When dealing with legal matters, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and unsure about what to do next. You may have questions about your rights, the legal process, or what to expect. At Gowland, Boriss, we’re here to help.
These Frequently Asked Questions and Answers sections address some of the most common questions we hear from individuals.
If you need more personalized guidance, our team is just a phone call or email away. We are committed to helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.
705.743.7252 | 1.800.808.0189 | info@gowlandboriss.ca
Paying For Legal Services FAQs
How do I pay for legal services?
At Gowland, Boriss, our primary goal is to help you when you have suffered injuries and losses caused by someone else’s negligence. We represent clients in various types of personal injury cases, including motor vehicle collisions, slip and falls, catastrophic injuries, Statutory Accident Benefits and Long-Term Disability disputes.
The prospect of suing someone for your injuries can seem frightening and confusing. The law around personal injuries is complex and it can be very expensive to hire a law firm to sue for the things that you have lost. At Gowland, Boriss, we believe that access to justice should not be available only for the wealthiest among us, but for ALL victims of the negligence of others. Accordingly, we will often agree to represent you on a contingency fee agreement basis.
The Law Society of Ontario now requires all lawyers using Contingency Fee Agreements to use a template agreement that they have prepared for us. We are also required to stipulate on our website the maximum fee percentage that we would charge on a Contingency Fee Agreement basis. When you sign a Contingency Fee Agreement to hire us, it means that our fees are “contingent” on your success in a lawsuit. Accordingly, we will not charge you a fee unless and until you recover money for your case, either by settlement or a verdict in your favour after a trial. On the other hand, if you do not recover any compensation in your case, you will not pay legal fees to us. We may reserve the right, in certain cases, to charge for disbursements incurred by us on our files.
The Contingency Fee that we charge is based on a percentage of your recovery, therefore tying our fees directly to a successful outcome in your case. Every case is different and presents different challenges. Accordingly, we may charge a different percentage of the specific fees on each case, ranging from 25% to 30% of your recovery for damages, interest and any costs paid. As you might expect, trials require an extraordinary amount of time and effort to prepare. As a result, if your case proceeds to trial, we will charge a maximum contingency fee of 30%, plus any disbursements not paid by the opposing party. Of course, we are obligated to charge HST on all our legal fees.
We would be happy to talk to you about a Contingency Fee Agreement when you consult us.
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, we invite you to contact us. The Gowland, Boriss team is here to listen, support, and guide you through the process—with clarity, compassion, and a strong commitment to your best interests.
705.743.7252 | 1.800.808.0189 | info@gowlandboriss.ca
Disclaimer:
Please note that nothing on this website should be considered legal advice and is being provided for general information purposes only. For legal advice, we encourage consultation with a lawyer to review your specific concerns and situation.