How do I complain about a Lewis Silkin bill?

Raise the bill complaint with your client partner first, Lewis Silkin states that *"Concerns can often be resolved by informal discussion with the partner responsible for your matter or with your client partner."* If that doesn't resolve it, invoke their formal complaints procedure in writing to info@lewissilkin.com. UK individual clients can then refer the dispute to the Legal Ombudsman free of charge.

Can I get a refund from Lewis Silkin?

There's no standing refund policy, fees are governed by your engagement letter. You can dispute specific time entries or a final bill through the firm's complaints procedure. If you're a UK individual client and the firm doesn't resolve it, the Legal Ombudsman can order remedies including a refund of fees. You may also have a right to a Solicitors Act 1974 assessment of costs through the court.

How long do I have to complain to the Legal Ombudsman about Lewis Silkin?

For UK clients the Legal Ombudsman generally requires complaints to be referred within one year of the act or omission, or one year from when you should have realised there was a cause for complaint. You also need to have given Lewis Silkin a chance to resolve it first, usually eight weeks. The Ombudsman service is free of charge.

Is there a cancellation fee for ending a Lewis Silkin engagement?

There is no flat cancellation fee, but your engagement letter will normally allow Lewis Silkin to bill for all work done up to the date you terminate, plus any disbursements they've committed to (counsel's fees, court fees, expert reports). Ask for a detailed close-out invoice and don't pay until you've checked the time entries against the agreed scope and rates.

Can I cancel by phone instead of in writing?

Always confirm termination in writing, even if you call first. An email to your client partner copying info@lewissilkin.com creates a dated record of when the retainer ended, which matters for capping fees and for any later Legal Ombudsman referral. A phone call alone leaves you exposed to additional work being billed after you thought the matter was closed.

How do I get my file back from Lewis Silkin?

When you terminate, ask in writing for a copy of your file to be released to you or transferred to a new solicitor. Solicitors can sometimes assert a lien over the file for unpaid fees, so settling or formally disputing the final bill first will speed things up. Specify the format (electronic preferred) and a delivery date in your termination email.

Does Lewis Silkin offer a free trial or consultation?

Lewis Silkin is a commercial law firm, it doesn't market a consumer free trial. Initial scoping calls with the relevant team may be offered without charge depending on the matter, but any chargeable work should be confirmed in an engagement letter setting out the scope, fee earners, hourly rates and any cap. If you've received an invoice you didn't expect, raise it via the complaints procedure.

REFUND GUIDE

How to Dispute a Lewis Silkin Bill.

Lewis Silkin refunds are per-order, here's what their policy actually says, and how to escalate if they ignore the request.

Last verified 15 Jun 2026 against Lewis Silkin’s own Terms · UK, US, and EU rights covered below

The short answer

Lewis Silkin doesn't run a consumer subscription with a refund window, fees are governed by your individual engagement letter. If you dispute a bill, raise it first with the partner running your matter. If that fails, escalate via the firm's formal complaints procedure. UK individual clients and some small organisations can then refer the matter to the Legal Ombudsman free of charge.

Or let yoink chase the refund.

30 seconds to set up. yoink emails Lewis Silkin, cites the policy, escalates if ignored, and surfaces the win when the money lands.

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What Lewis Silkin actually says

“If you have any concerns in relation to the services we have provided to you, including any complaint about any of our bills, then please let us know. Concerns can often be resolved by informal discussion with the partner responsible for your matter or with your client partner and we aim to deal with concerns in this way wherever possible.”
, verbatim from Lewis Silkin’s terms

How long does a Lewis Silkin refund take?

Most merchants agree to a straightforward refund within 1 to 3 working days of a well-written email request. Once agreed, the money itself takes another 3 to 5 working days to land, that part is card-network processing and no merchant can skip it. If nothing has arrived 10 working days after a written “refund approved”, reply on the same thread asking for the ARN (acquirer reference number), which your bank can trace.

What you can claim

The law where you live is the strongest hook, lead with it when you contact the company.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Visa/Mastercard chargeback works everywhere they do.
Open a chargeback for “subscription not cancelled” or “services not as described”, your bank initiates, Lewis Silkin has ~45 days to defend. Works regardless of where Lewis Silkin is headquartered.
PayPal Buyer Protection
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute.
PayPal’s Buyer Protection covers “item not as described”, applies to services that didn’t deliver. Resolution typically within 20 days.

Rights in other regions (United States, United Kingdom, European Union)

United States

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Dispute any credit-card charge in writing within 60 days.
For US credit-card payments, the FCBA gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a Lewis Silkin charge in writing. Your card issuer is required to investigate and may withhold the disputed amount during the process.

United Kingdom

Citizens Advice + Trading Standards
For repeated bad-faith refusals.
Free escalation lane: file with Citizens Advice (08082231133), they pass it to Trading Standards. Slow (8-12 weeks) but creates a paper trail Lewis Silkin can’t ignore.

European Union

ECC-Net cross-border escalation
EU Consumer Centre network mediates against EU sellers.
If Lewis Silkin is based in another EU country, your local European Consumer Centre will mediate the dispute for free. List of national contacts at commission.europa.eu.

The Lewis Silkin refund email

Email the right address
Use info@lewissilkin.com, the route yoink has verified actually gets read for Lewis Silkin.
Use a clear subject line
Subject: Refund Request, [your account email]

Send this body

Hi Lewis Silkin team,

I'm requesting a refund for my Lewis Silkin order (reference [order number], placed on [date], for [amount]).

Please process the refund to my original payment method and confirm by reply.

Best,
[your name]

Wait 7-14 days, then escalate
If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, escalate via the regional route above, a card-issuer chargeback works in every market.

Refund FAQ for Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin isn't a subscription, you end a retainer by writing to the partner running your matter and stating you wish to terminate the engagement. Reference your matter number, ask for a final invoice covering work to date, and request that your file be closed and any client-money balance returned. Keep the email; you'll need it if there's a later billing dispute.