One‑Off Consultancy Terms
These terms explain how R H AND L Limited charges for one-off consultancy work. They are intended to be provided at the outset of an instruction so that clients understand the basis on which time is recorded and charged before work begins.
These terms apply where we provide one-off consultancy services, including advice, review of documents, report writing, letter preparation, written comments, calls, emails, or general consultancy support, and where no separate formal letter of engagement has been entered into.
By instructing us to carry out work after receiving these terms, you confirm that you have read and accepted them. Download a copy here.
1. Scope of Consultancy Services
Under these terms, our services are limited to consultancy and advisory work. This may include advice, reviewing documents, considering correspondence, discussing options, preparing written comments, drafting reports, preparing letters, undertaking research, and responding to queries.
Our services under this arrangement do not include ongoing advisory services, case management, formal representation, or acting on your behalf in any dispute resolution procedure unless expressly agreed in writing.
Each consultancy instruction is treated as a stand-alone assignment and no continuing retainer is created unless separately agreed in writing.
2. Consultancy Rate
We charge for one-off consultancy services at a rate of £80.00 per hour plus VAT, calculated by reference to the time spent on your instruction.
3. Defined Instructions, Quotes and Additional Work
Where we provide an estimate or quote for a particular piece of consultancy work, that estimate or quote applies only to the specific instruction described at the time it is given. It does not include further work arising from later information, further documents, additional questions, revised instructions, follow-up emails, changes in circumstances, or new matters unless expressly confirmed by us in writing.
If we agree to undertake a specified amount of consultancy time, such as one hour, that agreement is limited to that amount of time spent on the instruction as originally described. Once that time has been used, any further work requested or required will be chargeable in addition at our standard consultancy rate unless we agree otherwise in writing.
Where a client provides further updates, revised information, additional documents, further questions, or asks us to revisit advice already given, that additional time will be treated as further consultancy work and charged separately in 6-minute units.
A quote or estimate should not be treated as covering an unlimited number of emails, calls, revisions, updates, follow-up questions or further reviews. If further work is required, we may either charge for that time at our standard consultancy rate or ask for a further payment on account before continuing.
Where the scope of the instruction changes, or where further work becomes necessary because of new or incomplete information supplied after the original instruction, we reserve the right to treat that work as a new or additional instruction.
4. Six-Minute Billing Units
Time is recorded in 6-minute units. One hour is made up of 10 units. At our consultancy rate of £80.00 per hour plus VAT, each 6-minute unit is charged at £8.00 plus VAT. Time is rounded up to the nearest 6-minute unit.
All time spent on your matter is chargeable where it relates to your instruction. This includes telephone calls, video calls, emails, reviewing documents, considering your position, preparing advice, undertaking research, drafting written comments, preparing reports, preparing letters, recording attendance notes, and responding to queries.
5. Calls
Telephone calls and video calls are charged according to the time spent, rounded up to the nearest 6-minute unit. A short call of up to 6 minutes will be charged as one unit, being £8.00 plus VAT. A call lasting between 7 and 12 minutes will be charged as two units, being £16.00 plus VAT, and so on.
6. Emails
Each email sent, received, reviewed or responded to by us will be charged at a minimum of one 6-minute unit where it relates to your instruction. This means that even a short email may be charged at a minimum of £8.00 plus VAT where it requires us to read, consider, respond to, record, file or otherwise deal with the matter.
Longer or more complex emails may be charged at more than one unit, depending on the time required to read, consider, draft, review and send the response.
7. Estimates
Any estimate or quote is based on the information available to us at the time it is given. If the information changes, further documents are supplied, further questions are raised, or the scope of the work expands, the estimate or quote will not apply to that additional work unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.
8. Payment Terms
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, invoices are payable immediately upon issue. We reserve the right to require payment on account before commencing or continuing work.
Where the instruction involves preparing a report, letter or other written work, payment must be received in full before the work is released, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
9. Invoice Detail
Invoices will ordinarily record the time spent on your instruction but will not usually include a detailed narrative breakdown of the work undertaken. Further detail can be provided on request.
10. No Representation Under Consultancy Terms
The consultancy rate does not include formal representation. Unless expressly agreed in writing, we do not act as your legal representatives, do not conduct litigation, and do not provide services reserved to solicitors, barristers or other regulated legal professionals.
If we are instructed to represent you in a formal process, including arbitration, adjudication, tribunal proceedings, court proceedings, formal negotiations, statutory dispute resolution, or correspondence with third parties on your behalf, this will be subject to separate agreement and our representation rate will apply. Our representation rate is £220.00 per hour plus VAT, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
11. Reliance on Our Work
Our advice, reports and written materials are prepared solely for your use and for the specific purpose instructed. They must not be relied upon by any third party and may not be disclosed or circulated without our prior written consent.
12. Limitation of Responsibility
Our responsibility is limited to the scope of work expressly instructed and carried out. We are not responsible for matters outside that scope, including subsequent developments, deadlines, or actions taken by you following delivery of our advice. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any dispute, claim or negotiation.
13. Suspension and Non-Payment
If an invoice or request for payment on account is not paid when due, we reserve the right to suspend work, decline to release reports or written materials, and/or decline to undertake further work. Our entitlement to fees for work already undertaken will not be affected.
14. Governing Law
These terms are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction.