See reviews >

Our Employment Tribunal Claims Service

Why choose Myerson

Our team at Myerson has a breadth of experience to provide you with the expert legal support and quality of service you are looking for.

As part of our core values, we provide you with clear and transparent cost information from the outset. 

Working in partnership with you on your requirements, matters are assigned to the most appropriate level of fee earner (always subject to partner supervision) to support you throughout your matter and ensure absolute cost effectiveness and efficiency. 

We set out below a summary of our charges which, when combined with our high quality service, represents excellent value.

We would be happy to discuss our fees with you further, contact us here.  

What's involved and how much will it cost?

Stages of the claim process

Timescale guidance

* Range of costs (estimate)

After receiving notice of intended claim, conducting Early Conciliation with ACAS to explore whether settlement can be reached

4 weeks

£750 - £1500

(Preparing terms of settlement if ACAS Early Conciliation succeeds)

(2 weeks)

(£750-£1500)

Reviewing the content of the ET1 claim form and advising on legal issues arising

2 weeks

£750-£1000

Taking instructions on contents of the defence and preparing ET3 response

4 weeks

£1000 - £2000

(Preparing for and attending any preliminary case management hearing remotely. This step is not applicable for every claim as it is dependent on orders from the tribunal)

(2-6 months)

(£750 - £1500)

Reviewing and advising on Claimant’s schedule of loss

1 week

£750

Gathering employer’s documentary evidence for disclosure and exchanging with the claimant

2 - 6 months

£750 - £1500

Collating all documentation into an agreed bundle to be submitted to the tribunal (obligation to prepare multiple copies of the agreed bundles usually lies with the employer)

2 weeks

£750

Updating advice on merits following document exchange and finalising bundle

2 weeks

£500 - £1000

Witness statement interviews and drafting (in order to defend an unfair dismissal claim the employer would normally need multiple witnesses and statements preparing)

6 weeks

£2500 - £4000

Reviewing and advising on content of the witness statement(s) received from the Claimant and update on merits

2 weeks

£750 - £1000

Preparation for hearing, agreeing list of issues with the Claimant, and instructing counsel (if applicable – see below under hearing costs)

2 weeks

£750 - £1500

Total costs up to hearing              

 

 

£11,000 - £19,000

All costs are subject to VAT at 20%

*Our estimated fees are for guidance only and are subject to assumptions around the amount of documentation involved and the complexity of a typical unfair dismissal claim.  Particular factors that may affect the complexity and costs when defending an unfair dismissal claim are:

Factors that can affect these costs:

Particular factors that may affect the complexity and costs when defending an unfair dismissal claim are:

  • Facing a claim that has been brought by a ‘litigant in person’ (i.e. a Claimant without legal representation)
  • Whether it becomes necessary to make or defend applications made to the tribunal, such as those to amend claims, provide further information, or strike-out applications
  • Making or defending a costs application
  • Where an unfair dismissal claim becomes more complex because the Claimant has pursued additional allegations, for example, that the dismissal was discriminatory or relates to whistleblowing
  • Where due to complexity, there is a requirement for a detailed case management approach and/or case management hearings
  • The number of witnesses required to defend the claim, or the amount of documentary evidence

Hearing Costs

If the matter proceeds to a contested tribunal hearing, then the costs of our attendance will depend on the length and location of the hearing but are usually (excluding disbursements) in the region of:

  • One-day hearing: £2,500 - £3,500 plus VAT (including preparation time)
  • Multi-day hearings: £2,500 - £3,500 plus VAT (including preparation time) for the first day, and £1,500 - £2,500 plus VAT for each subsequent day

Alternatively, we can instruct a specialist barrister to attend and represent you at the tribunal hearing. Their fees would depend upon the seniority of the barrister, and we will discuss potential fees with you.  We are often able to negotiate competitive fees with a number of barristers’ chambers.  When a barrister is instructed our costs would be limited to our attendance at the hearing to provide ongoing instructions to the barrister and to keep a record of proceedings, which is usually at the rate of in the region of £750 plus VAT per half-day of attendance.

Hourly rates of our solicitors

The cost estimates in the table above are based on the following hourly rates of our solicitors:

Partners and Legal Directors:

Senior Associates, Associates and Solicitors:

 

Trainee Solicitors:

Legal Assistants:

£360 - £365

£245 - £315

£235

£165

The estimates in the table are for guidance only, and a more precise estimate will be provided on a case-by-case basis that is tailored to the specific claim.

All rates are subject to VAT at 20%.

Other Employment Claims

We can also assist with the defence of any other type of Employment claim, in addition to unfair dismissal claims, including claims relating to discrimination, whistleblowing, redundancy and defective consultation, and claims involving trade unions or elected representatives.  We will always discuss costs with you for each stage of any claim.

Why Work With Our Employment Team?

Our award-winning employment team offers a service that combines specialist expertise with a proactive and commercially focused approach. 

  • Recognised Excellence - Our employment solicitors are ranked and highly recommended in The Legal 500, reflecting the strength of our legal knowledge and the quality of service we deliver. We were also named “Employment Team of the Year” at the Manchester Legal Awards 2024, underlining our commitment to excellence.
  • Specialist, Partner-Led Advice - Every client benefits from a partner-led service. Your matter will be handled by a qualified employment solicitor who understands your business, industry pressures, and objectives. We tailor our advice to your needs, considering the complexity, sensitivity, and commercial impact of each matter.
  • Dispute Resolution Expertise - We have extensive experience acting for employers in a wide range of disputes, including unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, discrimination, and whistleblowing claims. Whether defending a claim in the Employment Tribunal or negotiating a favourable settlement, we protect your interests while focusing on speed, efficiency, and reputational risk.
  • Strategic, Commercial Solutions - Employment issues can affect more than just the bottom line, they can disrupt morale, reputation, and leadership focus. We take a practical and strategic approach, helping you resolve disputes efficiently while safeguarding your commercial interests.
  • Transparent, Cost-Conscious Service - We understand that clarity on fees is just as important as legal advice. From the outset, we provide clear and transparent cost estimates and keep you informed throughout. We tailor our work to the appropriate level, ensuring value without compromising on quality.
  • Extensive Employer Experience - With years of experience acting for employers across a wide range of sectors, we offer fast, effective advice grounded in a deep understanding of your business and legal risk profile. From HR advisory support to tribunal defence, we are trusted partners to in-house teams and business owners alike.
  • Accessible and Responsive - Thanks to our unique structure and firm culture, our team remains genuinely accessible and responsive. We prioritise clear communication, same-day responses, and practical guidance that enables confident decision-making.

Speak With Our Employment Team

Our Employment Law Team

We have 6 members of our employment team who may work on your matter. Further details on each of them can be found by clicking on their names below. All of the members of the team will be supervised by one of the partners in our Employment team.

Joanne Evans v3

Joanne Evans

Jo is a Partner and Head of our Employment Team

Jo Hen

Joanne Henderson

Jo is a Partner in both our Employment and Compliance Teams

Charlotte Gilbert v2

Charlotte Gilbert

Charlotte is the Head of Myerson HR and a Partner in our Employment Team

Vicki

Vicki Fagan

Vicki is an Associate in our Employment Team

Contact Our Experts

You can contact our lawyers below if you have any more questions or want more information:

0161 941 4000