For Ilps and Ulps Which Provide Both Legal and Other Services, You Must Ensure Compliance

THISISACONDITIONALCOSTSAGREEMENT

NOTEREUPLIFTFEES:

For ILPs and ULPs which provide both legal and other services, you must ensure compliance with the disclosure obligations under s107 and rule 31.

THISAGREEMENTMUSTBESIGNEDBYTHECLIENT

V1/16

CostsDisclosureandConditionalCostsAgreement

Thisdocument,togetherwithourGeneralTermsofBusiness,setsoutthetermsofouroffertoprovidelegalservicestoyouandconstitutesourcostsagreementanddisclosurepursuanttotheLegalProfessionUniformLaw(“theUniformLaw”).

YouconfirmthatyouhaveherebybeeninformedofyourrighttoobtainindependentlegaladvicebeforeenteringintothisConditionalCostsAgreement.

A.ScopeofWork

Youhaveinstructedusto[INSERT].

B.SuccessfulOutcomeofthematter

WewillonlybeentitledtoreceivepaymentofourLegalCostsfromyouintheeventthat youobtainasuccessfuloutcome.Thesuccessfuloutcomeofthematter,asagreedwithyou,is[INSERT (examplesare:afinancialrecoveryincludingbywayofnegotiation,mediationorcourtprocess)].

C.ProfessionalFees[IFTIMEBASEDFEEAGREEMENT-DELETEASREQUIRED]

Wewillchargeyouprofessionalfeesfortheworkwedobasedonhourlyrates.Thehourlyrateschargedbyourprofessionalstaffaresetoutbelow:

(a)$[INSERT]plusGST=$[INSERT]foraPartner.

(b)$[INSERT]plusGST=$[INSERT]foraSeniorAssociate.

(c)$[INSERT]plusGST=$[INSERT]foraSolicitor.

Thesolicitorswithprincipalresponsibilityforassistingyouinthismatterare

(a)PartnerResponsible[INSERT]

(b)SolicitorResponsible[INSERT]

You willbeproportionatelychargedforwork involving shorterperiodslessthananhour.Ourchargesare structuredin6minuteunits. Forexample, thetimecharged foranattendance ofup to6minuteswillbe1unitandthetimechargedforanattendancebetween6and12minuteswillbe2units.

Ourratesarereviewedonaregularbasisand maychangeduringthecourseofa matter.Inrelationtolengthymatters this mayimpact upon our costestimates(which maybe revisedaccordingly).Youwillbegiven30days'noticeinwritingofanychangestoourchargeoutrates.

FixedFees[IFFIXEDFEEAGREEMENT-DELETEASREQUIRED]

Wewillchargeyouprofessionalfeesfortheworkwedoonafixedfeebasisintheamountof:

$[INSERT]plusGST=$[INSERT]

D.UpliftFees[IFUPLIFTINFEEAGREEMENT-DELETEASREQUIRED]

Intheeventthatyouobtainasuccessfuloutcome,wewillchargeanadditional[INSERT]%"uplift"onourprofessionalfees.

E.DisbursementsandInternalExpenses

Disbursements

Wemayincurdisbursements(beingmoneywhichwepayorareliabletopaytoothersonyourbehalf).Disbursementsmayincludesearchfees,courtfilingfees,processserverfees,expertfees,witnessexpenses,travelexpenses,transcriptexpensesandbarrister'sfees.

Whereyouinstructustobriefabarristerorotherexpertandtheyprovideadisclosureandcostsagreementwewillprovidethisto you.

InternalExpenses

Youwill beresponsibleforinternalexpenseswhichweincurincarryingoutyourinstructions.Theseincludephotocopyingwhichischargedat$[INSERT]plusGST=$[INSERT]perpage.

