Our Employment Team pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal
Simple case: £9000-£18,000 (including VAT @ 20%) being a one-day hearing to consider liability and remedy with no more than two witnesses, no preliminary hearings, no jurisdictional issues and full compliance with Tribunal Orders.
Our solicitor’s hourly rates vary between £138 and £318 per hour including VAT. We do not offer no win no fee or conditional fee agreements or damages-based agreements for this type of work.
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.
- If there are arguments required whether the tribunal has jurisdiction to hear a claim.
- Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person.
- Making or defending a costs application.
- The number of witnesses and documents.
- Preparing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list.
- 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 or to the employment.
- If provisional decisions are required for example injunctions.
- If preliminary hearings are required either in person or on the telephone.
- If remedy is decided at a later date.
- If your case becomes more complex we will provide you with our updated estimate of costs.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as fees for a barrister.
Counsel’s fees are estimated at between £2,000 to £5,000 + VAT per day at the applicable rate (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a
Tribunal Hearing (including preparation) depending on the location of the Hearing and the availability of the advocate.
Key stages
The fees set out above cover all of the work necessary in relation to the following key stages of an Employment Tribunal 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 through ACAS where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
- Preparing the claim or response;
- Reviewing and advising on a claim or response from other party;
- Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process;
- Preparing or considering a schedule of loss;
- Exchanging documents with the other party, reviewing and advising on those documents 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;
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel (for specialist advocacy representation at that Hearing).
The stages set out above are an indication only.
Who will deal with my matter?
Details of the solicitors who have experience in Employment Law are set out on the “Our People” page of our website.
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 up to six weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, due to the current volume increase in Claims involving Employment Tribunal Hearings (and depending on the location of the Hearing) your case could take up to 24 months to conclude. This is just an estimate and we will be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information available to us and as the matter progresses.
Last reviewed: 15.03.2023
