Costs Transparency

NB All prices described within this page are presented exclusive of VAT and disbursements. VAT will be charged additional to these figures according to the UK VAT regime at the standard rate, currently 20%, unless specified otherwise.

Our pricing range for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal

Simple case: £12,000-£20,000 plus VAT at 20% 

Medium complexity case: £16,000-£32,000 plus VAT at 20% 

High complexity case: £25,000-£100,000+ plus VAT at 20%

NB The levels and range of fees within the ranges indicated above reflect the complexity factors within any particular case (see 'Factors affecting Complexity & Costs' below). The figures for our professional fees are based upon the hourly rates set out in the table below (see 'Lawyers' Qualifications Experience & Costs'), anticipting the elements of work (see 'Key Stages' below) and excluding VAT (see VAT statement above) and disbursement costs (see 'Disbursements' below).

Lawyers' Qualifications, Experience & Costs

Staffing structures will of course change from time to time but all of our lawyers are fully qualified solicitors who specialise in employment law (unless identified as a 'paralegal'). We will charge fees according to the level of post qualification experience for the lawyer involved (whether undertaking or supervising any particular aspect of our work) according to the table below: 

We endeavour to allocate tasks to the most appropriate level of lawyer who is available and suitable to the nature and value of the task so as to complete the task efficiently and cost-effectively.

Factors affecting Complexity & Costs

Factors that are likely to make a case more complex and/or reasonably justify greater cost:

• The financial, strategic and reputational value of the outcome to you

• The number of claimants and/or respondents to the case

• Material changes to your instructions during the lifetime of the case (e.g. changes to your instructions regarding the factual issues, the evidence, and/or your aims)

• Inefficient or untimely compliance by you with reasonable requests by us or to directions/orders of the court/tribunal (e.g. provision of relevant documents in batches across a wide period of time)

• 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 (e.g. whether the claim should be dismissed for any reason or the prospects of success of either claim or defence)

• The number of witnesses and documents

• Late revelation of important evidence

• The claim concerns a potentially automatic unfair reason for dismissal (e.g. if the dismissal concerns an alleged connection to whistleblowing)

• Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal (although this would normally take the case into a different costs structure altogether)

• Postponements or adjournments to hearings or a requirement for a re-hearing of the same issue

There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £1,000 per day (plus VAT at 20%) if you wish us to attend the hearing with you and the barrister. Generally, we would allow 1-10 days for Final Hearing(s) depending on the complexity of your case.

Disbursements

Disbursements are other costs additional to the professional fees we charge for our time which are related to other services performed in relation to your matter, such as barristers fees, photocopying fees, courier costs, travel costs, and court fees. We may require you to pay any applicable court fees direct at the time they are due for payment. Aside from court fees, we usually utilise specialist third party providers for reasons of cost efficiency. You may choose to organise and pay for some such services directly yourself. If you ask us to do so on your behalf then we will incur the cost from the provider and pass such costs on to you as a disbursement cost. We may invoice you for disbursements only (ie separately to invoices for our  legal fees).

Counsel's fees estimated between £1,500 – £12,000 per day (plus VAT at 20%) (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

Photocopying fees (all will be charged plus VAT at 20%) are estimated at:

A4 black and white = 8-12p per page

A3 black and white = 16-25p per page

A4 colour = 40-60p per page

A3 colour = 80-120p per page

Courier costs cannot be estimated without details of the package, the journey and the urgency of delivery.

Key Stages

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim (with guidance as to typical timescales):

A. Initial Stage (0-4 months)

• 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 the claim or response from the other party

B. Case Management Stage (as directed by the Tribunal but typically 2-18 months)

• Communicating with the Tribunal and all other parties as appropriate

• Assisting you to comply with the Tribunal's rules, orders and directions

• Making or responding (as appropriate) to applications made to the Tribunal  

• Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process

• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss

• Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing

• Conferences(s) with Counsel as required

• 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

​C. Case Hearing Stage (as directed by the Tribunal but typically 12-24 months)

• Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing(s), including instructions to Counsel

• Receiving, reviewing and advising you on the Tribunal's decision and judgment

The stages set out above are an indication of the typical content of key stages and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. Equally, some of the elements of work refer may be undertaken in different stages than those listed above according to the circumstances and needs of the case and after taking your instructions.

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 provided there is clarity on which of us is responsible for which element.

Where an appeal occurs (whether on an order, direction or judgment of the Court/Tribunal) then this will be subject to separate and additional costs.

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 2-6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take between 6 and 24 months. This is just an estimate and is largely driven by the date listed by the Court/Tribunal for Final Hearing. Where Courts/Tribunals have greater numbers of cases than the resources needed to hear those cases then the timescales can be substantially longer. If 'timescale' is a relevant material factor for you then please inform us of this and ask for an assessment based on the specifics of your case. We will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.