F.EstimateofProfessionalFees,InternalExpensesandDisbursements

Onourpresentinstructions,weestimatethecostofthework,inclusiveofGST,tobe:

Professionalfees:$[INSERT]

Disbursements:$[INSERT]

InternalExpenses:$[INSERT]

TOTAL$[INSERT]

The upliftfeeontheprofessional costs,whichisadditional totheaboveestimate,isestimated tobe

$[INSERT][DELETEASREQUIRED]

Variables

Someofthevariableswhichmayimpactuponthecostestimateprovidedaboveincludethefollowing:

(a)thenumberanddurationoftelephonecallsorothercommunications;

(b)yourpromptandefficientresponsetorequestsforinformationorinstructions;

(c)whetheryourinstructionsarevaried;

(d)whetherdocumentshavetoberevisedinlightofvariedinstructions;

(e)thelawyerorotherpersonswithwhomwedealandthelevelofco-operationofthelawyer’sclientsandotherpersonsinvolved;

(f)changesinthelaw;and

(g)thecomplexityoruncertaintyconcerninglegalissuesaffectingyourmatter.

Pleasenotethatthisisanestimateonlyandnotafixedquote.Thetotalcostsmayexceedtheestimate.Whiletheestimateisbasedonpresentinformationandinstructionsandourcurrentunderstandingfromyouastowhatservicesarerequired,ourcostsmayexceedtheestimateiffurtherinformationbecomesavailableorcircumstanceschangewhichaffectthesematters.Inthisevent wewillprovideyou with arevisedestimateas soonaspracticable.Wherethereisasignificantchangeinyourmatterthenasfaraspossiblewewilladvisetheimpactofthechangeonthelegalcosts.

G.CostsPayableandRecoverableonLitigationOutcome

Evenifyouaresuccessfulinproceedings andhavea costs orderinyourfavour itis unlikelythat youwill recoverallofthe costsyou must payusfromanotherparty.Ifyoudo have acostsorderinyourfavour,itmaystillbenecessarytoseektoenforcesuchcostsordere.g.throughtheassessmentsystem.This canbetimeconsuming andcostly.The possiblecostsassociatedwithsuchpotentialenforcementproceedingsarenotdealtwithinthisdocument,butwillbeadvisedtoyoushouldtherelevantcircumstancesarise.Itisalsopossiblethatyoucannotrecoverthecostsfromtheotherparty(forexampleifthepartygoesintoliquidationorbecomesbankrupt);nonethelessyouwillstillhavetopayus.

Ifyoulosethelitigation,thenyouwilllikelyhavetopaythecostsoftheotherparty-eitheranamountyoucanbothagreeonorifnoagreementcanbereachedthenanamountofcostsassessedbyacostsassessoraspayable.However,theCourtalwayshasadiscretioninrelationtocostsorders.

H.Acceptanceofoffer

Ifyouacceptthisoffer,youmustsignandreturnthisdocumenttous.Wewillnotdoanyworkonthis matteruntilthis is done.Ifyou doso,youhaveenteredinto aConditionalCosts Agreementwithus.Thismeansthatyouwillbeboundbythetermsandconditionsinthisagreement,includingbeingbilledinaccordancewithit.

I.Coolingoffperiod

IfyouwishtoterminatethisConditionalCostsAgreement,youmaydosowithinfive(5)clearbusinessdaysofsigningit.The“coolingoff”periodendsat5pmonthefifthbusinessdayafterthedayonwhichthisConditionalCostsAgreementwassigned.Ifyouterminatewithinthecoolingoffperiod,weshallonlychargeyouthecosts(excludingtheuplift)incurredforworkdonethatwasperformedonyourinstructionsandwith yourknowledgeuptotermination.

If youaresigningonbehalfoftheclient,youconfirm thatyouareauthorisedtodoso.

Dated:

Client:…………………..

Dated:

Lawpractice:…………………..

GeneralTerms ofBusiness

1BillingArrangements

Ataxinvoiceforourprofessionalfeesandinternalexpensesincludinganyupliftfeewillbeissuedonthesuccessfuloutcome of the matter.

Asfordisbursementswemayissueataxinvoicemonthly.

Alltaxinvoicesaredueandpayable30daysfromthedateofthetaxinvoice.Youconsenttoussendingourtaxinvoicestoyouelectronicallyatyourusualemailaddressormobilephonenumberasspecified by you.

2InterestCharges

InterestatthemaximumrateprescribedinRule75oftheLegalProfessionUniformGeneralRules2015(“UniformGeneralRules”)(beingtheCashRateTargetsetbytheReserveBankofAustraliaplus2%)willbechargedonanyamountsunpaidaftertheexpiryof30daysafterataxinvoiceisgiventoyou.Ourtaxinvoiceswillspecifytheinterestratetobe charged.

