Who provides the services
Vincentas Zabulis, trading as Zabulis Legal, is a freelance solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales, practice SRA No. 666548, head office 86B Lordship Park, Stoke Newington, London N16 5UA.
ZABULIS LEGAL, APB is a law firm in Lithuania, company number 306641254, regulated by the Lithuanian Bar, with its head office at Vokiečių str. 18A-7, 01130 Vilnius.
Legal services are provided by solicitors or advocates of the jurisdiction in which the relevant practice is registered, under an engagement letter or debt collection agreement. Reserved legal activities are provided by the law firm. Only certain legal services can be provided by an SRA-regulated freelance solicitor, and you will be told before instructions are accepted whether a given matter can be taken.
The standards that apply
On English law, the SRA Standards and Regulations impose seven principles: acting in a way that upholds the rule of law and the proper administration of justice; upholding public trust and confidence in the profession; acting with independence; with honesty; with integrity; in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion; and in the best interests of each client.
On Lithuanian and European law, the rules and regulations of the Lithuanian Bar apply.
What each side does
The practice will
- Identify your objectives and advise clearly on the issues
- Advise on ways of achieving them and the courses of action open
- Carry out the work as quickly as possible
- Keep you aware of what is happening throughout
- Normally reply to letters, emails and messages within one to two days
You will
- Give instructions, information and documents promptly, without being chased
- Make credit and status checks on a debtor before taking action
- Repeat those checks before any step that incurs significant cost
- Pay invoices within the credit period
- Tell the practice if your contact details or circumstances change
Trust and company services
As a trust or company service provider, the practice may form companies, act or arrange for another to act as director, secretary, partner, trustee or nominee shareholder, and provide a registered office or correspondence address. Where those services are provided, you will be asked for anti-money laundering and know-your-customer forms, photographic identification for you and any representative, and information about the ultimate beneficial owner.
You authorise the appointment of third parties, including other lawyers, to provide parts of the services. No legal action will be started, no insolvency procedure initiated and no final settlement approved without your prior approval.
Fees
Work is charged on a time basis, with estimates given for the services to be provided, and prices set in the engagement letter or debt collection agreement according to complexity, expected volume of work and other factors. Time is recorded as work is done; routine letters, emails and calls may be charged as six-minute units. Detailed time records are available on request.
You may set a limit on the charges and expenses to be incurred. Work will be done up to that limit without further reference to you, and you will be told if more is needed. Hourly rates may be changed on at least 30 calendar days' notice; if you do not accept a new rate you may terminate the engagement, and if you do not give notice of termination within 30 days the new rate applies.
- Debt collection commission
- 15%
- Debts more than six months old
- +5%
- Minimum charge
- £75
- Correspondence fee, where the debtor makes contact
- £25
Of any sum paid towards the debt
From the date of the first invoice
Applies to the commission arrangement
May be charged
Debt collection is charged on a no collection, no commission basis. Court fees and disbursements are additional. Published fees for individual services are on the fees page.
Where litigation has already been commenced through someone else, commission rates vary and are quoted separately. Full published fees for other services are on the fees page.
Costs of the other side
You are responsible for paying invoices regardless of any costs order made against another party. If you win, the court will normally award you costs, but it is very rare for an award to cover more than about two thirds of what you have actually spent. If a claim or an application is unsuccessful, you may be ordered to pay the opponent's costs in addition to these charges and expenses.
Invoices and late payment
Invoices are issued at the end of each month for work done in that month, and may be issued more frequently. Each invoice is a final bill for the items in it. A retainer, payment of disbursements in advance, or reasonable payments on account of future costs may be requested.
All invoices are payable within 15 days. Where an invoice is unpaid after that period, the practice may claim interest and compensation under the late payment legislation, invoice for unbilled work and disbursements, claim payment of all invoices including those still within the credit period, suspend further work, recover its legal costs of enforcement on an indemnity basis, exercise a lien over money, property or documents held, and instruct third parties to collect the debt.
Payment is accepted by bank transfer only, to an account notified on signing the engagement letter. Cash is not generally accepted.
Complaints
Every complaint about the service is taken seriously and treated as an opportunity to improve client care. The person responsible for handling complaints is Vincentas Zabulis. A complaint will be investigated and a decision aimed at within 30 days.
You have the right to challenge an invoice, and one month in which to do so and, if necessary, ask the court to assess it. The court will order assessment after payment only in special circumstances, will not do so more than 12 months after the invoice was delivered where judgment has been obtained, and will not order assessment more than 12 months after an invoice has been paid.
Ending the relationship
You may terminate your instructions in writing at any time. The practice may stop acting only with good reason, such as non-payment of an invoice within the credit period, failure to meet a request for a payment on account, or failure to give acceptable and viable instructions. Where a client uses unacceptable language or threatens violence, the relationship may be terminated. On termination you remain responsible for costs and liabilities already incurred.
Money, money laundering and credit checks
A client account is operated in Lithuania and can hold client funds in euros. No client account is currently operated in the UK, so client funds cannot be held here except where they are on account of the practice's own fees or are a disbursement payable on your behalf. Where funds are held in those limited circumstances they are held separately from practice funds and always accounted for. Where necessary, a third party managed account may be used in accordance with the SRA rules, and you will be told separately if so.
Vincentas Zabulis is the nominated compliance and reporting officer. The practice adheres to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and the Lithuanian Bar's equivalent requirements. Standard anti-money laundering and identity checks are carried out on clients and their ultimate beneficial owners before a business relationship begins, and monitoring continues while trust or company services are provided.
A credit reference agency search may be made from time to time to assess your credit standing, and the agency will keep a record of it. Payment performance is recorded securely.
Documents, files and confidentiality
Routine emails and letters are scanned and stored electronically for a minimum of six years, and originals are securely destroyed after one year. If you want documents held or returned, ask in writing when you send them. External firms may audit files for quality purposes, and files may be reviewed on a sale or transfer of the business; confidentiality is required of anyone doing so, and you may object. Data protection is dealt with in the privacy policy.
Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the law of the jurisdiction in which the relevant practice is registered.
Engagement with Vincentas Zabulis t/a Zabulis Legal
- Governed by the law of England and Wales
- Exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales
Engagement with ZABULIS LEGAL, APB
- Claims under €50,000: exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Vilnius city court
- Claims over €50,000: Vilnius Court of Commercial Arbitration, one arbitrator, seated in Vilnius, conducted in English
These terms may be amended at any time, with the amended version published on this website.
Common questions
When do these terms start to apply?
Work begins only once formal instructions and a signed engagement letter or debt collection agreement are in place. That document sets the fee, the scope and the specific arrangements for your matter; these terms provide the framework around it.
If I win, does the other side pay my legal fees?
Not in full, and not instead of you. You remain responsible for the invoices whatever costs order is made. A successful party is normally awarded costs, but it is rare for an award to cover more than about two thirds of what has actually been spent.
What happens if I pay an invoice late?
After the 15-day credit period the practice may charge interest and compensation under the late payment legislation, bill for unbilled work, call in all outstanding invoices, suspend work, exercise a lien over money or documents held, and recover its enforcement costs on an indemnity basis.
How do I make a complaint?
Raise it with Vincentas Zabulis, who handles complaints personally, and a decision will be aimed at within 30 days. If you remain dissatisfied afterwards you may take it to the Legal Ombudsman on 0300 555 0333 or at enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk.
Can I challenge an invoice?
Yes. You have one month to challenge an invoice and, if necessary, ask the court to assess it. Time limits apply after that, and the court will not order an assessment more than 12 months after an invoice has been paid.
Do you hold client money in the UK?
No. A client account is operated in Lithuania and can hold funds in euros. In the UK, funds can only be held where they are on account of the practice's own fees or are a disbursement payable on your behalf, and in those cases they are held separately from practice funds.
Can these terms be changed?
Yes, and an amended version will be published on this website. Hourly rates can be changed on at least 30 calendar days' notice, and if you do not accept a new rate you may terminate the engagement within that period.
This page states the law of England & Wales and Lithuania as at 18 August 2026. It is general information, not advice on your matter, and reading it does not create a solicitor-client relationship.