One of the most common questions we hear: "If I win, will I get back everything I paid my lawyer?" Short answer: probably not. Here's why — illustrated with five real-world examples showing what you'll actually pay and what the court will award you in return.
¶ Two Separate Calculations with No Direct Link
We typically agree on an hourly fee with clients. Our standard rate is CZK 3,900 per hour excluding VAT. As VAT payers, we add 21 %, making the effective rate CZK 4,719 per hour.
If you prevail, the court awards you litigation costs from the losing party. However, this reimbursement is not based on your contractual fee. It is calculated under Decree No. 177/1996 Coll. — the attorney tariff.
The tariff values individual procedural acts, not hours worked. Each act has a rate based on the tariff value of the dispute. A flat-rate expense allowance of CZK 450 is added per act. If the attorney is a VAT payer, VAT is added to the award.
There is no mathematical relationship between the contractual fee and the tariff-based award. The award may be lower, equal, or even higher than what you paid.
¶ What Changed in January 2025
The 2025 amendment (Decree No. 258/2024 Coll.) brought changes after eighteen years. Per-act rates for monetary claims remain unchanged, but the expense allowance increased from CZK 300 to CZK 450, and the base tariff value for non-monetary disputes rose from CZK 10,000 to CZK 30,000 — significantly improving reimbursements in cases like eviction proceedings.
¶ Five Practical Examples
All examples use our current rate of CZK 3,900/hour excl. VAT and the current attorney tariff.
1. Claim for Payment of CZK 45,000
Unpaid invoice. Debtor unresponsive. Pre-litigation demand, claim, two hearings. Full success.
8 hours × CZK 3,900 = CZK 31,200 excl. VAT, with VAT:
5 acts × CZK 2,900 + 5 × CZK 450 allowance = CZK 16,750 excl. VAT, with VAT:
2. Eviction Proceedings in Brno
Lease expired, tenants refuse to vacate. Pre-litigation demand, claim, one hearing. Court orders eviction.
9 hours × CZK 3,900 = CZK 35,100 excl. VAT, with VAT:
4 acts × CZK 2,300 + 4 × CZK 450 = CZK 11,000 excl. VAT, with VAT:
3. Defective Facade — Partial Success
Repair cost CZK 250,000. Seven hearings, expert report. Court awards CZK 187,500 (75 % success). After set-off, client receives 50 % of costs.
25 hours × CZK 3,900, with VAT:
10 acts × CZK 9,300 + allowances, with VAT, reduced to 50 %:
4. Claim for CZK 500,000 — Award Exceeds Fee
Straightforward collection. Pre-litigation demand, claim, three hearings. Full success.
10 hours × CZK 3,900, with VAT:
6 acts × CZK 10,300 + allowances, with VAT:
5. Property Dispute Worth CZK 5 Million — Losing
Ownership dispute. Client warned about risk. Years of proceedings through three instances. Final result: loss. Client pays everything. Reduced rate of CZK 2,900/hour excl. VAT given the risk.
72 hours × CZK 2,900, with VAT:
18 acts × CZK 28,300 + allowances, opponent is a VAT payer:
¶ Summary
| Example | You Paid | Court Awarded | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Claim CZK 45k | CZK 37,752 | CZK 20,268 | −CZK 17,484 |
| 2. Eviction | CZK 42,471 | CZK 13,310 | −CZK 29,161 |
| 3. Facade (50 %) | CZK 117,975 | CZK 58,988 | −CZK 58,987 |
| 4. Claim CZK 500k | CZK 47,190 | CZK 78,045 | +CZK 30,855* |
| 5. Property (loss) | CZK 252,648 | −CZK 626,175 | −CZK 883,823 |
¶ Key Takeaways
We are happy to discuss the likely costs and trajectory of your specific case in a personal meeting. Before you launch the dispute, also read Not every battle is worth fighting and When to go to court and when to mediate — the economics of litigation often close before the first filing, not at judgment. And for an overview of what you can procedurally ask for (cost orders included), see What you can ask for in a civil lawsuit.
Need a specific cost estimate for your dispute? Tell us what you're facing — in our dispute resolution practice we'll give you a realistic read of what the case will cost and what the court is likely to award back. Contact.