3Recoveryof Costs

TheLegalProfessionUniformLaw(NSW)(“theUniformLaw”)providesthatwecannottakeactionforrecoveryoflegalcostsuntil30daysafterataxinvoice(whichcomplieswiththeUniformLaw)hasbeengivento you.

4Your Rights

It is your rightto:

(a)negotiateacostsagreementwithus;

(b)negotiatethemethodofbilling(e.g.taskbasedor time based);

(c)requestandreceiveanitemisedbillwithin30daysafteralumpsumbillorpartiallyitemisedbillispayable;

(d)seektheassistanceofthedesignatedlocalregulatoryauthority(theNSWCommissioner)intheeventofadisputeaboutlegalcosts;

(e)benotifiedas soon as is reasonablypracticableofanysignificantchangetoanymatteraffectingcosts;

(f)acceptorrejectanyofferwemakeforaninterstatecostslawtoapplytoyour matter;and

(g)notifyusthatyourequireaninterstatecostslawtoapply to yourmatter.

Ifyourequestanitemisedbillandthetotalamountofthelegalcostsspecifiedinitexceedstheamountpreviouslyspecifiedinthelumpsumbillforthesamematter,theadditionalcostsmayberecoveredby us onlyif:

(i)whenthelumpsumbillisgiven,weinformyouinwritingthatthetotalamount of thelegalcostsspecifiedinanyitemisedbillmaybehigherthantheamountspecifiedinthelumpsumbill,and

(ii)thecostsaredeterminedtobepayableafteracostsassessmentorafterabindingdeterminationundersection292oftheUniformLaw.

NothinginthesetermsaffectsyourrightsundertheAustralianConsumer Law.

5YourRightsinrelationtoaDisputeconcerningCosts

Ifyouhaveadisputeinrelationtoanyaspectofourlegalcostsyouhavethefollowingavenuesofredress:

(a)inthefirstinstanceweencourageyoutodiscussyourconcernswithussothatanyissuecanbeidentifiedandwecanhavetheopportunityofresolvingthematterpromptlyandwithoutitadverselyimpactingonourbusiness relationship;

(b)youmayapplytotheManager,CostsAssessmentlocatedattheSupremeCourtofNSWforanassessmentofourcosts.Thisapplicationmustbemadewithin12monthsafterthebillwasprovidedorrequestforpaymentmade or afterthe costswere paid.

6Authorisation to Transfer Money from TrustAccount

Youauthoriseustoreceivedirectlyintoourtrustaccountanyjudgmentorsettlementamount,ormoneyreceivedfromanysourceinfurtheranceofyourwork,andtopayourprofessionalfees,anyupliftfee,internalexpensesanddisbursementsinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofRule42oftheUniformGeneralRules.Atruststatementwillbeforwardedtoyouuponcompletionofthe matter.

7Retentionof YourDocuments

Oncompletionofyourwork,orfollowingtermination(byeitherparty)ofourservices, wewillretainyourdocumentsfor7years.Youragreementtothesetermsconstitutesyourauthorityforustodestroythefileafterthose7years.Theauthoritydoesnotrelatetoanydocumentswhicharedepositedinsafecustodywhichwill,subjecttoagreement,beretainedonyourbehalfindefinitely.Weareentitledtoretainyourdocuments whilethereis money owingto us for our costs.

Youwillbeliableforthecostofstoringandretrievingdocumentsinstorageandourprofessionalfeesinconnectionwiththis.

8TerminationbyUs

Wemayceasetoactforyouorrefusetoperformfurther work,including:

(a)whileany ofourtaxinvoices remainunpaid;

(b)ifyoudonotwithin7dayscomplywithanyrequesttopayanamount inrespect ofdisbursements;

(c)ifyoufailtoprovideuswithclearandtimelyinstructionstoenableustoadvanceyourmatter,forexample,compromisingourabilitytocomplywithCourtdirections,ordersorpractice notes;

(d)ifyourefuse toacceptouradvice;

(e)ifyouindicatetousorweformtheviewthatyou have lostconfidence inus;

(f)if there are any ethical grounds which weconsider require ustocease actingfor you,forexample aconflictofinterest;

(g)foranyotherreasonoutsideourcontrolwhichhastheeffectofcompromisingourabilitytoperformthework required withintherequiredtimeframe;

(h)if inour sole discretionweconsider itis nolonger appropriateto actfor you;or

(i)for justcause.

