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Pricing guide

What does workplace representation actually cost?

Transparent, salary-scaled fees — because access to proper defence shouldn’t depend on what you earn. Every fee is fixed, agreed in writing before any work begins, and all-inclusive. We are not VAT registered: the fee you see is the fee you pay. All hearing representation is delivered under your statutory right to be accompanied — read how representation works.

  • Fixed fees — no surprises
  • Agreed in writing upfront
  • Salary-scaled pricing
  • Typically 30–60% less than solicitor-led defence

How it works

Three steps. No commitment until the fee is agreed.

Free 15-minute consultation

Tell us what has happened. We tell you where you stand, plainly and in confidence.

No cost — no obligation

Your case is assessed

We confirm the appropriate service, your salary band, and your exact fixed fee — in writing.

Fee confirmed before you commit

Work begins — properly

On instruction, preparation starts immediately. Urgent hearings are prioritised.

Work starts same day

The full service range

Twelve services. One clear pathway.

From a first forensic review of the allegations to representation in the room, and — where it goes that far — the employment tribunal. Start where your case is; move only if you need to.

Stage One

Rapid Defence Review

60–90 minutes, immediate case triage

£275 – £475
Fixed fee by salary band

  • 60–90 minute structured case review
  • Allegation breakdown and risk assessment
  • ACAS Code and procedural fairness analysis
  • Prospects of success assessment
  • Clear tactical next-steps guidance

Stage Two

Structured Defence Strategy

Full allegation analysis + written defence framework

£750 – £1,750
Fixed fee by salary band

  • Full allegation and burden-of-proof analysis
  • Evidence stress-testing and gap analysis
  • ACAS Code and employer policy breach mapping
  • Defence positioning and mitigation strategy
  • Written defence framework and submission

Stage Three · Short Hearings

Full Hearing Defence. Half Day

Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours

£1,150 – £2,275
Fixed fee by salary band

  • Pre-hearing preparation included
  • Written submissions and objections drafted
  • Hearing attendance up to 4 hours
  • Live advocacy and procedural challenge
  • Post-hearing guidance on next steps

Stage Four

Appeal Defence Package

Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation

£950 – £2,050
Fixed fee by salary band

  • Appeal-specific procedural and fairness analysis
  • Grounds of appeal, drafted and structured
  • Evidence review for the appeal stage
  • Representation at appeal hearing
  • Post-appeal escalation advice

Complex Cases

Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay

Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing

From £1,500
Scales by band · Confirmed after review

  • Multiple or overlapping allegations
  • Equality Act 2010, all protected characteristics
  • Whistleblowing and grievance-linked cases
  • High-complexity procedural defence
  • Scope and fee agreed after initial review

Post-Hearing

Negotiation Strategy

Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice

£395
Fixed fee · All salary bands

  • Settlement positioning and leverage assessment
  • Without prejudice framework and talking points
  • Procedural breach analysis for negotiation use
  • Written strategy document issued to client
  • Guidance on timing and escalation options

Settlement

ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation

Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support

£895
Fixed fee · All salary bands

  • ACAS Early Conciliation process guidance
  • Negotiation preparation and position statement
  • Settlement range assessment and benchmarking
  • Conciliation support and written briefing
  • Outcome review and next-steps advice

Tribunal. Entry

Basic ET1 Drafting

Document review, claim drafted and submitted

£495
Fixed fee · All salary bands

  • Review of supporting documents and evidence
  • ET1 claim form drafted and structured
  • Jurisdictional and time-limit compliance check
  • ACAS Early Conciliation certificate integration
  • Submission-ready document issued to client

Tribunal. Standard

Standard ET1 + Particulars

Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review

£795
Fixed fee · All salary bands

  • Detailed factual narrative and legal framing
  • Particulars of claim drafted and structured
  • Schedule of loss reviewed and cross-referenced
  • Jurisdictional and time-limit compliance check
  • Submission-ready document issued to client

Tribunal. Complex

Complex Multi-Claim ET1

Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal

£1,250 – £2,000
Fixed fee confirmed after review

  • Multiple or overlapping grounds of claim
  • Equality Act 2010, all protected characteristics
  • Whistleblowing and victimisation claims
  • Constructive dismissal, evidence-led analysis
  • Scope and fee agreed following initial review

Tribunal. Urgent

ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting

Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments

+£250 – £500
Add-on to base ET1 drafting

  • Urgent drafting with fast turnaround
  • Post-submission ET1 amendments drafted
  • Additional grounds or particulars added
  • Time-limit urgency managed and documented
  • Fee added to base ET1 service on instruction

Your exact fees

Can I afford this? Select your salary band.

