Contact
Begin the conversation
Initial consultations are confidential and complimentary. We respond within one business day
Contact Us
Reach us directly
Office
New York
545 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10022
United States
United States
+1 (212) 555-0100
Office
London
10 Old Bailey
London EC4M 7NG
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7946 0100
General Inquiries
For matters that don't yet require formal intake:
hello@casewell.com
FAQ
Common questions, candidly answered
Direct answers to what clients typically ask before signing an engagement letter — drawn from fifteen years of first calls.
What kinds of matters does Halden & Vale handle?
We're a boutique firm built for complex, partner-led matters across M&A, intellectual property, employment, immigration, tax, and selective commercial litigation. If your matter sits outside those areas — or sits well below the complexity that justifies senior counsel — we'll tell you in the first conversation and refer you thoughtfully.
Who will actually work on my matter — a partner or an associate?
A partner leads every matter from intake to close. Associates support specific tasks (research, document preparation, due diligence), but the strategic judgment and client conversations stay with a partner. We staff lean by design.
What kinds of clients do you typically work with?
Three groups: founders and principals at growth-stage companies, general counsel at mid-market operating businesses, and individuals at career inflection points (executive separations, equity events, immigration). Most of our work sits in the $5M–$500M transaction range.
Do you work with clients outside New York and London?
Yes. Roughly forty percent of our clients are based elsewhere in the US, in EU jurisdictions, or further afield. We're admitted in twelve US states and qualified in England and Wales, and we work with vetted local counsel where we don't directly practice.
How do you bill — hourly, flat fee, or something else?
Most matters are billed hourly with detailed timekeeping. Where scope is well-defined — a single transaction, a specific filing, a discrete dispute — we offer flat-fee engagements with clear in-scope and out-of-scope terms. We don't take contingency-fee work.
What does an initial consultation cost?
Nothing. The first conversation is confidential and complimentary. It's for both of us to determine whether we're the right firm and you're the right client. If it's not a fit, we'll say so directly.
Will you give me an estimate before we begin?
Yes. Before any engagement letter is signed, we'll walk you through likely cost, what could change it, and how we'll communicate any shift early. Honest scoping is a principle, not a negotiation tactic.
Are retainers required?
For new engagements, generally yes. Retainers are credited against ongoing work and refunded at engagement close if unused. Existing clients with recurring matters typically work on an open-account basis.
Can we use your firm alongside our existing outside counsel?
Frequently. Roughly a third of our engagements involve coordinating with another firm — typically BigLaw handling a specific specialty, or a regional firm with local expertise. We coordinate cleanly and bill only for the scope we own.
How is my information protected from the first inquiry?
All initial communications — by phone, email, or our intake form — are treated as confidential under attorney-client privilege from first contact. Information you share is not retained, indexed, or used for marketing. If we can't take your matter, we securely destroy the intake record.
What happens if you can't take my matter?
We tell you directly, explain why, and recommend specific attorneys or firms better suited to the work. We've built referral relationships across the US, EU, and UK over fifteen years — and we don't accept referral fees, so recommendations are based on fit alone.
Do you handle conflict checks before agreeing to take a matter?
Yes. Every prospective engagement is run against our active and historical client database before we agree to take it. If a conflict surfaces, we'll explain the issue and, where appropriate, discuss whether a waiver is possible — or refer the matter onward if it isn't.
Can you handle cross-border matters between the US, UK, and EU?
Yes — cross-border work is one of our core capabilities. Our New York and London offices coordinate directly, and we maintain working relationships with senior counsel across Germany, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland for matters that touch those jurisdictions.
How quickly will I hear back after an initial inquiry?
Within one business day, always. If a matter is time-sensitive — a pending filing deadline, a court appearance, a signed LOI moving fast — we prioritize accordingly and respond within hours.
