Paytons solicitors

We can help you with all employment issues. Stan has great experience of employment cases representing both employers and employees, and covering both contested and “agreed” termination of employment.

Our fees for bringing and defending cases at the Employment Tribunal

The stages set out below are an indication of our fees and if some of stages below 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.

Our fees, whether acting for employee or employer are:

  • Simple case: £2,000 to £2,500 plus £400 to £500 VAT (VAT 20%) plus disbursements (see below)
  • Medium complexity case: £2,500 to £3,500 plus £500 to £700 VAT (VAT 20%) plus disbursements (see below)
  • High complexity case: £3,500 to £10,000 plus £700 to £2000 VAT (VAT 20%) plus disbursements (see below)

Factors that could make a 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 the parties)
  • The number of witnesses and documents
  • If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
  • Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal

There will be an additional charge for Counsel attending a Tribunal Hearing (see below). Generally, we would allow 1 to 5 days for a hearing depending on the complexity of your case.

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.

Counsel’s fees are estimated between £750 to £1,500 plus £150 to £300 VAT (VAT 20%) per day (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation)

Key stages

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

  • Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
  • Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
  • Preparing claim or response
  • Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
  • Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
  • Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
  • Preparing for a Preliminary Hearing
  • Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
  • Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
  • Preparing bundle of documents
  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
  • Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
  • Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel

How long will my matter take?

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 4 to 6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take anything between 9 to 12 months. 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 costs information given on this website is general. You will be given more precise and personalised information later once we are aware of all the circumstances of your matter.

Please note we may have to revise our fee estimate if exceptional circumstances arise in your matter.

Service team

Bev Richardson

Assistant

More info