How does the Department determine whether fees are reasonable?
10 C.F.R. § 719.41
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01In determining whether fees or rates charged by retained legal counsel are reasonable, the Department may consider among other things:
(a) Whether the lowest reasonably achievable fees or rates (including any currently available or negotiable discounts) were obtained from retained legal counsel;
(b) Whether lower rates from other firms providing comparable services, at appropriate competency and experience levels, were available;
(c) Whether alternative rate structures such as flat, contingent, and other innovative proposals, were considered; and
(d) The complexity of the legal matter and the expertise of the law firm in this area.
Source: eCFRURL: https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2024-07-01/title-10.xmlFetched: 7/26/2026
