Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, W.D. Kentucky
13 approved rates from 6 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Sep 30, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $333 | $303 to $350 | $205 to $400 | 10 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $425 (6) | $250 (6) |
Median approved rate by the year of the ruling (number of rates in brackets). A year shows a median at 5 or more rates. Not adjusted for inflation.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 1 of 13 timekeepers (8%).
Cite these rates
$333/hr
In W.D. Kentucky fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $333 an hour (10 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent W.D. Kentucky rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Shapira v. Rare Character Whiskey Co., LLC, No. 3:23-cv-00602 (W.D. Ky. Sept. 30, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $370 to $400 for attorneys); Marquette Transportation Company, LLC v. Emerald International Corporation, No. 5:22-cv-00024 (W.D. Ky. Aug. 21, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $310 for an attorney); Elliot v. Humana, Inc., No. 3:22-cv-00329 (W.D. Ky. Jan. 26, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $315 for an attorney); Barker v. Revenue Solutions, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-00191 (W.D. Ky. Jan. 6, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney with 15 years' experience; $300 for an attorney with 7 years' experience; $120 for a paralegal with 20 years' experience); Trustees of the Electrical Workers Local 369 Benefit Fund v. AP Electric, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-00575 (W.D. Ky. Dec. 18, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $205 to $225 for attorneys; $115 to $125 for paralegals); Smith v. Landmark of Iroquois Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, LLC, No. 3:21-cv-00469 (W.D. Ky. Mar. 28, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for attorneys).
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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Shapira et al v. Rare Character Whiskey Co., LLC et al
Sep 30, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Attorney $370 $370 The court's words
John Cox billed 5.5 hours between April 22, 2025, and May 12, 2025, at $400 an hour, totaling $2,200. As such, this amount is not at issue.
the lodestar fee for attorney Matthew Cox is calculated by multiplying 33 hours with his hourly rate of $370 per hour, which equals $12,210.
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Marquette Transportation Company, LLC v. Emerald International Corporation
Aug 21, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $310 $310 other $200 The court's words
At the respective $310 hour rate, this reduction amounts to $248.
Marquette initially provided little detail about Mr. Bowman, other than stating that he is employed by the law firm Frost Brown Todd and worked 20 hours for $200 an hour.
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Duffy et al v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
Apr 21, 2026 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved other $450 Partner $1,300 The court's words
the rates proffered by Plaintiffs, which include such egregious examples as $450.00 per hour for the work of a summer associate and partner rates as high as $1,300.00 per hour.
the rates proffered by Plaintiffs, which include such egregious examples as $450.00 per hour for the work of a summer associate and partner rates as high as $1,300.00 per hour.
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Jan 26, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $495 $315 other $550 The court's words
for Logan Leonard ("Leonard"), the Court notes that Defendant was also billed at the foreign market rate for his services: a rate of $495. ... $315 per hour for an attorney of Leonard's experience is reasonable
Defendant is requesting that the Court award its reasonable expenses based on a "blended rate" of $550 for all billers.
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Barker v. Revenue Solutions, Inc.
Jan 6, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 15 years $350 $350 Attorney 7 years $300 $300 Paralegal 20 years $120 $120 The court's words
Jay Inman, who has 15 years of experience, seeks a reasonable rate of $350.00/hour.
Amanda L. Combs, who has 7 years of experience, seeks a reasonable rate of $300.00/hour.
Their paralegal, who has 20 years of experience, seeks a reasonable rate of $120.00/hour.
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Trustees of the Electrical Workers Local 369 Benefit Fund et al v. AP Electric, Inc.
Dec 18, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $205 $205 Attorney $225 $225 Paralegal $115 $115 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Plaintiffs were billed at a rate of $205.00 per hour for attorney time and $115.00 per hour for paralegal time through the end of 2024 and thereafter billed at a rate of $225.00 per hour for attorney time and $125.00 per hour for paralegal time.
Plaintiffs were billed at a rate of $205.00 per hour for attorney time and $115.00 per hour for paralegal time through the end of 2024 and thereafter billed at a rate of $225.00 per hour for attorney time and $125.00 per hour for paralegal time.
Plaintiffs were billed at a rate of $205.00 per hour for attorney time and $115.00 per hour for paralegal time through the end of 2024 and thereafter billed at a rate of $225.00 per hour for attorney time and $125.00 per hour for paralegal time.
Plaintiffs were billed at a rate of $205.00 per hour for attorney time and $115.00 per hour for paralegal time through the end of 2024 and thereafter billed at a rate of $225.00 per hour for attorney time and $125.00 per hour for paralegal time.
