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Much of Ayoade’s direct access barrister work is conducted on a fixed fee basis. For someone of his seniority, this provides cost-effective legal services for those who do not wish to pay for more than one lawyer. In 2020, Ayoade’s hourly rate for advisory and drafting work is between £250-£350 plus VAT per hour, depending on the complexity of the case. For court and Employment Tribunal work, it is £250-£350 plus VAT per hour. However, fixed fees are offered in most direct access cases. The minimum conference fee is £1,000 plus VAT. A minimum hearing fee is £1,250 plus VAT. Trial and hearing fees are based on a fixed fee for each court day that is booked. Day 1 invariably includes a preparation element, so that it is a higher fixed fee than the fees charged for subsequent court days. The minimum, indicative fee for a Skeleton Argument, a pleading / statement of case, a witness statement or a complicated letter, is £750 plus VAT. The level of fees depends on variable factors such as complexity, the likely time commitment and the importance of the case, as well as the means of the client: every possible and reasonable effort is made to accommodate those who are genuinely in difficult circumstances and every year Ayoade carries out a significant amount of pro bono work.

Fixed fees work to the advantage of the client far more often than they do for the barrister. Client Care letters set out the fees agreed at the start of a professional retainer, save where exceptionally, time does not permit, all further work is costed and fees are agreed before work is embarked upon. Fees are the subject of clear discussion and agreement by telephone and e-mail before any engagement with the prospective client is undertaken. In all direct access cases, fees are agreed and paid before work commences.

Time is not of the essence of a retainer unless this is expressly requested by the client and agreed in writing by Ayoade.

Guidance for direct access clients can be found here.

A detailed client care letter will be issued to clients at the inception of a direct access retainer.

VAT details are available on request.

We have been committed to price transparency and certainty since the direct access scheme started in 2004. Please feel free to contact Ayoade directly to discuss your case in outline and to ask for a tailored fees estimate.

Regulatory and compliance

A client complaints policy is available on request. A client has the right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman the procedure for which can be found here. You can write to the Legal Ombudsman at: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton. WV1 9WJ, telephone number: 0300 555 0333; Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk. More information about the Legal Ombudsman is available on their website: http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/. A client must complain to the Legal Ombudsman either within 6 years of a barrister’s actions / failure to act, or no later than 3 years after the client should reasonably have known there were grounds to complain. The client must also complain to the Legal Ombudsman within 6 months of receiving the barrister’s final response to a complaint. Clients can complain to the Legal Ombudsman if they are unhappy with the final response to their complaint, or if their complaint has not been dealt with in 8 weeks.