Berkley Custom Insurance Manager (5780)

Berkley Custom Insurance Manager (5780) - Ebilled - Monthly billing (hold if under $1,500.00)– Legal-X

• Berkley Custom expects the Litigation Plan (including budget) to be updated every ninety (90) days
• Final invoices must be submitted no later than 45 days after completion of services
• Block billing is prohibited
• Prior approval needs to hire experts or investigators
  • Expert and Investigator expenses that are $2,500 or more should be submitted directly to the client for payment
• In-Firm conferences are non-billable except in the most complex matters
• Legal research over three (3) hours requires written approval
  • The following information is needed to obtain approval: 
    • estimate of the time and expense involved
    • who will conduct the research
    • specific issue to be researched, and
    • purpose for the research (e.g., for use in specific motion or pleading,
    • case evaluation, etc.).
• Multiple attendance requires prior approval
• When billing for file/document review and related summaries, attorney must provide the following:
  • List the specific documents reviewed by type, title, and source
  • Volume of documents (approximate number of pages) reviewed by the timekeeper on the particular date; and
  • Specific purpose of the review (e.g., in preparation for Plaintiff’s deposition; to incorporate into mediation
• Expenses that are in excess of $2,500.00 require written client approval
• Local travel is nonreimbursable. Local travel is defined as travel within fifty (50) miles roundtrip
  • Parking is reimbursable for local travel
• Berkely Custom will pay for long-distance travel time (travel in excess of fifty (50) miles roundtrip) at 50% of the timekeeper’s approved hourly rate
  • Long-distance travel must be pre-approved by claim representative
    • Berkley Custom will not pay for time that is also being billed for other tasks while traveling
• Travel descriptions must include the following:
  • Origin and destination (city and state)
  • Purpose of travel (e.g., deposition of Plaintiff)
  • Total number of miles traveled roundtrip; and
  • Any factors that may have extended travel time.
  • If travel entries are not specific, and merely indicate “Travel billed at ½ rate”, or “Travel already reduced by 50%”, etc., the time may be reduced, pending clarification. Reductions will be based on the average travel time (determined using online tools such as Google Maps, etc.).
  • Travel time and attendance at events may not be block-billed. When billing for attendance at an event, it should be affirmatively stated that “travel time is not included” or “online attendance”. If it is unclear to the reviewer, entries will be reduced entirely, pending clarification.
• The client will reimburse the following reasonable expenses for long-distance travel:
  • Airfare - coach class only 
  • Hotel - moderately priced 
  • Rental cars – reasonably priced
  • Parking
  • Tolls
  • Meals (only w/ overnight travel) - maximum daily rate of $100