Fee Uplifts for the Serious Fraud Office – 28.08.25
We are delighted to advise you that from the 1st September 2025 the SFO has agreed to a significant increase of about 25% across the board in the rates of pay for all King’s Counsel and Panel Counsel instructed on SFO cases.
This is the first increase since 2007. We are grateful to Matthew Wagstaff, the Director of Legal Services and General Counsel and to his leadership team for providing us with the breakdown of the increase in fees today. This increase is welcomed and much appreciated. Full details will be found on the website from 1st September 2025.
For those who have been King’s Counsel for less than five years, the hourly rate will increase to £205 from £165.
For those who have been King’s Counsel for over five years, the hourly rate will increase to £230 from £185. Once King’s Counsel are over five years call the increase to £230 per hour will be automatic.
For Junior Counsel the rates will be as follows:
Panel A £130 (was £105)
Panel B £105 (was £85)
Panel C £95 (was £75)
The SFO has also decided that if in the course of a long-running case, Counsel moves up in the banding or becomes a King’s Counsel they will then be paid at the higher rate for the work that they undertake following that appointment.
There will also be a 4.25% increase in the fees paid for disclosure work. This reflects the fact that there was a 21% increase in 2023. The 4.25% increase will allow all fees to have increased by 25%.
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