| I. |
We will hold strictly
confidential all conversations and other communications
with you, and all information and documents that we receive
from you during the course of our dealings. We will not
reveal your confidences or secrets without your consent. |
| II. |
We will pursue your work conscientiously
and without delay. In turn, we will need your full and
timely cooperation to help represent you. However, we
may not be able to control every aspect of the work,
particularly with respect to the involvement of other
parties and the nature of the legal system. We welcome
your suggestions and requests for information. |
| III. |
We will work with you to develop an
understanding of your matter and your expectations. We
will work together to establish goals and deadlines that
meet your needs. Whenever possible, we will work with
you to develop practical budgets. |
| IV. |
We will communicate with you and keep
you informed and up-to-date as to the status of your
matter(s). You are entitled to sufficient and timely
information to allow you to participate meaningfully
in the development of your matter. We will have your
questions and concerns addressed in a prompt manner and
every effort will be made to have someone from this Firm
return your telephone calls and e-mails on the day they
are received, even if the person returning the call is
not the lawyer with whom you are currently working. We
will send to you copies of all significant correspondence
and other documents. We will keep you informed of any
significant developments relating to your matter(s). |
| V. |
We will meet with you at your request
to discuss our services and fees. If you are dissatisfied
with our services, or if you feel we have failed to meet
any of these commitments, we ask you to call the lawyer
involved in your work or the concerned Partner to discuss
the matter. We will try very hard to honestly and fairly
address your concerns. |
| VI. |
We will treat you with courtesy, respect
and consideration at all times. |
| VII. |
We will conduct ourselves ethically
in accordance with the code of conduct and standards
of good conduct and propriety expected of us. |
| VIII. |
We will provide you with independent
professional judgment and undivided loyalty, uncompromised
by conflicts of interest. |
| IX. |
We will respect your legitimate objectives,
including whether or not to settle your matter (court
approval of a settlement is required in some matters). |
| X. |
We shall do our best to protect you
from litigation and shall not push you towards or keep
you in litigation unnecessarily or without your wishes.
If litigation becomes necessary or inevitable, we shall
ensure that all other non-contentious and expeditious
remedies have been exhausted. |
| XI. |
We will ensure that the lawyer assigned
to you is capable of handling your legal matter competently
and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards
of the profession. If you are not satisfied with how
your matter is being handled, you have the right to withdraw
from the attorney-client relationship at any time (court
approval may be required in some matters and your lawyer
may have a claim against you for the value of services
rendered to you up to the point of discharge). |
| XII. |
We will charge you reasonable fees
and costs and expenses at actuals and will explain at
the outset how the fee will be computed and the manner
and frequency of billing. We will delegate work efficiently
in order to control costs. We will provide timely statements
that accurately and completely show what work we have
performed and the cost of that work. You are entitled
to request and receive a written itemized bill from us
at reasonable intervals. You may refuse to enter into
any fee arrangement that you find unsatisfactory. In
the event of a fee dispute, you may have the right to
seek arbitration; we will provide you with the necessary
information regarding arbitration in the event of a fee
dispute, or upon your request. |
| XIII. |
We will not refuse representation
on the basis of caste, race, creed, colour, ethnicity,
religion, gender, age, national origin or disability. |
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