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Transparent billing

Fees & financial
arrangements

Browde Law works under three billing structures. Every arrangement is put in writing — a retainer agreement you receive before the matter begins.

Every financial arrangement is detailed in a written retainer agreement executed at the start of each matter.

You should never be uncertain about how your legal fees are calculated. Before any work begins, Browde Law provides a clear, written retainer agreement that explains the billing structure, what is included, and how expenses are handled separately from fees.

This commitment to transparency is part of what it means to work with a firm that limits its caseload — there's no bureaucracy, no billing surprises, and no assistants standing between you and the answers you need.

The three arrangements
1
Hourly billing
Most matters — including all matrimonial and family law matters — are handled on an hourly basis, billed in one-tenth-of-an-hour increments. Uncontested divorces involving no children and no property distribution can typically be handled on a flat fee.
Applies to: divorce, custody, support, civil litigation, and most other matters.
2
Flat fee
U.S. trademark registrations are usually handled for a flat fee. Foreign trademark registration costs vary by country or countries where registration is needed. Simple, uncontested divorces may also qualify.
Applies to: U.S. trademark filings, uncontested divorces with no children or property issues.
3
Contingent fee
Contingent fee arrangements — where no legal fee is charged unless funds are recovered for the client — are taken only rarely. The percentage is negotiated based on the difficulty and likelihood of recovery.
Note: Divorce and criminal matters cannot, by law, be handled on a contingent fee basis.
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Out-of-pocket expenses are billed separately

In all cases — including contingent fee matters — clients are billed for out-of-pocket costs such as court fees, transcript fees, and registration fees. These are invoiced independently of any hourly or contingent legal fee. This ensures you always have a clear picture of what you're paying and why.

Initial consultations

A note on free consultations in divorce cases

There are only a handful of lawyers who handle high-profile divorce cases — particularly those involving significant assets in the equitable distribution process. Outside Manhattan, the pool of highly qualified matrimonial attorneys is small.

Some individuals have attempted to prevent their spouse from retaining a qualified attorney by scheduling consultations with as many lawyers as possible. Simply meeting and sharing confidential information during a free consultation creates a conflict of interest that can disqualify the attorney from representing the other side.

To prevent this kind of abuse, Kristen limits free consultations to the initial telephone call. However, any fee paid for an in-person consultation is credited in full against fees owed if you go on to retain Browde Law for your matter.

Ready to start with a call?

The initial phone consultation is complimentary. It's the straightforward first step — no commitment, no pressure, and fully confidential under attorney-client privilege.

Call (914) 266-9222

Send a message instead
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Statement of Client's Rights and Responsibilities

Under the regulations governing attorney conduct in New York State, lawyers are required to provide every client with a copy of the Statement of Client's Rights and Responsibilities. Browde Law includes this statement with each retainer agreement. Questions about your rights as a client are always welcome — transparency is a core part of how this firm operates.

Questions about billing?

If you have questions about how fees apply to your specific situation, reach out directly. There's no runaround — you'll hear from Kristen.

Call (914) 266-9222 Send a message