We are transparent about the fees associated with employment tribunal and in accordance with our regulatory obligations we provide guidelines in relation to our fees for representing clients in claims for unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal.
Our hourly fee rate for respondent (unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal claims) is £220 plus VAT.
We may be able to offer fixed-price options and this is something we discuss with clients once we have reviewed the claim that has been issued against them and the case they have to defend it.
Our fee rates cover all our work in handling unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal cases on behalf of our respondent clients. The total cost that you will pay (if a fixed fee is not possible or cannot be agreed) will depend on a variety of factors, such as the time it takes to conclude the case and how complex the issues and other factors are. We can however provide a range of average costs to defend a claim of unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal, where the case goes all the way to a final hearing. They are as follows:
Simple case: £7,500 to £15,000 + VAT
Medium complexity case: £12,500 to £20,000 + VAT
High complexity case: £17,500 to £40,000 + VAT
The average fees indication does not include:
- Barristers fees (the advocate who will argue your case at the Final Hearing). The fees will depend on the seniority of the barrister (It could be as little as £500/day and as much as £3,000/day). It may also be necessary to meet with the barrister before the hearing which can cost in the region of £500 to £1500 (and sometimes more than that if you are instructing a senior barrister on a very complicated and/or detailed case)
- The costs of us attending the Final Hearing (we can discuss whether this is required or whether you would prefer us to undertake the advocacy)
- Photocopying papers. This is likely to be between £50-£100
- Expenses instructing experts (this might include a medical report and the costs will vary)
– Travel expenses (outside a 25 mile radius)
In our experience most cases do not reach a Final Hearing. We aim to get a satisfactory outcome for our clients and this often means agreeing a settlement before significant fees are incurred.
Reducing the level of fees
We recommend the following actions are undertaken by our claimant clients with a view to reducing the level of fees:
- Organising relevant documents in date order and providing a separate list describing what the documents are.
- Providing detailed instructions and detailed responses to documents, pleadings, communication received from the claimant or their representative.
- Considering making sensible offers to settle.
Factors that can make a case more costly include:
- Amending the defence or having to ask or provide further information
- Where there are preliminary issues and Preliminary Hearings
- Defending a claim that are brought by an unrepresented claimant
- Making or defending a costs application
- Large numbers of witnesses
- Where documents need to be redacted, for example, because of legal privilege
- The number of days that the main hearing lasts
