If you have been dismissed from work without a good reason or because your employer did not follow proper procedure, you may be able to make a claim for Unfair Dismissal. We understand that employment law disputes are stressful, but you can rely on us to compel your employer to take your legal rights seriously.
Our employment law solicitors in London act for all levels of employee at all types of business, from small local businesses to large regional and national corporations.
We regularly represent clients during Employment Tribunal proceedings as well as providing expert assistance during settlement negotiations, contract and policy review, mediation and advice on ACAS procedures.
You can quickly book an initial no-obligation consultation with one of our London employment lawyers by giving us a call or filling in our simple online enquiry form.
Our unfair dismissal solicitors’ expertise
You may be able to make a claim for unfair dismissal where the reason for dismissal is deemed unfair or your employer did not follow a fair procedure when dismissing you.
Typically, you must have worked for your employer for a continuous period of two years to be able to make an unfair dismissal claim.
We are dedicated to promoting the employment rights of individuals across London and beyond. With rigorous skills in negotiation, in the vast majority of cases we are able to help individuals settle dismissal disputes long before they escalate to Employment Tribunal proceedings. Our priority will always be to achieve the best possible outcome for you whilst finding a resolution efficiently and cost-effectively.
Our employment lawyers, Michael Legister and Nicky Maisuria, have long and varied backgrounds in employment law, litigation and dispute resolution. Michael has 30 years of experience as a solicitor so is well equipped to handle complex disputes for high level employees. Nicky is particularly skilled at guiding clients through alternative dispute resolution procedures such as mediation, saving them the time, costs and stress of having to go through Tribunal proceedings.
Taking a non-confrontational approach to unfair dismissal disputes
We can assist with a range of dispute resolution options that are all designed to help employees find positive, long-term solutions to employment law disputes. Our expertise includes:
Settlement agreements
We have substantial experience supporting clients through settlement agreement negotiations. Our service includes ensuring that any settlement money offer is fair and reflective of the loss and distress caused to you by the unfair dismissal.
If you sign a settlement agreement, you will agree to waive your legal claims against your employer so our priority is to ensure that the terms will fully enable you to move on with your life and career with confidence. We will always set out all your options clearly so you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the settlement.
ACAS Early Conciliation
If you want to make an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, you must first contact ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service). ACAS will give you the opportunity to use their Early Conciliation service to try to resolve the dispute without starting Tribunal proceedings and act as an intermediary between you and your employer.
We can provide support throughout the Early Conciliation procedure, including advising on whether it is right for you.
Mediation
Mediation is the process of negotiating a settlement with your employer under the guidance and supervision of a qualified mediator. It has a strong success rate for effectively resolving disputes while typically being faster and cheaper than Employment Tribunal proceedings. We can support you through mediation processes.
Our fees for unfair dismissal claims
We understand that the prospect of challenging your employer can be daunting, particularly if they are a large company. Therefore, we aim to be completely open and upfront about our fees so that you can stay in control of the proceedings and make confident decisions about what action you want to take.
Depending on the situation, your employer may be prepared to cover some or all of your legal fees. This is usually if you are negotiating a settlement agreement as it is a legal requirement that employees receive independent legal advice for the agreement to be valid.
If you would like a quote for our services, please get in touch. Otherwise, for an indication of our employment law fees, please visit our pricing page.
What is unfair dismissal?
In order for a dismissal to be fair, your employer must have a reason, relating to matters such as:
- Capability
- Conduct
- Redundancy
- Other ‘substantial reasons’ set out in law
An employer may also dismiss an employee where continuing to employ them would break the law. The procedure your employer uses to dismiss you must also be fair. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may have other employment law claims as well as or instead of unfair dismissal such as:
- Wrongful dismissal – where your employer breaches your contract of employment, for example, by denying you your notice period
- Constructive dismissal – where your employer does something that forces you to resign
Some dismissals are automatically unfair, for example, if you are dismissed because of a protected characteristic under equality law such as your age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or religious beliefs.
For automatically unfair dismissal, you can challenge the dismissal no matter how long you have worked for your employer. For all other reasons, you must have worked for your employer continuously for at least two years.
How do you make an unfair dismissal claim?
If you suspect that your dismissal was unfair, your first step should be to contact our employment law solicitors for advice. We will set out your options, including utilising the ACAS Early Conciliation procedure, negotiating a settlement agreement, or attending mediation.
If none of these methods suits you, we will provide advice about your prospects for making an Employment Tribunal claim. We can also represent you at Tribunal proceedings and promise to vigorously defend your legal rights and promote your best interests every step of the way.
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Speak to our employment law solicitors in South Woodford, London today
For clear, expert legal advice and representation for unfair dismissal claims, get in touch with our employment lawyers in London by giving us a call or filling in our simple online enquiry form and we will get back to you soon.