Employment Law Fees

At Gordon & Thompson Solicitors, we are committed to providing clear and transparent information regarding our employment law fees in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (“SRA”) Transparency Rules.

The information below relates to Employment Tribunal claims for employees and employers, including unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal matters.

Our legal fees will depend on the complexity of the case, the volume of documentation involved, the conduct of the parties, the number of witnesses, and whether settlement can be achieved before a final hearing.

Employment Tribunal Fee Ranges

Simple Cases

Estimated Fees: £3,000 – £6,000 plus VAT

Examples may include:

• straightforward unfair dismissal claims;

• unpaid wages claims;

• simple breach of contract matters; and

• cases involving limited documentation and witnesses.

Medium Complexity Cases

Estimated Fees: £6,000 – £12,000 plus VAT

Examples may include:

• cases involving allegations of discrimination alongside dismissal;

• claims with larger volumes of evidence;

• matters involving multiple witnesses; and

• disputed factual evidence requiring detailed preparation.

High Complexity Cases

Estimated Fees: £12,000 – £25,000 plus VAT

Examples may include:

• complex discrimination or whistleblowing claims;

• multi-day hearings;

• cases involving senior executives or substantial financial loss;

• matters requiring extensive witness evidence or expert evidence; and

• appeals or complex procedural applications.

VAT is charged at the prevailing rate, currently 20%, on our legal fees and certain disbursements where applicable.

Hourly Rates

Where appropriate, work may also be charged on an hourly basis depending on the complexity and nature of the matter.

Fee Earner	Hourly Rate (Plus VAT)
Director / Senior Solicitor	£250 – £350 + VAT
Solicitor	£200 – £300 + VAT
Trainee Solicitor / Legal Executive / Paralegal	£120 – £180 + VAT

We will confirm the basis of charging and the likely overall costs at the outset of your matter.

What Is Included In Our Fees?

Our fees generally include work relating to the following stages of a claim:

• taking your initial instructions and reviewing documentation;

• advising you on the merits of your claim or defence and likely compensation or liability;

• entering into pre-claim conciliation through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (“ACAS”);

• preparing or reviewing claim or response documentation;

• reviewing and advising on evidence and witness statements;

• preparing lists of documents and hearing bundles where appropriate;

• corresponding with the Tribunal and the opposing party;

• preparing for hearings;

• representation at preliminary hearings where agreed; and

• advising you throughout the matter and upon conclusion.

What Is Not Included?

Unless specifically agreed in writing, our fees do not include:

• Barrister’s or Counsel’s fees;

• expert witness fees;

• Employment Tribunal final hearing representation by Counsel;

• costs relating to appeals;

• enforcement action;

• costs orders made by the Tribunal;

• mediation fees;

• travel expenses or accommodation; or

• VAT on disbursements where applicable.

If additional work becomes necessary outside the agreed scope of work, we will discuss this with you before additional costs are incurred wherever possible.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs payable to third parties in relation to your matter and are separate from our legal fees.

Common disbursements may include:

Disbursement	Typical Cost
Barrister’s Fees for Hearings	£1,000 – £10,000 + VAT per day
Barrister’s Written Advice	£500 – £3,000 + VAT
Medical Expert Reports	£250 – £2,500 + VAT
Employment Expert Reports	£500 – £5,000 + VAT
Interpreter Fees	£25 – £80 per hour
Courier / Specialist Document Handling	£10 – £100
Travel Expenses	Variable

Barrister’s fees will depend on the complexity of the case, the seniority of Counsel instructed, and the length of the hearing.

We will discuss likely disbursements with you at the earliest opportunity and seek your approval before incurring significant third-party costs.

Typical Timescales

The time required to conclude an Employment Tribunal matter varies considerably depending on:

• Tribunal availability;

• the complexity of the case;

• whether settlement is reached;

• the number of hearings required; and

• cooperation between the parties.

As a general guide:

Stage	Estimated Timescale
Initial Assessment and Advice	1 – 3 weeks
ACAS Early Conciliation	Approximately 4 – 6 weeks
Employment Tribunal Proceedings	6 – 18 months
Complex Multi-Day Matters	12 – 24 months

Please note that Tribunal timetables are outside our control.

Factors Which May Increase Costs

The following factors may increase legal fees:

• complex legal or factual disputes;

• large volumes of documentation;

• multiple witnesses;

• allegations of discrimination or whistleblowing;

• applications to amend claims or strike out allegations;

• urgent injunction applications;

• extensive settlement negotiations;

• appeals; and

• failures by parties to comply with Tribunal directions.

Where possible, we will notify you in advance of any significant increase in costs.

Funding Options

Depending on the nature of the matter, we may be able to offer:

• fixed fee arrangements;

• hourly rate billing;

• staged billing arrangements; or

• Conditional Fee Agreements (“No Win No Fee”) where appropriate and subject to assessment.

Funding options will be discussed during your initial consultation.

Our Team

Your matter may be handled by a solicitor, consultant solicitor, supervised legal executive or paralegal depending on the complexity of the case.

Details of the individual responsible for your matter, including their qualifications, level of experience and applicable hourly rates, will be provided to you at the outset of your instruction.

All work is supervised by a qualified solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.