INTRODUCTION

We offer transparent pricing structures so that our clients know exactly what they are getting. In accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules, we have set out below our fee estimates for our legal services in relation to employment tribunal claims, probate and immigration work. We have also provided time estimates where appropriate. Fee estimates and timescale estimates in relation to our other service areas will be made available upon request. All prices mentioned below are approximate and can vary depending on the individual circumstances and complexity of an individual’s case.

EMPLOYMENT PRICING INFORMATION

Fees for employment tribunal claims

The services we provide include both pursuing and defending employment tribunal claims and appeals. Most of the claims in which we act are complex claims involving not only claims of unfair and wrongful dismissal but also whistleblowing, discrimination, equal pay or other claims. Whilst we do straightforward claims from time to time it is always necessary to weigh up whether the potential outcome of the matter can justify the costs involved.

The key stages of a claim which are covered within our normal fees are as follows:

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 early conciliation: A mandatory stage to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
Preparing your claim or response.
Reviewing and advising you on your claim or response from the other party.
Exploring and negotiating a 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 trial, including any separate hearing to determine compensation and including instructions to Counsel.

The key stages set out above are an indication. If some of stages are not required, the fee will be lower. 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 in accordance with your individual needs.

If there are additional stages, the costs will be higher. Additional stages include:

Making or responding to additional applications, for example applications for specific disclosure, to strike out a claim, to seek additional time to take a step in the process, to seek an unless order to compel the other side to complete a step in the process.
Joining additional parties or dealing with additional parties.
Amending pleadings.
Dealing with appeals.

Work we do not undertake

We advise on employment but not on tax or pensions. If you need specific advice on these matters, we can arrange for you to receive this from other specialists in these fields.
When advocacy is required, we instruct counsel.

Basis of charges

We generally base our fees on hourly rates, although we are able to offer fixed fees where it is appropriate to do so. Our hourly rates are as follows:

Principals/Directors: £450-£550
Senior Associates: £350-£450
Associates: £300
Trainees: £250
Paralegals: £200

These hourly rates do not include VAT (currently at 20%).

Disbursements are payable in addition to these charges. See below for further information regarding disbursements.

Every case is different and many of our cases are complex and involve multiple parties and claims and difficult legal issues. There is no such thing as a typical case. However, for convenience we have divided employment tribunal claims into three bands according to complexity.

An employment tribunal claim involving only claims of unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal will normally, but not always be a simple claim.

Factors impacting complexity

If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if an employee is dismissed after making a public interest disclosure (blowing the whistle on the employer).
If there are allegations of discrimination or other claims which are linked to the dismissal.
If there are multiple claimants or respondents to the claim.
If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim.
Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties) or whether the tribunal is able to hear the claim due to jurisdictional or time limit issues.
The number of witnesses and documents. If there is a large volume of documents, it may be necessary to use e-disclosure software to manage the process.
Evidence of expert witnesses including experts’ reports.
Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person.
Making or defending a costs application.

Fee ranges for bringing and defending unfair or wrongful dismissal claims

Simple case: £30,000-£60,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements).
Medium complexity case: £50,000-£120,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements).
High complexity case: £100,000-£250,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements).

These figures are all based on the case continuing through to trial. In reality most cases are resolved before trial.

Cases of medium or high complexity may include claims of wrongful or unfair dismissal but will usually involve other claims as well. Typically, high complexity cases will involve claims of discrimination or whistleblowing.

Each day of a tribunal hearing will incur a charge based on the time spent and the hourly rate of the lawyer. This will typically be over £2,000 (excluding VAT). These costs are included within the bands of fees outlined above. In addition, counsel’s fees will be incurred each day that the hearing continues (see below).

Generally, we would expect a hearing lasting 1-2 days for a simple case, 2-4 days for a medium complexity case and 5 days or more for a high complexity case.

Disbursements

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

Counsel’s fees vary according to the experience of the individual counsel. Fees for a hearing are usually based on a brief fee which covers the cost of preparation and the first day of the hearing and “refresher” or a daily rate which is payable for the second and each subsequent day of the hearing. Typical fees for counsel are as follows:

Simple case:

Brief fee £2,000-£4,000 (excluding VAT)
Refresher £1,000-£2,000 (excluding VAT)

Medium complexity case:

Brief fee £4,000-£12,000 (excluding VAT)
Refresher £1,000-£3,000 (excluding VAT)

High complexity case:

Brief fee £6,000-£75,000 (excluding VAT)
Refresher £1,500- £5,000 (excluding VAT)

VAT

We will confirm whether VAT (at a rate of 20%) is payable when we have been instructed, as it will depend on the specific facts of your case, such as your immigration status and where you are residing.

Timescales

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 2-4 weeks. The aim of employment tribunals is to conclude all cases within 26 weeks of the claim starting but in reality, it may take longer to conclude, often 40-60 weeks from the claim starting to the final hearing. This is an estimate, and we will be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

Supervision

Who will work on my matter?

