Employment

Our Pricing:

At Vas Solicitors we have always prided ourselves on our jargon-free and transparent approach to our work and its costs.

We feel it is really important, in addition to providing you with an excellent service, that you know what you will pay for the service you expect to receive.

We will always confirm our cost estimate or agreed fixed fee with you at the outset in any matter prior to beginning our work for you, for the avoidance of any doubt.

VAT

Where VAT is payable in the pricing shown below it is calculated at the current applicable rate (which is 20%).

The figures shown sequentially represent (1) the amount without VAT, (2) the amount of VAT due and (3) the total inclusive of VAT.

Where no VAT rate or amount is shown below, no VAT is payable.

Fees for Wrongful Dismissal or Unfair Dismissal Claims

We charge hourly rates for our work on wrongful dismissal and/or unfair dismissal claims.

The applicable hourly rates vary depending on which lawyer is working on the matter.  The current hourly rates for the different lawyers are detailed in the table titled ‘Employment Law Team and Experience’ below.

Depending on the complexity of the matter, the estimated pricing for these cases are as follows:

Simple case: £500.00 plus £100 Vat = £600.00 total to £2,000.00 plus £400 Vat = £2400 total

Medium complexity case: £2,000.00 plus Vat = £2400.00 total to £5,000.00 plus Vat £1000.00 Vat = £6000.00 total

High complexity case: £5,000.00 plus  £1000.00 Vat = £6000.00 total to  £20,000.00 plus Vat = £24,000.00 total

Factors that could make a case more complex might include: 

• 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)
• If a preliminary hearing is required
• Making an application for a provisional decision given during the course of a legal action.
• The number of witnesses and documents 
• If there are also allegations of unfair dismissal or discrimination 
• If there is more than one potential Respondent e.g. in the case of a dismissal resulting from a transfer of the business or a part of it

There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £1,000.00 plus £200.00 vat (total £1200.00) per day

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. 

The only likely disbursement would be the fees of Counsel if Counsel is to be instructed.  We will discuss choice of Counsel and their likely fees before Counsel is instructed.

Counsel’s fees are estimated at between £750.00 to £3,500.00 per day (excluding VAT which is usually but not always attracted depending on the experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

If a hearing lasts for more than one day, Counsels fee for the first day is usually higher than the fee for subsequent days, as the first day incorporates the fee for the preparation time.

The Work That We Do

This would include 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).

You may have other options available to you for funding a Tribunal claim, e.g. cover under an insurance policy. We will discuss these options at our first meeting to check whether any apply to you.

The fees set out above also cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

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

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of 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 dependent upon your individual needs.

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 1-3 months.

If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6-12 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

Damages Based Agreements 

In some circumstances, we may consider entering into a Damages-Based Agreement with you.

A Damages-Based Agreement is a type of Conditional Fee Arrangement. This is only applicable to those bringing the claim and not those defending a claim. 

If we enter into this type of arrangement with you, our fees are determined as a percentage of the amount that you achieve if you win. A “win” would include any settlement reached or following any Employment Tribunal award. This percentage is usually 35% inclusive of VAT, although it is assessed on the circumstances of each matter. 

If you were unsuccessful in your claim, you would not be required to pay our fees. There are exceptions to this which are set out below. 

You will always be required to pay any disbursements incurred (whether you are successful or not) and these will usually be required on account prior to the costs being incurred. 

The only likely disbursement would be Counsels Fees if any (see details of Counsels Fees under the heading ‘Disbursements’ above)

The agreement is limited to pursuit of your claims. It does not cover: 

(a) any claims or counterclaims brought against you; 

(b) any appeal that either you or your employer may make including any appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal; or 

(c) any reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union. 

Breach of the Agreement 

If you breach a Damages Based agreement, you would be required to pay our fees calculated on the basis of time spent and the relevant hourly rate.

Breaching the agreement can include not acting in accordance with our advice, being untruthful in your representation of your claim to us or failing to provide in advance any payment required in respect of any disbursements which may be incurred.

Further and fuller particulars relating to Damages Based Agreements, and whether or not they are a suitable or possible way for you to fund a matter, is something that we will consider with you at the outset of a matter.

Employment Law Team and Experience