Why Us

Our expert team have years of experience, so have almost certainly dealt with similar situations to the one you are facing many times. We will explore all the options available to you, helping you determine a course of action that fits your circumstances and personal priorities.  Our Employment team is supervised by James Monk who is a director and Head of Employment.

We know that value for money and overall costs really matter when pursuing an employment claim, so will provide you with a range of estimates and keep you updated on costs at all times. This way, you can be confident we are handling matters for you in a cost effective and efficient way.

If you decide to make an employment tribunal claim, we can offer strong experience in handling Employment Tribunal proceedings and appeals. Our team can provide the robust arguments, skilled judgment and lateral thinking need to prepare your case and achieve the best available outcome.

Whether you wish to settle a claim or fight it at tribunal we will advise you on the best strategy for you and any additional fees involved.

We are proud to hold the Lexcel Accreditation issued by the Law Society. This involves the firm undergoing a rigorous audit process which ensures we maintain the highest levels of client care.

Pricing

Our fees for bringing claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal are based on the complexity of the claim, length of service and type of claim, which we will be happy to discuss with you.

We will advise you of the funding options available to you, for example as an individual you may have insurance which can cover your legal fees.

There are various items we will consider when deciding what pricing band your case falls into. We will make this assessment and inform you of the relevant fees at the earliest opportunity.

Factors that may influence this include the need for:

• Filling out and submitting a claim form outlining your case to the relevant Tribunal centre
• Reviewing your former employer’s response to the claim
• Reviewing documentation received setting out the factual and legal basis of the claim
• Reviewing any Orders made by the Court
• Making any further applications to a Tribunal on your behalf
• Whether an Employment Tribunal hearing is required

Fees

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 £750.00 to £2,000.00 per day (excluding VAT) (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

Exclusions and Factors Which May Make a Case More Complex

In the event that the issues become more complex, we will make sure you are informed of this at the earliest opportunity and a clear estimate of those extra costs will be provided.

Factors that may lead to an increase in cost include:

• If it is necessary to make an application to amend your claim or to provide further information about an existing claim
• Making or defending a costs application
• Complex preliminary issues such as whether you have a disability (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
• If there are allegations of discrimination linked to the dismissal

Timescales

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 to 6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6 to 9 months.

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.

Key Milestones

There are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They may be as follows:

• 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 your claim
• Reviewing and advising on the 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

Face-to-face not faceless…

To talk through your options, and for an estimate of our fees tailored to your own personal circumstances, call our dedicated enquiries team.  They specialise in providing jargon free, initial advice to help you get the information you need, so there are no surprises down the line. Call us on 0800 118 1500, or email enquiries@talbotslaw.co.uk.