Wewillgiveyoureasonablewrittennoticeofterminationofourservices.Youwillberequiredtopayourcostsincurreduptothedateoftermination.

9TerminationbyYou

Youmayterminateourservicesbywrittennoticeatanytime.However,ifyou dosoyou willberequiredtopayourcostsincurreduptothedateoftermination(includingifthematterislitigious,anycancellationfeesorotherfeessuchashearingallocationfees for whichwe remainresponsible).

10Lien

Withoutaffectinganylientowhich weareotherwiseentitledatlawoverfunds,papersandotherproperty of yours:

(a)we shall be entitledto retain bywayof lien anyfunds,propertyorpapersofyours,whicharefromtimetotimeinourpossessionorcontrol,untilallcosts,disbursements,interestandothermoneys duetothe firmhave beenpaid;and

(b)ourlienwillcontinuenotwithstandingthatwecease toactfor you.

11Privacy

Wewillcollectpersonalinformationfromyouinthecourseofprovidingourlegalservices.Wemayalsoobtainpersonalinformationfromthirdpartysearches,otherinvestigations and,sometimes,fromadverse parties.

Weare requiredtocollectthefullnameandaddressofourclientsbyRule93oftheUniformGeneralRules.AccuratenameandaddressinformationmustalsobecollectedinordertocomplywiththetrustaccountrecordkeepingrequirementsofRule47oftheUniformGeneralRulesandtocomplywithourdutyto the courts.

YourpersonalinformationwillonlybeusedforthepurposesforwhichitiscollectedorinaccordancewiththePrivacyAct1988(Cth).Forexample,wemayuseyourpersonalinformationtoprovideadviceandrecommendationsthattakeintoaccountyour personalcircumstances.

Ifyoudonotprovideuswiththefullnameandaddressinformationrequiredbylawwecannotactforyou.Ifyoudonotprovideuswiththeotherpersonalinformationthatwerequestour advicemay be wrong foryouormisleading.

Dependingonthenatureofyourmatterthetypesofbodiestowhomwemaydiscloseyourpersonalinformationincludethecourts,theotherpartyorpartiestolitigation,expertsandbarristers,theOfficeofStateRevenue,PEXALimited,theLandandPropertyInformationDivisionoftheDepartmentofLands,theRegistrarGeneral andthirdpartiesinvolvedinthecompletionorprocessing ofa transaction.

Wedonotdisclose yourinformationoverseasunlessyour instructions involve dealingwithpartieslocatedoverseas.Ifyourmatterinvolvespartiesoverseaswemaydiscloseselectpersonalinformationtooverseasrecipientsassociatedwiththatmatterinorder to carry outyour instructions.

Wemanageandprotectyourpersonalinformationinaccordancewithourprivacypolicy[whichcanbefoundonourfirmwebsiteoracopyofwhichweshallprovideatyourrequest].Ourprivacypolicycontainsinformationabouthowyoucanaccessandcorrectthepersonalinformationweholdaboutyouandhowyoucanraiseanyconcernsaboutourpersonalinformationhandlingpractices.Formoreinformation,please contactus inwriting.

12SendingMaterialElectronically

Weareabletosendandreceivedocumentselectronically.However,assuchtransmissionisnotsecureitmaybecopied,recorded, read orinterferedwithbythirdpartieswhileintransit.Ifyouaskustotransmitanydocumentelectronically,youreleaseusfromanyclaimyoumayhaveasaresultofanyunauthorisedcopying,recording,readingorinterferencewiththatdocument,foranydelayornon-deliveryofanydocumentandforanydamage causedto your systemorany files.

13GST

Whereapplicable,GSTispayableonourprofessionalfeesandexpensesandwillbeclearlyshownonourtaxinvoices.ByacceptingthesetermsyouagreetopayusanamountequivalenttotheGSTimposedon these charges.

14GoverningLaw

ThelawofNewSouthWalesgovernsthesetermsandlegalcostsinrelationtoanymatteruponwhichweare instructed to act.