Menu

Dispute resolution solicitors

Always on your side

Employment disputes

What we can help you with

  • Grievance and disciplinary issues
  • Unfair and wrongful dismissal
  • Redundancy advice
  • Settlement agreements
  • Equality Act and discrimination
  • Tribunals

Why Thomson Hayton Winkley?

Acting for both employers and employees we can see both sides and will offer you the best advice for your circumstances, explaining the costs and procedures involved so you can make the right decision for you.

As an employer, we know that your staff are so important to your business and its reputation and that any potential claim or issues can have a significant impact.  By having the correct procedures in place, you can minimise the risk of such disputes (Employment Services for Business) but when problems occur we can help you navigate your way to a solution.

As an employee going through a difficult time at work, we understand just how stressful this can be.  Not only can there be financial problems looming, but these problems can have a detrimental effect on your wellbeing. It is important to know where to go for advice, what your rights rights are, and what you can do to about the problem.  We can help.

Answering your questions

What are your charges for Tribunal Claims?

Most of our work is conducted on a payment by hourly rate basis but sometimes we are prepared to act under a legal expenses insurance policy which may form part of, for example, a home insurance policy.

We do not offer a no win, no fee service.

Our hourly rate as of 1 January 2024 is £318 (£265 + £53 VAT) per hour.

A good proportion of cases settle without the need for a hearing but the typical cost of representation in Employment Tribunal for Unfair Dismissal claims is usually around £7,200 (£6,000 + £1,200 VAT) plus barristers fees and other disbursements for straightforward cases requiring a single Case Management Hearing conducted by telephone, involving no complicated legal issues and concluding at a single hearing lasting no more than a day.

Complex cases, cases which require a number of preliminary hearings or applications and cases lasting more than a day are likely to cost around £12,000 (£10,000 + £2,000 VAT) plus barrister’s fees and disbursements.

Wrongful dismissal claims are likely to cost between £2,400 (£2,000 + £400 VAT) and £6,000 (£5000 + £1,000 VAT) plus barristers fees and disbursements unless they are particularly complex.

The examples set out above do not cover the cost of a barrister’s representation any hearings. The cost of the barrister will depend on the complexity of the case and the level of experience of the barrister who is instructed and will generally range from £600 (£500 + £100 VAT) to £3,000 (£2500 + £500 VAT) for a hearing or preliminary hearing lasting no more than a day. We will provide you with a fixed price for the barrister before he or she is instructed.

We will provide a more detailed estimate of likely costs at the beginning of each case. For this we will:

  • take your initial instructions and liaise with ACAS
  • prepare the initial documentation and lodge it with the Tribunal
  • arrange for an attendance at a preliminary hearing
  • prepare a schedule of loss if acting for an employee or a response to a schedule of loss if acting for an employer
  • deal with disclosure of relevant documents
  • prepare a bundle of documents for the final hearing or liaise with an opponent in relation to its preparation
  • prepare witness statements and any other pre-hearing documents ordered by the Tribunal
  • instruct a barrister to appear on your behalf when the case is decided.

Sometimes it is also necessary to pay money to third parties (although there are no longer fees to pay for Employment Tribunal claims) in order to deal with the case properly and full details regarding this will be provided to you before the expense is incurred.

Please be aware that it is only in a small minority of cases that legal costs are recoverable from an opponent in Tribunal proceedings. This generally means that it is only economic to instruct solicitors on an hourly rate basis if the amount of compensation claimed significantly exceeds the likely costs.

Don't take our word for it