Fees and Costs

We have different rates for casework and expert witness assignments:

Casework: Retainers are negotiable by case. Mr. Fishkin's hourly rate is $400 an hour. Ms. Slatter's hourly rate is $375 an hour.

Expert Witness: Retainers are negotiable. However, $2,000 of the retainer becomes nonrefundable as soon as we are disclosed, either formally or informally.

We also bill for any additional costs and disbursements incurred, such as investigations, legal assistants, and outside vendors.

State Bar Defense

You are hesitant to quote ranges to your clients, and so are we, for well known reasons. Like civil litigation, a case can take on a life of its own. But here goes.

These are estimates, not guarantees.
Typically, a one count investigation costs between $1,000 and $5,000.

If we have to take a case to pre-filing conferences, typically you incur an additional $2,000 to $5,000.

If the State Bar files formal charges, and if you settle prior to the filing of a pretrial statement, fees typically run in the $5,000 to $15,000 range. Extensive discovery or heavy document cases will run higher. The Pretrial Statement and Pretrial Conference can add $3,000 to $10,000 range. These are like federal cases, fully briefed and exhibits swapped.  The more complex your case, the more exhibits, the longer the Pretrial Statement, the higher your fees are.

A rule of thumb for trial is $4,000 per trial day, $3,000 for prep days, $3,000 for the post trial brief. Add $500-$2,000 for miscellaneous post trial work.

If you go up on appeal to the Review Department or the Supreme Court, add about $15,000 and up for each level of appeal, depending on the length of the transcript and the number of exhibits. Again, these are estimates, not guarantees.

Extra fees are incurred if some federal court or agency decides to hold a separate hearing rather than simply impose reciprocal discipline. Or, if you ask for that separate disciplinary hearing.