Fees are scaled to your annual gross salary. Select your band to see the exact fee that applies to your situation. Salary is self-declared and used only for fee calculation — no documentation required.

Band A · Under £30,000

ServiceWhat’s includedYour fee
Rapid Defence Review 60–90 minutes, immediate case triage £275
Structured Defence Strategy Full allegation analysis + written defence framework £750
Full Hearing Defence. Full Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 8 hours £1,900
Full Hearing Defence. Half Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours £1,150
Appeal Defence Package Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation £950
Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing From £1,500
Negotiation Strategy Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice £395
ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support £895
Basic ET1 Drafting Document review, claim drafted and submitted £495
Standard ET1 + Particulars Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review £795
Complex Multi-Claim ET1 Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal £1,250 – £2,000
ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments +£250 – £500

Band B · £30,000 – £39,999

ServiceWhat’s includedYour fee
Rapid Defence Review 60–90 minutes, immediate case triage £325
Structured Defence Strategy Full allegation analysis + written defence framework £950
Full Hearing Defence. Full Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 8 hours £2,350
Full Hearing Defence. Half Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours £1,435
Appeal Defence Package Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation £1,150
Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing From £1,900
Negotiation Strategy Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice £395
ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support £895
Basic ET1 Drafting Document review, claim drafted and submitted £495
Standard ET1 + Particulars Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review £795
Complex Multi-Claim ET1 Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal £1,250 – £2,000
ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments +£250 – £500

Band C · £40,000 – £59,999

ServiceWhat’s includedYour fee
Rapid Defence Review 60–90 minutes, immediate case triage £375
Structured Defence Strategy Full allegation analysis + written defence framework £1,250
Full Hearing Defence. Full Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 8 hours £2,800
Full Hearing Defence. Half Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours £1,715
Appeal Defence Package Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation £1,450
Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing From £2,300
Negotiation Strategy Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice £395
ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support £895
Basic ET1 Drafting Document review, claim drafted and submitted £495
Standard ET1 + Particulars Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review £795
Complex Multi-Claim ET1 Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal £1,250 – £2,000
ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments +£250 – £500

Band D · £60,000 – £79,999

ServiceWhat’s includedYour fee
Rapid Defence Review 60–90 minutes, immediate case triage £425
Structured Defence Strategy Full allegation analysis + written defence framework £1,500
Full Hearing Defence. Full Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 8 hours £3,250
Full Hearing Defence. Half Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours £2,000
Appeal Defence Package Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation £1,750
Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing From £2,800
Negotiation Strategy Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice £395
ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support £895
Basic ET1 Drafting Document review, claim drafted and submitted £495
Standard ET1 + Particulars Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review £795
Complex Multi-Claim ET1 Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal £1,250 – £2,000
ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments +£250 – £500

Band E · £80,000+

ServiceWhat’s includedYour fee
Rapid Defence Review 60–90 minutes, immediate case triage £475
Structured Defence Strategy Full allegation analysis + written defence framework £1,750
Full Hearing Defence. Full Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 8 hours £3,700
Full Hearing Defence. Half Day Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours £2,275
Appeal Defence Package Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation £2,050
Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing From £3,500
Negotiation Strategy Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice £395
ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support £895
Basic ET1 Drafting Document review, claim drafted and submitted £495
Standard ET1 + Particulars Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review £795
Complex Multi-Claim ET1 Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal £1,250 – £2,000
ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments +£250 – £500

We are not VAT registered — no VAT is added to any fee. Birmingham hearings: no travel surcharge. West Midlands representation beyond the city boundary: mileage at £0.45/mile (HMRC approved rate), confirmed in your Engagement Letter.

