How do no win no fee claims work?

A no win no fee agreement with your solicitor means that if you lose your case, your solicitor does not get paid. Without a no win no fee claim, the loser normally pays the legal costs of the winner in addition to their own costs, subject to certain rules known as ‘qualified costs shifting’. With no win,no fee claim cases, your solicitor would agree not to charge a fee unless the case is successful. The risks with no win no fee claims can be limited to paying the other side’s costs if you lose, plus any ‘disbursements’ (such as the cost of expert witness reports) and Court costs. You can, however, buy insurance to cover these costs and we generally require that you do so. Running a legal action on a no win no fee basis with costs insurance means that as your solicitor, we are taking the largest financial risk. In no win no fee claims, if you lose we don’t get paid, but the insurance will cover any exposure to the other side’s costs and your own disbursements. Due to this risk, we will charge a ‘success fee’ which varies depending on how risky the case is. You will also be expected to pay the success fee from your compensation.

The two forms of insurance you can buy to cover your legal costs are known as: After The Event (ATE) is bought when you are in a dispute and need to cover your costs and the other side’s legal bill should you lose. Before The Event (BTE) is commonly sold with house or motor insurance policies to cover your costs in the event of a legal dispute in the future. One of the first steps we will take in advising you on funding is to check whether you have BTE insurance cover already in place.

No Win No Fee Claims | Nelsons Solicitors

No win no fee agreements

If you think you may have a personal injury claim, you may wonder how you will cover the costs of making a compensation claim, such as your solicitors’ fees and other legal costs.

A popular way to fund a compensation claim is via a no win no fee agreement.

How do no win no fee claims work?

A no win no fee agreement with your solicitor means that if you lose your case, your solicitor does not get paid.

Without a no win no fee claim, the loser normally pays the legal costs of the winner in addition to their own costs, subject to certain rules known as ‘qualified costs shifting’.

With no win,no fee claim cases, your solicitor would agree not to charge a fee unless the case is successful.

The risks with no win no fee claims can be limited to paying the other side’s costs if you lose, plus any ‘disbursements’ (such as the cost of expert witness reports) and Court costs. You can, however, buy insurance to cover these costs and we generally require that you do so.

Running a legal action on a no win no fee basis with costs insurance means that as your solicitor, we are taking the largest financial risk. In no win no fee claims, if you lose we don’t get paid, but the insurance will cover any exposure to the other side’s costs and your own disbursements.

Due to this risk, we will charge a ‘success fee’ which varies depending on how risky the case is. You will also be expected to pay the success fee from your compensation.
Legal insurance
The two forms of insurance you can buy to cover your legal costs are known as:
- After The Event (ATE) is bought when you are in a dispute and need to cover your costs and the other side’s legal bill should you lose.
- Before The Event (BTE) is commonly sold with house or motor insurance policies to cover your costs in the event of a legal dispute in the future.
One of the first steps we will take in advising you on funding is to check whether you have BTE insurance cover already in place.

How our solicitors can help with your no win no fee claim

At Nelsons, our personal injury solicitors have pursued thousands of personal injury claims via no win no fee agreements. We can assist with claims for all types of injuries, including:

Compensation claims for accidents and injuries can arise from many different circumstances, so our range of experience advising on different types of accidents is very important.

Need advice? Contact us to find out how we can help

Client feedback for our Personal Injury Team…

Highly recommended team of experts

The team is also recommended by the independently-researched publications, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, as one of the top teams of specialists in the country.

We are also members of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel – a specialist qualification held by experienced personal injury solicitors.

To find out more about making a compensation claim via a no win no fee agreement, please contact us to discuss how our team in Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham can help you.

For a quick response to your enquiry, call us, complete our online enquiry form or use our online chat.

"Nelsons Solicitors Limited has an experienced personal injury team that specialises in handling severe and catastrophic injury cases. The firm features on all appropriate and approved personal injury panels, including Headway and Spinal Injuries Association.”
The Legal 500
“Excellent personal injury group with broad-ranging expertise encompassing industrial disease, public liability and RTA claims. Frequently handles cases involving severe injuries. Also experienced in employers' liability mandates.”
Chambers and Partners
"...The team is knowledgeable about a broad range of severe and catastrophic injuries on both the personal injury and clinical negligence fronts, including spinal and orthopaedic injuries. Multi-party actions and inquest-related litigation are also areas where the group demonstrates a proven track record..."
The Legal 500
"Professionals second to none’ and ‘the best in every aspect’, Nelsons Solicitors Limited‘s‘ well-established Nottingham and Derby practice retains its market leading position in personal injury claimant work, and particularly, in the case of severe and catastrophic injuries. Lisa Preece spearheads the medico-legal practice as specialises in child and adult brain injury claims, and cases involving severe orthopaedic injuries to include traumatic amputation. Also acting for children, Bruce Williams is another specialist for brain and spinal injuries. Other noted figures include Matthew Olner, Dianne Collins (a ‘tenacious pioneer’), Carolle White, and Baishali Clayton, who has developed a specialism in stillbirths and neonatal deaths."
The Legal 500 2023
"Nelsons provide a first class service for clinical negligence and personal injury at a reasonable cost compared to their competitors."
Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024
"The team has some very experienced lawyers in the team and has a broad range of people so the team works well. They are experts in large complex brain injury and clinical cases. They are very good indeed with clients and experts alike. They have good relations with the other side, which is most important."
Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024

How do no win no fee claims work?

Legal insurance

How our solicitors can help with your no win no fee claim

Client feedback for our Personal Injury Team…

Highly recommended team of experts

To find out more about making a compensation claim via a no win no fee agreement, please contact us to discuss how our team in Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham can help you.

For a quick response to your enquiry, call us, complete our online enquiry form or use our online chat.