In most cases a settlement agreement costs you nothing. Because the law requires you to take independent advice before the agreement is valid, your employer contributes to your legal fees as standard, usually enough to cover the whole cost for a straightforward agreement. You would normally only pay if your matter is complex or you ask us to negotiate hard beyond simply advising.
We believe pricing should be clear before you commit to anything. Here is exactly how it works.
The employer-pays model
Independent legal advice is a legal condition for a settlement agreement to be binding, so employers build a contribution towards your fees into the deal. It is written into the agreement as a fixed figure and paid directly to us once the agreement is signed. Paying it directly to the firm also keeps it tax-free and outside your £30,000 exemption.
What the contribution covers
For a standard agreement, the employer's contribution normally covers the full cost of advising you on the terms and effect, so you pay nothing. Typical contributions sit in the region of £350 to £750 plus VAT. We will confirm at the outset whether the contribution covers your case.
When you might pay
You would normally only contribute if your matter is genuinely complex (for example, discrimination issues, senior packages, restrictive covenants or tax structuring) and the work exceeds the contribution, or if you ask us to actively negotiate a better deal rather than simply advise. In both cases we agree the figure with you before doing the extra work, and negotiation very often pays for itself in a higher settlement.
No surprises
We will always tell you up front whether the employer's contribution covers everything, what if anything you would pay, and what any negotiation would cost and might achieve. For a quick estimate of what a fair settlement looks like, use the settlement agreement calculator, or read more on the settlement agreement advice hub.
Settlement agreement FAQ
How much does it cost me?
Usually nothing; your employer pays.
How much do employers contribute?
Commonly £350 to £750 plus VAT for a standard agreement.
Is the fee taxable?
No, where the employer pays it directly to us.
Our other services
These prices depend on the exact circumstance and instructions we receive. Disbursements, court fees, search fees and bank transfer fees are all in addition. Any applicable VAT is in addition to these charges.
Conveyancing (residential)
We charge from £1,000 to £2,000 per transaction depending on the value and complexity of the transaction. Time scale can be 2 to 4 months, depending on searches, arrangement of finance (i.e. mortgage), and delays from other parties.
Probate (uncontested)
Our fees are between £5,000 to £20,000 depending on the size of the estate, and the amount of work we are instructed to do. Time scale can be 3 to 9 months depending on delays at court, payments of IHT, and so on.
Employment tribunals
Unfair dismissal (only, not including discrimination or any other claims):
- Non-complex, £5,000 to £10,000
- Complex, £10,000 to £20,000
Wrongful dismissal (only, not including discrimination or any other claims):
- Non-complex, £2,500 to £5,000
- Complex, £5,000 to £10,000
Time scale for these matters depends on the Tribunal, however 6 to 9 months is a realistic estimate.
Complaints procedure
Deen & Co is committed to high quality legal advice and client care. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the service you receive, or about the bill, please contact us at these offices.
We have a procedure in place which details how we handle complaints as follows:
In the first instance please contact the person who was dealing with your matter. If you are not satisfied with their reply you can request a review by the Principal. We have eight weeks to resolve your complaint.
If you are not satisfied with our handling of your complaint you can ask the Legal Ombudsman to consider the complaint. Normally, you will need to bring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of receiving a final written response from us about your complaint or within six years of the act or omission about which you are complaining occurring (or if outside of this period, within three years of when you should reasonably have been aware of it).
The Legal Ombudsman can be contacted at PO Box 15870, Birmingham B30 9EB, or by calling 0300 555 0333.
You have a right to complain to the SRA after we have dealt with your complaint. You can complain about matters of conduct such as fraud or discrimination. This can be done on the SRA website.
You also have the right to object to the bill and apply for an assessment of the bill under Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974. The Legal Ombudsman may not deal with a complaint about the bill if you have applied to the court for an assessment of the bill.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.