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Petition to Arbitrate a Fee Dispute
The Beverly Hills Bar Association’s ac Mandatory Fee Arbitration (MFA) Program is governed by its Rules of Procedure for Fee Arbitrations and California Business and Professions Code §§ 6200–6206. Please review these rules carefully.
California law prohibits anyone who is not a licensed attorney from giving legal advice or counsel. BHBA staff members are not attorneys and are not permitted to provide legal advice, interpretations, or opinions regarding any matter, including fee disputes, arbitration procedures, or arbitration awards. The role of BHBA staff is limited to processing your petition and assisting with administrative aspects of the fee arbitration process. For general questions, contact us at mfa@bhba.org or (310) 601-2442.
The Program resolves disputes over attorneys’ fees and costs, including claims of excessive or improper billing. It does not cover court-ordered fees or costs.
The Program does not decide malpractice or ethical issues, though related evidence may be considered if relevant to the fee dispute.
To begin arbitration, complete this form in full. Your Petition will be deemed filed on the day we receive it. If your form is incomplete, we will may ask you to supply any missing information. This will likely delay the arbitration process. Upon submitting the form, you will receive a link to pay the filing fee or to submit a request for fee waiver. If you do not timely pay (within 24 hours) the fee or submit the request for fee waiver, your form will not be processed.
Enter your name to continue
By continuing with this form, you acknowledge and agree to complete the Mandatory Fee Arbitration process electronically. This includes receiving notices, submitting forms, and participating in the arbitration proceeding through electronic means as permitted by the BHBA Rules of Procedure for Fee Arbitrations and California Code of Civil Procedure § 1010.6. Your continued use of this form constitutes consent to such electronic communication and processing.
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Your Information
Person Who Paid Attorney Fees (If different from above)
Your Attorney (Representing you in this arbitration)
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Complete all required fields.
Respondent (The attorney/client you have a fee dispute with)
Dispute Details
Written Agreement
Notice of Client's Right to Arbitration
If you received a Notice of Client’s Right to Fee Arbitration from the attorney, you must file your request for arbitration within 30 days of the date the notice was mailed to preserve your right to arbitration. This right may be lost if you respond to a lawsuit about the fee dispute, initiate a court or arbitration proceeding seeking damages or malpractice claims, or otherwise seek judicial resolution before filing your arbitration request. If you have received a notice, attach a copy of it and the proof of service to this petition.
Has the attorney filed a lawsuit against you?
If the attorney has filed a lawsuit or arbitration to recover the same fees that are the subject of this fee arbitration, you may still proceed with this petition. However, the court or arbitration case will not automatically be put on hold. To postpone those proceedings, you must file a Notice of Stay of Proceedings with the appropriate court or arbitration body. Failure to do so may result in losing your right to resolve the dispute through this Program. The BHBA Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program does not file this notice for you but can provide a sample form upon request.
Have you filed a lawsuit against the attorney?
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Filing Fee Calculation
The filing fee is calculated based on the total amount in dispute. This includes both the unpaid fees and costs the attorney is seeking to collect from you, as well as any fees or costs you previously paid that you believe were unearned and should be refunded. The total amount in dispute is the combined value of these two figures and determines the applicable filing fee, which is 5% of the disputed amount, up to a maximum of $5,000.
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The BHBA Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program will retain a $50 non-refundable administrative fee for all cases. No refund is available for filing fees of $50 or less. If the matter is closed before a mediator or arbitrator is assigned, 50% of the filing fee will be refunded, with a $50 minimum retained. If the matter is closed after a mediator or arbitrator is assigned and written notice is received at least 10 calendar days prior to the scheduled hearing, 25% of the filing fee will be refunded, with a $50 minimum retained. If the hearing is less than 10 days away, or a mediation session or arbitration hearing has begun, no refund will be issued. To view the full refund policy, visit this page.
Effect of Arbitration
Under California law, arbitration through the BHBA Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program is non-binding unless both you and the attorney agree in writing to make it binding. In a non-binding arbitration, either party may request a new trial in civil court within 30 days after the Award is served. If neither party requests a trial within that time, the Award becomes final and binding automatically. If both parties agree in writing to binding arbitration after the fee dispute arises, the Award is immediately final and binding, and no new trial may be requested.
Voluntary Mediation
If both you and the respondent agree, the filing fee includes up to four hours of mediation assistance from one of our Program’s qualified mediators. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which the mediator helps the parties reach a mutually acceptable settlement but does not decide the outcome. If mediation does not resolve your dispute, the matter will proceed to arbitration. Review the BHBA MFA Program’s Mediation Rules of Procedure before indicating your preference.
Number of Arbitrators
If the amount in dispute is $25,000 or less, the matter will be heard by one (1) attorney arbitrator. If the amount exceeds $25,000, it will be heard by a panel of three (3) arbitrators—two attorneys and one non-attorney. However, if both you and the attorney agree in writing, the matter may be heard by a single arbitrator even if the amount in dispute is more than $25,000.
Arbitrator Type
If your fee dispute involves a civil matter, you are entitled to an arbitrator who practices civil law. If your dispute involves a criminal matter, you are entitled to an arbitrator who practices criminal law.
Please note that securing arbitrators in a particular practice area may require additional time and may lengthen the overall fee arbitration process. The Program will notify you if a qualified specialist is unavailable.
By submitting this Petition to Arbitrate a Fee Dispute, I certify that I have read and understand the contents of this petition and the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Rules of Procedure for Mandatory Fee Arbitration. I declare that the information provided herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
After submitting this form, you will receive a separate email with a secure payment link. You may use that link to pay the required filing fee using one of the available electronic payment methods (credit card, ACH, etc.) or to submit a request for a fee waiver. Your arbitration request will not be considered filed until payment is received or a request for a fee waiver has been submitted. You must submit the required payment or request for a waiver within 24 hours.