Legal Fee Audits: Comprehensive and Objective Analysis
At Jim Schratz and Associates, we provide comprehensive legal fee audits designed to offer transparency and accountability in billing practices.
Before accepting any client or law firm for audit services, we first perform an initial review of the invoices, free of charge. If we find no indication that an audit is needed, we advise the potential client accordingly. This ensures that clients only proceed when there is a justified need. In approximately 15-20% of cases, we conclude that an audit would not be beneficial. For the remaining cases, we identify "red flags" of potential billing discrepancies and recommend a full-scale legal fee audit.
What is Included in a Full-Scale Legal Fee Audit?
A full-scale legal fee audit includes several meticulous steps designed to ensure accurate billing and ethical practices. Our audit process includes:
- Inputting and coding the invoices for detailed analysis.
- Generating and reviewing computer reports that identify trends, patterns, and anomalies.
- Thorough examination of all available work product, including pleadings, correspondence, deposition transcripts, and more.
- Unlimited consultation to generate customized reports as per the client's needs.
- Drafting of a comprehensive expert report. Consultation with clients and attorneys to prepare for trial, including expert testimony when needed.
- Attendance at depositions to assist in cross-examination, if appropriate.
- Providing trial testimony and post-trial consultation, including support during appeals.
Why a Full-Scale Legal Fee Audit?
Our full-scale audit allows us to dive deep into the specifics of each case. We can determine the exact time spent by attorneys on tasks like drafting pleadings, attending depositions, and other legal work. This allows us to identify potential overbilling. For example, if a deposition lasts two hours but an attorney bills for six, we flag the discrepancy and investigate further. By reviewing the actual work product alongside the time billed, we ensure that fees are justified based on the complexity of the work.
Unlike cursory “bill reviews” or sample audits, our comprehensive audit offers clients a fair and unbiased assessment. We analyze every invoice in context, ensuring that our conclusions are well-supported by the facts of the case.
Unparalleled Experience in Legal Fee Audits
Jim Schratz has conducted over 800 legal audits for various high-profile clients, including government agencies, corporations, and individual clients. His legal fee audits have been retained by the U.S. Department of Justice, the State of Wisconsin, the City of San Francisco, and numerous other notable entities.
Schratz has served as an expert witness in state and federal courts on the reasonableness of attorneys’ fees and has been quoted in prominent publications like The Wall Street Journal and The National Law Journal. His extensive experience in the field ensures that his audits are respected by both clients and courts.
With a track record of court-accepted audit findings and client satisfaction, Jim Schratz and Associates stands as a leading authority in legal fee audits. Whether representing insureds, insurance companies, or other entities, we provide impartial and thorough reviews that hold billing practices accountable.
Why Choose Jim Schratz and Associates?
Jim Schratz’s extensive background in legal audits includes:
- Retained by investor Carl Icahn and other shareholders to review $60 million in professional fees in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
- Appointed by the District Court in Northern Mariana Islands to audit $22 million in legal fees for the estate of Larry Lee Hillblom, co-founder of DHL Express.
- Retained by the State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General, and the U.S. Department of Justice to audit tens of millions of dollars in legal fees.
Expert Witness and Consulting Experience
Jim Schratz is not just an expert in legal fee audits but also in insurance bad faith and claims handling, making him a unique asset for clients seeking to ensure fairness and transparency in their legal billing.
Contact us today for a no-obligation review of your legal invoices and see how Jim Schratz and Associates can help you ensure that your legal fees are fair, transparent, and justified.