Cost Information: Employment Tribunals

 

Employment

 

1. Settlement Agreements

If we advise you on the terms of a Settlement Agreement between you and your employer these costs will be paid for by your employer and are included within the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

If the terms of the Settlement Agreement are complex we may charge you an additional fee of between £100 to £500 in addition excluding VAT depending on the complexity of the matter. 

 

2. Unfair or Wrongful Dismissal

 

Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal are as follows:

2.1 Simple Case - £500 to £1,500 (excluding VAT)

2.2 Medium Complexity Case - £1,500 to £3,000 (excluding VAT)

2.3 High Complexity Case -£3,000 to £10,000 (excluding VAT)

 

 

The facts that could make a case more complex:-

1. If it is necessary to make or defend applications, to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim.
2. Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person.
3. Making or defending a cost application.
4. Complex primarily issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
5. The number of witnesses and documents.
6. If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer.
7. Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal

There will be an additional charge for attending a tribunal hearing of between £500 to £1,000 per day (excluding VAT).

 

Disbursements

 

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Court fees. We handle all the payments of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. If you wish to instruct Counsel to represent you at a Tribunal Hearing we will obtain an estimate of fees from Counsel including preparation and these are likely to range between £1,000 to £2,000 per day.

 

Key Stages

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

 

1. Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on the merits unlikely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).
2. Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
3. Preparing a claim or response.
4. Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party.
5. Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process, preparing or considering a Schedule of Loss.
6. Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing.
7. Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents.
8. Taking witness statements, draft statements and agreeing there content with witnesses.
9. Preparing bundle of documents.
10. Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements.
11. Agreeing a list of issues, chronology and/or cast list.
12. Preparation attendance of Final Hearing, including Instructions to Counsel where relevant.

 

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some stages of the claim. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.

 

How long Will My Matter Take?

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved.  If settlement is reached during pre-claimed conciliation your case is likely to take up to sixteen weeks.  If your claim proceeds to a final Hearing your case is likely to take 26 to 52 weeks.  This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate time scale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

Hourly Rate

Our hourly rate ranges between £150 to £200 per hour.  An estimate of casts will be provided to you upon instruction and agreed by you.