any
agents (including lawyers) we may appoint to collect such amounts. We reserve the right to
retain all documents and any items in our possession relating to any matter until all outstanding
amounts are paid in full. Unless otherwise agreed between us, we may destroy files and papers
relating to completed matters at any time after six years after their completion.
Electronic Mail and Facsimile
If requested by you or if otherwise agreed between us, we may communicate with you by
electronic mail or facsimile and to use electronic mail or facsimile as a means of communication
with third parties in respect of matters on which we are instructed on your behalf.
Electronic mail is not secure and is not necessarily reliable. Provided any communication sent by
us by electronic mail or facsimile has been properly addressed, we shall not be liable for breach
of confidentiality or non-receipt or otherwise.
Verification
You agree to provide us with such evidence of or explanation as to identity or transactions we
may in the course of our dealings with you from time to time reasonably require in order to
comply with any legal or regulatory obligations to which we for the time being may be subject.
Our Relationship
Our relationship with you and the services we provide are governed by the laws of the Island of
Guernsey and Rules of Professional Conduct applicable to Advocates in Guernsey.
Acceptance
These Terms of Business will be deemed to have been accepted by you upon our subsequent
receipt from you or your agent of any instructions, oral or written, in any matter.
Ozannes,
Advocates & Notaries Public
PO Box 186
1 Le Marchant Street
St Peter Port,
Guernsey GY1 4HP
Tel 01481 723466,
Fax: 01481 727935
advocates@ozannes.com
www.ozannesproperty.com
