Pricing
Our hourly fees are based on the experience and expertise of staff assigned to the matter except where the engagement letter states otherwise. Our fees are reviewed annually on 1st May and should there be any changes in our hourly fees we will let you know.
Employment
EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL SERVICES
We will advise you and prepare your case or response in relation to an employment tribunal claim. If there is an interim or full hearing, we will explore with you what options are available for representation at the hearing, which may include us instructing a barrister to represent you at the hearing. If you choose to instruct us you will be required to agree to our standard terms of engagement.
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OUR FEES FOR OR BRINGING AND DEFENDING CLAIMS FOR UNFAIR OR WRONGFUL DISMISSAL
To allow you to budget and so that you have a clear understanding of the costs involved, we will provide a cost estimate at the outset and update you as your case progresses.
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Our legal fees for bringing or defending a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal in the employment tribunal are likely to be as follows:
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Simple case: £6,000 -£18,000 (excluding VAT)
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Medium complexity case: £18,000 -£30,000 (excluding VAT)
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High complexity case: £30,000 - £60,000+ (excluding VAT)
Currently there are no fees charged by the employment tribunal for bringing or defending a claim.
FACTORS THAT COULD MAKE A CASE MORE COMPLEX:
Sometimes there are factors that can make a case more expensive and will affect the fee estimate we provide to you:
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If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
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Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
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Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled or an employee (if this is not agreed by the parties)
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The number of witnesses and documents
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If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
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Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
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Making or defending a costs application
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Dealing with a data subject access request
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There will be an additional charge for us attending a tribunal hearing of between £2,200 and £3,200 per day (excluding VAT). The complexity of the case and the issues to be considered will determine the number of days that is required to deal with the case.
KEY STAGES
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
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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)
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Entering into pre-claim conciliation with ACAS where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached
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Preparing the claim or response
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Reviewing and advising on the claim or response from other party
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Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
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Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
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Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
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Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
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Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
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Preparing a bundle of documents
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Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
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Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
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Preparation and attendance at the final hearing, including instructing a barrister
DISBURSEMENTS AND OTHER COSTS
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees incurred on your behalf. These will be charged separately to the legal fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
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In addition to our fees, you may need to pay barrister’s fees for representation at a hearing. The level of the fees will depend on the barrister’s seniority and experience as well as the length of hearing. Engagement of a barrister is subject to your approval and authorisation.
PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT
It is our policy to ask for payment on account of fees, costs or disbursements incurred or to be incurred prior to us starting work. Further payments will be required while we continue to carry out work for you.
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HOW LONG WILL YOUR CASE TAKE?
The complexity of your case is likely to determine the time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final hearing. A straightforward case is likely to be resolved within 6 months. Whereas a more complex case, particularly one that involves discrimination or whistleblowing, may take 12 months. Due to the Tribunal's current resources we are experiencing significant delays so it could e much longer before a case is heard. However, we will advise you accordingly.
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If settlement is an option then a case can usually be resolved in a matter of weeks, for example, two to six weeks.
FUNDING
There may be alternative funding options available to cover the cost of the case and we will discuss these with you. For example:
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Legal expense insurance: We would ask you to check whether you have access to legal expense insurance at the earliest opportunity as this may provide you with access to legal advice which will be funded by your insurer. We do not usually work under a legal expense insurance arrangement. If we agree to act for you under the terms of a legal expense insurance policy it would be subject to agreement and our terms.
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Payment by a third party: If another party agrees to pay your fees, you are still liable to pay our invoice. If fees are recovered from another party we will reimburse you.
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As a successful party there may be an opportunity to recover all or part of your legal costs from another party. Please however note that the employment tribunal does not usually award costs to the successful party and if an award is made it is often not the full amount and you would be liable for the shortfall.
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“No win no fee” arrangement: We do not provide our services under this type of arrangement.
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Conditional fee arrangement: We do not provide our services under this type of arrangement.
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