DeSanto Arbitration
Fees
Clear, itemized billing for arbitration, mediation and facilitation. Specific fees depend on the matter and are confirmed in a written engagement letter.
Rate structure
Specific rates and deposit amounts are provided on contact.
- Hourly rate: an hourly rate is available for time spent on the matter.
- Per-day rate: a per-day service rate is available for hearing or session days, where agreed in the engagement letter.
- Hearing and session time: billed for time in the hearing or session, including remote sessions.
- Study time: reading submissions, exhibits and the record, research, and preparing orders, the award, settlement documents or other written work product, billed at the hourly rate.
- Travel time: billed door to door as set out in the engagement letter. Fully remote sessions involve no travel time.
- Expenses: reasonable, necessary out-of-pocket expenses at actual cost with no markup, receipts available on request. Routine overhead such as copying, postage and telephone is not billed.
Retainer and deposits
- Deposit: a deposit is required from each side after the engagement letter is signed, applied to fees and expenses as they are incurred.
- Hearing and session deposits: an itemized estimate is provided before any hearing or session, and each side deposits its share in advance.
- Refunds: unused funds are refunded after the matter concludes, in proportion to each party's payments.
How costs are shared
Unless the parties agree otherwise in writing, or the governing rules, applicable law or an order or award provides otherwise, fees and expenses are shared equally by each side. In matters administered by an institution, compensation is arranged and paid under that institution's rules and fee procedures.
Billing
Statements are itemized, showing the date, the activity and the time spent, and are sent on the schedule set out in the engagement letter.
Payment methods
Two payment methods are accepted:
- Stripe: card payments are processed securely through Stripe.
- EFT: electronic funds transfer.
A Form W-9 is available on request.
Cancellation and postponement
Hearing and session time is reserved for the matter and often cannot be replaced on short notice.
- 14 or more days' notice: no cancellation fee; only time actually spent is billed.
- 3 to 13 days' notice: 50% of the fee for the reserved time.
- Fewer than 3 days' notice: 100% of the fee for the reserved time.
- If the released time can be used for other professional work, the cancellation fee is reduced or waived accordingly. No fee applies if DeSanto Arbitration cancels or postpones.
Specific fees depend on the matter and are confirmed in a written engagement letter signed by all parties. Nothing on this page creates an engagement.