Employment work

Please be aware that the figures set out below are not quotes. If you are in any doubt about the nature of the claims applicable to your dispute, please contact a member of our team. 

If you are an employee you may have other ways of funding claims for advice and representation in relation to the bringing of claims before the Employment Tribunal against an employer for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal, such as cover under a policy of insurance. 

Advice for Employees

Our charges typically range from £35,000 to £60,000. 

This does not include:

  • Counsel’s fees, which typically range from £5,000 to £15,000 ; and
  • photocopying charges, which typically range from £500 to £1,800.

The above charges are inclusive of VAT at 20%.

For complex or unusual claims we may charge fees that are higher than the top of the range given above. Factors that may result in a claim being more complex or unusual include but are not limited to where:

  • the client requires a high degree of advice, care or attention;
  • the claim is factually complex, witness and/or document-heavy;
  • the claim falls within one of the categories of automatically unfair dismissal e.g. whistleblowing;
  • the claim is combined with other legal claims, such as discrimination;
  • a number of preliminary hearings are required;
  • unexpected delays or postponements occur;
  • making or defending applications for costs; and/or
  • the conduct of the claim by another party is unusual or unreasonable.

Advice for Employers

Advice and representation to employers in relation to defending claims before the Employment Tribunal brought by an employee for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal

Our charges typically range from £30,000 to £60,000.

This does not include:

  • Counsel’s fees, which typically range from £5,000 to £15,000 in total; and
  • photocopying charges, which typically range from £500 to £2,000.

The above charges are exclusive of VAT at 20%.

For complex or unusual claims we may charge fees that are higher than the top of the range given above. Factors that may result in a claim being more complex or unusual include but are not limited to where:

  • the client requires a high degree of advice, care or attention;
  • the claim is factually complex, witness and/or document heavy;
  • the claim falls within one of the categories of automatically unfair dismissal e.g. whistleblowing;
  • the claim is combined with other legal claims, such as discrimination;
  • a number of preliminary hearings are required;
  • unexpected delays or postponements occur;
  • making or defending applications for costs;
  • the conduct of the claim by another party is unusual or unreasonable; and/or
  • the claimant is representing himself or herself, or does not have a legally-qualified representative.

General Points

The fee ranges set out above are based on hourly rate charges of £190-550 per hour (exclusive of VAT at 20% so £228 to £660 inclusive of VAT), depending on the level of the fee-earner involved. They include advice on the typical stages of a claim:

  • taking initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising on the merits of the claim and likely compensation;
  • entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory, to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
  • preparing the claim or response;
  • reviewing and advising on the claim or response from other party;
  • preparing or considering a schedule of loss;
  • preparing for (and attending) one Preliminary Hearing and instructing Counsel to appear;
  • exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents;
  • taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses; preparing bundles of documents;
  • reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements;
  • agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list; and
  • preparation and attendance at the Final Hearing, including preparing instructions to Counsel.

They do not include advice on other stages of, or events during or related to, a claim, for example: applications for specific disclosure of documents; data subject access requests; applications for costs or costs assessments; advice on negotiating settlement or entering into a settlement agreement; any appeals or applications for the review or reconsideration of any decision; travel and accommodation expenses.

The likely timescale for each stage referred to above will vary according to a number of factors, including case management orders made by the Tribunal and the nature of the claim. A Tribunal claim will typically take six to twelve months to complete, but the timescale is highly dependent on the caseload of the Tribunal system.

Who will carry out the work

Your work may primarily be carried out by any of the solicitors, trainee solicitors or paralegals in the Employment Team and under partner supervision.

For information on our hourly rates:

Click here.

To find out more about the individual members of our team, click on their photos below.

To find out more about the SRA Guidance on Price Transparency, click here.

Last reviewed: January 2023