The Flat Fee
Transparent. Firm. Paid in full at engagement. Mr. McKenna does not accept hourly retainers. Every engagement begins with the same promise: complete trial readiness from day one.
From $50,000
Criminal defense, high-asset divorce, property litigation, and business litigation engagements. Final fee established after consultation based on scope, complexity, and anticipated trial duration.
From $100,000
Co-counsel, local counsel, and trial specialist engagements with other attorneys. Available nationwide for matters requiring Nevada bar admission or senior trial expertise.
Included and Separate
Included in the flat fee
- Initial consultation and case evaluation
- All pre-trial preparation and strategy
- Motion practice, including dispositive and evidentiary motions
- Discovery and document production
- Depositions of fact witnesses and experts retained by opposing parties
- Trial preparation and trial appearance
- Post-trial motions through entry of judgment
- Direct communication with the court and opposing counsel throughout
- Mr. McKenna’s personal attention throughout the engagement
Separately borne by client
- Appeal (separately retained; trial counsel ≠ appellate counsel)
- Expert witness fees (forensic accountants, valuation experts, medical experts, etc.)
- Investigator fees
- Court reporter and transcript costs
- Costs of obtaining public records, subpoenaed materials, and specialized documents
- Filing fees and court costs
- Paralegal services ($350/hour when required)
- Travel expenses for out-of-jurisdiction proceedings
The Discipline Behind the Number
The flat fee is not a discount. It is a discipline.
Under hourly billing, every decision the attorney makes — whether to file a motion, whether to depose a witness, whether to pursue an investigatory lead — gets filtered through the client’s concern about the bill. Preparation becomes a negotiation. Corners get cut. Quality suffers.
The flat-fee model removes that calculus entirely. From the moment of retention, preparation proceeds without billing anxiety. Every motion that should be filed is filed. Every witness who should be deposed is deposed. Every investigatory lead is pursued. The client is never asked to weigh thoroughness against cost.
This preparation posture is also what generates favorable resolutions. Prosecutors, opposing counsel, and adverse parties calibrate their positions against the defense or representation they expect to face. When the representation is visibly prepared for trial from the first appearance, the calculus shifts. As Mr. McKenna puts it: “It is the ability to go to trial that creates settlement opportunities.”
How the Engagement Works
Engagement
A firm price is given and is paid in full upon retention. Once the retainer is paid, Mr. McKenna commences representation immediately.
Earned When Received
The fee is considered earned when received and is not refundable if the case resolves by settlement without trial. This is a feature, not a risk — it ensures Mr. McKenna has no financial incentive to delay settlement in pursuit of trial.
Scope
The flat fee covers representation through trial. Appeal is separately engaged. If appeal becomes necessary, Mr. McKenna will provide a separate engagement agreement for appellate representation.
Costs
Expert witness fees, investigator fees, court reporter costs, and the cost of obtaining materials (subpoenaed documents, specialized records, etc.) are borne by the client as incurred. These are not “hidden fees” — they are the real costs of investigation and preparation that any competent representation requires, billed at cost.
Paralegal Services
When paralegal work is required, it is billed at $350 per hour. This is itemized and separate from the flat fee.
Discretion
The final case price is established after consultation. It depends on the nature of the matter, the jurisdiction, the anticipated investigation and discovery, the expected trial duration, and other factors specific to the engagement. Mr. McKenna discusses the price candidly during the consultation.
Frequently Asked
Begin a Consultation
Consultations are scheduled via inquiry. Mr. McKenna reviews inquiries personally and responds within three business days.