Your matter will be handled by Rahil Chaudhari, Principal Solicitor, and Christopher Hussey, Senior Associate Solicitor, supported by a dedicated team of experienced legal assistants.

Rahil Chaudhari qualified as a solicitor in 1994. He brings over three decades of legal expertise to the firm and has extensive City experience. As Principal Solicitor, Rahil oversees all matters with a strategic and pragmatic approach, ensuring that clients receive tailored, results-driven advice. His longstanding experience spans a wide range of legal disciplines, and his leadership continues to shape the firm’s commitment to excellence and client service.

Christopher Hussey qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and holds the position of Senior Associate Solicitor. With a strong track record of delivering practical and effective legal solutions, Christopher is known for his meticulous attention to detail and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for clients. He works closely with Rahil to manage cases efficiently and with a client-focused mindset.

Both Rahil and Christopher are well-versed in handling complex and high-net-worth cases.

Together with their support team, Rahil and Christopher offer a collaborative, strategic and responsive service, grounded in deep legal knowledge and professional integrity.

Contact us

If you would like to discuss a potential unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal claim in more detail and would like further information about our charges, please contact us on 01273 696962 or send us an email at: info@arlingsworth.com

IMMIGRATION PRICING INFORMATION

Work Involved

Our services in preparing a visa application would typically include the following:

Giving you advice about the requirements of the Immigration Rules for the type of application being made.
Sending a detailed letter of engagement (client care letter) explaining the requirements under the Rules, the supporting documents required and advising in relation to the case plan.
Considering the supporting evidence provided and preparing an itemised schedule of the supporting documents.
Where necessary, helping you to obtain further evidence (such as medical records and bank statements), including taking statements of any witnesses.
Preparing your application (to include preparing the necessary application form and representations – a detailed legal framework document setting out the applicable law and facts in the case.
Attending you on the phone, by email, in person and by letter.
Providing advice about the outcome of the application and any further steps to take.

Our services in dealing with an immigration appeal would typically consist of the following:

Giving you advice about the merits of pursuing an appeal following a decision made by the Home Office.
Sending a detailed letter of engagement (client care letter) explaining the process involved in pursuing an appeal.
Preparing and lodging Grounds of Appeal and the appeal forms.
Advising you in relation to the supporting evidence required for the appeal and reviewing the same.
Where necessary, helping you to obtain further evidence (such as medical records and bank statements), including taking statements of any witnesses.
Preparing the appeal bundle.
Briefing counsel to represent you at the hearing of the appeal.
Attending you on the phone, by email, in person and by letter.
Providing advice about the outcome of the appeal and any further steps to take.

What we do not do

Our immigration services do not include:

Tax or financial advice.
Advocacy.
Form checking services.

Basis of charges

We generally base our fees on hourly rates although on some work we are able to offer fixed fees where appropriate to do so. Our hourly rates are as follows:

Principals/Directors: £450-£550 (plus vat if applicable)
Senior Associates: £350-£450
Associates: £300 (plus vat if applicable)
Trainees: £250 (plus vat if applicable)
Paralegals: £200 (plus vat if applicable)

Typically, our fixed fees for straightforward matters would be in the following range:

Visitor visa – £3,000- £7,500 (plus vat if applicable).
Entry clearance – £2,500 – £20,000 (plus vat if applicable).
Leave to remain – £2,500 – £15,000 (plus vat if applicable).
Applications under the EU Settlement Scheme: £2,500 – £6,000.
Indefinite Leave to Remain: £3,000 – £10,000 (plus vat if applicable).
Ancestry visas: £4,500 – £8,500 (plus vat if applicable)
British Citizenship: £2,500 – £8,500 (plus vat if applicable).
Appeals in the first-tier tribunal: £5,000 to £20,000 (plus vat if applicable).
Dealing with judicial review applications: £10,000 to £30,000 (plus vat if applicable).

In all cases, disbursements (third-party costs) are payable separately (please see below).

Disbursements

Disbursements (i.e. third-party payments) vary on a case-by-case basis depending upon the application which is being made and the work required. The following disbursements are likely to apply:

Home Office application fees*.
Immigration Health Surcharge*.
Priority processing fees*.
Counsel’s fees (for a barrister) as agreed in advance.
Independent expert reports, as agreed in advance; and
Translation fees, as agreed in advance.

*Information about Home Office fees is published on the Home Office website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table

https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa-settlement

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay

Please note that Home Office fees are subject to change.

In dealing with an appeal, the most significant disbursement will usually be counsel’s fees (the fees of the barrister who acts as advocate at the hearing). These will vary depending upon the experience and seniority of the barrister but could range between £5,000 and £10,000 per day of the hearing. Additional counsel’s fees may also arise for preliminary advice as the case develops and to reflect time spent preparing for the hearing.

VAT

We will confirm whether VAT (at a rate of 20%) is payable when we have been instructed, as it will depend on the specific facts of your case, such as your immigration status and where you are living.

Timescales

Visa applications
The processing times for your application will vary depending on the application service you select and where the application is being made. We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application, but we can give further information on the
application options and likely time frames as part of the advice we will provide to you if instructed.

