Area of Practice

Employment

Employment disputes are very serious matters for employers and employees considering the many different pieces of legislation covering employment issues.

We are happy to let you know that our employment law team is here to help you decide on the validity of your claim and then guide you through your claim.

Our team of lawyers can deal with your enquiry and advise on how to comply with grievance and disciplinary procedures, the time limits relating to complaints and tribunal proceedings and the likely value of any possible claim, enabling you to make an informed decision regarding the progression of your issue.

Key Stages/timescales

Employment legal advice is crucial at various stages, from recruitment to termination, and involves understanding and adhering to employment law. Key stages include recruitment, contract review, performance management, disciplinary actions, grievances, and eventual termination or redundancy.

Costs

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

2. Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)

3. Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached

4. Preparing a claim or response

5. Reviewing and advising on a claim or response from other party

6. Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process

7. Preparing or considering a schedule of loss

8. Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing

9. Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents

10. Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses

11. Preparing bundle of documents

12. Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements

13. Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list

14. Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel

Our costs are calculated on the time spent on the matter and in accordance with our hourly rate.

VAT

We are not VAT registered and do not charge VAT, except for disbursements where third parties may do so e.g. Counsel.

We will always provide you with our best estimate of the likely fees in your particular case in each instance as there can be so many variables;
Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal in a case which has only 1 or 2 witnesses, where there are no complex legal arguments and no complicated factors as mentioned below and either the case settles before the final hearing or proceeds to a final hearing which lasts one day: £5,000-£10,000.

In cases with more witnesses but with perhaps one or more of the complicating factors listed below and which proceeds to a final hearing, which might last 2 – 3 days: £10,000-£30,000.

Other cases which have one or more factors set out below, or complex legal, factual or evidential issues and which proceed to final hearing which lasts more than two or three days will probably cost more and we will advise you on the likely costs according to the particular circumstances of your case.

If the case goes to a final hearing we shall instruct a barrister to represent you and their fees will be added in addition to the figures given above. The barrister’s fees will depend upon their seniority and experience. As a rough guide their fees could range between £1000 – 3000 plus per day.

• There are many factors that can make a claim more complex, some examples of which are

• If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim

• Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person

• Making or defending a costs application

• Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)

• The number of witnesses and documents

• If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer

• Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
Disbursements

You may incur additional legal expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties (which we call disbursements) which could include:

1. Court fees (where applicable). These will be specified to you depending on the claim and do not include VAT;

2. Counsel’s fees which we would detail to you during the course of the case and which would be subject to VAT at 20%;

3. Other expenses which will be detailed to you depending on the case and we would at that stage specify whether or not VAT was payable, such as Land Registry or Company search fees.