For anyone looking for straightforward, accessible and reliable legal advice and representation I cannot think of anyone better than Johnson and Boon.
Yunus Bakhsh
Looking after what is a business’ most valuable and changeable resource is both complex and challenging.
Our team of experts will offer plain speaking, expert advice to help deal with employment issues in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
Written terms provide a clear understanding of what is expected during the term of employment.
It allows you to include provisions that suit your business, as opposed to the default law which otherwise applies.
It will help avoid disputes and maintain a professional reputation in how things are approached.
Sometimes circumstances simply require you to adjust the size of your workforce.
We can help guide you through the laws that govern how this can be done, to avoid including the wrong employees or leaving yourself exposed to unfair or constructive dismissal claims.
Settlement Agreements are a useful tool to resolve workplace disputes and bring employment relationships to a mutually agreed end.
However, the process can be tricky to navigate, and expert advice can often ensure the terms accurately reflect your intended solution.
We will therefore take your instructions and advise on the content to be included within the drafted settlement agreement that we will prepare for you and your employee.
Employment Tribunals are an independent judicial body established to resolve disputes between employers and employees.
Like any legally orientated hearing, there are rules and processes to follow and the way you put your evidence forward may be the difference between winning and losing.
Our decades of experience will ensure your representation gives you the best chance of success.
We charge an initial consultation fee of £230.40 (£192 + £38.40 VAT), which can be deducted from the further costs you incur if we are instructed to proceed. At the consultation you will receive initial advice and we will gain a sufficient insight into your case to be able to advise as to the best route forward.
All further employment work is charged at £230.40 (£192 + £38.40 VAT) per hour, save for any fixed fee we offer as set out below.
There are no tribunal fees in employment cases, however, should the matter proceed to a contested claim you may incur further disbursement costs for advice and representation by a Barrister in conference and or at a Hearing.
The estimate of the Barristers fees will depend on the nature of the case but could range from £1,200.00 (£1,000 + £200 VAT) to £7,200.00 (£6,000 + £1,200 VAT). Generally barristers fees are calculated at approximately £1,800 (£1,500 + £300 VAT) per day for hearing representation. This would include preparation time.
We will provide an estimate to you at our initial consultation as to likely costs that you will incur based upon the particulars of your case.
Some matters can be dealt with by way of correspondence and in those cases the costs involved usually range from £600.00 (£500 + £100 VAT) to £1,800.00 (£1,500 + £300 VAT) plus disbursements.
If a case is to proceed to an Employment Tribunal Hearing, an average would cost:
Breach of contract disputes – Between £1,800.00 (£1,500 + £300 VAT) to £3,600.00 (£3,000 + £600 VAT) plus disbursements.
Unfair dismissal claim – Average £3,600 (£3,000 + £600 VAT) to £6,000.00 (£5,000 + £1,000 VAT) plus disbursements.
Discrimination claim – Between £6,000 (£5,000 + £1,000 VAT) – £9,000.00 (£7,500 + £1,500 VAT) plus disbursements.
Disbursements may include VAT dependent upon the nature of that disbursement and whether the service provide is VAT registered.
The above quotes include fees for representation from confirmation of your instructions to act through to any final Hearing if necessary. Once a claim has been issued our services would include the drafting of initial pleadings, communications with ACAS attendance at any listed preliminary hearing for directions, compliance with case management orders; undertaking full disclosure of documentation on your behalf; preparing witness statements; preparing schedule of loss and preparation of any paginated bundle as directed by the Tribunal. We would also instruct and brief a Barrister for any final preparations before the final hearing.
For advising on and preparing a settlement agreement we provide this service on a fixed fee of £900.00 (£750 + £150 VAT).
A NO OBLIGATION quote for legal costs on your case will be provided during initial consultation. We will detail all the work that will be included within that price. No work will be undertaken until you have understood what we will do and agreed to the associated fees.
There may be unforeseen circumstances which require that quote to be revised. This may relate to an increase in complexity, a change in your instructions, an application being made or becoming necessary to make or if there are significantly more communications than normal between the parties.
You will be kept fully advised as to the costs position as your case progresses and any changes to our estimates. We will advise on the nature of that circumstance, why it has impacted upon the original costs quotation and we will provide a revised quote for your consideration and approval.
No additional costs will be incurred until these have been understood and approved by you.
All work is completed by or supervised by a qualified solicitor.
Timescales
It is very difficult to provide an accurate timeframe for these types of cases.
If a case can be settled without involvement of the Tribunal it will usually do so within 3 months. Cases which proceed to be determined by the Tribunal will usually take 9 to 12 months.
For anyone looking for straightforward, accessible and reliable legal advice and representation I cannot think of anyone better than Johnson and Boon.
Yunus Bakhsh