Employment

OUR FEES
We charge for our services on a time spent basis with reference to the hours recorded in our time keeping system. The team working on Employment Tribunal matters will usually consist of a partner and a legal assistant. The team will ensure that the work is done on the most cost efficient basis and the client will be kept up to date with the time spent and cost incurred.

Our fees are estimates, not capped or fixed and the circumstances may result in an estimate being higher or lower depending on matters that emerge during the course of the transaction. We will always advise if particular complications arise which mean that we are likely to exceed our fee estimate.
Our fees will be based on the hourly rates of our Employment Tribunal Team which is currently based on the hourly rate of £300.00 (excluding VAT @ 20%) of the partner; Stanley Okere who deals with all Employment Tribunal matters.

We tailor our service to our Client’s needs, from an “advice only” approach to a bespoke personal service. Our “advice only” approach anticipates that we are provided with all necessary documentation and information from our Claimant/Client in order to advice on the matter. Our bespoke personal service is far more hands-on and can include, for example, having meetings at our offices on social hours such as weekends and late in the evenings. Our level of involvement will significantly affect the level of fees we charge.

No Claims are exactly the same and our fees will reflect the Claimant’s /Client’s particular circumstances. These variable requirements make it difficult to provide a meaningful estimate before we know the particular circumstances. However, based on our experience, we have set out below examples of typical fee estimates.

This price information is to Claimants/Clients in relation to bringing claims at the Employment Tribunals for Unfair and Wrongful Dismissal

Simple application: £12,000 (based on 40 hours at an hourly rate of £300.00) excluding VAT @ 20%.

Medium complexity: £18,000.00 (based on 60 hours at an hourly rate of £300.00) excluding VAT @ 20%.

High complexity: £24,000 (based on 80 hours at an hourly rate of £300.00) excluding VAT @ 20%.

The Claim may be classified as simple where there is one single claim such as unfair dismissal brought by the Claimant/Client. Whilst this, may seem simple, in the process of the Tribunal claim other issues may emanate making the claim more complicated as it was originally resulting to amendments and more hearings required than usual. In this scenario the Claim may become middle complex. However in situation where the claim involves not just Unfair or Wrongful Dismissal but incorporates other elements such as discrimination, Whistleblowing etc., the matter becomes highly complex.

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

These explanations are not exhaustive as all depends on the particular circumstances of the matter. At all times the Claimant/Client is kept abreast as to the costs incurred in their matter.

It is also pertinent to note that Claimant/Client has other funding options available, such as cover under an insurance policy and we will endeavour to check with Claimant/Client at their first appointment the possibility of such insurance policy covering their legal costs for the Employment Tribunal Claim.

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

• Taking our 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 and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. Claimant/Client may wish to handle the claim themselves and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on their individual needs.

DISBURSEMENTS
Disbursements are costs related to Claimant’s/ Client’s matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on Client’s behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Counsel’s fee for Opinion which involves advice and merit of Client’s claim is estimated between £1500 to £2000 (and VAT @ 20%). Counsel’s fees estimated between £1600 to £2000 per day (and VAT @ 20%) (depending on experience of the Counsel) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

How long will my matter take?
The time that it takes from taking Clients’ initial instructions to the final resolution of the matter depends largely on the stage at which Client’s case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, the case is likely to take about 12 weeks. If the claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, the case is likely to take 52 weeks. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give Claimant/Client a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.