Why a business chooses contingency-fee counsel.

The problem with the hourly model.

Most firms bill major litigation by the hour. For the client, that means writing a large retainer check before any work begins, then replenishing it month after month — whether or not the case is going well, and whether or not you ultimately win. Rates at firms with our experience run from about $500 per hour for low-end associates to $3,000 per hour for senior partners and lead attorneys. A hard-fought commercial case will always generate hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, in fees before trial. The bill comes due every month, regardless of the result.

What that does to good claims.

That model puts even companies with strong cases in a difficult position. The cost is open-ended and unpredictable. Money that should fund the business instead funds the lawsuit. And the pressure to stop the bleeding pushes many businesses to settle early and cheap — or to absorb the loss and never pursue a meritorious claim at all.

How contingency changes the equation.

Contingency representation removes that pressure. We are paid only if we recover, and only as a share of what we recover. There is no hourly meter and no retainer to refill. We advance the work and carry the financial risk, which means our compensation rises and falls with your result. Our interest in the outcome is the same as yours.

What it signals.

There is a second point worth noting. A firm that takes a case on contingency is staking its own time and money on the result. We can’t afford to make that bet on weak cases. So when we agree to represent you on contingency, it means we have studied the matter, concluded it should win, and are prepared to invest in proving it.

Experience behind the commitment.

We are not dabbling in this. Newman LLP has tried and resolved complex business disputes for decades in federal courts nationwide, including precedent-setting appeals and multi-million-dollar recoveries for plaintiffs. When we put our resources behind your case, you have an experienced trial firm carrying the risk alongside you.