Please review the retainer agreement below. By agreeing to the terms and completing your payment, you will retain our legal services.
THIS RETAINER AGREEMENT is made between the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, PLLC (the “firm,” “attorney,” “we,” or “us”) and you (the “client” or “you”), and sets out the terms and conditions under which the firm will represent you in the State of Florida.
1. Scope of Representation – The firm agrees to represent you in the legal matter you have discussed with the firm. The services may include preparing and filing documents, appearing in court, conducting discovery, negotiating a resolution, and other work reasonably necessary to the matter. Work outside this scope requires a separate written agreement.
2. Fees – Professional services are billed on an hourly basis. The hourly rate is $600.00 per hour. Fees and costs in this matter are not predictable; there is no maximum or cap on the total fee. The firm will send you statements for services rendered and costs advanced on a regular basis.
3. Advance Fee Deposit Held in Trust – This agreement is contingent upon your deposit of an advance fee in the amount of $6,000.00. This advance fee will be deposited into the firm’s trust account in accordance with Rule 5-1.1 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The firm will withdraw funds from the trust account only as fees are earned and costs are incurred, applied against the statements described above. The advance fee is not a flat fee and is not an estimate of the total fee. If the deposit becomes substantially exhausted, you agree to replenish it upon the firm’s request.
4. Refund of Unearned Fees – Any portion of the advance fee that has not been earned by the firm, and any costs deposited but not incurred, will be refunded to you upon the conclusion or termination of the representation.
5. Costs and Expenses – In addition to fees, you are responsible for costs and expenses advanced on your behalf, which may include filing fees, court costs, deposition and transcript costs, expert and investigator fees, service of process, and similar charges.
6. No Guarantee of Outcome – The firm has made no promise or guarantee regarding the outcome of your matter. Any expressions about the outcome are opinions only.
7. Termination and Discharge – You may discharge the firm at any time. The firm may withdraw from the representation as permitted by the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Upon termination by either party, you remain responsible for fees earned and costs incurred through the date of termination at the rate stated above, and any unearned portion of the advance fee will be refunded to you as provided in Paragraph 4.
8. Responsible Attorney and Office – The attorney responsible for this matter is Albert Goodwin, Esq., The Florida Bar No. 97316. Office location: 121 Alhambra Plz # 1000, Coral Gables, FL 33134.
9. Fee Disputes – In the unlikely event of a dispute concerning fees, the parties agree to submit the dispute to the Fee Arbitration Program of The Florida Bar.
By completing your payment, you represent that you have carefully read and fully understood every provision of this agreement, agree to its terms and conditions, and agree to comply with them.