D R Sheridan & Co

Mr Sheridan dealt for me with a litigation case against another law firm. Contrary to his description which included a «no win no fee» promise I was sent a contract that stated his hourly rate (200 an hour before vat) and other costs without any commitment from his side and certainly no «no win no fee» clause. Though the final result was satisfactory from my point of view, I think that the case was pretty clear cut and it’s success not due to any special effort on his part. On the contrary, all responsibility for gathering information and documentation for the case was put on me and I felt that I was doing a lot of work. I also disagree with the way the firm describes itself as «friendly, approachable and professional…». Starting with «approachable» — I often sent e-​mail messages to his office which were totally ignored, not even a confirmation. Going on to «professional»: The office work seemed to me very sloppy. I was asked to repeat information a number of times, since apparently nobody seemed to keep track of my very thoroughly detailed email messages and documents. The messages I received from his office were written unclearly and often failed to answer simple questions I had addressed to Mr Sheridan previously such as «Do you need a statement from my bank» etc.
Going on to «friendly” — When after a month of no response to my repeated requests for an update and confirmation of receipt of documents I had sent to his office I complained about this situation, he became angry and said that if I wish my case to me dealt with «urgently» his hourly rate would increase. When I questioned his final cost (which seemed to me extremely high for writing 2 letters and about 4 emails) he again became very angry and accused me of being «disrespectful» and trying to undermine his work. He also childishly (and it seems to me unprofessionally) threatened to withdraw his request for a contribution to his fees from the sued lawyers firm if I continued to question his fees. In the final invoice he wrote that the time spent on the case was 7 and a half hours with 26 letters, emails and faxes, while I had been sent copies of only two letters, no faxes and about 4 e-​mails. Towards the end of the case, in two days his final cost jumped from 1800 pounds to 2320 (before vat). This increase was quite simply a punishment for my daring to ask how he reached his final cost or in his words: «negotiations on costs and with yourself»