Fees.
Transparent by design.

The Firm · Fees & Billing

Our Approach

Transparency about fees is not a marketing position for us — it is a professional obligation. A client who does not understand what a matter is likely to cost cannot make an informed decision about whether to proceed. We provide fee estimates before we begin, we update them when scope changes, and we discuss alternative structures when the matter justifies it.

Our practice serves international companies, overseas law firms, and private clients. These clients are accustomed to working with sophisticated legal advisers. They do not need reassurance that our fees are "competitive" — a word that means nothing without context. They need an honest account of what the work is likely to cost and why.

Standard Billing

Our default billing model is hourly. Rates are set by reference to the seniority of the fee-earner and the complexity and nature of the matter. All rates are quoted in Euros or US Dollars. We do not bill in Russian Roubles on the English-language site; RUB billing is available for Russian-entity clients upon request.

Invoices are issued monthly, with payment terms of fourteen days. We do not require large up-front retainers. We require a modest initial payment to cover the first period of work, with the balance invoiced as the engagement proceeds.

Our cost base — as a regional firm based in Novosibirsk rather than Moscow — allows us to offer partner-level attention at rates that reflect our actual economics. A matter that a Moscow-based firm would staff with a senior associate under a senior partner would, at Vetrov & Partners, be led by a partner with a fee-earner in support. The economics are different, and we make no apology for that.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

We offer alternative billing arrangements in appropriate circumstances.

For defined procedural steps with a predictable scope of work — an interim relief application, a recognition petition, a Rospatent opposition, an administrative tax appeal — we offer a fixed fee covering that specific phase. This gives the client cost certainty for the step in question, with hourly billing resuming if the matter continues beyond the defined scope.

Fixed-fee phases.

For ongoing advisory mandates — where a client requires access to Russian legal advice over a period of time without a specific matter in scope — we offer capped monthly retainers. The cap is set at the beginning of the retainer period and does not roll over.

Capped retainers.

For enforcement and recovery matters where the recovery value is quantifiable, we are willing to discuss a structure that includes a success-fee component alongside a reduced hourly rate. The success fee is calculated as a percentage of the amount recovered, agreed in writing before the engagement begins. This arrangement is available for matters where we assess the recovery prospects to justify the structure — we do not accept success-fee arrangements on speculative claims.

Success-fee components.

What We Do Not Do

We do not publish hourly rates. Rates are quoted individually for each engagement based on the specific matter, the fee-earner assigned, and the complexity of the work. Publishing rates without context creates a misleading picture.

We do not promise free consultations beyond the initial thirty-minute call. The initial call with the partner is complimentary and covers the question of whether we are the right firm for your matter. Work beyond that call is billed.

We do not use the word "affordable." It is a category that does not exist in the context of serious legal work. What we offer is a transparent account of what work costs and a billing model that reflects genuine value.

Currencies and Payment

All invoices on the English-language engagement are issued in EUR or USD at the client's preference. Payment is by bank transfer to our designated account. Wire transfer details are provided with the engagement letter.

For Russian-entity clients or matters where RUB billing is preferable for accounting reasons, RUB invoicing is available on request.

We do not accept payment by credit card for legal services engagements.

Make an Enquiry

info@vetrovpartners.com
+7 (383) 310-38-76
Response: under 2 hours (Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00, Sat 10:00–15:00 UTC+7)

The first step — a short description of your matter — costs you nothing. The fee estimate that follows costs you nothing. The decision to proceed is yours.