UTBMS Code L110 — Fact Investigation/Development
Pre-litigation fact gathering, witness interviews, site inspections, and initial document review to assess the merits and risks of a potential claim or defense. This code covers all early-stage investigatory work before formal proceedings begin.
schedule When This Code Is Used
When the legal team is conducting initial fact-finding to evaluate a potential claim or defense. This includes interviewing witnesses, visiting relevant sites, reviewing publicly available records, and compiling preliminary evidence assessments before litigation strategy is formalized.
warning Common Billing Violations
Block billing investigation time with analysis time, making it impossible to determine how many hours were spent on each activity
Billing partner-rate hours for basic fact gathering tasks like public records searches that a paralegal should handle
Charging for 'industry background research' that falls within the firm's existing expertise and should not require billable investigation
Multiple attorneys billing for the same witness interview without defined roles for each attendee
timer Typical Hours
Simple matters: 5-20 hours. Moderate complexity: 20-80 hours. Complex multi-party litigation: 50-200+ hours.
flag Red Flags to Watch For
More than 40% of total L100-series hours allocated to L110 in a matter where the facts are largely documentary
Multiple senior partners billing investigation time when associates or paralegals could conduct the same fact-gathering
L110 entries continuing well after the investigation phase should have concluded and formal discovery has begun
Vague entries like 'investigate matter' without specifying which facts or sources were investigated
check_circle Best Practices for Review
Require detailed task descriptions specifying which facts were investigated and what sources were consulted
Set hour budgets for investigation based on matter complexity before work begins
Mandate that fact-gathering tasks like records searches be performed at paralegal rates
Require a written investigation summary as a deliverable to justify the hours billed
link Related Codes
analytics Key Statistics
Pre-litigation investigation costs account for 8-15% of total litigation spend in commercial disputes
Source: ACC Legal Operations Survey, 2024
62% of corporate legal departments lack formal budgets for pre-litigation investigation phases
Source: CLOC State of the Industry Report, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does UTBMS code L110 cover in legal billing? expand_more
UTBMS code L110 covers Fact Investigation and Development, including pre-litigation fact gathering, witness interviews, site inspections, and initial document review. It applies to all early-stage investigatory work before formal proceedings begin. Billing reviewers should ensure investigation tasks are staffed at appropriate levels.
How many hours should fact investigation take under L110? expand_more
Typical L110 hours range from 5-20 for simple matters, 20-80 for moderate complexity, and 50-200+ for complex multi-party litigation. Hours exceeding these benchmarks without justification may indicate billing irregularities such as overstaffing or duplicative investigation efforts.
What are common billing violations under UTBMS code L110? expand_more
Common L110 violations include block billing investigation with analysis time, billing partner rates for basic fact-gathering tasks a paralegal could handle, charging for industry background research within the firm's existing expertise, and multiple attorneys billing for the same witness interview.