Pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal
If you are considering making an unfair or wrongful dismissal claim, you should take advantage of our experience and expertise in this area of law. We can help bring your case to an employment tribunal, where you may be entitled to compensation, another job in the same company, or even reinstatement.
To speak to a solicitor about making an unfair or wrongful dismissal claim, simply call us on 0345 872 6666 or fill in our online enquiry form and let us know when we can call you back.
Estimated Costs
Simple case:
£1,000 -£20,000 (excluding VAT at 20%).
Medium complexity case:
£7,000 -£50,000 (excluding VAT at 20%).
High complexity case:
£15,000 -£250,000 (excluding VAT at 20%).
There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £750 per day (excluding VAT at 20%). Generally, we would allow 1-4 days depending on the complexity of your 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 upon 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.
- Media interest/risk of reputational damage.
- Allegations of discrimination are linked to the dismissal.
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.
Counsel's fees estimated between £750 - £5,000 with additional daily rates of between £500 - £1,750 depending upon the complexity of the case and the experience of counse for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).
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 another 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 on a bundle of documents.
- Taking witness statements, drafting statements, and agreeing their content with witnesses.
- Preparing a bundle of documents.
- Reviewing and advising on the other party's witness statements.
- Agreeing on a list of issues, a chronology, and/or cast list.
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel. Pre-hearing conference with Counsel (with other conferences during longer hearings).
The stages set out above are an indication; if some of the 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 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 4-6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take more than one year. 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.
