How much will my matter cost?

EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS (EMPLOYER)

GA Solicitors has an established employment department supporting businesses of all sizes with a range of legal issues. The team prides itself on the close relationships it develops with its clients and becomes trusted advisers, providing timely and effective advice.

The provision of advice and representation to employers in relation to defending claims before the Employment Tribunal brought by an employee for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal;

1. We charge between £12,000 and £25,000 + VAT* on average for this work (less if the case does not go all the way to a fully disputed tribunal hearing). We will provide full representation, which includes: preparing and submitting the ET3 response and defence, completing the necessary document disclosure exercise, preparation of the necessary hearing bundle, assistance with the preparation of witness evidence, advice and assistance with any settlement negotiations, preparation for the final heating and advice on the judgment of the Employment Tribunal. We do not provide advocacy services and will arrange a suitably qualified and competent barrister to provide such services.
2. Claims of unfair and wrongful dismissal typically take between 8 and 12 months to conclude. Please note however that cases may last longer depending upon the complexities, legal issues and length of the final hearing.
3. This estimate is just an average price based on recent instructions; the actual cost to you will depend on a number of factors which we will discuss with you if you decide to instruct us.
4. The charge is based on our average hourly charging rate of £250 per hour, which may vary.
5. We do not offer conditional fees or damages-based agreements for this type of work.
6. There may be other costs on top. These are fees and charges we will need to pay on your behalf as part of the process, such as barrister’s fees. They are likely to be between £1,000 and £2,000 in total, + VAT* where relevant for most cases. However, this will depend on the complexities of the case and length of any hearings.
7. Each side is generally responsible for their own costs in employment tribunal litigation, so the other side are unlikely to be ordered to pay anything towards your costs. There are some rare exceptions, but these are unlikely to apply in most cases.
8. Our fee is set out on the assumption that there are no other claims (e.g. discrimination) that might increase the time involved, and thus, the cost. There may also be an increase in cost if the claimant is acting in person.
9. Do bear in mind, that you may have other sources from which you could claim our costs, e.g. an insurance policy. We will check this with you if you decide to instruct us.
10. Obviously, our fees do not include any external costs and charges that may be incurred as part of the process (e.g. damages, fines, penalties or other liabilities). You will also be responsible for these items.

 EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS (EMPLOYEE)

GA has been supporting employees for more than 200 years, advising upon unfair dismissals, redundancy, settlement agreements and much more. Employment is a complex area of law and our experienced team can guide you through the process step by step.

The provision of advice and representation to employees in relation to the bringing of claims before the Employment Tribunal against an employer for unfair or wrongful dismissal.

1. We charge between £10,000 and £22,500 + VAT* on average for this work (less if the case does not go all the way to a fully disputed tribunal hearing). We will provide full representation, which includes: preparing and submitting the ET1 claim form and particulars of the claim, preparing and submitting a schedule of loss (which values the claim) completing the necessary document disclosure exercise, preparation of the necessary hearing bundle, assistance with the preparation of witness evidence, advice and assistance with any settlement negotiations, preparation for the final heating and advice on the judgment of the Employment Tribunal. We do not provide advocacy services and will arrange a suitably qualified and competent barrister to provide such services.
2. Claims of unfair and wrongful dismissal typically take between 8 and 12 months to conclude. Please note however that cases may last longer depending upon the complexities, legal issues and length of the final hearing.
3. This estimate is just an average price based on recent instructions; the actual cost to you will depend on a number of factors which we will discuss with you if you decide to instruct us.
4. The charge is based on our average hourly charging rate of £250 per hour, which may vary.
5. We do not offer conditional fees or damages-based agreements for this type of work.
6. There may be other costs on top. These are fees and charges we will need to pay on there may be other costs on top. These are fees and charges we will need to pay on your behalf as part of the process, such as barrister’s fees. They are likely to be between £1,000 and £2,000 in total, + VAT* where relevant for most cases. However, this will depend on the complexities of the case and the length of any hearings.
7. Each side is generally responsible for their own costs in employment tribunal litigation, so the other side is unlikely to be ordered to pay anything towards your costs. There are some rare exceptions, but these are unlikely to apply in most cases.
8. Our fees are given on the assumption that there are no other claims (e.g. discrimination) involved in your case, which may have the effect of increasing the time involved, and thus, the cost.
9. Do bear in mind, that you may have other sources from which you could claim our costs, e.g. an insurance policy, or a trade union. We will check this with you if you decide to instruct us.
10. Obviously, our fees do not include any external costs and charges that may be incurred as part of the process (e.g. damages, fines, penalties or other liabilities). You will also be responsible for these items.

Employment Department

We have a specialist team of solicitors solely practising employment law. With over a decade of experience in dealing with a wide range of complicated and complex employment issues and disputes our senior employment law partner, Rob Zacal, heads up the team. Rob Zacal is ably assisted by qualified solicitor, Kayleigh Arthurs.

Our solicitors have experience in all aspects of employment law and we dedicate ourselves to ensuring our knowledge stays up to date, in order to give you the best service possible. They have between 1 and 10 years of experience in the area. We always make sure that junior solicitors and members of staff are supported and supervised appropriately so that the quality of advice is not affected, regardless of who is working on your case.

We have a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes for our clients. You can find out more about our price information on our website and can also see testimonials from satisfied clients.

RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING

GA’s nationally award-winning conveyancing team helps hundreds of clients move home each year. An accredited member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme and with unrivalled client feedback, you know you are in safe hands.

