The following rates are available only to attorneys with active practices of law with an office in the State of New York, and attorneys admitted pro hoc vice to a court in the State of New York for the particular case or cases for which the attorney obtained admission. Mr. Lira is available to act as local counsel for out-of-state attorneys. The rate sheet should give those out-of-state attorneys a good idea of the fees Mr. Lira expects as local counsel.
These fees are not available to non-practicing attorneys or non-attorneys simply because the practices and customs of courts in New York State greatly restrict an attorney’s ability to appear on behalf of such persons on a per diem or temporary basis.
Generally, the rates are not available to corporations because New York law requires corporations to appear by way of an attorney, that is, courts generally require corporations to appear by the appearance of an attorney as attorney of record. The exception to this rule is when a corporation’s general counsel is the attorney of record in particular actions or proceedings, in which case Mr. Lira would be available for appearances in those matters.
| CONFERENCES | |
| One or first conference in Nassau, Suffolk or Queens County in any courts, except U.S. District Courts (includes returns of motions and foreclosure status conferences): | $175.00 |
| One or first conference in New York, Bronx, Kings, Richmond or Westchester County in any court, except U.S. District Court: | $225.00 |
| Second conference in same court as first, except U.S. District Courts: | $75.00 |
| Each additional conference beyond the second in same court as first, except U.S. District Court: | $50.00 |
| Discount for volume: 10 appearances (of any kind) in a 3 month period, deduct from each subsequent first conference (Example: one conference in Nassau County is reduced to $125.00) This rate continues as long as there have been 10 or more appearances in past 4 months: | $50.00 |
| Additional fee if a conference spills over into the afternoon: | $125.00 |
| U.S. District Court: Because they demand intimate familiarity with file, requiring review of file, hourly fee: | $65.00 |
| DEPOSITIONS, 50H HEARINGS & EUOs | |
| One witness, base fee: | $175.00 |
| Additional fee for second witness: | $75.00 |
| For each witness beyond two: | $50.00 |
| If a deposition goes into the afternoon, it is treated as if it is another deposition appearance with a base fee for one witness of (additional witnesses as above): | $125.00 |
| TRIALS & HEARINGS | |
| In Nassau, Suffolk or Queens County, if testimony is expected to be taken, per half-day: | $250.00 |
| In New York, Bronx, Kings, Richmond or Westchester County, if testimony is expected to be taken, per half-day: | $300.00 |
| If the expectation is that no testimony will be taken, despite being denominated as a trial or hearing, charges will be based on the schedule for conferences | |
| Hearings in certain administrative agencies, such as Workers' Compensation, will be charged as if conferences, even though testimony is taken: | |
| If a trial or hearing requires extensive preparation, preparation will be billed on half day (or 4 hour) increments at: | $250.00 |
| ARBITRATIONS & MEDIATIONS | |
| For the purpose of billing, arbitrations and mediations are treated like trials or hearings | |
| OTHER APPEARANCES | |
| Other appearances, for example, appearing at an IME with a client, will usually be billed as if they are conferences | |
| PAPERWORK | |
| Simple documents such as a summonses, notices of entry, or notices of deposition | $65.00 |
| Simple motions requiring little or no legal research, such as motions concerning discovery and some simple motions to dismiss | $150.00 |
| Routine motions such as motions for summary judgment in automobile cases, or motions on the threshold issue | $250.00 |
| Routine pleadings and notices such as complaints, answers, replies, notices of appeal | $150.00 |
| Demanding briefs and memoranda such as motions for summary judgment in employment or commercial cases, or briefs on appeal. Hourly rate: | $65.00 |
| Legal research is billed on an hourly basis, with a minimum of one hour: | $65.00 |
| We have access to the decisions, statutes and regulations of all 50 states, plus federal court decisions, the U.S. Code and C.F.R. | |
| Flat rates can be negotiated in complex cases | |
| If you don't see what you are looking for, call. |