EMPLOYMENT LAW FEES (INDIVIDUALS)
Employment law is a complex and continually evolving area of law that exists because the relationship between an employee and employer is not one which is equal in power. Employment law is the legal framework that defines the rights of employees, and the responsibilities of employers.
Our employment Law Team has the knowledge and experience to zealously represent both sides; employees and employers.
Please note that the fees below are not a comprehensive nor exhaustive guide nor does it cover all work and advice that we provide for individuals (employees) and businesses (employers). Our specialist employment solicitors will be happy to provide you with a bespoke quotation based upon the nature and complexity of the advice and work that you require.
Understanding Your Employee Rights: How We Can Help?
As an employee, navigating legal rights in the workplace can be challenging. If you're experiencing issues at work, our team of friendly, professional experts is here to provide practical advice and guidance. Even if you're unsure whether you have a claim or need clarification on your standing, we can assist you in understanding your options.
Our services cover a wide range of employee concerns, such as:
- Filing a grievance
- Determining worker status
- Reviewing employment contracts
- Addressing breach of contract
- Responding to misconduct allegations
- Advising on the fairness and terms and effect of signing a Settlement Agreement
We can also help negotiate your employment contract for new jobs or revised terms offered by your employer. Additionally, we provide advice on various contractual matters, including restrictive covenants and bonus entitlements.
Our approachable and supportive team is dedicated to providing the advice you need to achieve the best possible outcome. Don't hesitate to reach out for guidance on any employment-related issues you may be facing.
This work is charged on a Per-Hour basis, and the Hourly Fees that our solicitors charge is based upon their seniority and experience:
John Riddett - £400 p/h
Omar Qassim - £360 p/h
Liam Rochford - £160 p/h
VAT will be added at 20%
How can we help with legal advice with your Settlement Agreement?
A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding document used to resolve disputes between you and your current, former, or prospective employer. For simplicity, we'll refer to the other party as the 'employer,' though you may not have been officially employed by them.
Typically, a settlement agreement involves the employer offering a payment in exchange for you waiving your rights to pursue or continue any work-related claims in an Employment Tribunal. A financial settlement isn't a requirement for a binding agreement, and it may not be relevant in every case. However, employers will usually insist on a valid settlement agreement because, without it, they cannot legally rely on your waiver of work-related rights. This waiver is primarily what the employer is paying for, and it benefits you by contractually obligating them to make the payment and/or carry out other agreed arrangements.
Before you can validly waive your work-related rights, the law requires you to obtain advice from a qualified legal advisor on the terms and effects of the proposed settlement agreement. This ensures you fully understand the implications of waiving your rights before committing to the agreement.
Settlement agreements can also address matters that an Employment Tribunal judge couldn't order, even if your case were successful. Examples include agreeing on a reference, retaining employer equipment that could aid your future job search, continuing health cover if you're currently receiving treatment, or cancelling any restrictions on working for a competitor.
As the employer usually wants and needs your waiver to be valid, they typically offer to contribute towards the legal fees you incur in obtaining the required advice. This fee contribution is generally in the region of £500-£750 plus VAT, and we usually limit our fees to the amount offered by the employer.
Employment Tribunal Claims
Our fees for bringing and defending claims for Unfair or Wrongful Dismissal may well change once you have provided us with all the relevant information and therefore, we usually recommend an initial consultation with one of our team to discuss your individual circumstances before you instruct us so that we can give you a more accurate figure.
Our team can offer you two fee options:
- A fixed fee which will not change unless the scope of the work changes significantly.
- Hourly rate fee, for an agreed scope of work.
Our hourly rates range from £160-£400 plus VAT.
We cannot proceed with any work until you have agreed the basis on which you wish to proceed.
Types of cases
Below are examples of average fees for different cases, but please bear in mind that no two cases are the same:
Simple case: £6,000 to £10,000 plus VAT.
Medium complexity case: £10,000 to £25,000 plus VAT.
High complexity case: £25,000 to £45,000 plus VAT.
What could make a case more complex and affect the fees?
- 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 a claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties) or issues relating to limitation dates
- The number of witnesses and documents
- If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. dismissal after blowing the whistle on an employer
- Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
The fee estimates above do not include the charge for a member of our team attending any Tribunal Hearing which is charged at the hourly rate for a 7-hour day for each day of the hearing.
Disbursements
There may be additional expenses related to your claim which are payable to third parties for example:
- Court fees.
- Counsel’s fees which could range from £750 to £4,000 per day (plus VAT depending on the experience of the barrister)
We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process and you will be required to make a payment on account of any disbursements before they are incurred.
Stages of a claim
The following are the key stages of an employment tribunal claim:
- Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation
- Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
- Preparing claim or response or reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
- Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
- Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
- Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
- Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
- Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
- preparing or considering a schedule of loss
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel.
The stages set out above give a broad indication, if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be adjusted to reflect this, or you may choose to undertake some of the preparation yourself, in which case we are happy to discuss this with you and adjust the fee accordingly.
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 which makes it difficult to give an accurate estimate. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 4-6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 9-18 months. This is just an estimate and depends on a variety of factors such as the capacity of the Employment Tribunals, co-operation from the other side and the complexity of the case itself. We will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.
Please note we advise on employment but not on any tax or pensions aspects of these claims. If you need specific advice on these matters we can arrange for you to receive this from other specialists in these fields.
The Hourly Fees that our solicitors charge is based upon their seniority and experience:
John Riddett - £400 p/h
Omar Qassim - £360 p/h
Liam Rochford - £160 p/h
VAT will be added at 20%
Covering Employment Claims with Insurance
When bringing employment claims, it's essential to consider the costs involved. Insurance can play a significant role in covering some or all of these expenses. Here's a guide to help you explore your insurance options:
- Existing Policies: Check your current insurance policies to see if they provide legal expenses coverage for employment claims. Home insurance, car insurance, credit cards, premium bank accounts, and trade union or professional body memberships may offer such coverage.
- Policy Review: Carefully review your policies and reach out to your insurance providers to understand the extent of your coverage for employment claims.
- Additional Coverage Options: If your existing policies don't cover employment claims, we can suggest alternative insurance options to help you manage potential costs.
For further information, please contact Omar Qassim on 020 8363 4444
