---

name: prompt-pack-matter-budget-template
description: Use when preparing a per-matter legal budget for a specific litigation, arbitration, transaction, or regulatory matter. Produces a template with phase/task breakdowns, estimated hours by timekeeper level, disbursements, contingency, key assumptions, and alignment with LEDES/UTBMS billing codes. Applicable to outside counsel preparing client budgets and in-house teams evaluating external counsel proposals.
license: MIT
metadata:
id: prompt-pack.matter-budget-template
category: prompt-pack
practice_area: legal-ops-billing
priority: P2
intent: [operations, matter-budget-template]
related:
- prompt-pack-legal-budget-forecast
- prompt-pack-legal-invoice-review-checklist
- prompt-pack-outside-counsel-guidelines
- prompt-pack-legal-department-kpi-dashboard
- prompt-pack-matter-closing-procedure
source: Louis — HAQQ Legal AI (github.com/sboghossian/mini-claude-for-legal)
version: "1.0"

Matter Budget Template

When to use this

Use this skill when outside counsel needs to provide a client with a matter budget for a specific engagement, or when an in-house team needs to evaluate and document the expected cost of a new matter before instructing external counsel.

Triggers:

• "Prepare a budget estimate for litigating [matter]."
• "Our outside counsel sent a budget — help me review and structure it."
• "I need a matter budget template aligned to UTBMS codes."
• "Draft a transaction budget for the [acquisition] deal."

Required inputs

Input	Why it matters	Default
Matter name and description	Identifies and scopes the budget	Ask user
Matter type	Litigation / arbitration / transaction / regulatory / advisory	Ask user
Phase/task breakdown	Core structure of the budget	Use standard UTBMS phases for the matter type
Timekeeper levels available	Determines which rate tiers appear in the budget	Ask user or use standard tiers
Approved rates	Either from OCG rate schedule or quoted rates	Ask user
Jurisdiction	Affects expected disbursements (court filing fees, expert rates)	Ask user

Optional inputs

• Billing code standard: LEDES 1998B, LEDES 2000, LEDES Timekeeper, or non-LEDES
• Budget format: fixed fee / time-and-materials / phased capped / hybrid
• Alternative fee arrangement (AFA): fixed fee per phase, success fee, blended rate
• Risk adjustment: probability-weighted scenario analysis
• Currency

Budget template — Litigation / Arbitration

Matter Information

Field	Details
Matter name
Client
Counsel / Firm
Budget date
Budget period	[Phase 1 only / Through first hearing / Full case]
Governing law
Assumed venue
Budget type	Time-and-materials (estimated) / Capped / Fixed fee

Phase and Task Budget

For litigation use UTBMS L-codes; for transactions use UTBMS A/P codes.

Phase L100: Case Assessment, Development, and Administration

Task	UTBMS Code	Lead Timekeeper	Hours (est.)	Rate (USD/hr)	Estimated Fee
Initial case assessment	L110	Partner
Fact investigation	L120	Sr. Associate
Legal research	L120	Associate
Case strategy and planning	L120	Partner
Document management / organization	L140	Paralegal
Phase L100 subtotal

Phase L200: Pleadings

Task	UTBMS Code	Lead Timekeeper	Hours (est.)	Rate	Estimated Fee
Draft complaint / statement of claim	L210	Partner / Sr. Associate
Draft answer / defense	L210	Sr. Associate
Preliminary motions / jurisdictional challenges	L210	Partner
Phase L200 subtotal

Phase L300: Discovery / Disclosure

Task	UTBMS Code	Lead Timekeeper	Hours (est.)	Rate	Estimated Fee
Prepare / respond to document requests	L310	Associate / Paralegal
Document review	L320	Associate
Depositions / witness interviews	L330	Partner / Sr. Associate
Expert reports	L340	Partner (coordination)
Phase L300 subtotal

Phase L400: Trial / Hearing Preparation and Trial

Task	UTBMS Code	Lead Timekeeper	Hours (est.)	Rate	Estimated Fee
Pre-hearing motions / briefs	L420	Partner
Witness preparation	L450	Partner / Sr. Associate
Hearing attendance (days × daily rate)	L450	Partner + Associate
Post-hearing brief	L460	Partner / Sr. Associate
Phase L400 subtotal

Phase L500: Appeal (if applicable)

Task	UTBMS Code	Lead Timekeeper	Hours (est.)	Rate	Estimated Fee
Notice of appeal	L510	Partner
Appellate brief	L510	Partner / Sr. Associate
Oral argument	L520	Partner
Phase L500 subtotal

Disbursements / Expenses

Expense category	UTBMS Code	Estimated amount	Notes
Court / tribunal filing fees	E112		Confirm current fee schedule
Expert witness fees	E119		Estimate from expert
Travel and accommodation	E110 / E111		Economy class per OCG
Document production / e-discovery platform	E101 / E106		Per-GB pricing estimate
Interpreters / translation			If applicable
Process server / enforcement fees	E112
Other
Disbursements subtotal

Budget Summary

Category	Estimated amount	Notes
Phase L100
Phase L200
Phase L300
Phase L400
Phase L500 (if applicable)
Disbursements
Fees + Disbursements subtotal
Contingency (typically 10–15%)
Total estimated budget

Key Assumptions

State all material assumptions on which the budget is based. The budget is only as reliable as these assumptions; if they change, the budget should be revised.

1. This budget covers Phase [X] only / the full case through [award/judgment].
2. No third-party disclosure order is required.
3. Number of witnesses to be deposed/heard: [X].
4. Document volume estimate: [X documents / GB of data].
5. Expert witnesses: [X experts in [X fields]; budget does not include expert fees unless separately stated].
6. Settlement discussions: this budget does not include costs of mediation or settlement negotiation.
7. Regulatory or parallel proceedings: not included unless specified.
8. The other side does not bring a counterclaim of material complexity.
9. Rates are per the approved rate schedule as at [date]; rate adjustments will be addressed by amendment.

Budget Update Triggers

Outside counsel undertakes to notify the client promptly if:

• Actual costs in any phase approach 80% of the phase budget
• An event occurs that materially changes the scope or complexity of the matter
• The matter proceeds to a phase not originally budgeted

Budget revisions require written agreement from the client before the new budget ceiling is exceeded.

MENA considerations

• Expert witnesses in UAE / KSA courts: court-appointed experts are common and can significantly affect the budget; include a line for responding to court expert reports.
• Arabic translation costs: all documents submitted to UAE or KSA courts must be in Arabic or translated with a certified translator; translation costs can be substantial for document-heavy cases.
• DIAC / ADCCAC arbitration fees: arbitration institution fees in MENA are calculated as a percentage of the claim amount; include institutional fees as a separate line item.
• Travel costs for MENA-based hearings: regional hearings in Dubai, Riyadh, or Beirut involve international travel for international counsel teams; estimate realistically.

Common mistakes

• Omitting the assumptions section: a budget without stated assumptions is meaningless; counsel will always find a reason why costs exceeded budget if assumptions are not pinned down.
• Not including disbursements: attorney fees are always presented; disbursements (expert fees, filing fees, translation) can add 20–40% to the total cost.
• No contingency: all litigation budgets should carry a contingency; absent one, the first complication produces a budget overrun.
• Not updating the budget when scope changes: a budget issued at case inception should be revised at each phase gate; use budget update triggers to formalize this.

Related skills

• [[prompt-pack-legal-budget-forecast]]
• [[prompt-pack-legal-invoice-review-checklist]]
• [[prompt-pack-outside-counsel-guidelines]]
• [[prompt-pack-legal-department-kpi-dashboard]]
• [[prompt-pack-matter-closing-procedure]]