The real cost comparison

£2,350 feels expensive. Until you see the alternative.

The scenario below is for a Band B client (salary £30,000–£39,999) requiring preparation, a written defence, and one-day hearing representation. This is the most common instruction profile.

Cost item
Zhan Associates
Typical solicitor
Initial case review
60–90 mins structured triage
£325
£350–£600(hourly, no written report)
Case preparation and written defence
Evidence review, strategy, written submissions
Included
£1,500–£2,500(5–8 hrs drafting)
Hearing representation — full day
Live advocacy, procedural challenge, presence in the room
Included
£1,000–£2,000(barrister or solicitor fee)
Emails, calls, admin, travel
The hidden costs that inflate solicitor bills
£0All-inclusive
£300–£800+(billed separately)
Total estimated cost
Band B — Full Hearing Defence
£2,350
£3,500–£5,500+
Your estimated saving
Compared to solicitor-led defence
£1,150–£3,15030–60% less expensive

Why solicitors cost more — solicitors billing by the hour charge separately for every email, every call, and every document review. A two-day disciplinary hearing can easily reach £10,000–£15,000. Our all-inclusive pricing means the fee you agree is the fee you pay, with nothing added afterwards. It is also worth knowing that solicitors have no statutory right to attend a disciplinary hearing: their attendance requires the employer’s advance permission. Representation under Section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 does not.

Common questions

Questions people ask — and never voice on a call.

Disciplinary outcomes carry different financial and career consequences depending on what you earn. A dismissal for someone earning £80,000 has a materially different impact than the same outcome for someone earning £24,000. Our fees are proportionate to that exposure, it is not discounting, it is calibration. Every client gets the same quality of preparation and advocacy; the fee reflects what is at stake for them personally.

In most cases, significantly cheaper. An employment solicitor attending a disciplinary hearing, if granted permission by the employer, typically charges £220–£400 per hour, plus a separate barrister fee if they instruct counsel for the hearing room. For a one-day disciplinary, the total commonly reaches £5,000–£12,000. Our all-inclusive hearing packages cover preparation, submissions and hearing attendance from £1,150, for the same room.

Only if the scope changes materially, for example, if a one-day hearing runs to a second day. In that situation, we explain clearly what has changed and agree any adjustment before continuing. We do not proceed beyond the agreed scope without your knowledge and consent. There are no surprise charges.

Not at all. The appropriate service depends on your stage and your situation. Many clients start with a Rapid Defence Review and make the decision from there, some need only strategic preparation, others proceed to representation. You are never required to commit to a higher tier before assessing whether it is necessary.

Yes. Band A is specifically designed for lower earners, with the Rapid Defence Review starting at £275. The salary-banded model exists precisely because we believe access to proper employment defence should not be limited to those who can afford solicitor rates. If your circumstances are unusual, speak to us, we assess every situation on its merits.

That is exactly what the Rapid Defence Review is for. In 60–90 minutes, we assess your allegations, identify procedural risks, give you an honest view of your prospects, and outline what, if anything, you should do next. Many clients find that alone changes their entire approach to the hearing. If you do not need anything more, you do not pay for anything more.

No service can guarantee outcomes, and any service that implies otherwise is misleading you. Our fees reflect the work required, not the result. Our role is to ensure your case is prepared properly, your procedural rights are protected, and your position is presented with clarity and authority. What happens after that is the employer's decision, but it will be an informed one.

HR processes are not neutral. In most disciplinary proceedings, the process, the preparation and the procedural challenge decide the outcome, not the allegation itself. An experienced HR team knows this. Independent representation levels the room: your evidence is properly tested, your rights are clearly asserted, and procedural failings are identified before, not after, the outcome is decided.

Confidential · Free 15-minute consultation

Don’t face your employer alone.

What’s said in the room matters. Tell us what has happened, and within one free call you will know where you stand, what it costs, and what happens next.