It is our policy to work closely with clients to keep expenses to a minimum. All expenses, including copying, faxing, telephone calls, and postage, are billed to the client in the amount actually incurred. No markup or profit margin is added to the bill. These practices and procedures help us provide cost-efficient representation. Furthermore, we have established a written expense policy to help control chargeable expenses.

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TRAVEL

• Air travel will be in coach class and, whenever possible, arranged in advance to obtain the best rate available.
• There shall be no charge for automobile mileage within the Kansas City area; automobile travel between cities shall be charged at $.445 per mile.
• When in another city on business, best efforts will be made to determine whether automobile rental or use of taxicabs or shuttles is most cost effective.
• Automobile rentals will be made with a firm credit card, thereby eliminating the need for rental insurance.

LODGING

• Whenever possible, lodging shall be arranged at moderately-priced business class hotels and motels, such as Marriott, with consideration being given to proximity to courthouse or meeting rooms, necessity of cabs or other transportation, etc. Corporate rates shall be requested for all hotels, motels, and meeting rooms.

MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Except for working sessions with the client or its representatives in attendance, no meal expenses will be charged to the client for attorneys or employees while in the Kansas City area.
• During out-of-town business trips, moderately-priced restaurants will be used.
• Except with client approval, no entertainment expenses will be charged.

COPYING CHARGES

• Large copying projects will be assigned to an outside vendor which shall be selected with primary emphasis on cost.
• In-house copying shall be charged at the actual cost incurred, presently at the rate of $.12 per copy. Periodic efforts are made to confirm the rate charged represents the actual costs incurred by the firm.

TELEPHONE AND FAX CHARGES

• Telephone charges will be passed on at the rate charged by the long distance company with no markup. Periodic efforts are made to confirm the long distance carrier utilized is price competitive.
• There is no charge for incoming facsimile transmissions. Outgoing facsimile transmissions are charged at the rate of $.25 per page which includes the cost of the telephone call. Periodic efforts are made to confirm the rate charged represents the actual costs incurred.

MAIL AND EXPRESS MAIL

• Postage is charged at the actual rate incurred.
• Express mail is utilized only when necessary and not for convenience. While Federal Express is generally used, periodic efforts are made to confirm the express mail carrier utilized is price competitive.

OVERTIME

• No overtime or premium rate is charged for attorney time.
• No charge is made for secretarial time during regular working hours.
• Overtime at 1-1/2 times regular hourly rate is charged for secretarial time only when extraordinary client business requires after hours or weekend work, and only with client approval. Every effort is made to keep overtime at a minimum and specific attorney authorization for overtime is required.

RESEARCH

• Client in-house legal and accounting resources are relied upon whenever possible to accomplish cost-effective projects and evaluations.
• Prior client approval is sought for all large research projects.
• Every effort is made to minimize the cost of legal research. Computer research is charged to clients only when use of that research medium is necessary and will increase efficiency and reduce cost.