Employment

At Petersfields we are experienced in dealing with employment cases and your claim will be handled by a fully qualified solicitor with many years of practice in employment cases. Our expertise can often help clients to achieve a positive result without having to go through the stress, and cost, of a tribunal claim. Even so, sometimes cases do proceed to the tribunal, and we understand that clients can be concerned about the costs involved in instructing us to act on their behalf in such cases.

All cases are different, and it is not generally possible to give accurate information about the likely total charges in an unfair or wrongful dismissal claim until we have met with you and taken full details of your case.

However, below you will find general information about the sort of fees which are involved in a typical unfair or wrongful dismissal claim.

For Employees

Our hourly rate for unfair and wrongful dismissal cases is £260 plus VAT. However, we offer an initial fixed fee appointment of £100 plus VAT for 30 minutes.  

Thereafter, fees in a fairly typical case are likely to be:-

Before commencing a claim in an Employment Tribunal it is obligatory to obtain an early conciliation certificate from ACAS. Initiating the early conciliation process and liaising with ACAS will involve between 30 minutes and 2 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage can take up to six weeks, and many cases are settled at this stage. 

Advising on the merits of the claim and preparing and lodging the claim at the Employment Tribunal – between 3 and 7 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take between 2 and 4 weeks. 

Dealing with, and advising on, the response from the Employer – between 1 and 2 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take between 4 and 6 weeks. 

Attending to disclosure and lists of documents – between 2 and 4 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take around 4 weeks. 

Preparing and exchanging witness statements – between 2 and 4 hours work per statement at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take between 1 and 3 months. 

Preparing for and attending the tribunal hearing – £1900 per day plus VAT. (One day of preparation is usually required for a simple case). This stage is likely to depend on the resources of the tribunal and it is not possible to say with certainty how long it will take for the tribunal to list a particular case for hearing. Please see below for an estimate of the overall likely length of a tribunal case. 

If we instruct a barrister to represent you then the barrister’s charges are likely to be in the region of £1750 per day plus VAT of £350.

Your total fees for a claim of this type which is dealt with at a one-day final hearing in the tribunal, with the Claimant as the only witness, are likely to be between £6020 (plus VAT of £1204) and £8260 (plus VAT of £1652).

VAT is currently charged at a rate of 20%. 

During tribunal proceedings we will continue to try to negotiate an amicable settlement if you wish. The costs of negotiation and advice on settlement are not included in the above estimate and will depend on the extent of such negotiations.

For Employers

Our hourly rate for unfair and wrongful dismissal cases is £260 plus VAT. Thereafter fees in a fairly typical case are likely to be:

Initial advice on the merits of your case and preparing and lodging the response – between 4 and 6 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take around 4 weeks. 

Attending to disclosure and lists of documents – between 4 and 6 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take around 4 weeks. 

Preparing and exchanging witness statements – between 2 and 4 hours work per statement, at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take between 1 and 3 months. 

Preparation of Bundles for the hearing – between 2 and 3 hours work at £260 per hour plus VAT. This stage is likely to take around 4 weeks. 

Preparation for and attending the tribunal hearing – £1900 per day plus VAT.  This stage will depend on the resources of the tribunal and it is not possible to estimate with certainty how long it will be before the tribunal lists a case for hearing. Please see below for an estimate of the overall likely length of a tribunal case. 

If we instruct a barrister to represent you then the barrister’s charges are likely to be in the region of £1750 per day plus VAT of £350.

Your total fees for a claim of this type which is dealt with at a one-day final hearing in the tribunal, with two witnesses for the Respondent, are likely to be between £7480 (plus VAT of £1496) and £9820 (plus VAT of £1964).

VAT is currently charged at a rate of 20%. 

During tribunal proceedings we will continue to try to negotiate an amicable settlement if you wish. The costs of negotiation and advice on settlement are not included in the above estimate and will depend on the extent of such negotiations.