Attorney Advertising A service of Agarunov Law Firm, P.C.
How It Works

One quote up front. Then we get to work.

Flat-fee billing isn't a discount — it's a different way of structuring legal work. Here's exactly how the model works, what's included in your fee, and how a typical engagement moves from first call to signed deliverable.

Quote turnaround: under 1 hour · Free consultation, no obligation

The flat-fee model

Why hourly billing is broken — and what we do instead.

The hourly billable hour was invented in the 1950s as an internal accounting tool. Somehow it became the dominant way clients pay for legal work. It rewards inefficiency, hides cost, and creates an adversarial dynamic where the client wants the matter to end and the lawyer doesn't.

The hourly model

Why hourly billing fails clients.

  • · The lawyer's time — including phone calls, emails, and "thinking about your matter"
  • · Junior associate time, often at near-partner rates
  • · Administrative work that gets billed at attorney rates
  • · A retainer you can't see being drawn down until you get the bill
  • · Surprise charges for revisions, follow-ups, "additional consultation"
  • · A bill at the end that often doesn't match the estimate at the beginning
The flat-fee model

How flat fees fix it.

  • One quoted price, agreed in writing, before any work begins
  • Direct attorney representation — no associate handoffs at attorney rates
  • Unlimited revisions, follow-up calls, and meetings within scope
  • Negotiation with the other side, drafting, filings, and signing all included
  • Aligned incentives — the work gets done efficiently because efficiency is built in
  • No bill at the end. The quote was the price.
What's included

One fee, one deliverable, no surprises.

Across every practice area, your flat fee covers the entire legal scope of the matter we agree to handle. Specific scope is written into your engagement letter — but at the universal level, this is what's always in.

Always included

Every step of the legal work.

  • Free initial consultation
  • Written quote within an hour of inquiry
  • Drafting and unlimited revisions
  • Negotiation with the other party's counsel
  • All required filings, recordings, and submissions
  • Closing or signing-day attendance
  • Unlimited follow-up calls and meetings
  • Direct line to the attorney on your matter

If a matter genuinely expands in scope — new parties, new entities, fundamentally different terms — we'll talk first before any new work begins. Scope creep doesn't become your bill.

Third-party costs (paid separately)

Costs no attorney's fee can cover.

  • · Government filing fees (state, federal, USPTO)
  • · Real estate transfer and recording taxes
  • · Title insurance and title company fees
  • · Court filing fees (in the rare cases where a flat-fee matter requires one)
  • · NY LLC publication costs
  • · Notary, apostille, and authentication fees
  • · Independent appraisals or specialized expert reports
  • · Tax and accounting advice from your CPA

These are paid to government offices, title companies, lenders, and other providers — not to the law firm. We tell you about them at the consultation so the total cost picture is clear.

The process

From first call to signed deliverable.

Every engagement follows the same six steps. Practice-area specifics — closing day for real estate, USPTO timelines for trademark, attorney review periods for NJ deals — fit inside this framework.

Initial consultation

You reach out by phone, email, or web form. We schedule a free 20–30 minute call to understand your matter — what you need done, who the other parties are, what success looks like, and whether your matter is a good fit for flat-fee billing. If it isn't (litigation, contested family law, regulatory enforcement), we tell you and point you toward counsel that handles it.

Written quote within an hour

After the consultation, you receive a written quote — typically within an hour, often faster — with the scope of work clearly defined. The quote is what you'll pay. There's no markup at the end, no hourly add-ons, no surprise charges.

Engagement letter and payment

You sign an engagement letter that defines the scope and the fee. Payment terms vary by matter — some are paid in full at engagement, larger transactions can be split into milestones. Once the engagement letter is signed and payment is received, the work begins.

The work

Drafting, review, negotiation, filings, signings, follow-ups — whatever the matter requires, all included in your fee. You hear from us proactively, not just when there's a question. Direct attorney representation throughout — no associate handoffs.

Completion and delivery

Closing day, document signing, registration confirmation, or whatever the deliverable looks like. We make sure the work is done, the documentation is in your hands, and any post-completion items (recording confirmations, registration certificates, executed agreements) are followed through.

Post-engagement availability

You stay our client even after the matter closes. Quick follow-up questions on the work we did are answered without a new engagement. New matters get a new quote — same process, same flat-fee model.

Typical pricing ranges

What to expect across practice areas.

A quick reference for what a typical engagement looks like in each of our practice areas. Each practice page goes deeper.

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These are typical ranges, not promises.Every matter has its own facts — yours might price within these ranges, below them, or above them. We give you the actual number after a brief consultation, in writing, before any work begins.

Real Estate

Residential closings

$1,500 – $3,500

Buyer or seller representation for single-family, multi-family, co-op, and condo transactions. Sponsor sales, commercial deals, and 1031 exchanges price separately.

See real estate →
Business

LLC formation

$750 – $1,500

NY, NJ, or Delaware. Includes name search, filing, EIN, and operating agreement. NY publication costs paid separately. Custom multi-member governance prices higher.

See business →
Business

Trademark registration

$950 – $1,800

USPTO clearance search, application filing for one mark in one class, non-substantive Office Action responses. USPTO filing fees separate.

See business →
Family Law

Prenuptial agreements

$1,500 – $5,000

Drafting, financial disclosure, negotiation, and execution. Each party should have independent counsel — total cost across both lawyers is roughly 2x.

See family law →
Employment

Severance review

$750 – $2,500

Review and negotiation of severance agreements, releases, and separation packages. Executive severance with significant equity or restrictive covenants prices higher.

See employment →
Entertainment

Talent & deal agreements

$1,500 – $7,500

Recording agreements, talent contracts, production agreements, and similar deals. Simple releases and one-page deal memos price lower; complex multi-party deals price higher.

See entertainment →
FAQ

Pricing & process questions.

Why don't you publish exact prices on the website?

Because every matter is different, and an exact published price would either be inflated (to cover the worst case) or unrealistic (and require add-ons later). Both outcomes betray the flat-fee promise. What we publish are representative ranges so you know what to expect; the precise quote comes after a brief consultation where we understand your specific matter — and arrives within an hour.

What if my matter turns out to be more complex than expected?

Your quote covers the scope agreed at the start, including unlimited revisions, follow-ups, and routine complications. If the scope changes meaningfully — new parties, new entities, fundamentally different terms — we discuss it before any new work begins. The flat-fee promise is that the scope-creep risk is ours, not yours.

Can I pay in installments or by milestones?

For larger transactions, yes — payment can be structured by milestone (engagement, draft delivery, closing). Standard engagements are typically paid in full at engagement. We discuss payment structure at the consultation.

Do you take on matters that aren't a fit for flat fees?

No. The firm focuses exclusively on transactional matters that can be scoped up front — closings, contracts, agreements, formations, registrations. We don't take litigation, contested family law, regulatory enforcement defense, or matters where the cost depends on what the other side does. If your matter is one of those, we'll tell you during the consultation and point you toward counsel that handles it.

Is the consultation actually free?

Yes. The initial 20–30 minute consultation is genuinely free, with no obligation, and no pressure to engage. If we're not the right fit for your matter, we'll tell you. If we are, you'll receive a quote within an hour. You decide from there.

How long until you can start work?

For most matters, work begins within 1–2 business days of the engagement letter being signed. Time-sensitive matters — closings under contract deadline, production-day clearances, last-minute prenups — we accelerate. Tell us the timeline at the consultation.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Bank transfer (ACH or wire), credit card, and check. Payment instructions are included with your engagement letter.

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