Employment Tribunals

Legal Fee

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

• Simple case: £800-£3,500 (+20% VAT of £160 – £700);
• Medium complexity case: £2,500-£10,000 (+20% VAT of £500 – £2,000);
• High complexity case: £10,000-£25,000 (+20% VAT of £2,000 – £5,000).

Factors that could make a case more complex:

• 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; and
• Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal.

There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £1,000 per day (+20% VAT of £200). Generally, we would allow 0-3 days depending on the complexity of your case.

The above fees are estimates based on anticipated time spent by appropriately legally qualified. We usually charge on a time basis and details of how we would charge in any particular case would be set out in our client care letter, as would details of the seniority and qualifications of persons carrying out the work.  In some very limited instances we may offer to carry out work on a Damages Based Agreement (no win, no fee arrangement). In those cases clients might be expected to pay disbursements liable to VAT including experts fees, Counsel’s fees, accommodation fees, and some photocopying charges; and disbursements not liable to VAT including travel costs and some photocopying charges.

Please note that VAT is a government tax that we are required to charge, and will usually be added at 20% to our fees and disbursements, except where we indicate the disbursements are outside the scope of VAT.

Disbursements 

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Counsel’s fees estimated between £500 to £5,000 per day (+20% VAT of £100 – £1,000) if counsel is registered for VAT (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

Key stages 

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

• 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);
• Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
• Preparing claim or response;
• Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party;
• Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process;
• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss;
• Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing, including instructions to Counsel;
• Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents;
• Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses;
• Preparing bundle of documents;
• Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements;
• Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list; and
• Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel.

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of 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 of the stages. 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 a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 2-8 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 20-52 weeks. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.