Used primarily in litigation and contingency engagements, a Legal Conditional Fee Agreement aligns client and counsel incentives by linking payment to successful outcomes. It clarifies fee splits, expense responsibility, and termination rights while requiring transparent disclosure to meet ethical and statutory rules.
Used primarily by clients and attorneys in contingency-fee matters, this form documents payment triggers and fee calculations.
Ensure the agreement matches professional conduct rules and state statutes, and obtain client informed consent and attorney review.
Typically an individual or entity seeking recovery who lacks the resources for hourly litigation costs and agrees to pay counsel a contingent portion of any recovery. The client should understand fee percentages, expense responsibility, and potential post-settlement deductions.
A law firm or attorney who accepts case risk in exchange for contingent compensation. Counsel must disclose fee structure, estimate costs, comply with bar ethics rules, and obtain informed client consent; state law may limit enforceable fee percentages.
Describe precisely whether fees are a percentage of gross or net recovery, flat supplemental amounts, or a hybrid. Include example calculations showing how fees and costs are deducted from settlements or judgments to avoid later disputes.
List the exact outcome(s) that activate payment obligations, such as court judgment, settlement, dismissal with payment, or statutory award. Clarify partial payments and scenarios that produce no fee.
Specify which expenses (filing fees, expert witness costs, court costs, mediation fees) are advanced by counsel, which are reimbursed only upon recovery, and whether expenses reduce client recovery before fee calculation.
State the agreement’s effective date, term limits, notice requirements, grounds for termination, and consequences for withdrawal by counsel or client including obligations for costs and outstanding work.
Provide written consumer disclosures when required, inform clients of the right to alternative billing, and document informed consent, especially for consumer-facing matters subject to 15 U.S.C. §7001 ESIGN disclosure rules.
Include governing law, jurisdiction, arbitration or mediation clauses, and fee-shifting provisions where permitted. Specify how disputes over fee calculations are resolved and any tribunal limitations.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signing Mode | In-person, email link, or embedded |
| Authentication | Email link, SMS code, or KBA |
| Conditional Logic | Show fee fields only if contingency applies |
| Retention Policy | PDF/A export, audit trail retention settings |
Use an eSignature platform that supports conditional fields, audit trails, and secure signer authentication for electronic execution of conditional fee agreements.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Date agreement takes effect; enter MM/DD/YYYY.
State how many days' notice required for termination.
Specify when fee becomes due after settlement or judgment.
Outline payment deadlines and installment options if any.
Document payer responsibilities for 1099 reporting where applicable.
Tim Martin's team uses an eSignature workflow to finalize agreements and maintain compliance across mobile and office environments.
John Butler uses eSignature to manage consent and fee documentation across clinical workflows, reducing administrative bottlenecks.