Price & Service Information

Unfair dismissal claims are usually charged on a time spent basis at the hourly rate of the solicitor handling your matter.

Our current hourly rates are:

• Partner: £400 – £600 + VAT
• Senior Solicitor: £300 – £475 + VAT
• Solicitor: £200 – £400 + VAT
• Trainee / Paralegal: £175 – £275 + VAT

For transparency, the typical overall costs for bringing or defending a straightforward unfair dismissal claim are:

• Simple case: £10,000 – £15,000 + VAT
• Medium complexity: £15,000 – £30,000 + VAT
• High complexity: £30,000 – £60,000+ + VAT

These estimates cover work up to and including a final hearing lasting up to 5 days. They exclude appeals.

VAT is charged at 20%.

Factors that may increase costs include:

• Allegations of discrimination, whistleblowing or automatic unfair dismissal
• Large volumes of documents
• Multiple witnesses
• Applications for strike-out, deposit orders or costs
• Complex preliminary issues
• Claims involving senior executives or high value compensation
• Media sensitivity or reputational issues

Our fees typically include:

• Taking initial instructions and reviewing documentation
• Advising on merits and likely compensation
• Preparing and submitting (or responding to) the ET1/ET3
• Drafting or advising on case management orders
• Disclosure and preparation of a document bundle
• Preparing witness statements
• Preparation for and attendance at preliminary hearings
• Preparation for and attendance at the final hearing

• Counsel’s fees (if instructed)
• Expert reports (if required)
• Mediation costs
• Costs of an appeal

These are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties. Common disbursements include:

• Barrister’s fees (typically £2,000 – £15,000+ + VAT depending on seniority and length of hearing)
• Expert fees (if required)

We will discuss and agree any such costs with you in advance.

Unfair dismissal claims typically take between nine and 12 months from issue to final hearing. More complex matters may take longer depending on Tribunal availability and interim applications.