Please note that the fees below apply whether we are acting for and advising you as an employer or an employee.
Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal
When pricing a job, we will, wherever possible, provide the option of either a fixed fee or a time spent estimate. The amount of the fee will depend on the issues, areas or complexities of law, number of witnesses, and likely length of hearing.
Set out below is a rough estimate of the range of fees that are likely to apply. Work will be changed at the hourly rate of the people dealing with your matter, details of which can be found further down the page.
Simple case: £6,000 to £12,000 plus VAT @ 20% * –(note that this may be potentially lower for wrongful dismissal).
Medium complexity case: £13,000 to £17, 000 plus VAT @ 20%.
High complexity case: £18,000 to £25,000 plus VAT @ 20%.
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, eg, if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer.
- Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal.
- Limitation issues.
There may be an additional charge if the matter proceeds to a Tribunal Hearing of £100 to £2,000 per day (excluding VAT @ 20%). Generally, we would allow 1-10 days depending on the complexity of the case.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as barristers and experts fees. These will be in addition to our fees above, However, we handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Barrister’s fees are estimated at between £1,250 and £7,500 (plus VAT @ 20%) for a brief fee and thereafter £850 to £2,000 (plus VAT @ 20%) for attending a Tribunal Hearing. As with the above, the exact cost depends upon the nature of your matter but also the experience of the barrister instructed.
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 (and attending) 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.
The stages set out above are an indication only and if some of the stages above are not required, the fee will likely be less. 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.
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 1-16 weeks. If the case proceeds to a Final Hearing, it can take up to 104 weeks. 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.
Our Employment Team
Paul Campbell – Senior Partner and Solicitor
Paul is the Senior Partner at Chadwick Lawrence. He completed a law degree (LLB) in 1976, and qualified as a solicitor in 1979. Paul has been with the firm for 30 years and deals with a variety of employment law issues. His standard hourly rate is £320 plus VAT @ 20%.
Jack Oldroyd – Partner in Charge of Employment Litigation and Solicitor
Jack is an employment litigation specialist at Chadwick Lawrence, having joined the firm in 2005. Jack commenced his legal training in 2006 as a paralegal, and qualified as a solicitor in February 2013. He became a partner in the firm in January 2019.
Jack acts for both employers and employees on all employment related issues but predominantly in employment tribunal claims. This encompasses a wide variety of issues including complaints of unfair and constructive dismissal, all forms of discrimination, whistle-blowing and contract disputes. On the commercial side, Jack acts for a number of the firm’s high profile clients including Kwik-Fit and Huddersfield Town FC. Jack also assists individual through disciplinary and grievance processes and negotiates and advises upon Settlement Agreements. His standard hourly rate is £320 plus VAT @ 20%.
Sunnia Khaliq – Solicitor
Sunnia is a Solicitor, specialising in Employment Law. She is responsible for providing employment litigation support for both individuals and businesses on a wide range of employment issues. Sunnia’s standard hourly rate if £230 plus VAT @ 20%.
Bethan Brooke – Paralegal
Bethan completed her law degree at Newcastle University in 2021 before studying her LPC full time at the University of Law. Bethan assists the team in providing employment litigation support for both individuals and businesses on a wide range of issues. Bethan’s standard hourly rate is £190 plus VAT @ 20%.
Please click here for further details relating to our Employer Services team
