My company is based in Chennai and we engaged an independent counsel based in New Delhi with decent pedigree/ credentials for a commercial suit in Chattisgarh. His invoice looks like this:

- Drafting of Suit & all Supporting Applications a/w said suit: INR 2 lakhs

- INR 75K per outstation appearance

- Out-pocket expenses extra

- Conferences/ teleconferences are included in the costs above

Are Delhi lawyers with roughly 15 years this expensive?

Would it be more cost efficient going to a law firm instead? To his credit and our advantage, this lawyer has front ended all the costs so far, and we have just been stumped with his invoice - post his securing the injunction we wanted. I tried reasoning with him and he insists that the invoicing is fair/ competitive - relative to the prevailing market rates in New Delhi.

Please could anyone throw some light on what has gone down here?

75k for outstation appearance with 15 PQE?

Very competitive.

Not expensive at all.

Why dont you hire a local lawyer in Chattigarh?

You are getting a good deal. Most lawyers with good education and practice will be expensive than this.

This is highly subsidised rate for a good Delhi lawyer with PQE 15

Had you hired a similar CG based lawyer, your costs would have been less than half.

There is drastic difference in Delhi and Chennai rates.

If the lawyer is good, pay. He/She is going to pull you out from the mess you are in.

This is an extremely competitive rate, especially the outstation appearances bit. Extremely fair for someone with 15 years experience.

His rates are competitive and very fair. He has obtained the injunction you wanted. You had clearly accepted his fee quote before he started work and now you want to reneg? Please pay him immediately. You are behaving like a typical Indian bureaucrat of a client who acts like he's pulling money out of his wallet for the company to pay advocate fees.