No win no fee - explained

The term "NO WIN NO FEE" is often used to and seldom understood.

It is essentially an American legal concept that has taken root in the English & Welsh legal system and now underpins the way civil claims are administered. Let us try to explain the "no win no fee" concept so that you have an understanding of what is actually involved.

No win No fee agreements are also known as CFA's (Conditional Fee Agreements) and were formally introduced by legislation in 1998. From 2000 onwards they have become a major part of the civil justice system in England & Wales. Legal aid has been effectively abolished for all but a select few causes of action (medical negligence).

The general idea is that the solicitor acting in a no win no fee compensation claim is only entitled to be paid his fee if he wins the case. Payment is usually made by the insurance company of the losing party. There are variations of the basic form of no win no fee agreements for eg:

Some solicitors will charge their clients a percentage from their actual compensation and some will expect the client to pay for all disbursements as the claim proceeds. Most solicitors will themselves finance all disbursements and make no percentage deduction from compensation, ensuring that compensation is paid in full.

If the solicitor wins the case then he is entitled to a "success fee" which is a bonus payment to be added to his costs - this reflects the risk taken in pursuing the claim on a no win no fee basis.

If the case is lost then the solicitor will lose his opportunity to claim back his legal fees.

Losing a claim is not a prospect most solicitors or claimants relish. In order to cushion the impact of such a loss it is standard practice to take out a policy of insurance called "After the Event" cover. [learn more].

Our claims scheme is one of the straightforward and safest NO WIN NO FEE schemes in the UK. [learn more] We use expert solicitors to pursue your case and ask them to take out insurance on your behalf with no threat of losing ANY of your compensation. Win or lose you wont pay a penny if we agree to deal with your claim. (No win No fee applies to Eng & Wales only)

If you think you may have a claim - why not make an enquiry? Just complete the brief form opposite. Our team will respond to all written enquiries within 24 hours.

For immediate assistance please telephone our FREEPHONE NO WIN NO FEE helpline on 0800 0322210