These Terms of Use constitute an integral part of the contract with the client (Contract with Client) entered into by and between BS ADVOCATE & ASSOCIATES (Firm) and client (Client) and apply to the provision of services by the Firm, unless agreed otherwise. In the event of differences between the Terms of Use and the Contract with Client, the Contract with Client shall prevail.

Publication: 15.03.2024
Effective from: 15.03.2024

1. Terms and conditions for providing services by the Firm

  • The Firm shall provide the Client with its services consisting of professional counselling, representation or defence of the person in court/tribunal, during pre-trial procedure or elsewhere, and preparation of documents for the person and performing other legal acts in the interests of the person.
  • In performing the Contract for Services and the assignments, in applying his or her experience and in finding solutions, the Firm shall be guided by the objective to ensure the maximum protection of the Client’s interests, including creating certainty and clarity, and shall be guided by law and professional ethics.
  • The intellectual property rights created within the framework of the services provided by the Firm belong to the Firm and the Firm shall grant the Client a non-exclusive licence for the use of the created documents worldwide in a manner necessary for the Client.
  • The Firm shall ensure the quality of the service provided to the Client and shall be liable for only the direct patrimonial damage caused to the Client through intent or gross negligence during the performance of the Contract for Services.

2. Authorisation

  • The authorisation and liability to act on behalf of the Client shall come into force at the moment of conclusion of the Contract for Services. The Contract for Services is deemed concluded if it has been signed or if the intent of the parties has been explicitly expressed in a format which can be reproduced in writing or by actions.
  • In order to replace the executive performing the assignment, the Firm shall appoint one of its executives as a substitute executive. The Client is entitled to demand replacement of the substitute executive.
  • The Firm and the executive shall not conclude transactions on behalf of and on the account of themselves in the interests of or based on the assignment of the Client, if the purpose thereof is to conceal the actual beneficiary owner, circumvent any supervision, tax, reporting and other obligations, or any other purpose contrary to the law.
  • The Firm is entitled to process the personal data of the Client and third parties relating to the performance of the assignment in accordance with the Privacy Policy of the Firm available at Privacy Policy.
  • The Firm shall identify the Client at the first meeting.

3. Fees and costs

  • The principles for calculation and the amount of the fees for services are indicated in the Contract for Services either as an hourly fee, a fixed fee (so-called assignment fee) or a combination of the assignment fee and the performance fee.
  • The agreed hourly rate shall be valid for one (1) year, after that the parties shall, in good faith, agree upon a new hourly rate.
  • The hourly rate for the work performed, at the request of the Client, outside the usual working hours shall be multiplied by the coefficient of 1.5 and the hourly rate for the services necessary for the performance of the Client’s assignment to be performed by the technical staff of the Firm (e.g. delivery of documents, examining documents in administrative agencies, etc.) shall be multiplied by the coefficient of 0.6.
  • The Firm shall keep account of the time spent on the performance of the Client’s assignment. The smallest unit of time used for accounting is five (5) minutes and the time spent on activities is rounded up with the accuracy of five (5) minutes.
  • The Client shall reimburse the Firm for the justified and necessary expenses relating to the performance of the assignment. The expenses to be reimbursed include e.g. state fees, translation costs, expert fees, reasonable necessary travel expenses (plane tickets, ferry tickets, hotel accommodation, etc.), necessary courier and communication costs, cost of making unusually high number of copies, binding, etc. At the request of the Client, the Firm shall add the relevant expense receipts (invoices, receipts, boarding passes, etc.) to the invoice for its services.
  • As a rule, the Firm shall submit the invoice for its services provided and the expenses incurred during the previous month at the beginning of the next month. The maturity of the invoice is 10 days, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. At the request of the Client, the Firm shall supplement the invoice with a report on the provided services.

4. Confidentiality

  • The confidentiality of the communication with the Client at the place of business of the Firm is ensured by law and the Firm shall maintain the confidentiality of the fact of applying for its services, the content of legal assistance and the amount of the fees.
  • The confidentiality obligation shall not be limited in time and shall apply to all the employees of the Firm. The Firm shall duly observe the requirements of the professional ethics of employees.
  • The Firm shall make reasonable efforts to ensure confidentiality of any communication performed by means of electronic devices, but the Client is aware that it is impossible to guarantee full confidentiality in case of such communication.

5. Documents and other information

  • The Firm has no obligation to verify the accuracy of information received from the Client.
  • The Firm shall, during the performance of the assignment, maintain all documents related to the performance of the assignment that are received from the Client or third parties.
  • The Firm is entitled not to maintain documents in paper form if there is an electronic copy thereof (except for original documents). The firm shall not maintain any printouts of electronic correspondence and electronic documents publicly available on the Internet.
  • The Firm is entitled to withhold the documents of the Client until the fees for its service and the costs related to the provision of service have been reimbursed.
  • After the termination of the assignment or the Contract for Services, the Client is obligated to collect, on its own account, from the Firm the documents received for performance of the assignment from the Client or third parties.
  • After the termination of the assignment, the Firm shall keep the documents received for six (6) months, unless agreed otherwise.
  • After the expiry of six (6) months, the Firm is entitled to destroy the documents or store them in the archive and to demand reimbursement of the relevant expenses from the Client.

6. Validity and termination

  • The Firm is entitled to amend these present Terms of Use at any time by informing thereof on its homepage. 
  • Upon the termination of the Contract for Services, the Firm shall reasonably consider the objective to avoid damaging the interests of the Client.
  • The Client may terminate the Contract for Services at any time by informing the Firm thereof.
  • The Firm may waive the obligations assumed under the Contract for Services or terminate the Contract for Services, including without disclosing the reasons therefor, if:
  • there occurs a conflict of interest; or
  • the Client has submitted a request, the fulfilment of which requires the executive to violate the law or the requirements of professional ethics; or
  • the Client has violated a material provision of the Contract for Services; or
  • the Client fails to submit information or documents that are necessary for the Firm or the attorneys for the application of the due diligence measures; or
  • The legal relationship arising from this contract shall be governed by the national laws of India. The parties shall attempt to settle any disputes by means of negotiations. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the disputes shall be settled at the Courts of Jaipur (Rajasthan).