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Dotson v. Commissioner of Social Security
Aug 1, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $205 $205 The court's words
The motion represented that counsel spent 37.3 hours working on this case, of which he requested compensation for only 36 hours. (DN 19-6.) This would equate to a functional hourly rate of approximately $205.00.
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Smith v. Landmark of Iroquois Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, LLC
Mar 28, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Smith seeks an hourly rate of $350 for both Ransdell and Royse.
Smith seeks an hourly rate of $350 for both Ransdell and Royse.
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Banks v. Commissioner of Social Security
Mar 14, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $140 $140 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
the Commissioner does not contest Atkins’ requested $140.00 hourly rate for the attorney time expended on this case
nor the paralegal rate of $100.00 per hour
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Sep 19, 2024 · Civil rights · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $300 $300 Attorney $300 $300 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Ward’s proposed lodestar of consists of his current counsel’s calculation of fees ($19,590.00—65.3 hours billed at $300/hr.)
his previous counsel’s calculation of fees ($14,565.50— 52.11 hours billed at $300/hr. for attorney work and $125/hr. for paralegal work)
his previous counsel’s calculation of fees ($14,565.50— 52.11 hours billed at $300/hr. for attorney work and $125/hr. for paralegal work)
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The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Inc. v. Kentucky Colonels International et al
Aug 28, 2024 · Other · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $520 $520 The court's words
Coryell’s rate of $520 is below the Price Report average of between $537 and $646 for others of similar experience levels. ... The Court finds Coryell’s hourly rate reasonable based on market averages.
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Schnatter v. 247 Group, LLC et al
Jun 25, 2024 · Other · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 45 years $1,125 $425 Partner 13 years $800 $425 Associate 5 years $500 $250 Associate 4 years $500 $250 Partner 16 years $425 $425 Associate $210 $210 The court's words
the hourly rates for Somers and Deixler will be reduced from $800 and $1,125 respectively to $425.
the hourly rates for Somers and Deixler will be reduced from $800 and $1,125 respectively to $425.
The hourly rates for Cambeiro and Srinivasan will be reduced from $500 to $250 to align more closely with Stinson's associate rate of $210
The hourly rates for Cambeiro and Srinivasan will be reduced from $500 to $250 to align more closely with Stinson's associate rate of $210
Abate had just over 15 years of experience in the same or more areas, including media litigation, with a standard rate of $425 per hour.
Because Abate and Stinson's hourly rates were not reduced, the fees amount to $40,985 to KBK and $22,287 to Kaplan
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GPH Louisville Hillcreek, LLC et al v. Redwood Holdings, LLC et al
May 1, 2024 · Commercial · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $495 $495 Partner $421 $421 Paralegal 30 years $195 $195 Associate 1 years $175 $175 The court's words
Even the highest rate of $495 per hour—charged by Benjamin C. Fultz in 2023, a partner with 29–31 years of experience—is below the PwC Report average
Jennifer Metzger Stinnett, a partner with 19–20 years of experience, billed at an effective rate of $421.38 per hour—well below the $513 and $539 medians
Wiseheart billed 173.4 hours at an effective rate of $194.82.
Graham Pilotte, an associate with 0–1 years of experience, charged a rate of $175 in 2021 and an effective rate of $182.66.
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Duvall v. America's Home Place, Inc.
Jan 3, 2024 · Commercial · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $325 $325 Attorney $350 $350 Associate $275 $275 Associate $300 $300 Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Defendant’s counsel Benjamin Goldammer (“Goldammer”) explains in his declaration that he charged Defendant an hourly rate of $325.00 in 2022 and $350.00 in 2023.
Defendant’s counsel Benjamin Goldammer (“Goldammer”) explains in his declaration that he charged Defendant an hourly rate of $325.00 in 2022 and $350.00 in 2023.
Goldammer also explains that he charged an hourly rate of $275.00 in 2022 and $300.00 in 2023 for the work of an associate
Goldammer also explains that he charged an hourly rate of $275.00 in 2022 and $300.00 in 2023 for the work of an associate
and that his co-counsel charged an hourly rate of $350.00
FAQ
What hourly rate does the W.D. Kentucky approve for attorneys?
A median of $333 an hour across 10 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $303 to $350.
How often does the W.D. Kentucky cut a requested hourly rate?
For 1 of 13 timekeepers (8%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the W.D. Kentucky?
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.
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