retainer fee是法律专有用词，这个词在中国或许还没有一致的中文翻译。但在香港法律界，其中文是“聘用费 或 预售费用 或定金”，聘用费是指预留或保留某位大律师为某宗案件或某位当事人提供服务而付予大律师的费用。
英国的法律入门书籍是这般用较为通俗的语言来描述“聘用费”的：
A retainer fee is the fee which detains an attorney for legal counsel. With this fee, the attorney is certain of the seriousness of your intentions and can take your case to heart.
另外一段:
Retainer fee in general means to pre-pay someone (or at least a portion) for service to be rendered. It is common in the legal service field. Continue reading »
1 、 THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT is entered into by and between ABC , a Delaware corporation (“ABC”), and EDF, a China corporation (“DEF”), effective as of this XXX, 2005 (the “Effective Date”). The parties hereby agree as follows:
参考译文： 本项购买协议由 ABC 公司（一家特拉华州公司，简称 “ABC” ）和 DEF 公司（一家中国公司，简称 “DEF” ）订立，并于 2005 年 XXX （ “ 生效日 ” ）生效。双方当事人特此约定如下：
注释：一般而言，英文合同的引言都会使用上述句式。句子中 “by and between” 的直译含义为：由某人 …. 且在两者之间；其翻译成中文的含义为：由 … 和 … 某事，但是 “by and between” 是指在两者之间。如果说是在三者之间订立合同，就用 “by and among” 。例如，如果本句被修改为 “THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT is entered into by and among A, B, C” ，则本句应该翻译为 “ 本购买协议由 A 、 B 和 C 公司共同订立 ” 。 “effective as of” ，系指从某日开始生效。 “hereby” 相当于中文中的 “ 特此 ” ，类似的词还有： hereof ( 本文件中 ) 、 thereof （该文件中）、 whereby （据此，由此）。
2 、 ABC, [XXX to be filled in] , entered in the Corporate Registry of [location] under number [XXX to be filled in] , whose registered office is located [location] , [country], acting on its behalf and on behalf of its affiliated companies, represented by [XXX to be filled in] , acting in his capacity of [position], duly authorised to subscribe to the present contract, Hereafter referred to as “ABC” Continue reading »