Appeals

Immigration appeals generally take from 12-24 months to be processed and heard at the First Tier Tribunal. A firmer time estate will be provided upon being instructed once we are aware of all the relevant circumstances of your case.

Supervision

Who will work on my matter?

Your matter will be handled by Rahil Chaudhari, Principal Solicitor, and Christopher Hussey, Senior Associate Solicitor, supported by a dedicated team of experienced legal assistants.

Both Rahil and Christopher are well-versed in handling complex and high-net-worth cases.

Together with their support team, Rahil and Christopher offer a collaborative, strategic and responsive service, grounded in deep legal knowledge and professional integrity.

Contact

If you would like to discuss an immigration matter in more detail and would like further information about our charges, please contact us on 01273 696962 or send us an email at: info@arlingsworth.com

PROBATE PRICING INFORMATION

Work Involved

The stages involved in the administration of a simple estate vary according to the circumstances, but below are the usual key stages:

Take your instructions and give you initial advice.
Obtain Probate valuations.
Prepare a Schedule of Assets & Liabilities at death to establish the value of the estate.
Apply for the Grant of Representation.
Encash the assets of the estate*.
Pay debts and expenses.
Income tax compliance.
Prepare a cash statement/estate accounts.
Distribute the estate.

*Please note this does not include the costs of selling a property. We do not provide conveyancing services.

The stages involved in the administration of a complex estate will be similar – although extra stages will inevitably be involved depending on the nature and value of the assets, tax position and other factors.

Work we do not undertake

We do not provide financial advice.
We do not provide conveyancing services

Basis of charges

We generally base our fees on hourly rates although we are able to offer fixed fees where it is appropriate to do so. Our hourly rates are as follows:

Principals/Directors: £450-£550
Senior Associates: £350-£450
Associates: £300
Trainees: £250
Paralegals: £200

These hourly rates do not include VAT (currently at 20%).

Disbursements are payable in addition to these charges. See below for further information regarding disbursements.

Fees for simple estates

Our costs for obtaining a Grant of Representation and administering a simple estate range from £3,500.00 to £8,500.00 plus VAT and disbursements.

An example of a simple estate is where:

The deceased left a valid will with three beneficiaries
Owned one property and up to 3 bank accounts but had no other intangible assets
The deceased did not own any foreign assets or have an interest in a trust
The deceased did not make any lifetime gifts which require reporting to HM Revenue & Customs
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is not payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HM Revenue & Customs
No claims are made against the estate
We are not asked to register the death, arrange the deceased’s funeral or clear the deceased’s property.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances for the matter. We therefore provide a cost estimate at the outset of the estate administration, taking into account the size and nature of the deceased’s estate.

If the estate administration proves to be more complex or time consuming than first envisaged due to factors of which we were unaware, or our instructions change, or if additional work and advice are required, we will revise our costs estimate accordingly. In such circumstances we will provide a revised costs estimate and details of any additional disbursements before incurring these extra costs.

Fees for complex estates

Any estate which does not fall within the definition of the simple estate as set out above, is regarded as a complex estate. Complex estates includes where IHT is payable but also where IHT reliefs need to be claimed to mitigate any IHT.

Our fees for handling a complex estate range from £25,000 to £75,000 plus VAT plus disbursements.

Disbursements and other costs

Disbursements are costs related to the estate administration that are payable to third parties, such as the Grant of Representation court application fee. We will usually handle the payment of the disbursements on behalf of the estate to ensure a smoother process.

The disbursements paid by us will then be recovered from the estate through the billing process.

The disbursements we anticipate applying are set out separately below. This list is not exhaustive, and other disbursements may arise depending on the requirements of the particular estate administration.

Probate Registry fee – £300
Sealed Office Copies of the Grant – £1.50p per copy
Assets Search – up to £185 plus VAT
S27 Trustee Act – Statutory Notices – £250 – £350
TT/CHAPS and Foreign money transfer fee (per transfer) £35 plus VAT
Postage cost to send original Will to Probate Registry – approximately £8.95 plus
VAT.

Please note that the above amounts are subject to change.

Timescales

How long it will take from taking instructions to finalising the estate administration will depend on a number of factors. However, the average administration of a simple estate takes between 9 – 12 months.

Complex estates may take considerably longer to administer (potentially 2-3 years) and an estimate of the timescale will be given at the same time as a costs estimate.

VAT

Supervision

Who will work on my matter?

Your matter will be handled by Rahil Chaudhari, Principal Solicitor, and Christopher Hussey, Senior Associate Solicitor, supported by a dedicated team of experienced legal assistants.

Both Rahil and Christopher are well-versed in handling complex and high-net-worth cases.

Together with their support team, Rahil and Christopher offer a collaborative, strategic and responsive service, grounded in deep legal knowledge and professional integrity.

Contact

If you would like to discuss a probate matter in more detail and would like further information about our charges, please contact us on 01273 696962 or send us an email at: info@arlingsworth.com