Engagement Terms

1.No Legal Advice Without Consultation

Whyte Law does not provide legal advice by email, phone, or message without a formal consultation. General information provided on this website or in preliminary communications does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.

To receive legal advice specific to your situation, you must book and attend a paid consultation. This ensures we have the full facts of your matter before advising you.

2.Consultation Fee

Our standard consultation fee is J$15,000.00 for a one-hour session. Consultations are available in-office or online by appointment.

The consultation fee covers an assessment of your legal matter, preliminary advice, and guidance on next steps. It does not include ongoing representation or document preparation.

3.Retainer Required Before Work Begins

If you decide to instruct Whyte Law after your consultation, a retainer agreement must be signed and a retainer deposit paid before any substantive work begins on your matter.

The retainer amount varies depending on the nature and complexity of the matter. You will receive a clear breakdown of estimated fees and the required retainer before engagement.

Work on your matter will not commence until the signed retainer agreement and deposit are received.

4.Government Fees and Disbursements Are Separate

Our professional fees are separate from statutory and government fees, which include but are not limited to:

• Stamp duty and transfer tax
• National Land Agency (NLA) registration fees
• Court filing fees
• Companies Office of Jamaica fees
• Tax Administration Jamaica fees
• Valuation fees (third-party)
• Survey fees (third-party)
• Advertising and gazette fees

These fees are payable directly to the relevant government agency or third party, or through our office as disbursements. All statutory fees will be clearly itemized and explained before they are incurred.

5.No Attorney-Client Relationship Without Engagement

Visiting this website, sending an inquiry, or attending a consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is only established when:

• We have agreed to represent you
• A written retainer agreement is signed by both parties
• The required retainer deposit is received

Until these steps are completed, you should not rely on any communication as legal advice or assume that your matter is being handled.

6.Communication and Availability

Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We endeavour to respond to all inquiries within 24-48 business hours.

For urgent matters involving existing clients, please contact the office directly. We do not guarantee same-day responses for general inquiries.