What Is a No Win No Fee Agreement?
A No Win No Fee agreement, commonly known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), is a widely used funding arrangement between a solicitor and a client. It allows you to pursue a claim without paying legal fees upfront. Legal fees become payable only if your claim is successful, at which point an agreed success fee (a percentage of your compensation, plus VAT) will apply.
You will not pay for our legal work if the claim does not succeed. However, if you choose to cancel your agreement before the claim has concluded, a cancellation or termination fee may be charged, as set out in your Terms and Conditions.
Advantages of No Win No Fee Claims
- File a claim without fear of upfront expenses or losses.
- Accessible to claimants who may not have funds to pay for litigation.
- The solicitor assumes the financial risk if the claim is unsuccessful.
- When a solicitor takes your case on a 'No Win No Fee' basis, there are reasonable prospects of success, but outcomes can never be guaranteed.
Termination Fees
If you cancel your claim after 14 days, the solicitor reserves the right to charge a termination fee. Please see the solicitor's Terms & Conditions for more information.
How a Solicitor Gets Paid if a 'No Win No Fee' Case Is Successful
If your case succeeds, you receive your compensation and pay the agreed success fee from that amount. Our success fees are agreed with you in advance, clearly stated in your Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), and are capped by law and regulation. We usually recommend ATE insurance should we decide to litigate your case. If you terminate this Agreement or discontinue your claim after an ATE policy has been arranged, the insurer may not agree to cancel the policy. You may therefore remain liable for any premium (in whole or in part) or for any costs incurred under the policy terms. We will advise you of any such potential liability before you make a decision to cancel.
SRA Fee Caps (For Regulated Financial Services Claims)
For claims relating to motor finance mis-selling or other regulated financial products, the FCA sets maximum charges that cannot be exceeded by solicitors or claims management companies.
You will always pay the lower of either:
- The agreed percentage (within our 15–30% + VAT range), or
- The FCA's maximum charge for your compensation band.
FCA Fee Bands (exclusive of VAT)
| Band | Redress Awarded | Maximum % | Maximum Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £1 – £1,499 | 30% | £420 |
| 2 | £1,500 – £9,999 | 28% | £2,500 |
| 3 | £10,000 – £24,999 | 25% | £5,000 |
| 4 | £25,000 – £49,999 | 20% | £7,500 |
| 5 | £50,000 and above | 15% | £10,000 |
These limits are designed to protect clients and ensure full compliance with FCA redress scheme rules and SRA transparency requirements.
Example Calculations (Including VAT at 20%)
- If you receive £1,000, our fee would be capped at £300 + VAT (£60) = £360, leaving you £640.
- If you receive £5,000, our fee would be capped at £1,400 + VAT (£280) = £1,680, leaving you £3,320.
- If you receive £20,000, our fee would be capped at £5,000 + VAT (£1,000) = £6,000, leaving you £14,000.
No Fee Until Recovery
Under a Conditional Fee Agreement, you pay nothing until we recover compensation (or achieve the relevant contractual or debt-related outcome). If you abandon your instructions or breach the agreement, you will still be liable for fees incurred, charged at the hourly rates stated in the agreement.
Conditional Fee and Success Uplift
Should your case succeed, we are entitled to charge for the work performed at hourly rates, subject to an uplift of 100% as a "success fee" to compensate for the risk of non-recovery. This uplift is subject to a statutory cap of 50% of your compensation. We voluntarily cap our fees at 30% + VAT of your compensation, or the cap detailed in the FCA Fee Bands table above.
Disbursements and Interest
Any additional expenses we incur are your responsibility, whether your claim succeeds or not. Payment may be deferred until the case concludes — except for court fees or if you breach the agreement. Interest at 8% per annum may be charged on outstanding fees.
VAT Transparency
All fees and charges quoted on this page and within your Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate (currently 20%), unless otherwise stated. Where we refer to fee percentages such as 30% + VAT or 15–30% + VAT, these percentages apply before VAT is added. Any examples under the FCA Fee Bands are shown exclusive of VAT, unless specified otherwise.
Disbursements (court fees, expert reports, or ATE insurance premiums) may also attract VAT depending on the supplier. We will inform you in advance whether VAT applies to each disbursement. Locksley Law Solicitors is registered for VAT, and all invoices show the applicable VAT rate and amount in line with HMRC and SRA transparency requirements.
Cooling-Off and Cancellation Rights
You have the legal right to cancel your agreement within 14 days of signing it, without giving any reason and without incurring any fees. This right is provided under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. The 14-day period begins on the day you sign your Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) or related client care documentation.
You may cancel this Agreement at any time by giving written notice. If you do, you will be liable to pay our reasonable fees and disbursements incurred up to the date of termination, calculated at the hourly rates set out in our Terms of Business. No success fee will be payable in the event of cancellation.
If you terminate this Agreement or discontinue your claim after an ATE policy has been arranged, the insurer may not agree to cancel the policy. You may therefore remain liable for any premium (in whole or in part) or for any costs incurred under the policy terms. We will advise you of any such potential liability before you make a decision to cancel.
How to Cancel
Email: contact@locksleylaw.co.uk
Post: Locksley Law Solicitors, 2a Egerton Crescent, Manchester, M20 4PN
- If you cancel within the 14-day period, no charges will apply.
- If you cancel after the 14-day period, we may charge reasonable costs for work completed up to the cancellation date, in accordance with your CFA.
You don't have to use a solicitor
While consumers can make complaints directly to their lender or through an FCA-led redress scheme free of charge, the process and outcomes may differ. Locksley Law offers a fully managed legal service to help ensure your claim is correctly assessed and pursued for the best possible result.
This page provides a general overview of costs. For full details, please refer to your agreement or contact info@locksleylaw.co.uk or call 0330 127 1950 (local charges may apply).