Law Firms are required to have a written agreement with their clients setting forth the terms and conditions of representation.  By your typed signature below we agree to the following terms and conditions:

 

Your company (Client) hereby retains Business Law Group LLP (BLG), also known in Texas as Brunt Law Group.  BLG is a multi-jurisdictional Texas-based Law Group headquartered at 100 Crescent Court, 7th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75201.  We appreciate your selection of our network and look forward to a continuing professional relationship.  Please read the following terms carefully and please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or concerns.

 

I.  The scope of Engagement. Client and BLG agree for BLG to provide an attorney to:

 

1. Consult with the Client as the Client desires;

2. Prepare and/or assist in the preparation of contracts, documents or other instruments as necessary and requested;

3. Provide an attorney to represent the Client in court when mutually acceptable;

4. Provide compliance or other legal advice; prepare handbooks and other compliance related documents when so requested.

5. Consult with the Client regarding legal disputes and assist with the resolution of those disputes.

6. Supervise Client's other outside legal providers as requested by Client

7. Other legal work as needed and requested

 

II.  Attorneys Responsible for your Matters.

 

A.  You will be assigned a mutually acceptable attorney who will serve as the attorney in charge of Client’s matters for BLG, using other attorneys and paralegals as necessary.

 

B. BLG hires attorneys that may live and practice law in jurisdictions other than Texas.  When BLG attorneys outside of Texas perform work in Texas, an attorney licensed in Texas will supervise their work.  BLG limits its practice to representing business entities and does not represent individuals under this Agreement.

 

III.  Payment for Services Rendered by BLG

 

A. Our attorneys bill their time on an hourly rate and the Client is invoiced on a monthly basis.  The statements shall reflect the time spent by each attorney on a daily basis with a brief description of the work performed.  The client shall pay each monthly invoice within 30 days of receipt by wire, credit card or check.  Payment will be considered past due after 30 days and the Client agrees to pay interest on any unpaid past due amounts at the rate of 10% compounded monthly.

 

B. BLG has entered into an agreement with BLM to provide a discount on it's standard published rates set forth in IV below.  As long as you are a BLM client in good standing your invoices with BLG will be discounted to reflect a discount of 30% from our normal billing rates.

 

IV.  Billing Rates for Hourly Work.

 

The current billing rates for associates and partners range from $240 to $950 per hour.  Current billing rates for legal assistants range from $150 to $220 per hour.  Rates are usually adjusted only once a year. 

 

V.  Co-Counsel Arrangements

 

BLG may from time to time act as co-counsel with other law firms that provide services for Client.  The Client acknowledges and approves a fee-splitting arrangement, the terms of which will be clearly set forth in your engagement letter with those firms.

 

VI.  Retainer and Alternative Fee Arrangement

 

Before commencing work we generally require a retainer of $5,000 to secure full payment.  Since you are consulting with BLM and they have referred you to our services we will waive the initial retainer.  Before commencing work on any substantial matter that will require significant Additional Hours, we reserve the right to require a retainer.  Any retained funds will be held in our attorney trust account (IOLTA) with no accrual on interest.

 

VII.  Disclaimer of any Result or Warranty.

 

Legal matters are often attended by unpredictable outcomes based upon facts or laws that may change from time to time.  BLG MAKES NO ASSURANCES AND NO REPRESENTATIONS, GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES THAT CLIENT WILL OBTAIN A PARTICULAR RESULT. 

 

VIII.  Expenses

 

Client shall reimburse BLG for all expenses reasonably incurred, including travel/meals to and from the Client’s location.  BLG shall use its reasonable discretion in obtaining prior Client approval for extraordinary or inordinately expensive costs.  BLG’s Monthly Retainer invoice shall include expenses previously incurred. 

 

IX.  Termination

A. Client has the right at any time to terminate our services and representation upon written notice to the firm.  We reserve the right to withdraw from this representation if any fact or circumstance would, in our view, render our continuing representation unlawful or unethical, or if the Client fails to pay us in a timely manner.  If we elect to withdraw, the Client agrees to take all steps necessary to free us from any obligation to perform further, including the execution of any documents necessary to complete our withdrawal.

 

B. Termination of our Agreement in no way affects the Client’s obligations to pay for services and expenses due or incurred until fully paid.

 

X.  Governing Law and Arbitration.

 

ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION IN DALLAS TEXAS PURSUANT TO JAM’S STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES, WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNT FOR SUCH ARBITRATION. THE PARTIES FURTHER HEREBY AGREE THAT DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE (2016) MAY BE MADE, HEARD AND DECIDED BY THE ARBITRATOR.

 

ANY ARBITRATION AWARD MAY BE CHALLENGED THROUGH A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT CLAIM IN DALLAS, TEXAS DISTRICT COURT SOLELY ON ALLEGED LEGAL ERRORS COMMITTED BY THE ARBITRATOR.

 

XI.  NOTICE TO CLIENTS

 

THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS INVESTIGATES AND PROSECUTES PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT COMMITTED BY TEXAS ATTORNEYS.  ALTHOUGH NOT EVERY COMPLAINT AGAINST OR DISPUTE WITH A LAWYER INVOLVES PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT, THE STATE BAR’S OFFICE OR GENERAL COUNSEL PROVIDES YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT.  PLEASE CALL 1-800-932-1900 TOLL-FREE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

 

We look forward to representing you and are pleased by your confidence in BLG.   Please acknowledge your concurrence with the foregoing by executing this agreement by subscribing to our mailing list below.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

BUSINESS LAW GROUP LLP