We specialise in providing businesses and individuals with a complete range of employment law and HR services. We provide easy to follow advice and practical support to help you achieve your desired outcome.
We understand that the costs of litigation (bringing or defending a legal claim) of any nature can be difficult to predict, however we will always provide you with the most accurate estimates possible based on the information we have available to us. This may change as the case progresses.
At the initial consultation we will discuss with you the funding options available to you, including whether you have any insurance policies that would cover the type of claim which you are bringing or defending.
We do not charge fixed fees for employment tribunal claims and all work carried out will be based on an hourly rate of between £175 and £350 plus VAT (currently 20%). The rate depends on the experience of the fee earner allocated to your claim and you will be advised at the outset as to whom will be working on your matter. You can find more information about our Team on Our Team.
Below is an example of our typical pricing structure for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal. If the claim includes any other elements such as discrimination or whistleblowing we will provide a tailored fee estimate based on the individual circumstances of the claim.
Simple case: £5,000.00 – £12,000.00 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%)
Medium complexity case: £12,000.00 – £25,000.00 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%)
High complexity case: £25,000.00 – £50,000.00 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%)
Factors that could make a case more complex:
There will be an additional charge for representation at any hearing scheduled. For a solicitor to attend a Tribunal Hearing the fee would be up to £2000.00 per day (excluding VAT, charged at 20%). In addition, it may be recommended that the hearing is conducted by a Barrister (also known as Counsel) for which further fees would be incurred, please find details in the Disbursement section below.
An Employment Tribunal Claim will normally be scheduled for between 1 and 10 days depending on the complexity of the case. The Tribunal will determine the length of the hearing early on in the process but this can change as the case progresses.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees and Barrister’s fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
We may recommend that a Barrister (Counsel) is instructed to conduct advocacy at a hearing, to provide advice on the prospects of the claim or draft complex court documents. The cost of instructing Counsel varies depending on their experience, the complexity of the claim and the task they are instructed to undertake. We will not instruct Counsel without your prior authority to do so.
For a 1 day preliminary hearing, Counsel’s fee would be in the region of £1000.00 to £3000.00 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%). For a final hearing, Counsel will charge a fee for the first day of the hearing, generally between £1500.00 to £5000.00 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%). Counsel will then charge a further fee known as a refresher fee for every additional day of the hearing which is generally between £750.00 and £1500.00 (excluding VAT, charged at 20%). These fees will include Counsel’s time in preparing for the hearing.
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
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 2 – 8 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6 – 18 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.
MD Law is a client-focused and commercially minded law firm. From our Sheffield offices, we provide expert legal services in insolvency, dispute resolution, corporate and commercial matters to our clients nationwide.
All Rights Reserved © MD Law – 2023 | View Our Complaints Handling Procedure | Cookie Policy | Terms & Privacy Policy
MD Law (Yorkshire) LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales with Company Number OC416551 and VAT registration number GB209 123 145. The registered office is at Broom Hall, 8-10 Broomhall Road, Sheffield, S10 2DR where a list of members is open to inspection. MD Law and the MD LAW logo are registered trade marks and the trading name of MD Law (Yorkshire) LLP which is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with number 638274. The term “Partner’’ is used to define members of the LLP and others of similar experience and expertise.
