Slater Heelis is the alternative choice for clients looking for city centre expertise from a firm with a lower cost base and a more personal service. We are one of the North West’s strongest and oldest legal brands and provide commercial advice with a common sense approach.
The Employment Team is made up of specialist solicitors from city centre firms who have dealt exclusively in the area of employment law throughout their careers. The team is headed by Partner Tracey Guest and also includes Sarah Calderwood (Partner), Helen Frankland (Associate Solicitor) and Samantha Tanney (Solicitor). Our areas of expertise cover all areas of employment law.
Fees
We understand that with the current economic climate, clients prefer to know in advance how much a piece of work will cost and for a competitive quote to be given. Accordingly we have put together a fee menu which indicates the likely cost for unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal claims.
We charge on an hourly rate and our rates are set out below:
Tracey Guest (Partner) – £325 per hour plus VAT
Sarah Calderwood (Partner) – £325 per hour plus VAT
Helen Frankland (Associate Partner) – £300 per hour plus VAT
Sally Tomlinson (Associate Solicitor) – £300 per hour plus VAT
Helen Harradine (Solicitor) – £300 per hour plus VAT
Laura Burnett (Solicitor) – £285 per hour plus VAT
Albert Mould (Solicitor) – £250 per hour plus VAT
Additional charges and fees
For Claimants submitting an unfair dismissal claim to the Employment Tribunal
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) – £285 – £750 plus VAT
ET1 (the claim form outlining your case and the nature of the dispute) – £850 – £1500 plus VAT
Documents (including a review of documents and preparing the Claimant’s
list of documents) – £1000 – £2000 plus VAT
Preparation of Witness Statements (per statement) – £2500 – £3500 plus VAT
Attendance at Tribunal (per day) – £1450 plus VAT
Drafting COT3 Agreement (if the claim settles) – £500 – £600 plus VAT
Other work relating to a Tribunal claim such as costs warning letters, conferences with Counsel, negotiating settlement and general correspondence and advice will be charged at the normal hourly rate – £6,000 – £7,000 plus VAT
Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list – £285 – £750 plus VAT
Disbursements
Counsel’s fees for attending the hearing
on your behalf – Varies depending on seniority of counsel
Typical cost for unfair dismissal claim from start to finish (on the basis of a one day Tribunal Hearing) – £12,500 to £15,500 plus VAT for our fees. Counsel’s fees are in addition.
For Claimants submitting a wrongful dismissal claim to the Employment Tribunal i.e. because your employer has not paid you your notice pay
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) – £285 – £750 plus VAT
ET1 (the claim form outlining your case and the nature of the dispute) – £600 – £950 plus VAT
Documents (including a review of documents and preparing the Claimant’s list of documents) – £600 – £1,250 plus VAT
Preparation of Witness Statements (per statement) – £1,500 – £2,500 plus VAT
Attendance at Tribunal (per day) £1,450 plus VAT
Drafting COT3 Agreement (if the claim settles) – £500 – £600 plus VAT
Other work relating to a Tribunal claim such as costs warning letters, conferences with Counsel, negotiating settlement and general correspondence and advice will be charged at the normal hourly rate – £1,500 – £3,000 plus VAT
Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list – £285 – £750 plus VAT
Disbursements
Counsel’s fees for attending the hearing on your behalf – Varies depending on seniority of counsel
Typical cost for wrongful dismissal claim from start to finish (on the basis of a one day Tribunal Hearing) – £6,500 to £10,000 plus VAT for our fees. Counsel’s fees are in addition.
For Respondents defending a claim for unfair dismissal
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) – £285 – £750 plus VAT
ET3 (the response form when a claim has been made against you) – £850 – £1,750 plus VAT
Documents (including review of documents, preparing the Respondent’s list and joint bundle of documents) – £1,000 – £2,500 plus VAT
Preparation of Witness Statements (per statement) – £2,500 to £3,500 plus VAT per statement (depending on length of statement)
Attendance at Tribunal (per day) £1,450 plus VAT per day
Drafting COT3 Agreement (if the claim settles) £500 – £600 plus VAT
Other work relating to a Tribunal claim such as costs warning letters, conferences with Counsel, negotiating settlement and general correspondence and advice will be charged at the normal hourly rate – £6,000 to £10,000 plus VAT
Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list – £285 – £750 plus VAT
Disbursements
Counsel’s fees for attending the hearing on your behalf – Varies depending on seniority of counsel
Typical cost for defending unfair dismissal from start to finish (on the basis of a one day Tribunal Hearing) – £12,500 to £20,000 plus VAT for our fees. Counsel’s fees are in addition.
For Respondents defending a claim for wrongful dismissal
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) – £285 – £750 plus VAT
ET3 (the response form when a claim has been made against you) – £600 – £950 plus VAT
Documents (including review of documents, preparing the Respondent’s list and joint bundle of documents) – £600 – £1,250 plus VAT
Preparation of Witness Statements (per statement) – £1,500 to £2,500 plus VAT per statement (depending on length of statement)
Attendance at Tribunal (per day) £1,450 plus VAT
Drafting COT3 Agreement (if the claim settles) £500 – £600 plus VAT
Other work relating to a Tribunal claim such as costs warning letters, conferences with Counsel, negotiating settlement and general correspondence and advice will be charged at the normal hourly rate – £1,500 – £4,000 plus VAT
Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list – £285 – £750 plus VAT
Disbursements
Counsel’s fees for attending the hearing on your behalf – Varies depending on seniority of counsel
Typical cost for defending wrongful dismissal claim from start to finish (on the basis of a one day Tribunal Hearing) – £7,500 to £10,000 plus VAT for our fees. Counsel’s fees are in addition.
Note: Fees are estimates (fees can vary depending on the complexity but are typically as detailed above)
VAT
Please note that VAT is charged at 20% unless stated otherwise.
Factors that could make a case more complex 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)
- The number of witnesses and documents
- If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
- Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
How long will my matter take?
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 one to four weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6 to 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.