In CSI Lawyer and CSI Professional, a large matter can be split into more manageable sub-matters. You can define separate teams and pricing for sub-matters, but still invoice them through the main matter. Sub-matters are also useful if a document-heavy matter needs to be divided for easier document management. Documents related to each sub-matter are then found under the sub-matter.

The sub-matter feature must be activated separately. The power user can do this in the system parameters in the software settings.

NOTE! The main/sub-matter structure can only be dissolved by closing the relevant matters, and to close the main matter, all its sub-matters must be closed first.

Adding Sub-Matters

You can create new sub-matters for a matter or set existing matters as sub-matters.

To create a completely new sub-matter for an existing matter:

1. Go to the Sub-Matters folder of the selected main matter and select New.
2. Decide whether to copy the main matter’s parties to the sub-matter and whether transactions and expenses added to the sub-matter are invoiced from the main or sub-matter. You can change the invoicing selection later.
3. Click OK to open the matter window, where the sub-matter is linked to the main matter.

NOTE! Sub-matter numbering can be set according to the main matter, which makes tracking main and sub-matters easier, for example, in reports. The sub-matter number will then be in the format “Main matter number – running number.” If sub-matters are numbered according to the main matter, all sub-matters must be created via the main matter’s Sub-Matters folder or the main matter link must be added to the sub-matter’s information before saving. Otherwise, the sub-matter receives a normal matter number.

The power user can define the numbering format in the settings (Common settings > Number series formatting).

You can also set existing matters as sub-matters with the following restrictions:

• The main/sub-matter structure can only have two levels. You can link an existing matter as a sub-matter if (a) the main matter is not itself a sub-matter, and (b) the matter to be linked as a sub-matter is not already a main matter for another sub-matter.
• You cannot set a matter as a main or sub-matter if its party has legal expenses insurance information defined.
• Exceptional VAT handling prevents both setting a matter as a main matter and invoicing a sub-matter through the main matter. If a main matter has a sub-matter attached, neither can have exceptional VAT handling.
• The main matter link of a sub-matter cannot be removed after saving.

To set the current matter as a sub-matter:

1. Open the matter.
2. In the Main Matter field, select the matter to which this matter will be added as a sub-matter.
   
   

If the sub-matter is set to be invoiced through the main matter, the “Invoiced through main matter” field is selected on its Invoicing tab.

Pricing for Sub-Matters

Sub-matters have their own pricing, independent of the main matter. When a transaction is recorded for a sub-matter, its price is taken from the sub-matter, even if it is invoiced through the main matter. For example, you can set an hour price in the matter parameters for all main matter transactions and override it in the sub-matter’s parameters with a different hour price.

If the main matter has role-based pricing, it can also be used in sub-matters. The “Copy role pricing from the main matter” button in the sub-matter’s Role Pricing folder copies the main matter’s role prices to the sub-matter.

If the sub-matter already has roles from the main matter, this action replaces their hour prices with those from the main matter. Role prices in the sub-matter for roles not in the main matter remain unchanged.

If the main matter has transaction-type-specific prices, they can also be copied to sub-matters invoiced through the main matter, so you don’t have to enter them for each sub-matter separately. This is done in the sub-matter’s Transaction Types folder with the “Copy from Main Matter” button. If the transaction type already exists in the sub-matter, it is not copied.

Transactions and Expenses in Sub-Matters

Transactions and expenses are recorded in the sub-matter as in any matter. They appear in the sub-matter’s Transactions and Expenses folders, even when invoiced through the main matter.

Transactions and expenses of a sub-matter invoiced through the main matter also appear in the main matter’s Transactions and Expenses folders when the view is set to “Created Transactions/Expenses by Matter.” If the sub-matter is not invoiced through the main matter, its transactions and expenses appear only in the sub-matter’s folders.

You can move or copy transactions recorded in a sub-matter to another sub-matter, main matter, or regular matter. When performing these functions, be sure to check the correctness of invoicing for the transaction.