Employment Solicitors Cardiff

The UK has a modern but complicated set of employment laws.  It regulates many critical areas, from pay, dismissals, and holiday entitlements to disciplinary and grievance proceedings.  However, UK employment law is often poorly enforced and unequal, especially in certain sectors. Our professional Cardiff employment solicitors see daily that most UK employment law is open to legal interpretation.

There are three crucial pieces of employment legislation in the UK today:

  • The Employment Rights Act of 1996 covers parental leave, dismissal, and redundancy rights.
  • The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 introduced a minimum wage in the UK.
  • The Equality Act of 2010 bolstered laws on discrimination.
employment law solicitors Cardiff

It can be tough to challenge any of these laws in an employment case against an employer. We are excellent employment law solicitors who can help employees recognise their rights and show them what is fair. Whether this is for unfair dismissal, redundancy or arranging a settlement agreement.

The employment relationship gives both parties rights and obligations.  With our employment law team at Robertsons Solicitors, you’ll know where you stand.  As your employment law solicitors, we can help you act in any formal proceeding and help you state your case. 

Contact us to arrange a first consultation. We need first to get the ‘bigger picture’, and we will then guide you to the perfect result for your circumstances. We will only move forward once you understand all the matters and protections available to you.   

Our employment work is dealt with by Chris Barber and William Baird who together have over 10 years qualified experience.

Chris Barber - Chris is head of  the employment department and qualified at Robertsons in 2011. He has gained a range of knowledge in civil & employment litigation through his career.  He undertakes his own advocacy and is often praised for the way that he handles his cases.  He has tribunal experience and works closely with William Baird in bringing cases to conclusion with the best outcome for the client.

William Baird - Williams undertook his training at Robertsons and qualified in 2020.  During his training contract he was noted to be adept at employment law matters and qualified into the civil and employment team.  William is renowned for understanding the nuance that comes from complex employment law matters.  He has followed many cases through to tribunals and works to bring the best outcome for each of his clients.

At Robertsons Solicitors, we hope that cases settle without bringing the matter to the employment tribunal.  If this can be done, it means that your legal costs are lower and matters are concluded quicker.

However, if cases can’t settle, then our expert legal team will ensure that you get the best representation for any claim.

Settlement Agreements

If you are entering into a Settlement Agreement, our costs for providing advice and drafting the necessary document  will be around £450 - £750 + VAT (Total: £540 to £900) depending on the complexity of the matter. This fee is usually paid for by the employer.

Estimate of other costs

Within our first consultation with you, we will be able to discuss your case and the likely fees that will be incurred, depending on the complexity of it.

Simple case:                               £1,750 - £4,000 + VAT (Total: £900 - £4,800)

Medium complexity case:       £2,500 - £7,500 + VAT (Total: £3,000 - £9,000)

High complexity case:             £5,000 - £25,000 + VAT (Total: £6,000 - £30,000)

Factors that could make a case be classed as a simple case:

  • only having to deal with ACAS as the matter settles with their involvement
  • settling the case by discussions with your employee prior to any claim being made

Factors that could make a case medium or high complexity:

  • if it is necessary to defend applications or to provide 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 employee is legally defined as disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties);
  • the number of witnesses and documents;
  • if it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim, eg if the employee is dismissed after whistleblowing;
  • allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

There are not usually many disbursements in employment law matters from an employer's point of view.  It depends on each case.  However, fees for a barrister are classed as disbursements.  Most disbursements will have VAT added.  Before incurring any disbursements, we shall discuss this with you and what the cost will be.

Barrister’s fees estimated between £1,000 and £2,500 per day + VAT (Total: £1,200 and £3,000), depending on experience of the advocate, for attending a tribunal hearing (including preparation). There may be other disbursements such as the need for medical evidence or other reports from other profesions depending on the arguments that you are advancing in your case.  These payments will be depend on what is required.  These disbursements may cost in the region of £500 to £2,000 + VAT (Total: £600 to £2,400)

Key stages

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the key stages of a claim:

  • taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers & advising you on merits of the employee’s case (to be revisited throughout the matter & subject to change);
  • entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
  • preparing a response;
  • reviewing and advising on the claim or response from other party;
  • exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process;
  • considering a schedule of loss;
  • preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing;
  • exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents;
  • taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content;
  • preparing bundle of documents;
  • reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements;
  • agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list;
  • preparation and attendance at final hearing, including instructions to the barrister.

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.

How long will your application 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 around 4 - 6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a final hearing, your case is likely to take 3 to 9 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.

Our Expert Team

Our expertise is how we maintain our strong reputation as a law firm.

Meet the Employment Team