ABOUT ALFRED JAMES & CO
Our team has many years of combined experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to the Recovery of a Debt and the processes that need to be taken when making a claim.
We have four members of the team who may work on your matter. Regardless of who works on your matter, they will be supervised by our Senior Partner.
Adedeji Sijuwade
Senior Partner
deji.sijuwade@localhost
Connect with Adedeji
Deji is the Managing and Senior Partner of our firm with over 20 years’ experience in private client work, specialising in Housing, Landlord & Tenant, Immigration, Personal Injury and International Commercial Transactions and Business Law.
Deji has been working in these areas since he qualified and has helped thousands of families and individuals with his wealth of legal experience, such as assisting to successfully overturn an appeal at the Court of Appeal on the matter of Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria, with regards to a Chancery matter relating to Breach of Trust – further details can be found here.
Deji is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and a Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
Education: Thames Valley University 2000 LL.B (Hons), Legal Practice Course University of Hertfordshire 2004
Year of Qualification: 2006
Omowunmi Morohundiya
Solicitor
o.morohundiya@localhost
Omowunmi qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2005. She attended The University of Buckingham. She has a wide range of Legal Professional experience in both the Public and Private Sectors having worked extensively with various local Authorities and thereafter private law practice. She currently covers Private Client work in Family, Probate, Debt Collection, P.I and General Civil Matters in our firm.
Year Of Qualification: 2005
Adebayo Ogunbode
Locum Solicitor
Ade.ogunbode@localhost
Adebayo qualified as a solicitor in 2002. He obtained his master’s degree (LLM) from Kings College University in London (1989). Adebayo has gained experience in the following areas of law namely Prison, Criminal litigation, Civil litigation, Immigration, Employment, Debt Collection and Landlord and Tenant. Adebayo currently specialises in property law (Residential and Commercial) with his experience in the same spanning over 13 years. Adebayo has kept himself abreast in property law by attending several professional development courses.
Year Of Qualification: 2002
Siraney Jeyarajah
Paralegal
Siraney.jeyarajah@localhost
Siraney is a Paralegal and has been working at our Firm since June 2018, assisting the Senior Partner in various areas of law such as Immigration, Family, Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Debt Collection, Probate and Housing matters. Siraney has 7 years’ experience working as a Immigration Case Worker, and 4 years’ experience in Family Law. She obtained her LLB at the university of Essex in 2012 and completed her Legal Practice Course in 2015 at the University of Law. She speaks French and Tamil fluently.
Year of Qualification: LLB 2012 & LPC 2015
WHY CHOOSE US?
We know that chasing for the payment of a Debt can be very complex if completed on your own. Alfred James & Co have many years of experience dealing with these matters. Our team are here to help with sound legal advice and can handle all matters regarding your case for you.
We are proud to have achieved the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) accreditation for demonstrating that we are well managed, provide excellent levels of client care and have systems in place to ensure delivery of good quality advice.
PRICING
Court Claims
These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or continue on hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.
Our pricing is usually on an hourly rate basis, and the hourly rates which you can expect depends on the complexity of your case and the experience of the staff member handling your case:
Senior Partner – £280 + VAT per hour
Solicitor – £250 + VAT per hour
Paralegal – £126 + VAT per hour
Our total fees would normally fall within the following ranges but would depend upon a number of factors, eg whether court proceedings would be necessary:
|
Value of Debt |
Estimated Range (plus VAT) |
|
Under £5,000 |
£250 to £1,000 |
|
£5,000 to £20,000 |
£500 to £2,000 |
|
£20,000 to £50,000 |
£1,000 to £5,000 |
|
£50,000 to £100,000 |
£1,000 to £10,000 |
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. However you will have to pay these fees
The disbursements you can expect (which normally attract VAT unless stated otherwise) are:
- Court Fees (these vary and often depend on the debt amount being recovered but do not attract VAT)
- Barristers Fees for attending the hearing or drafting documentation e.g. pleadings if needed (Barristers Fees are paid by hourly rate and these normally vary depending on the experience of the Barrister and amount of time they work on a case. These will be confirmed to you before we instruct the Barrister)
- Expert Fees for any experts required e.g. Surveyor’s Reports
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:
- The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
- Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
- The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.
Our fee includes:
- Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
- Undertaking appropriate searches
- Sending a letter before action
- Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
- Settlement negotiations with the other side
- Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
- When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
- If payment is not received, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs
How long will my matter take?
Matters very often vary, and can usually take approximately 6 months to 2 years from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to take the matter to Court This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.
Typical stages and timescales are:
Pre-Action (1-6 months)
Preliminary Hearings and potential settlements (3-24 months)
Trial
Value Added Tax
VAT is currently 20%