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If you are facing a tricky legal problem, you need to be able to forecast the costs of this to your business. This is why we have put together an idea of our employment solicitor fees.
Hourly Rates
Please note we have 1 employment Partner in the firm, Julian Abraham, who charges £252.00 per hour (incl. VAT). We have 1 employment solicitor in the firm, Elliot Hammer, who charges £222.00 per hour (incl. VAT).
Typical Case Pricing
| Simple case from start to finish: | £2,997 – £6,682 |
| Medium complexity case from start to finish: | £7,000 – £12,0000 |
| High complexity case from start to finish: | £12,000 – £20,000 |
It is unlikely responding to any unfair or wrongful dismissal case would cost more than £20,000. A few cases per year do go above this fee level, but these are normally extremely high value cases with potentially extremely large potential awards. The current maximum award for an unfair dismissal claim is £83,682.00. Naturally, if you are defending an unfair dismissal claim with a potential tribunal award of that amount your legal defence needs to ensure “no stone is unturned”.
Our Menu pricing guide
We have attempted to set out sample menu pricing for a typical “simple” case. These costs would normally be increased proportionately as the complexity increases. As always, much depends on the exact circumstances of the case and you would be best placed to discuss likely estimates of your particular case with your lawyer. Again, we would remind you that most cases settle and they settle at different stages of litigation.
(all prices including VAT)
(A “simple” case)
| First instructions (usually considering the Claim form and particulars of claim against your business : | £222 – £888 |
| Engaging in initial settlement negotiations / ACAS: | £111 – £666 |
| Preparing your response form (your defence): | £666 – £1200 |
| Exploring and negotiating a settlement: | £222 – £666 |
| Preparing a counter- schedule of loss: | £222 – £444 |
| Preparing your disclosure: | £222 – £444 |
| Considering your opponent’s disclosure: | £222 – £444 |
| Preparing your witness statement: | £222 – £444 |
| Considering your opponent’s witness statements: | £222 – £666 |
| Attendance at a final hearing: | £666 – £1000 |
| Total: | 2,997 – £6,862 |
Factors that could make the case more complex:
- 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 parties);
- The number of witnesses and documents;
- If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are alleged to have dismissed an employee after they “blew the whistle”.
- Allegations of discrimination / harassment / victimisation etc. which are linked to the dismissal.
In a simple unfair dismissal claim there is not usually a preliminary hearing. We charge from £666 – £1,222.00 for attending a preliminary hearing, depending on travelling time and the complexity of the case.
The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.
What are 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.
Instructing a Barrister
If your case is complex we may instruct a barrister. Counsel’s fees range in cost depending on their experience. Counsel’s fees can range from between £1200 – £5000 per day. If it makes sense, we may send Counsel to the preliminary hearing rather than attend it ourselves.
How long will my matter take?
The time it takes from taking your 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 – 4 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 20 – 52 weeks. 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 main funding options available to you are:
- Legal Expenses Insurance
- Privately paying – fixed fee
- Privately paying – agreed hourly rate
- Self Representation
Legal Expenses Insurance
Your business may have the protection of a legal expenses policy. Please check if you have and we can advise whether it will cover you for your defence.
No Win NO Fee – Damages Based Agreement
We cannot offer employers a No Win No Fee agreement.
Privately Paying – Agreed Fixed Fee
This method of funding is usually offered where we can easily predict the likely costs in advance. The fixed fee will be payable irrespective of whether the case is won or lost but provides our clients with a definite predictable cost from the outset so that they can achieve certainty when budgeting.
Privately Paying – Agreed Hourly Rate
In some cases paying for our services on an agreed hourly rate may be the most suitable way of funding your claim. It may be that your claim is of a very high value and you prefer to manage your costs in this way. Alternatively, you may have a claim that is not particularly strong but you still wish to bring because of the importance of it to you or because you are pursuing an outcome other than compensation.
We will provide you with an estimate of the likely costs at the outset and update you regularly throughout the progress of the case. Using this method you pay for your costs irrespective of the outcome. Our hourly rates range from £222 to £252 per hour depending on the type of work undertaken and level of employment lawyer required.
For a free telephone consultation, call us now on 0844 800 9860 or request a call back through the website.
