As of September 2023, the hourly price of the Eipre and Partners Law Firm is 175 euros, plus VAT.
1. OBJECT OF THE CONTRACT
1.1. The office provides the Client with the tasks specified in the Agreement. At the Client’s request, the Office also performs duties not mentioned above (hereinafter referred to as “Additional duties”), advising the Client on legal issues, representing and defending the Client in court, arbitration, pre-trial proceedings and elsewhere, preparing necessary documents for the Client and performing other actions in the interest of the Client. The performance of additional tasks is subject to the conditions agreed upon by the parties regarding the performance of the Tasks.
1.2. The attorney-in-fact or assistant attorney-at-law specified in the Agreement is responsible for the performance of duties (hereinafter “Lawyer”). All the rights and obligations stipulated in the Agreement regarding the Lawyer also apply to the Office and vice versa, if it does not contradict the nature of these rights and obligations.
1.3. The attorney has the right to involve other attorneys-at-law working in the Office, senior assistants of the attorney-at-law and assistants of the attorney-at-law, while the assistants of the attorney-at-law work under the guidance of the patron. The Lawyer also has the right to involve other persons working in the Office or providing services to the Office in other ways to provide the service. All the aforementioned employees work under the supervision of the Lawyer and do not provide services to the Client independently. The same rights and obligations that the parties have agreed on with regard to the Lawyer are extended to the persons involved in the performance of the duties.
1.4. The Office is not obliged to provide the Client with information and to correct and supplement the documents prepared during the provision of legal services in connection with the amendment or invalidation of legislation, the development of judicial practice or changes in circumstances after the performance of the Work Tasks.
2. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
2.1. The Client hands over to the Office the documents necessary for the performance of the Work Tasks and provides the Office with the information necessary for the performance of the Work Tasks. The Client undertakes to cooperate with the Office, to inform the Office of all circumstances related to the Work Tasks and important for their fulfillment, to submit, at the request of the Office, on time the documents and opinions necessary for the fulfillment of the Work Tasks, and to perform other actions necessary for the fulfillment of the Work Tasks. The Client is aware that when providing legal services, the Office assumes that the information provided by the Client and accompanying documents are valid, accurate, correct and complete.
2.2. The lawyer has the right to represent and defend the Client in court, in pre-trial proceedings and elsewhere both in Estonia and abroad. If the Lawyer needs to prove that he has the right to represent the Client, the Client gives the Lawyer a power of attorney. Limitations on the right of representation shall be agreed upon in writing.
2.3. When providing legal services, a lawyer is independent and is guided by laws, legal acts and decisions of the bodies of the bar association, the requirements of the lawyer’s professional ethics, including the code of ethics, and good manners and conscience. The Bar Association Act, Code of Ethics and Rules of Procedure are available on the website of the Bar Association.[1]
2.4. The lawyer acts with the necessary diligence in the performance of the duties, but does not guarantee the achievement of a specific result. The lawyer is not obliged to correct or supplement the information and opinions given to the client or the documents prepared by the lawyer after the performance of the tasks in connection with the amendment or repeal of legislation, the development of judicial practice or any other changes in circumstances.
2.5. The Office is obliged to keep secret the information related to the Client, which it has received in connection with the execution of the Agreement. The Client may release the Office from confidentiality obligations with consent given in a reproducible written form. The parties have agreed that the Office has the right to disclose to third parties the fact of the Client being a client of the Office, in which matters/projects the Office has advised the Client and the general nature of the services provided to the Client. However, the Office undertakes not to disclose the details of the relevant matters/projects (e.g. the terms of the contracts), unless they have been disclosed in advance or if the Client has consented to this, or the amount of the fee paid to the Office.
2.6. The office has the right to disclose confidential information and documents related to the Client to third parties (including notaries, interpreters, banks and state authorities) without the separate consent of the Client, if it is necessary for the performance of the Work Tasks or if the corresponding obligation arises from the law.
2.7. If the Client’s interests in the same matter conflict with the interests of another client of the Office or there is a risk that such a conflict will arise, the Office has the right to refuse to perform the tasks and terminate the Agreement.
2.8. The customer agrees to the exchange of information electronically via the Internet. The customer confirms that he is aware of the risks associated with the transmission of electronic mail: messages may be lost, confidential and personal information may be intentionally or unintentionally changed, stolen or disclosed to third parties. The office is not responsible for such risks.
2.9. The Bureau is not responsible for non-fulfillment of obligations if it is due to a cyber attack, intrusion into the Bureau’s IT systems or disruptions in the IT systems.
2.10. The Office has the right to disclose to third parties the fact that the Client is a client of the Office and the general nature of the services provided to the Client, in connection with which the Office has provided legal assistance to the Client. However, the Office undertakes not to disclose the amount of the fee paid to the Office and details related to the services and projects provided (e.g. contract terms), with the exception of the price of the project, if it is known to the public in advance or if the Client has given his consent.
2.11. After the completion of the tasks or the termination of the contract, the Office returns the original documents in the possession of the Office to the Client, unless otherwise agreed. The office is not obliged to preserve or make available documents or information related to the completed Task.
