Considering that top quality legal service will always remain a complex business activity, it must be acknowledged that the intellectual performance of a top tier law firm cannot be standardised. This how- ever, should not lead to the uncertainty that tends to rule the high-end legal mar- ket in respect to fees. We, at Oppenheim®, are confident that our philosophy regarding the honorarium for our legal advice is app- reciated and makes a difference to our clients.

Our philosophy is simple: fair and straight- forward fees.

With our commitment to be the most reli- able and dependable partner of our clients and with our mission to pursue the legal profession with a flexible attitude, all we need to do is to understand and duly apply some basic rules. No buyer of a super -sonic jet would be satisfied with simply being told the hourly rates of the engineers who designed the state of the art aircraft, even if it is a matter of common knowledge that such a product is expensive and takes a long time to develop. Nor would a gour- met be interested in how many hours it takes for the chef to serve a delicious Chateaubriand to his table. All buyers of goods and services want to know

more or less the exact amount of their in- vestments.
Hence, one important aspect of predict- ability in providing legal services is the understanding that legal considerations are only one of the many factors that in- fluence a company's performance.  Like all other elements of decision-making, the cost of 'legal engineering' must be calcu- lable and controllable. Oppenheim® provi- des peace of mind to its clients because we duly understand our own profession with all the rules and risks attached to it. This enables us to estimate the necessary a- mount of time and work required to render the deliverables expected.

Our experience has taught us that good work is our best marketing. Therefore, we are convinced that spending less on fancy marketing will not limit our recognition and reputation but, with national and interna- tional expertise behind us, help us provide an unrivalled cost-benefit ratio and real value for money by upfront agreement on appropriate financial conditions with all of our clients.