Employment Law
Workplace disputes can be stressful and time-sensitive. At Clodes Solicitors, we provide clear, practical advice to both employees and employers. Whether you are facing dismissal, redundancy, or discrimination, we are here to guide you through the process and protect your rights.
We can help with:
Unfair dismissal
Redundancy
Settlement Agreements (formerly Compromise Agreements)
Disciplinary and grievance procedures
Discrimination claims (See our Q&A Here)
Breach of contract
Employment Tribunal proceedings
Our employment law team is led by Damian Clode, partner solicitor (qualified 2008), who has over a decade of experience in handling disputes. All cases are carefully supervised to ensure you receive the highest standard of advice.
What You Need to Know
There are three issues most clients want answered straight away:
Time Limits for Bringing a Claim
There are strict deadlines in employment law. Missing a deadline may prevent you from bringing a claim.
Most claims (including unfair dismissal and discrimination) must be lodged within 3 months less one day of the act or dismissal date.
Some claims (such as redundancy pay or equal pay) have a 6-month limit.
Breach of contract claims in the civil courts usually have six years.
ACAS early conciliation must be started before a Tribunal claim. This process “pauses” the deadline but does not remove it.
If you are close to a deadline, seek advice urgently.
Funding Your Case
We understand that costs are an important concern. At Clodes, we offer flexible funding options to suit different circumstances.
Damages-Based Agreements (DBA)
A DBA allows you to pursue a claim without paying legal fees upfront. Instead, our fee is taken as a percentage of your compensation if the claim succeeds.
No upfront legal fees — you only pay if you win.
Our fee is up to 35% of your compensation (including VAT).
If your claim is unsuccessful, you do not pay our fees under the DBA.
You may still be responsible for third-party costs such as tribunal fees or expert reports.
DBA aren’t suitable for all cases but we will confirm whether a DBA is suitable within 14 days of our initial discussion, once we have the necessary information.
Please note that on a Damages-Based Agreement (DBA), disbursements are not covered under the agreement (unless Counsel expressly agree their fees are) and must be paid by the client.
Private Paying Fees
If you prefer to pay privately, or if a DBA is not suitable, our typical fee ranges for unfair or wrongful dismissal claims are:
Simple cases: £2,000 – £6,000 (excluding VAT)
Medium complexity: £3,000 – £15,000 (excluding VAT)
High complexity: £4,000 – £29,000 (excluding VAT)
Please note, these are estimates and the fee range for every case can be unique.
VAT is charged at 20%.
Additional costs:
Tribunal hearing attendance: £750 – £1,000 per day (excluding VAT).
Hourly rates:
Grade A (Solicitor/Legal Executive with 8 years or more experience): £272 + VAT
Grade B (Solicitor/Legal Executive with 4 years experience): £233 + VAT
Grade C (Solicitor/Legal Executive): £189 + VAT
Grade D (Paralegal/Trainee): £134 + VAT
We will give you a clearer breakdown once we know the details of your case.
Disbursements & Counsel’s Fees
Disbursements are costs payable to third parties, such as:
Tribunal fees
Expert witness reports
Counsel’s (barrister’s) fees
- Court fees
We manage these payments on your behalf for a smoother process.
Please note that on a Damages-Based Agreement (DBA), disbursements are not covered under the agreement (unless expressly agreed by Counsel) and must be paid by the client.
Typical ranges:
Counsel’s fees: £1,500 – £10,000 per day (excluding VAT), depending on the complexity of your case and the experience of the advocate.
We will provide a tailored estimate at the start of your matter.
What’s Included in Our Fees
Our fees cover all the key stages of a claim, including:
Taking instructions, reviewing documents, and advising on merits and likely compensation
Early ACAS conciliation
Preparing or responding to a claim
Exchanging documents and drafting witness statements
Negotiating settlement and preparing a schedule of loss
Preparing for and attending hearings, including instructing Counsel
If some stages are not required, your fee will be lower. If additional work is needed, we will let you know in advance.
How Long Will My Case Take?
The length of your case depends on when and how it is resolved:
Conciliation settlement: usually 4–8 weeks
Final Tribunal hearing: usually 6–18 months
We will give you a more accurate timeframe once we know the details of your matter and keep you updated throughout.
Our Employment Team
Damian Clode – Partner Solicitor
Qualified in April 2008, Damian has significant experience in employment law, handling disputes ranging from unfair dismissal and redundancy to discrimination and breach of contract.
Jess – Trainee CILEX Paralegal
Contact Us
For further information or to discuss your specific circumstances, please contact the Employment Law team at Clodes Solicitors. The team is available to provide clear, practical advice and support throughout the estate administration process.