EMPLOYMENT LAW
SPECIALISTS IN STAFFORD

Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal

• Simple case : £2,925 - £3,900 (excluding VAT), based on an hourly rate of £225.00 per hour plus VAT

• Medium complexity case : £4,875 - £5,850 (excluding VAT), based on an hourly rate of £225.00 per hour plus VAT

• High complexity case : £5,850 - £9,750 (excluding VAT), based on an hourly rate of £225.00 per hour plus VAT

Please note that individual features within every case can make a case more complex and, therefore, the above information is on an average pricing basis. Specific price information will be provided for each individual case prior to confirmed instructions being received.

• 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, eg. 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 £1,000 per day (excluding VAT). Generally, we would allow 1 – 2 days, depending on the complexity of your case. It should be noted that high complexity cases can last longer than 2 days.

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 (a Barrister instructed to represent yourself in addition to ourselves, usually in relation to a Hearing or other issues) estimated between £1,500 - £2,500 per day (excluding VAT) (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

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 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 case list

• Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel

The stages set out above are an indication and, 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.

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 – 2 months. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6 – 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. DEBT RECOVERY (UP TO £100,000) – FOR A BUSINESS TO BUSINESS DEBT OR A BUSINESS TO CUSTOMER DEBT THAT IS UNDISPUTED

These estimated average costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs, if necessary, which will be on an hourly rate of £195.00 per hour plus VAT.

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

• The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor

• Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost

• The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt

Our fees include:

• Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation

• Undertaking appropriate searches (such as Land Registry searches, bankruptcy searches, County Court Judgment searches, all of which involve a separate charge known as a disbursement, which will be charged to you in addition to the above – details of the same will be provided to yourself prior to incurring the same or upon request. For example: a Land Registry search will cost £3 plus £3 for a copy of the plan; a bankruptcy search will cost £2 per name; a County Court Judgment search will cost £10)

• Sending a letter before action

• Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim

• Where no Acknowledgement of Service or Defence is received, applying to the Court to enter Judgment in default

• When Judgment in default is received, write to the other side to request payment

• If payment is not received within 14 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely cost

Matters usually take 2 – 6 months from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgment in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

For details of the qualifications and experience of Robert Chadwick, Solicitor, who will carry out such work, please see the personal injury section of this website. Debt recovery work is another form of civil litigation of which personal injury is a specific specialised area.