Fees and Expenses Associated with Legal Representation of Civil Cases

Here’s an overview of the fees and expenses that may apply to your engagement of an attorney. This overview is for civil legal matters for which you are seeking assistance. (Another page explaining the fee structure of criminal defense is coming soon.)


弁護士が，訴訟事件・調停事件・示談交渉事件などのように，その性質上委任事務処理の結果に成功不成功がある事件等を受任したときには，着手金，報酬金，実費，日当等をお支払いいただくことになっております。
When one of our attorneys agree to represent a client with respect to a lawsuit litigation, a conciliation or out-of-court negotiation, we will prepare a letter of engagement contract that stipulates lawyer’s fee. The client is obligated to pay some items from these fees, and all expenses even if our representation results in an outcome considered unfavorable to the client.  For cases where the outcome is uncertain during representation by a lawyer, a fee structure where Initial Fee and Contingency Fee are combined (in addition to Actual Fee and Allowance) may be chosen.

Initial Fee 報酬金は，事件等が終了したとき（勝訴判決・和解成立・調停成立・示談成立などの場合）に，成功の程度に応じて，委任事務処理の対価でお支払いいただくものです。なお，民事事件を上級審まで引き続いて受任したときの報酬金は，特に定めのない限り，最終審の報酬金のみをお支払いいただくこととなっています。 8% of claimed economic interest ( or 5% for the portion => 3mil)	Initial Fee (CHAKUSHU-KIN, also called Attorney Engagement Fee) is the non-refundable sum of money a client pays to the attorney when the attorney agrees to represent the client and before any legal services are provided.  If the firm agrees to represent the client with respect to any other matters, the client pays an engagement fee for each individual engagement.  The engagement fee is considered to be earned by the firm upon receipt and, therefore, is not a fee paid in advance.
Contingency fee 報酬金は，事件等が終了したとき（勝訴判決・和解成立・調停成立・示談成立などの場合）に，成功の程度に応じて，委任事務処理の対価でお支払いいただくものです。なお，民事事件を上級審まで引き続いて受任したときの報酬金は，特に定めのない限り，最終審の報酬金のみをお支払いいただくこととなっています。 16% of economic interest secured ( or 10% for the portion >= 3mil)	Contingency fee(HOUSHUU-KIN) is calculated in proportion to the amount of economic interest gained for the client at the conclusion of a matter, such as when a judgment has been rendered in the client’s favor, when a settlement has been reached, or when a conciliation or alternative dispute resolution case has been completed.  If we agree to continue representing a client who wishes to file an appeal, the client is only obligated to pay the attorney fees associated with the final appellate case filed, unless otherwise specified.
Allowance 日当は，弁護士がその仕事のために遠方に出張しなければならない場合にお支払いいただくものです。	Attorney Allowance for trips(NITTOU) is a daily allowance a client pays, in addition to the legal expenses described below, when members of our firm must travel in order to perform the legal services associated with the client’s matter.
Actual Fee 実費は，収入印紙代・郵便切手代・謄写料，交通通信費，宿泊料などに充当するものです。その他に，保証金，保管金，供託金などに当てるためにお預かりする金額もあります。これらは，事件のご依頼時に概算額でお預かりするか，支出の都度にお支払いいただきます。	Actual Fee (JIPPI, also called Legal Expenses) include payments for revenue stamps, postage, copying, communication, transportation and accommodation.  Clients are also responsible for security deposits, court filing expenses and any other required expenditure associated with the case.  The firm can provide an estimate of the legal expenses and the client can pay when the firm agrees to represent the client, or the firm can charge the client each time these legal expenses will be incurred.

協議のうえ決定した弁護士の報酬については，お預かりしている金銭（仮差押・仮処分保証金，供託金，相手方からの支払金など）と相殺させていただく場合もありますのでご了承下さい。
If the attorney receives funds from the client or a third party in relation to the firm’s representation of a client, including funds related to a provisional seizure, a security deposit for provisional disposition, deposit money, or settlement or award proceeds, the firm may draw from these amounts to satisfy the client’s fee and expense obligations described in this document before the firm disburses the balance to the client.