Overview
Employment Tribunals make decisions about employment disputes, and nearly all legal cases about employment are heard in Employment Tribunals. This can include, but is not limited to unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination.
Counter Claims:
Where a counterclaim(s) is brought against a party, you would have to pay additional costs. In such an event, a further cost estimate for such work would be provided to you, however the total costs for the preparation time cannot be estimated at this time. Work for a counterclaim would be charged at an hourly rate to be agreed.
Appeals Against Decisions:
If you lose your case and wish to appeal the Employment Tribunal's decision, then you will have to pay additional charges. It is impossible to provide an estimate of what the costs to bring an appeal will amount to at this time, but we would provide costs information to you before you decide to proceed. Work for an appeal would be charged at the hourly rate agreed and may include a fee payable for Counsel's Opinion (as to whether you have a chance of succeeding in the appeal) and attendance by us and / or Counsel at any subsequent hearing.
Costs may vary depending if there is a lot of evidence to disclose.
Other Costs:
Please note that the Employment Tribunal has a wide discretion to make orders against a party and may do the following:
1. Order Costs Orders against you. Although this is uncommon, the Employment Tribunal has the power to do so. Cost Orders include fees, charges, disbursements and expenses to the claimant. Please note Cost Orders include fees (despite abolition of fees regime are not payable by claimants); however, this situation may change in the future and fees may once again be payable by Claimants and hence potentially repayable by you;
2. Order Preparation Time Orders against you. This is an order that the paying party makes a payment to the receiving party in respect of the receiving party's preparation time while not legally represented, including time spent by any of their employees or advisers, but does not include time spent at a final hearing.
Please note the costs quoted are estimates only, before agreeing to pay our reasonable charges and expenses we recommend you contact your insurer to check to see if you are covered by your insurance policies for defending a tribunal claim. In the event that you do not have any insurance or your insurer declines to provider cover for you and you nevertheless decide to instruct us to act for you then you will be responsible for paying the costs quoted.