Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Vermont
18 approved rates from 4 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Sep 10, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $263 | $213 to $331 | $75 to $450 | 16 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 4 of 14 timekeepers (29%).
Cite these rates
$263/hr
In D. Vermont fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $263 an hour (16 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Vermont rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Browe v. CTC Corporation, No. 2:15-cv-00267 (D. Vt. Sept. 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 to $450 for attorneys; $350 for a partner; $150 for another timekeeper); Cole v. Foxmar, Inc, No. 2:18-cv-00220 (D. Vt. July 16, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $75 to $275 for attorneys); Blanchette Porter v. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, No. 2:17-cv-00194 (D. Vt. Nov. 26, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $150 to $350 for attorneys); Thompson v. Stryker Corporation, No. 2:23-cv-00002 (D. Vt. May 2, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Browe et al v. CTC Corporation et al
Sep 10, 2026 · ERISA benefits · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $225 Attorney $360 Attorney $250 Attorney $450 Partner $350 $350 other $150 $150 The court's words
Reasonable Rate $225
Defendants' chart indicates Attorney Zaharias's hourly rate was $288, but the billing records show that he billed at an hourly rate of $360.
Defendants' chart indicates Attorney Corwin 's hourly rate was $350, but the billing records show that he billed at an hourly rate of $250.
The billing records, however, show that Attorney Edelman' s highest hourly rate was $450.
the court finds an hourly rate of $350 for Attorneys Woolmington, Stasny, and Bernal and an hourly rate of $150 for the administrative staff to be reasonable.
the court finds an hourly rate of $350 for Attorneys Woolmington, Stasny, and Bernal and an hourly rate of $150 for the administrative staff to be reasonable.
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Jul 16, 2026 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $275 $275 Attorney $75 $75 Attorney $75 $75 The court's words
The court agrees. It therefore finds Attorney Pettersen's 2026 rate of $275.00 reasonable for attorneys of similar experience in the Burlington, Vermont area.
Attorney Pettersen's hourly rate for 14.70 hours through retrial is reduced to $75.00.
Because these entries include administrative tasks, Attorney Pettersen's hourly rate for 2.60 hours is reduced to $75.00.
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Blanchette Porter v. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center et al
Nov 26, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $320 $300 Attorney $150 $150 Attorney $175 $175 Attorney $450 $350 Attorney $375 $325 Attorney $415 $300 Attorney $225 $225 Attorney $250 $250 The court's words
Geoffrey Vitt $320 $300 (2017–2022); $400 $350 (2024–2025)
Sarah Nunan $150 (2020–2022); $250 (2024–2025)
Katie Kramer $175 (2018–2020)
Katie Kramer $450 $350 (2024)
Eric Jones $375 $325 (2024); $395 $350 (2025)
Alison Bell $415 $300
Bridget Grace $225
Wendy Radcliff $250
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Thompson v. Stryker Corporation
May 2, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
At $350 per hour, Ms. Thompson owes him a fee of $11,235 plus out of pocket expenses of $1,251.56.
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Jankowski v. Centurion of Vermont, LLC et al
Aug 12, 2024 · Prisoner rights · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $250 $250 Partner $375 $375 The court's words
Attorney Hozid expended 14.2 hours at a rate of $250 per hour, and Attorney Valente, a partner of the firm, expended 5.5 hours at a rate of $375 per hour.
Attorney Hozid expended 14.2 hours at a rate of $250 per hour, and Attorney Valente, a partner of the firm, expended 5.5 hours at a rate of $375 per hour.
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Chaney v. Vermont Bread Company et al
Mar 26, 2024 · Employment · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $550 $450 Attorney $925 $450 Attorney $425 $225 Paralegal $175 Attorney $245 $245 Attorney $600 $600 Attorney $550 $350 Attorney $300 $200 other $250 $250 The court's words
The Court therefore finds that, given The Gardner Firm’s experience with both class actions and the WARN Act, $450 per hour is a reasonable rate for its attorneys.
The Court therefore finds that, like The Gardner Firm attorneys, Stuart Miller’s fee must be reduced to $450 per hour.
Johnathan Miller’s hourly fee is correspondingly reduced to $225 per hour.
Attorney time for each of three attorneys was billed at a rate of $550 per hour, and paralegal time at a rate of $175 per hour.
Local counsel for the Class, the law firm of Cleary, Shahi & Aicher, charged fees and costs in the amount of $3,493.54, with a billable hour rate of $245 per hour.
Acknowledging the experience of the Dentons attorneys, their agreement with their client, the significant discount from their usual fees... the Court will approve the $600 per hour rate.
Accordingly, the Court reduces Attorney Carleton’s rate to $350 per hour, and Attorney Greer’s rate to $200 per hour.
Accordingly, the Court reduces Attorney Carleton’s rate to $350 per hour, and Attorney Greer’s rate to $200 per hour.
The DR’s other costs, aside from counsel fees and costs, were $4,212.50, with the DR herself billing at a rate of $250 per hour.
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Vermont approve for attorneys?
A median of $263 an hour across 16 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $213 to $331.
How often does the D. Vermont cut a requested hourly rate?
For 4 of 14 timekeepers (29%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Vermont?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.