FEES INFORMATION GUIDANCE
We are required to give you an estimation of the costs of certain types of work. Such estimates are quite difficult to provide accurately because the nature of litigation is that every case varies and can be quite different from any other. There is also the possibility that matters can be dealt with quite quickly or can be more complicated. We have tried in this article to give you a higher end idea of costs ie the more expensive estimate as we feel that this will be more helpful to you when planning the financing of such cases. Further and more detailed costs estimates can be provided to you after initial meetings following discussion of your specific matter.
Employment matters
Our estimated costs for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal
Simple case: £
3,500-£
10,000 (excluding VAT)
Medium complexity case: £
8,000-£
12,000 (excluding VAT)
High complexity case: £
10,000-£
18,000 (excluding VAT)
The amounts stated above may vary depending on such factors as your opponent’s actions and conduct of the litigation and anything unexpected that arises during the course of the case.
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
There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £
2,000 per day (excluding VAT). Generally, we would allow
1-
2days depending on the complexity of your case.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. If you instruct a barrister (Counsel) then their fees are estimated to be between £
1,500 to
£2,500 plus VAT per day (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing.
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 as new evidence becomes available)
- 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. 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 to meet 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. Of course settlement requires cooperation and compromise from both (or more) parties and is therefore outside of your absolute control. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take
25-
45 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.