A. Williams & Co. (Solicitors)

The services we provide are all on a privately paying basis.

Information on the Employment Services we provide and those we do not provide

Our services include the following;

1. Bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal.
2. Advice on compromise Agreements.
3. Redundancy advice and representation.
4. Organising and advising on Grievance and Disciplinary meetings.
5. Advice on race discrimination allegations and race discrimination claims.
6. Advice on sexual discrimination claims and issuing of claims or defending sexual harassment claims.
7. Advice on Disability discrimination claims.
8. Drafting compromise and conciliation agreements.

We do not provide services in respect of legal aid or mental health issues and employment claims.

The people carrying out the work

Akin Williams our Principal has over 30 years post qualification experience as a solicitor and barrister in a foreign common law jurisdiction and over 17 years post qualification experience as a UK solicitor. He has the overall responsibility for your case. He is qualified as an International Bar Fellow in International Legal Practice. He is assisted by barristers or legal assistants or other experts as may be required. Akin Williams spends 100% of his time on each of the work areas and supervises those who assist him with the work being carried out.

Our Prices and Costs

Our costs are based on our Principal's hourly rate of £350.00 per hour plus 20% vat to £450.00 per hour plus 20% vat.

Simple case: £500-£10,000 + 20% VAT.

Medium complexity case: £20,000-£50,000 + 20% VAT.

High complexity case: £50,000-£150,000 + 20% VAT.

Factors that could make a case more complex:

• If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim.
• Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
• Making or defending a costs application
• Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled or where the jurisdiction of the case should be decided (if this is not agreed by the parties)
• The number of witnesses and documents
• If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
• Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal

There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £5,000.00 plus 20% vat per day (excluding the cost of a barrister). Generally, we would allow 5-10 days minimum depending on the complexity of your case.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Counsel's fees estimated between £3500.00 plus 20% vat to £5000.00 plus 20% vat per day (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation)

Key stages

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

• Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
• Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached
• Preparing claim or response
• Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
• Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
• Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
• Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
• Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
• Preparing bundle of documents
• Reviewing and advising on the other party's witness statements
• Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
• Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.

How long will my matter take?

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 8 – 16 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take up to a year. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.