Fees and Pricing

Private Client / Probate Fees

The information below relates to probate and estate administration work. Any other work will be discussed and quoted separately.

Our probate fees depend on the consultant dealing with your matter, the scope and complexity of the estate, whether Inheritance Tax is payable, and whether we are instructed to obtain the Grant of Probate only or deal with the full administration of the estate.

We will provide a tailored estimate before work begins.

Our consultants’ hourly rates for probate work currently start from £225 plus VAT.

Fees

Fees vary depending on the consultant dealing with your matter and the work required.

For probate work, legal fees may range from £2,000 plus VAT to £6,000 plus VAT, depending on the scope and complexity of the matter.

For Grant of Probate only, fees may start from:

• Non-taxable estate, no Inheritance Tax: from £950 plus VAT
• Taxable estate, subject to Inheritance Tax: from £1,650 plus VAT

For full administration of the estate, fees may start from:

• Non-taxable estate, no Inheritance Tax: from £1,500 plus VAT
• Taxable estate, subject to Inheritance Tax: from £2,650 plus VAT

Where a different hourly rate or fee range applies, this will be confirmed in the tailored estimate provided before work begins.

Disbursements & Third-Party Costs

The following disbursements may apply:

• Probate court fee: £300
• Copy grant fee: £16
• Land Registry Official Copy Entries fee: £7 plus VAT
• AML fee: £25 plus VAT
• Bankruptcy / Land Charges search fee: £6 plus VAT
• Statutory advertisements: approximately £200, depending on newspaper rates

We will confirm which disbursements apply before work begins.

What Is Included

Depending on the scope agreed, our work may include preparing and submitting the probate application, obtaining the Grant of Probate, and/or dealing with the administration and distribution of the estate.

Timescales

Timescales depend on the complexity of the estate, third-party responses, HMRC requirements and Probate Registry processing times. We will provide an estimated timescale once we have reviewed the estate.

Family Law

Fees for this type of work are bespoke and will depend on the scope, complexity and urgency of the matter. We will discuss the likely costs with you at the outset and provide a tailored estimate before work begins. Fees may be charged on a time-spent basis or, where appropriate, by fixed or capped fee. Any agreed fee arrangement will be confirmed in writing and kept under review as the matter progresses.

Litigation

Fees for this type of work are bespoke and will depend on the scope, complexity and urgency of the matter. We will discuss the likely costs with you at the outset and provide a tailored estimate before work begins. Fees may be charged on a time-spent basis or, where appropriate, by fixed or capped fee. Any agreed fee arrangement will be confirmed in writing and kept under review as the matter progresses.

Employment Fees

We provide employment law advice to both employees and employers. The information below sets out our indicative fees for:

• Employment Tribunal claims for unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal; and
• Settlement Agreements.

Fees will depend on the consultant dealing with your matter, the work required, the complexity of the issues and the stage at which the matter resolves. We will provide a tailored estimate before work begins and keep costs under review as the matter progresses.

Employment Tribunal Claims - Unfair Dismissal and/or Wrongful Dismissal

The information below relates to Employment Tribunal claims for unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal, including acting for employees bringing claims and employers defending claims.

Our employment consultants’ hourly rates for this work currently range from £250 plus VAT to £350 plus VAT.

Indicative Legal Fees

Our indicative legal fees for Employment Tribunal claims for unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal are:

• Simple case: from £4,375 plus VAT to £9,000 plus VAT
• Medium complexity case: from £8,125 plus VAT to £15,000 plus VAT
• High complexity case: from £12,500 plus VAT to £35,000 plus VAT

These figures are estimates only. The final cost will depend on the facts, complexity, number of documents, number of witnesses, procedural steps required, whether Counsel is needed and whether the matter settles before a final hearing.

Onboarding Fee

An onboarding fee for client identity and AML checks may apply:

• £25 plus VAT per client

Counsel’s Fees & Disbursements

The legal fees above do not include disbursements or third-party costs.

Counsel may need to be instructed, for example, to advise on prospects or represent you at a hearing. We will discuss this with you in advance and will only instruct Counsel with your agreement.

Counsel’s fees are usually estimated as follows:

• Attendance at Tribunal hearing: between £1,000 plus VAT and £1,875 plus VAT per day
• Initial brief fee: between £1,875 plus VAT and £4,375 plus VAT

Counsel’s fees may vary depending on the barrister’s experience, availability and the complexity of the matter.

Factors That May Make a Case More Complex

A case may become more complex, and costs may increase, if, for example:

• Applications are required to amend claims or provide further information;
• The other party is representing themselves;
• A costs application is made or defended;
• There are complex preliminary issues;
• There are a large number of witnesses or documents;
• The matter involves automatic unfair dismissal;
• There are linked allegations, such as discrimination or whistleblowing;
• Counsel is required to advise or attend a final hearing.

Key Stages Included

Depending on the scope agreed, the indicative fees may include:

• Taking initial instructions, reviewing papers and advising on merits and likely compensation;
• ACAS early conciliation, where required;
• Preparing or reviewing the claim or response;
• Exploring settlement and negotiating where appropriate;
• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss;
• Preparing for and attending preliminary hearings;
• Exchanging documents and agreeing a hearing bundle;
• Taking and preparing witness statements;
• Reviewing the other party’s witness statements;
• Agreeing on a list of issues, chronology and/or cast list;
• Preparing for and attending the final hearing, including instructions to Counsel where needed.

We will confirm the agreed scope of work at the outset.

Timescales

Timescales depend on the stage at which the matter is resolved and the Employment Tribunal’s availability.

As a general guide:

• If the matter settles during pre-claim conciliation, it may take around 2 to 16 weeks;
• If the claim proceeds to a final hearing, it may take up to 52 weeks or more, depending on the Tribunal’s workload and the complexity of the case.

We will provide a more specific estimate once we understand the matter.

Who Will Deal With Your Matter?

Employment Tribunal work is carried out by consultant solicitors with employment law experience. Supervision arrangements will be confirmed at the outset, together with details of the person responsible for your matter and their relevant experience.

Settlement Agreements

We also advise employees and employers on Settlement Agreements.

Employee Settlement Agreements

Our fees are:

• Advising on the terms and effect of a standard Settlement Agreement: £500 plus VAT
• More complex Settlement Agreements: between £500 plus VAT and £1,000 plus VAT

Examples of more complex Settlement Agreements may include agreements involving directors or senior employees, complex disputes, two-stage reaffirmation agreements or tripartite agreements. The invoice is usually addressed to the employee/client, but may be paid by the employer.

Employer Settlement Agreements

For drafting a Settlement Agreement on behalf of an employer, our fees are:

• Standard agreement: from £1,100 plus VAT
• More complicated exits: up to £3,000 plus VAT

Employers are also usually expected to contribute to the employee’s independent legal advice costs. This contribution is usually around £500 plus VAT, although this may vary.