Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Conditional fee agreement definition

What does Conditional fee agreement mean? An agreement under which a solicitor or counsel is paid only if the case succeeds (“no win, no fee”). The contract defines “success” and, on success, permits payment of base costs plus an agreed “success fee” uplift; if the case fails, professional fees are not charged, though the client may still be liable for disbursements and any adverse costs (often insured via after-the-event (ATE) cover). A CFA is distinct from a damages-based agreement (contingency fee), which takes a percentage of recoveries. In England and Wales, CFAs are governed by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (sections 58 and...

Conditional Fee Agreements in England and Wales: scope, statutory requirements, success fees, drafting and variation, client consent, termination, enforcement, and key case law

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Practice notes

What is a CFA?

A conditional fee agreement (CFA) is an arrangement with a professional providing advocacy or litigation services under which their fees and expenses, in whole or in part, are payable only when certain specified conditions arise. CFAs commonly include provision for a success fee. In short, a CFA is taken to provide for a success fee where, in defined circumstances, the amount of the applicable fees is increased above the figure that would have been due if payment were not restricted to those circumstances. For a fuller discussion of success fees, see the section ‘Success fees’ below and the Practice Note: Conditional fee agreements—success fees. Note that particular provisions, including those relating to success fees, apply when a CFA is used in personal injury, clinical negligence and mesothelioma claims, and these are not covered in this Practice Note. For those provisions, see: PI and clinical negligence developments—overview and the Practice Note: Conditional fee agreements after 1 April 2013—personal injury and clinical negligence...

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Joseph Evans

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Joseph is a solicitor-advocate who undertakes all aspects of commercial litigation work, specialising in insolvency disputes.Joseph assists officeholders with their investigations into insolvent companies and individuals, both in the UK and overseas, with a view to recovering misappropriated funds for the estates. Joseph works on cases involving fraud, misfeasance, negligence and tax avoidance. Joseph often acts for claimants on a contingent basis where appropriate. Joseph also has a specialist practice advising stakeholders on structuring alternatively-funded cases, including implementing litigation funding and CFA/DBA arrangements....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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