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name: billing-summary language: en description: >- Produces privilege-safe U.S. corporate legal billing summaries from time and expense data. Converts entries into client-friendly narratives with categorized hours, rates, expenses, and milestones while enforcing engagement-letter rules and ethical billing safeguards. Use when asked to create a billing summary, invoice narrative, timekeeper breakdown, expense summary, or fee narrative. tags:

• corporate
• summarization
• summary

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Legal Billing Summary

Generate a client-ready billing narrative that explains fees and expenses clearly while preserving privilege.

Required Inputs

1. Billing period (start/end dates), matter name, client name
2. Time entries: timekeeper, rate, hours, description, date
3. Expense entries: date, vendor, description, amount
4. Engagement letter or billing guidelines (rates, caps, task codes, prohibited expenses)
5. Milestones or phase labels (if any)
6. Write-downs, discounts, or adjustments (if any)

Output Structure

Populate every section below.

1. Header

Matter | Client | Billing Period | Responsible Attorneys | Billing Guidelines Reference

2. Executive Overview

3-6 sentences on the period's major workstreams and outcomes, plus a totals table:

Metric	Amount
Fees	$
Expenses	$
Total	$
Discount/Write-down	$
Net Total	$

3. Timekeeper Summary

Timekeeper	Role	Rate	Hours	Fees	Notes

Notes column: explain scope (e.g., "board governance research," "drafted consent resolutions").

4. Task Category Breakdown

Default categories (override with client task codes if provided):

• Research and Analysis
• Drafting and Document Production
• Client Communications
• Internal Strategy and Case Management
• Negotiation and Counterparty Communications
• Regulatory/Compliance Work
• Filings and Formalities
• Other (define clearly)

Category	Hours	Fees	Narrative

Narrative: explain purpose and outcome in plain English; never reveal legal advice or strategy.

5. Phase View (optional, recommended for long periods)

Phase / Milestone	Dates	Key Work Performed	Fees

6. Expenses

Date	Category	Vendor	Description	Amount	Justification

Include subtotals for material categories (filing fees, expert/consultant, travel).

7. Adjustments and Compliance

• List write-downs, caps applied, or policy-driven exclusions.
• Note block-billed entries and how they were separated.
• Confirm compliance with client billing guidelines.

8. Forward Look (optional)

2-4 sentences on expected next-period activities and cost drivers.

Privilege and Billing Safeguards

• Protect privilege: never include legal advice, mental impressions, or litigation strategy.
• Be specific: avoid vague phrases like "legal research" — always name the topic.
• Tie work to objectives: connect entries to matter goals or compliance requirements.
• Show policy compliance: rates, caps, task codes, approved expenses.
• Flag anomalies: unusual expenses, staffing changes, large time spikes.
• No duplicate billing: do not overlap timekeeper entries for the same task without explanation.
• No administrative padding: exclude admin tasks unless guidelines permit.
• Stay consistent: narrative must match time entry descriptions and invoice totals.