2.12. The work result of the office can only be used by the Client in clause 1.1 of the contract. for the stated purposes, unless otherwise agreed.
3. PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY’S FEES
3.1. The Client pays the Office for the performance of the Work Tasks on the basis of the hourly rate, which is confirmed at the conclusion of the Agreement. VAT is added to the price, unless otherwise provided by law. In addition, the Client reimburses the necessary costs that the Office has incurred directly in connection with the performance of the Work Tasks (e.g. notary fees, state fees, etc.).
3.2. When calculating the hourly fee, the minimum unit of account is 15 minutes.
3.3. The firm has the right to unilaterally change the hourly price specified in clause 3.1 of the Agreement by notifying the Client in a reasonable time in advance in a reproducible written form of the change in the hourly price during or before the provision of legal services. If the Client does not agree to pay a fee for the provision of legal services on the basis of an hourly rate different from the hourly rate specified in clause 3.1 of the Agreement or later agreed between the Parties, either Party has the right to terminate the Agreement.
3.4. The Office periodically submits an invoice to the Client, which includes the fee for the performance of the Work Tasks and related costs. The customer undertakes to pay the invoice within the time agreed in the Agreement, starting with the issuance of the invoice by the Office.
3.4.1. The client is aware that the Office’s estimates regarding the cost of the work are not final and are not legally binding on the Office. A fixed price is possible only on the basis of a written agreement.
4. RESPONSIBILITY
4.1. If the Client fails to pay the invoice specified in Clause 3.3 of the Agreement by the deadline, the Office has the right to suspend the performance of the Work Tasks, to demand a late payment of 0.5% of the unpaid amount for each day of delay and to withhold the documents prepared on the Client’s behalf until the Client pays the invoice in full.
4.2. The Client is obliged to compensate the Office for all additional costs that the Office incurs in connection with the collection of sums not paid by the Client on time.
4.3. In the event of non-compliance with the terms of the contract for legal services, the Client may:
4.3.1. demand the fulfillment of an obligation;
4.3.2. withdraw from the contract or cancel the contract.
4.4. The Office is liable for direct property damage caused to the Client by mistake during the performance of the Work Tasks only to the extent of the amount paid for the performance of the Work Tasks. The office is not responsible for lost income and non-pecuniary damage. The client has the right to submit a claim for compensation within twelve months of the performance of the respective Tasks. The office’s liability towards the Client is reduced by insurance or damage compensation, unless it is in conflict with the insurance contract or the Client’s rights against the insurer are limited in this case.
5. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
5.1. Estonian law applies to the contract.
5.2. The Honorary Court of the Bar Association resolves issues related to the justification of the claim for attorney’s fees or legal service expenses contested by the Client in the course of a conciliation procedure. The procedure for honor proceedings is stipulated in the Bar Association Act and Rules of Procedure, which are available on the Bar Association’s website.[1]
5.3. Disputes arising from the contract will be resolved by the Parties through negotiations. If the disputes arising from the Agreement cannot be resolved through negotiations between the Parties, the disputes will be resolved in Harju County Court.
6. EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
6.1. The customer agreement is valid until the end of the civil case proceedings.
6.2. The Agreement enters into force from the moment the Office receives the original copy of the Agreement signed by the Client. Upon receipt by the Office of the original copy of the Agreement signed by the client, the Agreement shall be deemed retroactively effective from the start of legal service provision. The contract is concluded for an indefinite period.
6.3. The office may terminate the Agreement without notice if:
6.3.1. The Client submits falsified evidence and the Lawyer is aware of the falsification of the evidence;
6.3.2. The Client demands, despite the Lawyer’s explanations, that the Lawyer uses illegal means or ways to protect the Client’s interests;
6.3.3. The Client demands that the Lawyer act in a way that is not in line with the Lawyer’s honor and dignity or the requirements of professional ethics;
6.3.4. The customer significantly or repeatedly violates the Agreement;
6.3.5. The Client acts contrary to the Lawyer’s instructions or otherwise clearly expresses that he has lost trust in the Lawyer;
6.3.6. The Client gives the Lawyer instructions that are harmful to the Client’s interests or apparently useless for the performance of the Work Tasks, and despite the Lawyer’s explanations, does not give up on the demands of following these instructions;
6.3.7. The Client does not submit documents or data that the Lawyer requires to fulfill the requirements for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, or the submitted documents and data do not eliminate the Lawyer’s suspicion that the purpose of the transaction may be money laundering or terrorist financing.
6.4. The Office may terminate the Agreement at any time by notifying the Client of this two weeks in advance, provided that all Tasks taken for execution have been completed. The Client may terminate the Agreement at any time by notifying the Office two weeks in advance, having paid all invoices presented by the Office. The parties have the right to terminate the Agreement also on other grounds and according to the procedure provided for in the Agreement and legislation. Termination of the contract does not deprive the Office of the right to payment for already completed Tasks or their part.
[1] Bar Association website: www.advokatuur.ee
This text is translated by machine translation.