Employment Law Solicitors

Our Employment Law Department, based in Ormskirk, can advise employers and employees on a range of issues in connection with Employment Law matters.

Our Employment Law Department, based in Ormskirk, offers a team of highly qualified and experienced employment law solicitors who can advise employers and employees on a range of issues in connection with Employment Contracts & Employment Law matters.

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When it comes to employment law, it is vital you find expert guidance to ensure your business is compliant with all of the various regulations for their industries. We have advised many businesses across Merseyside and Lancashire.

Our key employment law services

In terms of our key legal services in this area, our employment lawyers can assist with the following matters:

  • Contracts of Employment
  • Compromise Agreements
  • Redundancy and Business Re-organisation
  • Pension Auto Enrolment
  • Termination of Employment & Settlement Agreements
  • TUPE Transfers
  • Maternity pay and benefits
  • Families and Pregnancy
  • Sickness and Incapacity
  • Defending claims to the Employment Tribunal

One of the main areas that our specialist employment solicitors can advise on is in relation to Compromise Agreements. Our experienced employment contract lawyers will advise you on whether the compromise agreement that has been offered to you is fair, whilst at the same time ensuring that we protect your future employment and career.

Before you sign any form of a compromise agreement with your employer, you should seek independent advice from an experienced employment solicitor. Here at Dickinson Parker Hill, our legal team will talk you through the agreement and will be able to negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you are treated fairly in all of the agreed terms.

How can we help? Contact the team today

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    Funding options

    Payment on an hourly rate

    A solicitor’s hourly rate usually reflects their level of experience and seniority. Paying a solicitor on an hourly rate to deal with the whole of a claim in the tribunal or court is the most traditional method of funding. It secures you comprehensive assistance from day one, but you will need to consider whether the cost of proceeding with a claim outweighs the value of it. Typically speaking, a claim for unfair dismissal will cost at least between ÂŁ3,000 – ÂŁ4,000 plus VAT and associated costs, such as barristers and tribunal fees. Fees in civil claims can exceed this amount. However, if your claim far exceeds the value of the estimated fees to be incurred and you are prepared to accept the risk that it may not succeed, then this could be a good method of funding for you.

    You should however be aware that only in a small minority of cases are legal costs recoverable from your opponent in tribunal proceedings.

    We will outline the potential costs that you are likely to incur to take your claim to an Employment Tribunal or County Court. We will fully outline any risks to you and discuss the options available to you to successfully resolve the claim.

     

    No win no fee – employment and discrimination law advice

    If we can assist you on a no win no fee basis, we will guide you through the ACAS Early Conciliation, tribunal and court process to help you achieve the best outcome.

    For cases run on this funding basis, there is a maximum deduction of 35% payable to Dickinson Parker Hill which is governed in accordance with the Damages Based Agreement Regulations 2013.

    Clients are only liable for our fees in these circumstances:

    Where we have acted for you under the agreement and you end the agreement where:

    • You have secured a settlement or obtained a successful judgment;
    • Your opponent admits liability;
    • It is within a week of trial and you end the agreement; or
    • It is deemed that as the client you behaved unreasonably (i.e. rejecting a reasonable offer of settlement or failing to co-operate regarding orders of the tribunal).

    Insurance policy

    Many insurance policies include legal expenses which can sometimes cover legal assistance in the Employment Tribunal or County Court.

    You do have freedom of choice to select the solicitor you would like to instruct. On becoming aware of a claim, you should contact your insurance company as soon as you can and advise that you wish to instruct your own solicitor to assist with the claim. We are able to liaise with insurers on your behalf to quickly secure cover.

     

    Settlement agreements

    On occasions where there is a dispute in place, an employer may offer you a settlement agreement. It is usual for an employer to make a contribution towards your legal fees in obtaining that advice. It is very important that you are aware of the implications of the settlement agreement wording you are agreeing to as sometimes the wording can contain indemnities and restrictive covenants which need to be fully explained to you by your solicitor. As your costs are likely to be covered by your employer, you may not need to contribute towards our costs. We will liaise with your employer directly on your behalf to negotiate the best settlement terms possible on your behalf.

    Should you require further information relating to settlement agreements, our handy guide outlines the reasons for settlement agreements and the steps to be taken when concluding a settlement agreement.

    If you have received a settlement agreement or are in discussions with your employer about circumstances which could lead to your termination and are being offered a financial package, we will be able to assist you.

    How much does representation at an employment tribunal cost?

    Unpaid wages/breach of contract – Between ÂŁ2,000-ÂŁ4,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

    Unfair dismissal claim – Between ÂŁ4,000-ÂŁ6,000 plus VAT and disbursements

    Discrimination claim – Between £6,000 – ÂŁ8,000 plus VAT and disbursements

    Prices quoted are for representation throughout the full stage of proceedings up to a final hearing and are an example only, they do not constitute guaranteed price.

    Disbursements including a barrister attending the hearing can range from ÂŁ750 – ÂŁ10,000 plus VAT depending on the length of the hearing and experience of the barrister. Clients will be informed as early as possible about the costs of the barrister.

    On average an employment tribunal can take up to 6 months though this depends on each case.

     

    What is a Compromise Agreement?

    • It is a written agreement that is usually entered into when an employment relationship is coming to an end.
    • It is a legally binding agreement and is designed to set out the terms on which the relationship will end, considering factors such as the provision of a reference or a confidentiality clause.
    • It usually contains a clause excluding an employee’s right to claim against the employer in a Court or Employment Tribunal.

    When is a Compromise Agreement needed?

    • When an employee is to be made redundant
    • When an employee is to be dismissed
    • When employment is ended by mutual agreement
    • To settle an Employment Tribunal claim

    Our employment solicitors regularly advise employees in Ormskirk, Southport and across Merseyside and Lancashire on their compromise agreements. It is worth noting that our costs are usually paid by the employer once the compromise agreement has been concluded, so at no point should cost stop you proceeding with our employment contract lawyers.

    Get in touch with our employment solicitors

    If you want to discuss our range of employment law services in more detail, please contact our team here at Dickinson Parker Hill today. Our employment solicitors in Ormskirk are available by phone or email, or in person if you’re close by.

    Looking for information about Family Law and Divorce? Why not read through our Family Law & Divorce Service page, to see how we can help.

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