What is new
Tarifo launches the United Kingdom Legal Guide — a comprehensive reference covering eight sections of English and Welsh business-dispute law and procedure. The guide walks through limitation periods under the Limitation Act 1980 (six years for contract debt; twelve years for specialty and land recovery), preventive measures including retention of title, charges, and guarantees under the Companies Act 2006 and Law of Property Act, the amicable phase including the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims and statutory demands under the IA 1986, court proceedings and the court-fee structure under the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 (HMCTS EX50), court hierarchy under the Senior Courts Act 1981 and Crime and Courts Act 2013, key procedural deadlines, insolvency and restructuring under the IA 1986 and Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, and arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996 and the 1958 New York Convention.
No statutory lawyer tariff — costs follow the event
England and Wales carries a distinctive legal principle: there is no statutory lawyer-fee tariff. Unlike civil-law jurisdictions with fixed lawyer scales, legal fees are governed by contract between client and lawyer. Under the Civil Procedure Rules rule 44.2, the fundamental principle is that costs follow the event — the losing party pays the winner’s costs, subject to court discretion and reasonableness. On the Small Claims Track (claims under £10,000), however, legal representation costs are largely not recoverable, creating a practical barrier for small creditors; many use online money-claim platforms or statutory demands instead. The guide is a reference summary for procedural frameworks and court-fee structures — not legal advice.
Explore the full guide
Start with the United Kingdom Legal Guide, or check court-fee schedules in the United Kingdom calculator.