This document provides the information required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Transparency Rules where a business wishes to defend a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal in the Employment Tribunal only. We advise on a broad range of employment issues. For details of our broader service, please visit the Employment page on our website.
The following pricing information relates to bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal:
We charge based on an hourly rate which varies depending on the member of staff dealing with your matter. Our lowest hourly rate is £350 and our highest hourly rate is £650. The relevant hourly rate will depend on a number of variables, including the complexity of your matter and the seniority of the lawyers working on your matter.
We look to develop longstanding and meaningful relationships with our clients and may offer alternative pricing solutions beyond the range quoted above, in return for greater commitment and regular workflow. We will discuss this with you when you instruct us.
Factors that could make a case more complex
A claim can become more complex to contest than appears at first sight as the nature and conduct of it become clearer.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as counsel’s fees, photocopying and document production fees, expert’s fees, and court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. We may request you to make payment to us in advance of the disbursement being incurred as you are responsible for payment of the disbursements.
Counsel's fees estimated between £2,500 to £80,000 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%) per case, for attending a Tribunal Hearing including preparation. The level of Counsel’s fees will depend on experience of the advocate, the number of days your case is listed for, and whether advice on the issues is required in advance of the hearing. We will discuss Counsel’s fees with you prior to them being incurred and will consult with you about the choice and costs of Counsel as the case unfolds.
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced.
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 2-12 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a final hearing, your case is likely to take 12-24 months depending on the complexity of the case and the number of days the claim is listed for.
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.
The Employment Tribunals are currently experiencing a high demand for hearings and as such hearings are being listed nearly 18 months away, and hearings may be postponed at short notice. This can depend on the particular Employment Tribunal where your case is being heard and also whether a preliminary hearing is required. These are factors beyond our control and we will provide you with a time estimate according to our knowledge of the Employment Tribunal where your claim will be heard.