Table of Contents
Legal Consultation
Initial Legal Consultation Fee
| Individual Clients: | 5,500 yen per 30 minutes (includes tax) |
| Corporations and Business Owners: | Negotiable |
At the initial legal consultation, we will discuss your situation in detail and explain the prospects for resolution of the case, future plans, and legal fees. Separate consultation fee schedule is available, if you wish to have an ongoing consultation.
Request to Handle a Case
When a client retains our firm to handle a case, we will invoice our attorney’s fees and out of pocket expenses based on the “hourly rate system” or the “retainer fee and contingency fee system”, depending on the specifics of the request.
We will decide which method is suitable after consulting with you in advance (the fees below are exclusive of consumption tax, which will be charged separately).
Hourly Rate System
The hourly rate method calculates attorneys’ fees by multiplying the hourly rate for attorneys and other staff by the number of hours worked.
Sample Calculation of Attorney Fees
For example, if Attorney A prepares a license agreement for a client involving a Chinese company in 10 hours, and Attorney A’s hourly rate is JPY 22,000 yen (includes tax), the attorney’s fee will be calculated as follows:
| A’s Rate per Hour (Includes Tax) | Hours Spent | Attorney’s Total Fee (Includes Tax) |
| JPY 22,000 | 10 Hours | JPY 220,000 |
Litigation Cases*
For negotiation and litigation cases, the retainer fee and contingency fee will be calculated based on the value of what is in dispute.
| Value of What is in Dispute | Retainer Fee (Includes Tax) | Contingency Fee (Includes Tax) |
| Up to JPY 3,000,000 | 8.8% | 17.6% |
| Portion over JPY 3,000,000 and up to JPY 30,000,000 | 5.5% + JPY 99,000 | 11% + JPY 198,000 |
| Portion over JPY 30,000,000 and up to JPY 300,000,000 | 3.3% + JPY 759,000 | 6.6% + JPY 1,518,000 |
| Portion over JPY 300,000,000 | 2.2% + JPY 4,059,000 | 4.4% + JPY 8,118,000 |
*The minimum retainer fee for negotiation cases is JPY 110,000 (includes tax), and the minimum retainer fee for litigation cases is JPY 220,000 (includes tax).
*The minimum retainer fee and the minimum contingency fee may vary depending on the degree of difficulty of the case.
*Out of pocket expenses and per diem allowances, if any, will be invoiced separately.
Divorce Cases*
The following table shows the starting fees and remuneration for divorce cases. However, if there is a dispute over custody or the case is transferred to mediation or litigation, we will provide a separate estimate within the following range.
| Retainer Fee | JPY 330,000 ～ 660,000 (includes tax) |
| Contingency Fee | JPY 330,000 ～ 660,000 (includes tax) + amount calculated based on the economic benefit derived. |
*In cases where economic benefits are obtained through compensation for pain & suffering or division of property, etc., the fee will be the same rate as for litigation cases.
*Out of pocket expenses and per diem allowances, if any, will be invoiced separately.
Advisory Fees
Please refer to the Advisory Contract page for the advisory fee.
Out of Pocket Expenses
We will invoice expenses for transportation, stamp duty, postage, courier service, international courier, and other expenses incurred in handling the requested case. Photocopying and international telephone charges will not be invoiced.
