HQ Law publishes fees for several defined construction-dispute and adjudication tasks. For full adjudications, the solicitor fee depends on claim value, complexity, document volume and timetable. Any quote is confirmed after conflicts and scope have been checked.
Tell us who the parties are, what has happened and any deadline. We run a conflict check before the call. The call covers the options and next steps; it does not include reviewing documents or giving advice on the merits of a particular contract.
These fees are for the stated scope, subject to conflicts, capacity and receipt of the agreed core documents. All solicitor fees shown are exclusive of VAT. VAT is added at the prevailing rate (currently 20%).
Review the relevant payment application, payment notice or pay less notice, the contractual payment provisions and key dates.
Typical scope: agreed core documents, a 30-minute call and a short written assessment.
Early assessment of one defined construction dispute before deciding whether to negotiate, adjudicate or litigate.
Typical scope: one contract/dispute, up to 100 pages of agreed core documents, 45-minute call and concise action plan.
Assess whether adjudication is the appropriate route, including preliminary merits, jurisdiction, evidence and commercial proportionality.
Any subsequent adjudication representation is separately scoped and priced.
For a party that has received a Notice or Referral and needs an immediate plan.
Typical scope: Notice, contract, preliminary jurisdiction/timetable review, 60-minute call and immediate action list. Urgent turnaround is subject to capacity.
Review an unpaid adjudicator's decision and the main enforcement issues, then issue a formal demand where appropriate.
The final fee within the range depends on document volume, procedural history and complexity.
The bands below are a guide, not an automatic quote. A lower-value delay or defects dispute can require more work than a higher-value straightforward payment dispute. HQ Law therefore prices by value and complexity, evidence, document volume and timetable.
For a payment claim based on the paying party’s failure to serve a valid payment notice or pay less notice, where the contract, application and payment records are available.
Included: advice on the claim and adjudication strategy; Notice of Adjudication; application to the nominating body; Referral Notice with supporting documents; review of the Response; one Reply; correspondence with the adjudicator and the other party; review of the decision.
Not included: nominating body fee; adjudicator’s fees and expenses; oral hearings; submissions beyond one Reply; substantial jurisdiction challenges; enforcement.
If the Response raises substantial issues beyond the notice point, we will tell you before any further work and agree a revised fee.
| Approximate dispute value | Indicative HQ Law solicitor fee | Pricing note |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £25,000 | £3,500–£4,500 + VAT + applicable adjudicator nomination fee | Straightforward, focused disputes within an agreed document scope. |
| £25,001–£50,000 | £4,500–£6,000 + VAT + applicable adjudicator nomination fee | Subject to issue count, evidence and procedural complexity. |
| £50,001–£100,000 | £5,500–£8,000 + VAT + applicable adjudicator nomination fee | Suitable payment, valuation or other defined disputes. |
| £100,001–£200,000 | £7,500–£12,000 + VAT + applicable adjudicator nomination fee | May be staged where the evidence or submissions are substantial. |
| £200,001–£500,000 | £10,000–£17,500 + VAT + applicable adjudicator nomination fee | Usually requires a matter-specific scope and assumptions. |
| Over £500,000 | Bespoke quote + VAT + applicable adjudicator nomination fee | Quoted after reviewing the nature and scale of the dispute. |
The correct court depends on the value, location and features of the case. The 2026 TCC Guide says adjudication enforcement proceedings worth less than £100,000 should ordinarily be commenced in the County Court, although High Court proceedings may be appropriate where significant or novel points of principle or allegations of fraud are involved.
Review the decision, payment position and principal enforcement issues, advise on the appropriate next step and issue a formal demand where appropriate.
For suitable County Court enforcement proceedings, including preparation of the claim, summary judgment material and ordinary procedural work within the agreed scope.
Court fees depend on the amount claimed and applications required. Counsel or other disbursements, if needed, are additional and agreed separately.
For suitable enforcement proceedings where the High Court / TCC is the appropriate forum.
Significant jurisdiction, natural justice, fraud, insolvency or other unusual issues may require a bespoke quote.
These fees apply to recovering undisputed or insufficiently disputed commercial debts, including construction debts, from businesses. All solicitor fees are exclusive of VAT, charged at 20%. Court fees and the Official Receiver's deposit are not subject to VAT.
| Stage | HQ Law fee + VAT | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Letter before action / formal demand | £750–£1,250 | Review of the contract, invoices and correspondence; one formal letter compliant with the relevant pre-action requirements; one round of client revisions. |
| Statutory demand | £750–£1,000 | Preparing the statutory demand and arranging service; advice on the 21-day period and next steps. |
| Winding-up petition | £2,500–£3,500 | Preparing and presenting the petition; arranging service; Gazette advertisement; certificate of compliance; attending an unopposed hearing. |
| County Court money claim to default judgment | £1,000–£1,750 | Issuing the claim with particulars; requesting default judgment if the defendant does not respond. |
| Defended claims, opposed petitions or injunctions restraining a petition | Bespoke quote | Quoted after reviewing the defence or grounds of opposition. |
Where a fee falls within a range, the fee depends on the number of invoices, the volume of documents and whether the debtor engages.
Who does the work: Chris Hough (solicitor since 1990) leads and supervises HQ Law's debt recovery and insolvency work.
Conditional fee agreements (no win, no fee) may be available in suitable cases, subject to our assessment of the debt and the debtor's ability to pay.
Official fee sources: HMCTS EX50 · GOV.UK winding-up guidance
A fixed or capped fee should identify what is included, the assumptions on which it is based and the events that would change it. HQ Law will confirm the scope in writing before the priced work starts.
Identify the parties, contract, approximate dispute value, immediate deadline and the particular task you want HQ Law to price.
