No Win No Fee is the title most commonly given to what are properly called Conditional Fee Arrangements. The payment of the lawyer's fee is conditional upon victory in the case - in other words, if the case is lost, the client does not have to pay the lawyer.
If, on the other hand, the case is won, the lawyer is entitled to be paid an additional sum of money by the loser, referred to as an uplift or a success fee. This uplift cannot exceed 100% of the standard fee.
Costs will usually be payable by an unsuccessful party: either by order of the court, following a hearing; or by agreement with the other side, following an out-of-court settlement. Such an order or agreement will include the payment of the uplift. Generally, this means that the CFA-assisted client will not have to pay any costs and will receive 100% of any damages that are awarded.
