Experienced Employer Solicitors
Employment law is changing all the time and OGR Stock Denton appreciates that businesses of all sizes may find it difficult to keep up-to-date with their legal rights and obligations.
With this in mind, our experienced lawyers are on hand to support employers with a range of day-to-day matters, including:
- Drafting policies, procedures and contracts of employment, or reviewing your existing documents
- Disciplinary and grievance issues
- Protecting your firm from ex-employees competing for business
- Exit packages and preparing settlement agreements
- Redundancy exercises
- Employment issues arising on business sales
- Defending discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claims
- Trade Union issues
Expert Legal Representation
Should your business be taken to an Employment Tribunal or the High Court, we can represent you at proceedings. Susan Bernstein heads up and supervises our employment team.
The fact that we also act for employees gives us an excellent insight into the arguments that are likely to be deployed and improves the chances of securing a favourable outcome.
While we have particular expertise advising small and medium-sized businesses, we act for organisations including care homes, charities, IT companies, family businesses, professional service firms and retail outlets.
Our clients tell us that we provide high-quality advice equal to that of Central London firms and that we are good value, with lower rates than competitors.
We are also able to advise on employment matters with an international dimension, advising overseas clients on how various aspects of legislation work.
Our Fees
Our fees for tribunal claims in unfair/wrongful dismissal range from £225 to £335 per hour plus VAT (depending on the complexity and who deals with your matter). The whole process can take around 6 months and include disbursements such as expert witness fees (£500 to £4,000 plus VAT per day), medical records (£50) and counsel fees (ranging from £125 per hour for junior barrister to £500 per hour for QC +VAT).
The total cost will depend on the amount of time incurred and the stage of the matter that is has reached. If the matter proceeds to a full hearing in the Employment Tribunal, the fees are likely to be in the region of £10,000 – £50,000 plus VAT, depending on the complexity of the matter. A full costs estimate can be provided once we have all the details of your case.
In addition, disbursements of the nature referred to above may be incurred.
[Please note all VAT is charged at the prevailing rate of 20%]
For advice on any aspect of employment law affecting your business please visit our contact us page.
Our Legal Team
Guiding you through
employment law
Key stages
We set out below an indication of the likely key stages of defending a straightforward unfair or wrongful dismissal claim. Not all stages may be required or relevant to your case. In this case fees may fall at the lower end of the ranges we have stated. Our costs set out above cover all work in relation to taking your initial instructions, reviewing the paperwork and advising you on the merits and the possible level of compensation that may be awarded against you if the claim succeeds (which may be subject to change as the matter progresses):
- Reviewing and advising on the claimant’s claim;
- Entering into pre-claim conciliation where required in order to consider whether a settlement can be reached;
- Preparing the defence/response to a claim;
- Advising on and making applications as appropriate prior to the Tribunal Hearing (e.g. application for further and better particulars where a claim form has provided insufficient detail of the allegations made, or for an unless order – where you apply for the other party’s claim or response to be struck out if it does not comply with an order made by the Tribunal);
- Considering a schedule of loss;
- Preparing for (but not attending) a Preliminary Hearing;
- Advising on the obligation to disclose all documents relevant to the claim to the other party;
- Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents;
- Drafting statement, taking and agreeing the content of witness statements;
- Preparing a bundle of documents;
- Considering and advising on the other party’s witness statements;
- Agreeing a list of issues and list of those involved; and
Preparing for the Tribunal Hearing including instructing counsel.
The range of fees detailed above will not include the following:
- Considering and negotiating settlement throughout the process, including drafting and negotiation of a settlement agreement if negotiations are successful;
- Advising on a data subject access request (where a claimant exercises their right to request disclosure of personal information under data protection laws);
- Advising on any claim other than unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal;
- Advising in respect of a separate claim brought in conjunction with a claim for unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal (e.g. discrimination); or
Defending any related claims in the High Court.
Timescales – Claim process
Timescales can vary enormously depending on the facts of each matter. The time it takes to bring your matter to a conclusion will be determined largely by the stage at which your case is resolved.
The mandatory pre-claim conciliation period may last for up to no more than one month and two weeks. If we reach settlement during this period then the matter should be dealt with in that time frame.
However, if the claim proceeds to a Tribunal Hearing then the length of the process will depend on several things such as the complexity of the claim, the availability of the relevant Tribunal to hear the claim and how many days the Hearing is set for. Generally, we would expect a more straightforward case to take up to six months and a more complex case to take up to nine or 12 months. However, please note that these time periods are indicative only.
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What Our Clients Say
“All round brilliant team at OGR. After being badly let down by another solicitor, Priti Shah sorted our parents’ probates quickly and efficiently. She is very knowledgeable and on the ball and structured things in such a way she saved us lots of money. We also had conveyancing done by Ben Menaham which was smooth and hassle free and overseen by Michael Stock. Thank you.” – Monica
“Winston Kan & Michael Stock of OGR Stock Denton LLP have been a great support throughout the process and Winston has demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and genuine care throughout this difficult process. I highly recommend these lawyers, they are very attentive and honourable.” – Aziza
“I must thank you Ian, and Stephen, for your professionalism though the complex and protracted negotiations and for the support, understanding and patience you have shown me personally throughout.” – Malcolm
“I called you with a difficult situation and within 30 minutes you had addressed the main issue and very clinically identified what needed to be done. Your attention to detail and your work approach are of such a high standard that i have no doubt whatsoever that any client you deal with will only have good things to say. You are a true ambassador to your firm and your profession, with the care you show and advice you give. I would like to thank you again for the wonderful job you did at such short notice and i have no hesitation in using your services again and recommending your firm.” – Meir
“ We completed our home move in June, beating the Stamp Duty deadline by 4 days, and were extremely satisfied with the way the whole selling and buying process was handled by Robert Rosenberg. He was super efficient and communicated with us constantly throughout the process. We highly recommend him. and OHR Stock Denton, to anyone looking for a painless and stress-free experience. ” – Colin
“I owe you a great debt of gratitude for the kind, helpful, empathic way you dealt with me and went about your business at a time in my life when I was suffering huge emotional pain. I did not really understand what was happening to me but you did, and your advice was invaluable”. – Stephen Wiser
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Winston Kan of OGR Stock Denton LLP for the outstanding work he did on my car accident case. He supported me and my family through the long and exhausting process. There were times when I was ready to give up but he patiently and supportively guided me all the way. All the best wishes from me and my family.” – Hana
“A big thank you to Susan Bernstein for her help and support during my redundancy process, you made the legal part stress free and easy to follow. I fully trust your work and will recommend your services in the future.” – Meital
