We want to make sure that you have the best possible representation and fully understand the potential costs for the representation
The total charges (excluding disbursements) in acting on behalf of a former employee in a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal will normally be in the region of £20,000 to £25,000 plus VAT at the current rate, being 20% (£24,000 to £30,000 inclusive of VAT).
A significant element of our charges will depend on the length of the final hearing before the Employment Tribunal and this can range from one day in the simplest of cases to two weeks or more in complex cases.
Taking your full instructions
Advising you on the merits of your case
Assisting you in referring the claim to ACAS (a mandatory first step prior to proceedings)
Preparing and filing the ET1 claim form and particulars of claim
Preparing for and attending a case management hearing (or agreeing the case management timetable and briefing counsel for the hearing if appropriate and agreed with you)
Preparing and agreeing a list of issues and a chronology of key events if required
Dealing with your disclosure obligations
Reviewing the respondent’s disclosure
Preparing witness evidence
Instructing counsel for the hearing (if we discuss and agree using counsel for the hearing)
Preparing the case for the final hearing which will include agreeing and preparing trial bundles and liaising with witnesses and counsel (if we discuss and agree using counsel)
Attending the hearing
This list above also describes the key stages in defending a claim of unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal.
The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the stages 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.
The indicative cost range does not include our charges for any work which may prove necessary during the claim, which would be unknown at the outset such as a hearing going part-heard.
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
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.
It is also dictated by the Employment Tribunal which sets a timetable and will fix the hearing dates subject to its own resources. You should anticipate at least a 6 month to 12-month turnaround from the date a referral is made to ACAS to the date which the Employment Tribunal list the case for final hearing.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as barrister’s fees or couriers’ fees.
Sometimes, if it is discussed and agreed with you, we may instruct counsel to represent you at the final hearing and sometimes it is appropriate to retain counsel to advise on the merits of your claim or its valuation. The level of the brief fees for counsel will depend upon their seniority and the duration of the hearing.
Counsel’s fees would be a disbursement payable by you and would be in the region of £5,000 to £7,000 plus VAT (£6,000 to £8,400 inclusive of VAT for a one-day hearing).
The brief fee covers the preparation for the hearing and the first day. Counsel charges a refresher fee for each additional day and the range of refresher fee is normally in the region of £1,500 to £3,000 plus VAT (£1,800 to £3,600 inclusive of VAT).
Generally, our fees are calculated on an hourly basis, although on the recommendation of the Law Society, we may take into account a number of other factors including
Complexity and difficulty of the matter
Specialist knowledge and responsibility involved
Urgency
Volume of papers
Number of witnesses
Number of hearing days
The hourly rates are currently £350 + VAT for Director and Senior Solicitor who qualified as a Solicitor in 2002.
Other assistants (Not solicitors) £35 + VAT
All time spent on your matter is recorded. This could include meetings, telephone discussions, correspondence, sending and receiving emails, reading, preparing and revising documents, general consideration and research, travelling and the supervision, and the administration, care and control of your file.
We operate a system under which each hour is divided into units of six minutes and each activity is usually recorded separately, with a minimum of one unit per activity.
Other possible expenses are; photocopying charges (typically £0.10 per sheet); postage; round trip train travel (standard class) to the Employment Tribunal hearing centre; taxi fares; hotel accommodation for overnight stay (for hearings outside of the greater London and Kent area and /or as agreed with you) and daily subsistence (at a maximum of £20 to £25 per day).
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