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Our fees
Please note that the services offered by the Firm are not limited to the below practice area. For full details of the services that the Firm offers, please go to our Services page.
You will find below details of our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal (this relates to Employment Tribunal claims only and not to our full Employment Services).
Simple case: £2,000.00 - £5,000.00 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
Medium complexity case: £5,000.00 - £8,000.00 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
High complexity case: £8,000.00 - £15,000.00 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
Factors that may determine the complexity of a case:
- 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 extent of the risk.
- The number of witnesses and documents.
- The complexity of the legal issues.
- 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.
There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £1,000.00 per day (excluding VAT). The number of Hearings will be determined by the Employment Tribunal depending on the complexity of your case.
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 and you will be required to pay to us any such costs incurred, including VAT.
Counsel's fees are estimated between £1,000.00 and £3,000.00 (excluding VAT) per day (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
- 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
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel
The stages set out above are an indication only and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. However, additional work may be required depending upon the Employment Tribunal Directions and Orders and by issues arising which may not be anticipated at the outset and this will result in additional costs being incurred. Enforcement action is not included and will attract additional costs. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. Please contact us so that we can discuss the most efficient and cost effective way to manage the claim.
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, it may take 12 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6 to 12 months. 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.