The fees compensate the lawyer’s actual work. They are determined according to the rules imposed by the French-speaking Order of Lawyers of the Brussels Bar (see the applicable ethical rules for lawyers and the calculation of their fees on www.barreaudebruxelles.be).

They can be calculated, with the client’s agreement, in different ways:

• Either on the basis of a fixed fee agreed upon at the opening of the file, depending on the nature of the services or the stakes of the dispute;
• Or on the basis of an hourly rate, proposed by the lawyer depending on the nature and stakes of the case, the possible urgency of the requested services, as well as the degree of specialization or experience of the lawyer in the field concerned, in accordance with Article 446ter of the Judicial Code.

They may, optionally and in consultation with the client, be supplemented by a success fee payable in the event of winning the case;

Generally, a retainer, to be applied to the final bill of fees and costs, is requested at the opening of the file. Interim statements of fees and costs may be sent at regular intervals, notably after each significant stage of the procedure. They include details of the work done and expenses incurred. A final statement of fees and costs is drawn up upon the closure of the file.

Since January 1^st, 2014, lawyers’ services have been subject to VAT (at a rate of 21%).

In addition to his fees, the lawyer may also request reimbursement of expenses incurred.

Costs are traditionally of two types:

• Judicial costs (or disbursements): these are costs such as court fees, registry fees, bailiff fees, copy fees for files, judgments, orders, or rulings, as well as notary or translation costs. They must be reimbursed at the first request by the client, if the lawyer has advanced them.
• Case-related costs: these include file opening costs, correspondence costs, registered mail costs, fax and email costs, telephone communication costs, travel expenses, photocopying costs, printing costs, typing costs by the secretariat, but more generally all secretarial and miscellaneous office costs. The lawyer informs the client, at the opening of the file, of how these costs are calculated.

Case-related costs are subject to VAT, but judicial costs are not.