Employment Law fees.
Indicative costs for unfair and wrongful dismissal matters, Tribunal proceedings and settlement agreements. We will confirm the scope and a tailored estimate before work begins.
Unfair and wrongful dismissal claims
The following estimates cover bringing or defending a straightforward claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal. They do not include discrimination claims that are separate from, or substantially increase the complexity of, a dismissal claim.
| Work | Complexity | Estimated fee excluding VAT | Estimated fee including VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee claim | Simple | £2,000–£3,500 | £2,400–£4,200 |
| Employee claim | Medium | £3,500–£6,000 | £4,200–£7,200 |
| Employee claim | High | Usually over £10,000 | Usually over £12,000 |
| Employer defence | Simple | £2,500–£4,500 | £3,000–£5,400 |
| Employer defence | Medium | £4,500–£7,000 | £5,400–£8,400 |
| Employer defence | High | Usually over £10,000 | Usually over £12,000 |
Highly complex matters are usually charged at the relevant hourly rates. We will identify who will work on your matter, their hourly rate and the likely overall cost in your written engagement information.
What may make a matter more complex
- Applications to amend a claim or provide further information
- A party acting without legal representation
- Costs applications or preliminary issues, including disability status
- A large number of witnesses or documents
- Allegations of automatic unfair dismissal or whistleblowing
- Discrimination allegations linked to the dismissal
Hearings and barrister’s fees
Our attendance at a final hearing is estimated at £750–£1,800 excluding VAT (£900–£2,160 including VAT) per day. We generally allow two hearing days for a straightforward unfair dismissal matter, although the Tribunal determines the final listing.
If a barrister is instructed, indicative fees are £2,000–£3,500 excluding VAT (£2,400–£4,200 including VAT) for preparation and the first hearing day, then £750–£1,200 excluding VAT (£900–£1,440 including VAT) for each additional day. The precise fee depends on experience, complexity and hearing length and will be agreed before instruction.
Key stages normally included
- Taking instructions, reviewing documents and advising on merits and likely compensation
- ACAS Early Conciliation and, where appropriate, settlement discussions
- Preparing or reviewing the claim or response
- Preparing a schedule of loss or responding to one
- Preparing for and attending a preliminary hearing where required
- Disclosure, bundles and witness statements
- Preparing the issues, chronology and cast list
- Preparation for and attendance at the final hearing
You may choose to handle some stages yourself. We can agree a more limited scope where appropriate.
Settlement agreements
For employees, employers commonly offer a contribution towards the cost of independent legal advice. We aim to keep our fee within that contribution where the agreement is straightforward and will discuss any likely shortfall before carrying out additional work.
For employers, drafting a straightforward settlement agreement is estimated at £850–£1,500 excluding VAT (£1,020–£1,800 including VAT).
Timescales
If a matter settles during ACAS Early Conciliation, it may conclude in approximately four to six weeks. If it proceeds to a final hearing, a typical overall timeframe may be around nine to twelve months, but Tribunal capacity, complexity and the parties’ conduct can make the process shorter or considerably longer.
Who will handle your matter
Your matter will be handled by an appropriately experienced solicitor and supervised in line with the firm’s procedures. Christopher Jacob was admitted as a solicitor in 2009 and has experience in Employment Law and civil litigation. We will confirm the person responsible for your work and the supervision arrangements when we accept instructions.