Pricing guide
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.
Start here
The stage you are at usually points to the service that fits. Choose the option closest to your situation and we will show you the relevant service and the free guide that explains it, so you can start where your case is rather than at the top of a list.
Choose the option closest to where you are. Nothing here is a substitute for advice on your own case, which is what the free consultation is for.
An investigation gathers evidence, sometimes before you know a case exists. Suspension is a neutral step to allow that to happen, not a disciplinary sanction, and it should be kept as brief as possible and under review.
The disciplinary hearing is the decisive stage. The employer has to set out the allegations in writing in enough detail to answer, and there is a statutory right to be accompanied. What is prepared and challenged here shapes everything that comes after it.
Gross misconduct is conduct serious enough to justify dismissal without notice for a first offence. A fair process is still required before any such dismissal, and these cases most often turn on the strength of the evidence and the fairness of the procedure.
Where a sanction has been imposed, the appeal is the route to challenge it internally. Grounds that target procedural failure, evidential gaps and inconsistent treatment carry further than a restatement of the defence, and the outcome letter sets the deadline to lodge them.
After a dismissal two clocks run in parallel: the internal appeal deadline in the outcome letter, and the tribunal time limit, which an internal appeal does not pause. An appeal can still reverse or reduce a dismissal, and a documented record strengthens whatever follows.
A grievance carries weight when it is in writing, specific about what happened and when, put to a manager who is not its subject, and clear about the outcome sought. Facts and dates carry it; adjectives give the responder something to argue with instead of the substance.
Where a grievance is not resolved, the route runs through the internal appeal and then, if it needs to, into a negotiated exit or a tribunal claim. What was put in writing at the grievance stage is the record everything after it is built on.
A negotiated exit converts uncertainty into agreed terms: reference, notice and a settlement figure. It works from a prepared position built on the leverage in the case, and a statutory settlement agreement is signed off by an independent adviser at the end.
Almost every tribunal claim begins with mandatory ACAS Early Conciliation, which pauses the time limit while it runs. The claim itself starts with an ET1, where the drafting frames everything the tribunal reads. The time limits are strict and easily miscalculated.
How it works
Tell us what has happened. We tell you where you stand, plainly and in confidence.
No cost — no obligationWe confirm the appropriate service, your salary band, and your exact fixed fee — in writing.
Fee confirmed before you commitOn instruction, preparation starts immediately. Urgent hearings are prioritised.
Work starts same dayThe full service range
Twelve services in three groups. Ten are scaled across salary bands so that what you pay reflects what is at stake for you. Two are priced after an initial review, because the scope cannot honestly be fixed before we have seen the papers. Start where your case is; move only if you need to.
Stage One
60–90 minutes, immediate case triage
Stage Two
Full allegation analysis + written defence framework
Stage Three
Strategy + submissions + representation up to 8 hours
Stage Three · Short Hearings
Strategy + submissions + representation up to 4 hours
Stage Four
Appeal grounds + appeal hearing representation
Complex Cases
Multiple allegations · Discrimination · Whistleblowing
£495 scoping fee, credited in full if you proceed
Post-Hearing
Structured exit or settlement positioning, without prejudice
Settlement
Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support
Tribunal. Entry
Document review, claim drafted and submitted
Tribunal. Standard
Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review
Tribunal. Complex
Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal
£495 scoping fee, credited in full if you proceed
Tribunal. Urgent
Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments
Which tier do I need?
Most disciplinary clients are choosing between four tiers, from a fast written read of the case to full representation in the room. Here they are side by side. The fee shown is the salary-banded range for each; your exact fixed fee is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
| Feature | Rapid Defence Review | Structured Defence Strategy | Full Hearing Defence. Half Day | Full Hearing Defence. Full Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A fast, forensic read on how serious it is and what to do next | A written defence to deploy yourself, or alongside representation | Focused, single-issue hearings that run to half a day | Complex, multi-allegation or gross misconduct hearings |
| Forensic case review | Yes, issued as a written assessment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Written defence prepared | A next-steps assessment, not a full defence | Yes, a full written defence framework | Yes, with hearing submissions | Yes, with hearing submissions |
| In-room representation | No | No, prepared for you to use | Yes, up to 4 hours | Yes, up to 8 hours |
| Fixed fee, salary-banded | £275 – £475 | £750 – £1,750 | £1,150 – £2,275 | £1,900 – £3,700 |
Already had the outcome, or weighing a settlement or a tribunal claim? Those sit outside this ladder. The Appeal Defence Package is for a decision already made, and the settlement and tribunal services are set out below.
Your exact fees
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.
| Service | What’s included | Your 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 | £1,450 – £2,000 |
| ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting | Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments | +£250 – £500 |
| Service | What’s included | Your 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 | £1,450 – £2,000 |
| ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting | Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments | +£250 – £500 |
| Service | What’s included | Your 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 | £1,450 – £2,000 |
| ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting | Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments | +£250 – £500 |
| Service | What’s included | Your 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 | £495 |
| ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation | Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support | £1,125 |
| Basic ET1 Drafting | Document review, claim drafted and submitted | £625 |
| Standard ET1 + Particulars | Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review | £995 |
| Complex Multi-Claim ET1 | Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal | £1,450 – £2,000 |
| ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting | Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments | +£250 – £500 |
| Service | What’s included | Your 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 | £595 |
| ACAS Negotiation / Early Conciliation | Early conciliation engagement and negotiation support | £1,350 |
| Basic ET1 Drafting | Document review, claim drafted and submitted | £750 |
| Standard ET1 + Particulars | Detailed factual drafting, legal framing, schedule review | £1,195 |
| Complex Multi-Claim ET1 | Discrimination · Whistleblowing · Victimisation · Constructive dismissal | £1,450 – £2,000 |
| ET1 Amendment / Urgent Drafting | Fast turnaround or post-submission amendments | +£250 – £500 |
We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to any fee. Birmingham hearings: no travel surcharge. West Midlands representation beyond the city boundary: mileage at £0.55 per mile (the HMRC approved rate), confirmed in your Letter of Engagement. New to that document? Read our plain-English guide.
On the settlement and tribunal services, Bands A to C share one fee. Bands D and E are higher because a schedule of loss at those earnings usually brings in occupational pension, bonus and incentive arrangements, and a longer period of future loss. That is more drafting, and the fee reflects it.
The two services scoped after review, Complex Case / Equality Act Overlay and Complex Multi-Claim ET1, carry a £495 scoping fee on instruction. We read the papers, then issue a written scope and your confirmed fixed fee. If you proceed, the scoping fee is credited in full against that fee. If you decide not to, the written scope is yours to keep. Full detail is in our Payment Terms and Cancellation Rights.
The real cost comparison
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.
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.
Understand your situation
Not sure which service fits? Start with the area that matches your situation. These plain-English guides explain the law and how we help.
Unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal explained: what the law requires, your time limits, and how we defend your position before and after a dismissal.
Read the guideThe Equality Act 2010, mandatory ACAS Early Conciliation, and ET1 tribunal claim preparation, and how we support you through each stage.
Read the guideCommon questions
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.
Because the reason is different. Disciplinary fees scale with what a dismissal costs you. Tribunal drafting scales with the work involved, and the work steps up at the point where a schedule of loss starts including pension, bonus and incentive arrangements, which is around £60,000 rather than evenly across five bands.
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.
Full details of our payment arrangements, cancellation rights and the published stage schedule are set out in our Payment Terms and Cancellation Rights, and summarised in our Terms of Service.
Confidential · Free 15-minute consultation
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.
