Employment tribunal claims fees

We have a large Employment team, led by 10 partners, who can offer advice on a wide range of matters. The team comprises lawyers with different specialisms and qualifications to ensure that your needs are met by lawyers with the most appropriate level of expertise and experience.

We have a team approach, so that clients have a dedicated lawyer who will meet them and who is fully involved in every stage of the claim. He or she is supported by our secretarial team, so that there is always cover and a point of contact. All work carried out by the Employment Team is supervised by a partner.

We charge on the basis of an hourly rate and estimate the costs based on the amount of time we think the matter will take. We set out all of the rates and provide fee estimates at the outset of the case so that each client has oversight of our costs at the beginning of the case, and agrees the level of fees to be incurred. We provide regular costs updates as the case proceeds.

The rates applied to a particular case may depend upon any client retainer or procurement framework that is in place at the time and will also take into account the complexity, value or urgency of the work to be completed.

It is very difficult at the outset, to predict accurately all of the work needed to deal with a case and therefore how much it will cost. The ultimate cost will depend on the individual circumstances of each matter and the stage at which a settlement may be reached. Where possible, we will break down the stages of the Employment Tribunal and agree a cost for each stage (as explained in more detail below).

Our fees for the services listed below, in relation to an unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal claim proceeding to a one day contested tribunal hearing, generally range from £7,500 to £25,000 plus VAT of 20%. This is based on the work being carried out at solicitor, associate or senior associate level with partner involvement and supervision, as needed. The average time incurred varies between 30 hours and 60 hours depending upon the complexity of the issues.

If additional steps to those set out below need to be taken, or the matter is more complicated, due to complex preliminary issues (such as time limits or employee status), allegations of discrimination or whistleblowing, or a large number of witnesses and documents, our costs and those of a barrister might exceed the range provided. If this is the case, we will advise you on the estimated additional costs as soon as we become aware.

Conversely, if settlement with the employee is reached before a final hearing, not all of the services listed below will be necessary and the cost of the matter may be at the lower end of the range, or less.

Our benchmark hourly rates are as follows:

•   Partner, Consultant and Legal Director - £460
•   Senior Associate and Senior Legal Executive - £400
•   Associate - £370
•   Solicitor - £310
•   Legal Executive and Senior Paralegal - £260
•   Paralegal - £205
•   Trainee Solicitor - £195
•   Apprentice Solicitor - £95

In addition to our fees, other costs may arise during the matter that are payable to third parties. These costs are called 'disbursements' and are likely to include barrister fees, if the case proceeds to a hearing as outlined below. There may be other expenses, such as experts fees, or the costs of preparing the document bundles for the hearing. We will keep you updated on all expenses throughout the matter and let you know in advance before they are incurred. We will also inform you if additional expenses are required.

Advocacy at a tribunal hearing will be undertaken by a barrister who will charge an additional fee of between £1,500 and £5,000 plus VAT at 20% for a one day hearing. The exact amount a barrister will charge depends upon the preparation needed and the seniority of the barrister.

At the outset of a matter it can be difficult to predict timescales, because 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 settlement is reached during ACAS pre-claim conciliation, your case may be resolved within a few weeks of your instructions to us. Alternatively, if your claim proceeds to a final hearing in the employment tribunal, the time between your initial instructions and proceeding to a hearing may be between 16 and 30 weeks. This estimate depends upon the complexity of your case and also the availability of an Employment Judge at the Employment Tribunal dealing with the case. If the case is factually complex, involves multiple claims and/or a number of witnesses, the timescale for resolution or a final hearing may be more than 30 weeks. We will provide you with a more accurate timescale, once we have more information, and update you as the matter progresses.