Both Natalie Saunders and Neil Wright make the point that it is the client and not the solicitor who should pay for the time wasted by inexpert or incompetent solicitors acting on the other side of a transaction or dispute (letters, 14 January).

Why? As a client, I expect my solicitors to be aware of the likelihood of delay from the other side because they are experts. As such, they will know what are the possible opportunities for delay or argument (whether arising from the opposing lawyer’s conduct or otherwise) and will have factored that into their fee quote. Part of their skill set should be the ability to cajole and persuade the other side to act quickly.

It’s like a heart surgeon wanting to charge you double because your heart bypass took twice as long due to complications. The fees should reflect the result – not necessarily the effort in achieving it. This is the new service culture I believe the profession has to embrace.

Christopher Digby-Bell, General counsel, Palmer Capital Partners, London

I endorse completely the comments of Natalie Saunders and Neil Wright on this subject. There is one other factor which they have not mentioned when responding to Christopher Digby-Bell's comments on time-based charging - the client. Time and again the client will give instructions, and documents are prepared on that basis and sent out. The client then decides to renegotiate. The result is we have to redraft large parts of the documents.

Then there is the level of client involvement. Some are laid back and let me get on with the job; others want to micromanage everything I do, insisting every letter and draft document is first sent to him, or her, for approval.

If I can't charge the client who takes 10 hours of my time to do a job twice as much as one who takes five hours to do the same job, how am I supposed to charge? If I explain to Mr Digby-Bell that I am going to charge him 50% more than he, as an undemanding client, would have to pay if I charged on an hourly basis, in order to make up the loss I suffer on the demanding clients to whom I make the same charge, will I be instructed by him? He will be unique among my clients if I am.

John Thelwall, Park Woodfine Heald Mellows, Bedford