Nationwide specialists in Employment Law
Covering all areas including Ruislip, Eastcote, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Gerrards Cross, the Chalfonts, Beaconsfield
Office in Beaconsfield, Bucks
0208 866 0044
Settlement Agreements
Place yourself in the hands of Specialists
Settlement Agreements are legal documents setting out agreed terms between an employer and an employee, normally, although not exclusively, in relation to the termination of employment. The most important thing about Settlement Agreements is that the employee agrees to waive their employment law rights and it is a legal requirement that they first receive independent legal advice.
We have been advising on settlement agreements (or as they used to be known, Compromise Agreements) since they first came on the scene in 1996, so you can be sure you are getting expert advice on yours.
Fees normally paid by your employer
The Employer normally pays the legal costs in connection with a settlement agreement and depending on how much their contribution is, more often than not, we can deal with the matter without you incurring additional costs.
In the 2019 case of Soloman v University of Hertfordshire the EAT said £500 plus VAT was a reasonable contribution for Employers to make to cover the cost of getting advice on the terms and effect of the agreement, but that it would not be sufficient to cover advice on merits and quantum as well.
Whilst we hope that all Employers will contribute at least £500 plus VAT (and where appropriate we will help employee's argue for this sum) we recognise that many Employers will resist paying this fee. We will therefore do our best to provide sufficient advice on the terms and effect of the agreement at a lower fee.
Our charges start at £350 plus VAT. This fee covers an initial consultation of up to an hour in which we give you the statutory advice and then provide you with a certificate which you pass on to your employer with your signed agreement. We may, however, suggest amendments to the agreement or areas where you may be able to negotiate, including improving the financial terms.
If you require us to handle the negotiations or make amendments this is charged at the hourly rate, according to the time spent so it may take you over your employer's contribution. Except in particularly complex or time consuming cases, fees for dealing with a settlement agreement generally fall within £350 - £500 plus VAT. If we cannot keep within your Employer's contribution, we will let you know so that you can decide whether to instruct us to do the additional work for you or handle the matter yourself with our guidance.
Very often where the additional costs are justified, an increase to the Employer's contribution can be agreed as part of the negotiations.
Dedicated service - fast turn around
Our dedicated Settlement Agreement service is fast and efficient with appointments normally on the telephone, although we can offer meetings in person or via Zoom or MS Teams.
You send us your Settlement Agreement, contract of employment, if available, and 2 pieces of ID by email and then have your consultation with a Solicitor.
At the consultation, we will take instructions from you about the circumstances in which you have been given the agreement and advise you of your rights, the options open to you and whether the offer is reasonable. Where there is scope to improve the terms offered, we will equip you with the arguments to go back to your employer or if you prefer we can negotiate with your employer on your behalf.
If, however, you are happy with your agreement, it can normally be completed the same day.
We provide you with an Adviser's certificate which is passed on to your Employer to show you have received the statutory advice. It is also customary for the employer to pay the employee's legal costs and unless they require otherwise we will invoice your Employer direct.
Just tell us you have a Settlement Agreement and we'll do the rest.
0208 866 0044
Got a question about settlement agreements? Check out our Settlement agreement FAQS.
What Our Clients Say:
Karen has always been incredibly responsive and gives balanced and considered direction in what is an unbelievably complicated area. Highly recommended
Tim Hedges, Director, ODC Door & Glass Systems Ltd