EMPLOYMENT CHARGES

The following costs information is provided in accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules and the Price and Service Transparency guidance issued by the Law Society. Those rules require us to provide costs information in relation to certain types of employment matters.

At Trojan, we provide various funding choices for both employers and employees, which encompass:

• Employment protection policy.
• Legal expenses insurance coverage, which might be applicable under your existing business, home, or motor insurance policy.
• Hourly fee arrangement.
• In exceptional circumstances, we may assess the possibility of representing employees under a damages-based agreement, formerly known as a contingency “no win no fee” agreement.

The expenses involved can vary based on the intricacy and significance of the case. On this page, a comprehensive breakdown of costs is provided specifically for unfair or wrongful dismissal claims. It is crucial to understand that the information provided serves as guidance and not as an exact estimate. Quotations may be subject to adjustments in the event of unforeseen complexities or if the client’s preferred approach necessitates additional work. Our solicitors will furnish updated cost details and conduct an accurate fee assessment as the case progresses. Please also note the estimates do not apply to more complex discrimination claim in the High Court, for which contact us for a bespoke quote.

CASE COMPLEXITY TYPE

1. SIMPLE CASES

The range of costs for cases falling under this category is between £8,000 and £12,000, plus VAT. It’s important to note that many cases reach a settlement before reaching a hearing, and the costs associated with pre-litigation negotiations for a settlement typically fall within the range of £1,500 to £7,500 + VAT. The specific amount within this range depends on the progression of the case.

2. MEDIUM COMPLEXITY CASES

For cases of medium complexity, the cost range is between £12,000 and £20,000 + VAT. It’s important to keep in mind that many cases reach a settlement before proceeding to a hearing, and the pre-litigation costs associated with negotiating a settlement typically fall within the range of £1,500 to £7,500 + VAT. The specific amount within this range depends on the progression and circumstances of the case.

3. HIGH COMPLEXITY CASES

In high complexity cases, the cost range is between £20,000 and £35,000 + VAT. It is important to be aware that many cases are resolved through settlement prior to reaching a hearing. The pre-litigation costs for negotiating a settlement typically fall within the range of £1,500 to £7,500 + VAT, depending on the progression and circumstances of the case.

KEY STAGES

The above-mentioned fees cover all the essential work required for the different stages of a claim as set out below:

• Initial instructions: Gathering your initial information, reviewing relevant documents, and providing advice on the merits and potential compensation (this assessment may be subject to revision as the matter progresses).
• Pre-claim conciliation: Engaging in mandatory conciliation before initiating a claim to explore settlement possibilities.
• Claim preparation: Drafting the claim form and Grounds to outline your case and the nature of the dispute. Alternatively, preparing a response form if a claim has been made against you.
• Claim or response review: Assessing and advising on the received claim or response from the other party.
• Settlement exploration: Actively pursuing settlement options and engaging in negotiation throughout the process.
• Schedule of Loss: Creating or reviewing a document that details the losses suffered.
• Preliminary Hearing: Preparing for and attending a preliminary hearing.
• Document exchange: Sharing and agreeing on the list of documents with the other party, and preparing a bundle of relevant documents.
• Witness statements: Conducting witness interviews, drafting their statements, and reaching agreement on the content.
• Final Hearing preparation: Compiling the required bundle of documents for the final hearing.
• Review of other party’s witness statements: Examining and providing advice on the witness statements provided by the other party.
• Issue list, chronology, and cast list: Agreeing on a list of issues, a chronological order of events, and a list of individuals involved.
• Final Hearing: Preparing for and attending the final hearing, including providing instructions to the barrister, if applicable.

 

Please note that the mentioned stages are indicative, and if certain stages are unnecessary or modified, the fees may be reduced accordingly. If you prefer to handle specific aspects of the claim yourself and seek our advice only for particular stages, we can accommodate your individual needs and budget.

 

Timeframe

The duration of your case, starting from the receipt of initial instructions to reaching a final resolution, can vary based on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached through pre-claim conciliation or negotiation, the expected timeframe is approximately 3-6 weeks. However, if your claim progresses to a final hearing, the timeframe is likely to be around 6-9 months, contingent upon the scheduling of the hearing by the Employment Tribunal.

Please be aware that these timeframes are approximate, and as we gather more information and advance with the matter, we will be able to provide a more accurate estimate. Should any unforeseen complexities arise, we will keep you informed and provide a revised timeframe accordingly.

 

DISBURSEMENTS

Disbursements refer to costs that are inherent to your case and are payable to third parties, including court fees, barrister’s fees, expert fees, and courier charges. You may encounter the following:

• Check for independent estimates of what it might cost to make an employment tribunal claim
• Barrister’s fees, which typically range from £1,000 to £2,500 per day (+ VAT), depending on the experience level of the counsel, for the purpose of providing representation at a Tribunal Hearing. In complex cases, it may be advisable to engage a senior barrister, whose fees will be higher.
• Additional disbursements, including charges for courier services and postage, among others.
• The expert fee varies depending on the type of report and can range from £900 to £2000, excluding VAT.
• Unforeseen costs may arise, but it is difficult to provide a specific range without knowing the specific requirements at a particular stage of the proceedings.

 

Hourly Rates & Basis

Hourly rates vary according to seniority and experience of the professional dealing with case. We also consider the complexity, urgency, and value of the matter.

VAT is charged at 20%

• Solicitors with over 8 years’ experience:  £500 + VAT
• Solicitors with over 4 years’ experience:  £450 + VAT
• Solicitors with less than 4 years’ experience:  £350 + VAT
• Trainee solicitors, caseworkers, paralegals, and other fee earners:  £250 + VAT

Trojan Tribunal representation costs

VAT is charged at 20%

If Trojan is instructed to attend an employment Tribunal hearing then there will be additional charges as given below. The additional charges include our travel costs:

• Solicitors with over 8 years’ experience:  £2,000 – £3,000 per day + VAT.
• Solicitors with over 4 years’ experience: £2,000 per day + VAT.
• Solicitors with less than 4 years’ experience: £1,000-2000 per day + VAT.

INFORMATION ON OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS

There might be additional funding alternatives available for you to explore, such as legal expenses coverage provided by insurance policies like home insurance, including Direct Line, Halifax, Abbey Legal Protection. It is important to note that policy holders have the right to choose their own solicitors instead of being restricted to a panel firm. We can discuss alternative funding options more extensively during our initial meeting.

In certain cases, we may even consider working under a damages-based agreement (DBA). However, before agreeing to proceed with a DBA, we would need to assess the merits and commercial viability of the case. For the initial meeting and review of relevant documents, we would charge our regular hourly rates. Following that, we would evaluate the case and make a decision on whether to proceed under a DBA.

If we mutually agree to handle your case under a DBA, you would be responsible for covering any disbursements incurred during the process. If we successfully recover damages on your behalf, a specific percentage would be deducted from the awarded damages.