The Law Office of JM Donnelly
Investment Funds Specialist
Approach to Fees
Approach to Fees
The practice maintains an independent specialist focus, supported by a cost-efficient operating model. This allows legal services to be provided at a competitive and transparent hourly rate while maintaining a strong focus on specialist legal and regulatory work. The standard hourly rate is €200.
Direct access. Personal responsibility. Efficient delivery.
Clients accordingly deal directly with JM Donnelly without the layers of fee-earners and substantial overheads associated with larger law firms. I remain personally involved in the work, providing continuity, direct communication and a clear point of responsibility throughout the engagement. Larger law firms have substantial resources and can be the right choice for matters requiring large multidisciplinary teams or extensive international coordination. However, not every matter requires that structure. An independent practice offers an alternative for clients seeking specialist legal advice, direct access to an attorney and a more proportionate approach to legal costs.
A More Efficient Approach
A lean operating model allows the practice to focus resources on the work that matters to the client. Unnecessary duplication, excessive layers of internal coordination and disproportionate legal expenditure can be avoided, while appropriate care, analysis and professional standards remain central to the service. The emphasis is on sound legal judgement, clear advice and practical, commercially focused solutions. The objective is not simply to minimise the time spent on a matter, but to deal with it efficiently and effectively, without compromising the quality of the work.
Transparent and Proportionate Fees
The cost of legal advice depends on more than the hourly rate alone. The level of expertise required, the complexity of the issues, the scope of work and the overall time involved all affect the final cost. By combining a competitive hourly rate with direct personal involvement and an efficient operating structure, the practice aims to deliver strong value for money and keep legal costs proportionate to the work undertaken.
Fixed or Staged-Fee Arrangements
Where the scope of work can be clearly defined, fixed-fee or staged-fee arrangements may also be available. These can provide greater cost certainty and allow clients to plan their legal expenditure more effectively. Below are links to a number of fixed-free wrappers with structured service layers.
The objective is straightforward: high-quality specialist legal advice, delivered personally and efficiently, at a fair and transparent cost.
UCITS LEGAL SERVICES PROPOSAL