We regularly assist businesses with their employment contracts. We work with you to identify the key commercial terms, and then help you to decide whether to amend existing contracts or simply introduce new model contracts going forward.

If your business requires that your contracts adhere to a similar format, we will help to achieve that, while ensuring that you remain competitive. Our managed approach ensures consistency. The individual experience of our lawyers also allows us to ensure that the subtleties of your in house employment custom and practice are respected and incorporated into every document.

We provide pragmatic step by step advice on which processes should be followed and how to deal with arising issues of conflict in the workplace by having consistent practice and procedures, yet with an air of thinking out of the box if the situation requires it.

We can advise you on the processes to be followed to legally recruit and hire your staff avoiding discriminatory and illegal pitfalls as the law develops for the greater protection of the workforce. We are aware of the difficulties of keeping up with the legislation and the need for businesses to be compliant.

We assist with the review and renewal of both company handbooks and contracts of employment and service agreements for the organisation enabling a legal and consistent manner to be adopted with staff across the board.

Whether it is gaining new staff or the loss of staff by means of TUPE transfer, we provide clear advice and templates to assist you with the disclosure requirements required for due diligence during these processes. Advising on the information to be disseminated to colleagues and staff during consultation processes to ensure that your business is compliant with the legislation but is sensitive to the workforce to protect your business and its reputation.

In today’s world where diversity is a key word and equality is a key concern for all businesses there is an increasingly diverse workforce which can be demanding on management time with respect to training your workforce and treating every individual in a consistent manner. However, not even the fairest employer is immune to claims of discrimination, harassment and bullying.

Complaints of this nature are worrying, stressful and have serious implications for your organisation. In addition to the risk of costly financial penalties, they negatively affect productivity, management resources, staff morale and public image. Navigating such issues is always tricky. We can assist with providing advice to guide your business through this complex and sensitive legal area.

Handling the investigation and disciplining of staff is a highly sensitive matter and can be daunting as can taking steps to terminate the employment of any member of staff or senior member of the organisation.

We can advise you how to balance the needs of the business against the rights of the individual to deal with the situation in a fair and legal manner, avoiding any potential negative fallout.

Employers currently routinely face challenges fro mregulatory authotiries to keep both employee and third party data secure.  We will guide you through the laws and regulations your business needs to adhere to this which includes: dealing with subject access requests, advising on best practice, and the use of employee and company owned computer equipment such as laptops and smart phone devices.

We advise you on the content of your job adverts, application forms and promotion of employment opportunities to ensure that they are in keeping with the expectations of the law.

With the increasing need to account for the pay structures and the harmonisation of gender equality pay we advise you on your obligations to your employees and the standards of reporting and clarity required of your business.

If you are going through a difficult trading period, you may need to reduce your workforce to ensure the financial viability of your business, we can assist you with ensuring the correct fair and legal process is followed to see you through this difficult period.

No two cases are the same, therefore the illustration of the prices below may fluctuate and are a general assessment of the possible fees that may be incurred. The illustration is for cases of wrongful/ unfair dismissal. Cases which involve protected characteristics may be more complicated resulting in higher fees.

Simple case: £3,000 – £10,000 + vat

Medium complexity case: £10,000 – £15,000 + vat

Highly complex case: £15,000 + vat

Disbursement are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as payments for experts, barristers or travel etc.

There may be situations where the case necessitates the uses of counsel or expert evidence which may increase the fees, as this will be deemed to be a disbursement. We will discuss these with you prior to counsel or an expert being instructed to ensure you are aware and agree with any fees incurred. Disbursement may vary depending on the seniority of the counsel or expert attending on your behalf.

There will be an additional charge for attending at the employment tribunal on your behalf each day, at a tribunal hearing of £2,000 plus vat, our attendance will depend on the complexity of your case.

This list is not exhaustive

The stages set out above are an indication of the steps to be taken. Where some of the stages above are not required, for example if the matter settles early the fee will be reduced.

There is no defined time scale for cases to be heard at the employment tribunal, it could be a matter of months or even a year before a matter is brought to an end at the tribunal. We will assist at each stage and keep you appraised of the progress of a claim ensuring that you are fully advised and kept up to date with developments.

Not all cases necessarily proceed to an employment tribunal. We can often advise you on the most cost effective, non-contentious resolution to any difficulties you may be having with your employer.

Should it be necessary for a case to be taken to tribunal our experienced employment department will support you in bringing tribunal proceedings.

We will carefully explain to you what is involved and will ensure that you are given the best advice and support from your initial contact with us to a successful conclusion.

Should your case need to proceed to an employment tribunal, we have significant expertise in protecting the interests of employees as over the years we have acted for employees in many cases.

If you have worked for an employer and decide that your future lies elsewhere you may find that your current contract of employment contains restrictions which prohibit you from working for a new employer. We can advise you on your contract provisions, which may not be enforceable as your employer suggests leaving you free to work where you choose.

If you are having difficulty with your employer and feel that you have been treated unfairly, or that you are being discriminated against, then please do not hesitate to contact us as we have extensive knowledge and experience of dealing with a wide range of discrimination claims.

We provide answers to all your questions, ranging from what is a protected characteristic, the effects of this on your daily interaction at work and how the law offer workers the strongest protection against discrimination specific to your cultural sensitivities. Should you suffer from an act of victimisation and harassment we can advise you how to assert your rights.

We provide a standard of dedicated service that leaves you in no doubt that we care about you and whether your rights have been breached.

We offer a wide range of advice stemming from a right to request to work flexibly to enforcing your rights during maternity leave and after your family has been born.

There are limited reasons that an employer can use to bring the employment relationship to an end after an employee has worked in excess of two years. If you are a protected employee your employer must have a fair reason and follow a fair process in order to bring your employment to an end. If you feel that you have suffered from unfair treatment we can explore with you your rights and whether you are correct in your assumptions and whether the matter is actionable.

Drawing on extensive experience and in-depth knowledge, we can help you to avoid the risk of litigation, financial exposure and reputational damage. We advise you on out of court settlement agreements to give you the best advice on your position.  Should the worst happen and your employment relationship with your current employer be brought to an end, we help you to secure the best possible outcome.

No two cases are the same, therefore the illustration of the prices below may fluctuate and are a general assessment of the possible fees that may be incurred. The illustration is for cases of wrongful/ unfair dismissal. Cases which involve protected characteristics may be more complicated resulting in higher fees.

Simple case: £3,000 – £10,000 + vat

Medium complexity case: £10,000 – £15,000 + vat

Highly complex case: £15,000 + vat

Disbursement are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as payments for experts, barristers or travel etc.

There may be situations where the case necessitates the uses of counsel or expert evidence which may increase the fees, as this will be deemed to be a disbursement. We will discuss these with you prior to counsel or an expert being instructed to ensure you are aware and agree with any fees incurred. Disbursement may vary depending on the seniority of the counsel or expert attending on your behalf.

There will be an additional charge for attending at the employment tribunal on your behalf each day, at a tribunal hearing of £2,000 plus vat, our attendance will depend on the complexity of your case.

This list is not exhaustive

The stages set out above are an indication of the steps to be taken. Where some of the stages above are not required, for example if the matter settles early the fee will be reduced.

There is no defined time scale for cases to be heard at the employment tribunal, it could be a matter of months or even a year before a matter is brought to an end at the tribunal. We will assist at each stage and keep you appraised of the progress of a claim ensuring that you are fully advised and kept up to date with developments.