Employment Law

If you are worried about your job, feel you have been treated unfairly, have been made redundant or have a grievance, speak to our specialist team of HR advisors and employment law solicitors. They will provide you with the help and advice you need to resolve your issues on an individual level.

Starting with advice on how to settle issues in a low-key manner, our services can extend to bringing claims to the Employment Tribunal. Even if your employment has ceased under circumstances that you believe are unfair, we can discuss the best course of action, and you can rest assured that you will have an expert team in your corner.

Our team of experts can provide you with help and advice about:

Get in touch with our employment law solicitors in Grimsby, Lincoln, Beverley, Louth, Horncastle, or Alford for more information.

Employment Law

Thank you for considering Wilkin Chapman for employment law advice. Our employment team is the largest in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire with considerable strength at all levels of post-qualification experience. We have extensive experience of acting for employees bringing claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal.

Fees

Our fees are calculated on an hourly rate basis, with the hourly rates being commensurate with the qualification and expertise of the team members. These range from £114 to £270 inclusive of VAT. When we meet with you we will assess the complexity of your case and match you with a solicitor or paralegal within the team to ensure you are receiving advice at the right level with a suitable hourly rate.

Our fee estimates are provided on the basis that your claim progresses all the way up to and including a final hearing at the Employment Tribunal. Many cases do settle before this hearing takes place and as we calculate our fees on an hourly rate basis, this will affect the total amount you are billed by us. We will be happy to provide you with a full case specific estimate when we meet with you.

You should always check whether you have legal expenses cover on any of your insurance policies (e.g. car or home insurance) to bring employment related claims as these may cover our fees.

Simple case

The simple case estimate involves a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal only, with none of the complicating factors outlined in the FAQs below and is limited to a one day hearing.

We estimate that these types of cases take between 30 to 35 hours at an average hourly rate of £200 inclusive of VAT. This means on average costs are between £6,000 to £7,000 inclusive of VAT.

Medium complexity case

The medium complexity case estimate involves one other claim alongside a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal (e.g. discrimination, whistleblowing), as well as one of the complicating factors outlined in the FAQs below and is limited to a two day hearing.

We estimate that these types of cases take between 35 to 75 hours at an average hourly rate of £200 inclusive of VAT. This means on average costs are between £7,000 to £15,000 inclusive of VAT.

High complexity case

The complex estimate is based on a case which involves a number of types of claims alongside the unfair/wrongful dismissal claim, as well as two or more of the complicating factors, and a multi-day final hearing.

We estimate that these types of cases take between 75 to 115 hours at an average hourly rate of £200 inclusive of VAT. This means on average costs are between £15,000 to £23,000 inclusive of VAT.

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Disbursements

Disbursements are payable in addition to our fees. These are payments made to third parties, such as a Barrister. The only disbursements we would anticipate are Barrister’s fees should they be instructed to represent you at the final hearing.

Simple case

We estimate these will vary between £1,020 - £1,800 inclusive of VAT (on the basis of a one day hearing) depending on their experience, to prepare your case and represent you at the final hearing.

Medium complexity case

We estimate these will vary between £2,100 - £4,200 inclusive of VAT (on the basis of a two day hearing) depending on their experience, to prepare your case and represent you at the final hearing.

Complex case

We estimate these will vary between £4,200 - £9,600 inclusive of VAT (on the basis of a three day hearing)

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FAQs

What work is covered within this estimate?

  • Meeting with you to obtain full instructions, drafting and filing your claim form (ET1) with the Tribunal showing us as your representative.
  • Providing you with a letter outlining our views on the prospects of your success.
  • Receiving your former employer’s defence (ET3) to your claim and taking your instructions on the contents.
  • Obtaining from you all relevant documents and compiling a list of documents relevant to your claim. Exchanging lists of documents with your former employer or their representative, considering their list and requesting copies of missing documents.
  • Considering all disclosed documents and their impact on the merits of your claim. Agreeing the bundle of documents.
  • Drafting a schedule of loss setting out the value of your claim and serving this on your former employer.
  • Liaising with ACAS throughout your case to seek a settlement if these are your instructions.
  • Drafting your witness statement, agreeing the contents with you and serving this on your former employer.
  • Receiving your former employer’s witness statements and seeking your comments on their statements.
  • Preparing your case for hearing in the Employment Tribunal. We have priced on the basis that you utilise Counsel for the advocacy. We will therefore need to instruct Counsel.

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the stages are not required the fee will be reduced.

Factors that could make a case more complex

  • If you wish to bring additional claims alongside your unfair/wrongful dismissal claim (these can include matters such as discrimination, unlawful deduction from wages, holiday pay owing).
  • Making or defending any applications to the Tribunal to deal with issues that arise as your case progresses.
  • Being ordered to provide further information about your claim by the Tribunal.
  • The number of witnesses you wish to rely on. The simple case average is based on you having one witness and your former employer no more than two witnesses.
  • If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer.
  • The final hearing being listed for more than one day.
  • Making or defending a costs application.
  • If you wish us to undertake the advocacy on your case at the final hearing or attend the final hearing to support Barrister appointed to undertake advocacy

How long will my case take?

Unfortunately it is quite difficult to provide you with a fixed timescale. Your case may resolve at any of the steps set out above. If your case proceeds from a claim form through to the final hearing, the date for your hearing is dependant upon the Tribunal’s availability.

This varies considerably depending on the location of the Tribunal but as an estimate it is likely to be approximately 6 to 9 months from the date that the claim is lodged. This is just an estimate and we will be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as your case progresses.

Employment Law & HR Advice

We advise businesses of all sizes, including national businesses who are based in our immediate area and beyond. Our team of HR & employment law specialist solicitors have over 50 years' experience in dealing with employment matters and are committed to providing cost effective advice.

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Family, Children & Divorce

In the event of a relationship breakdown our family law solicitors can help you with divorce, separation and child care issues. We can provide you with a variety of solutions for resolving your problems, including family mediation, collaborative law, divorce and a fixed fee divorce.

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Wills, Estates, Tax & Trusts

One of the certainties of life is that it changes and you can never be sure of what the future holds. However, you can take steps to plan for a deal with the changes that life may bring along the way. Our team of expert lawyers have been helping and advising clients how to best plan for their future for over 25 years and provide advice on all aspects of wills, trusts, inheritance tax and probate.

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Teresa Thomas
Partner and Head of Employment and Regulatory & Crime
Tel : 01472 262637
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