The conveyance of residential real property or real estate which comprises:

• freehold or leasehold sales or purchases; or
• mortgages or re-mortgages;

1. We charge £773 + VAT* on average for a freehold sale.
2. We charge £881 + VAT* on average for a freehold purchase.
3. We charge £1,066 + VAT* on average for a leasehold sale.
4. We charge £1,157 + VAT* on average for a leasehold purchase.
5. We charge £450 + VAT* on average for a re-mortgage.
6. There will be other costs on top. These are fees and charges we will need to pay on your behalf as part of the process. These are often known as “disbursements” and are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. No VAT* is chargeable on disbursements unless stated otherwise. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. The following is for example only and the exact amount payable will depend on the particular circumstances of your own transaction which we will discuss with you if you instruct us.
   1. On an average freehold sale or re-mortgage, we will need to pay to the Land Registry £8 +VAT* for a copy of your title deeds and plan.
   2. On an average leasehold sale or re-mortgage, we will need to pay the Land Registry £20+VAT* for a copy of your title deeds and plan, a copy of the freehold title and plan and a copy of the Lease.
   3. On an average freehold and leasehold purchase or re-mortgage, we will need to pay search fees which average £300+VAT* and Land Registry registration fees the level of which will depend on the value of the property, if the property is registered at Land Registry and whether the application to register can be done online. If you instruct us we can confirm the exact figure but can range from between £20-455.
   4. On most purchase transactions stamp duty or Land Tax will be payable. You can calculate the amount by using the HMRC’s online calculator
   5. On an average leasehold sale or re-mortgage the landlord or their representatives will charge for a package of information which we will have to send to the buyer’s lawyer and the costs range from £100-300 plus VAT*.
   6. On an average leasehold purchase or re-mortgage there may be additional disbursements depending on the terms of the Lease including a notice fee notifying the landlord or their representative of the change of ownership and of any mortgage you have taken and the cost will be detailed in the Lease and on average ranges from £5-100 plus VAT*, a Deed of Covenant fee and is a fee charged by the landlord or their representative and on average ranges from £100-200 plus VAT* and a fee payable to the landlord or their representative to issue a certificate of compliance to deal with a clause in the Lease and on average ranges from £50-150 plus VAT*.
   7. You should be aware that the figures detailed in (e) and (f) above vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of the Lease and information from the seller’s lawyer.
   8. You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply on a leasehold property throughout your ownership. We will confirm the ground rent and anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.
7. Additional charges arise if there are features about your particular transaction which add to the work that we have to do, for example, there are solar panels, indemnity insurance is required, rights of way issues and declarations of trust.
8. The estimated average total cost of our charges including VAT* and disbursements average search fees (excluding Land Registry Registration fee, stamp duty and unknown fees) would be:-
   1. Freehold sale = £932.
   2. Freehold purchase = £1,357.
   3. Leasehold sale = £1,293.
   4. Leasehold purchase = £1,689.
   5. Re-mortgage = £840.
9. These fees assume that the transaction is ‘standard’ and has no unforeseen issues that may lengthen the process or increase costs.
10. This estimate is just an average price based on recent instructions; the actual cost to you will depend on a number of factors which we will discuss with you if you decide to instruct us.
11. Our price may look high compared to some other providers, but we would ask you to consider the work involved, the implications of you or us missing something, the deadlines involved, the availability of our professional insurance cover and a number of other factors in the complex conveyancing process, before comparing us on price alone.
12. Obviously, our fees do not include any external costs and charges that we may incur as part of the process (e.g. estate agents commission, removal costs, environmental remediation costs etc.) You will also be responsible for these items.
13. A typical residential freehold sale and purchase will take between 8-10 weeks. If the property is leasehold or there is a chain involved then the timeframe is little longer at 8-12 weeks. A typical remortgage transaction takes between 6-8 weeks if freehold and 6-12 weeks if leasehold.
14. For details of who may be involved in your case and their qualification and experience, see our residential conveyancing profiles.

ADMINISTRATION OF AN ESTATE

When planning for your future, or for the future of your loved ones, you need to know you have the best team on your side. Many members of our wills, trusts and probate team are members of the Society of Estate Practitioners (STEP) and The Association of Lifetime Lawyers Recognised as experts in their field, the department is ranked in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

This includes applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We charge between £3000 and £8000 plus disbursements and VAT on average for this type of work.

This estimate is just an average price based on recent instructions and the exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end. We are happy to discuss this with you before you proceed.

Our charges are based on our average hourly charging rate of £265 per hour and as an estimate this type of work will take between 10-30 hours to conclude.

We will handle the full process for you. This estimate is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 5 banks or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 2 – 4 beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on the division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full Inheritance Tax Return to HMRC
• There are no claims made against the estate

Disbursements not included in this fee:

• Probate Registry’s application fee of £278.00
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
• £300 approximately – Advertisement in The London Gazette if required – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £200 approximately – Advertisement in a local newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

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

Potential additional costs

• If there is an inheritance tax liability or a need to claim Business Property or Agricultural Relief additional costs will apply. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information.
• If there is no will or the estate consists of shareholdings (stocks and bonds) there are likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information.
• If there are more assets or beneficiaries there are likely to be additional costs depending on the circumstances. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information.
• If there is foreign property additional costs will apply.
• If any additional copies of the grant are required, the Probate Registry charges £1.50 per copy (1 per asset usually).
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any land and buildings in the estate is not included. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information.

Our fees do not include any external costs and charges that may be incurred as part of the administration (e.g. taxes, penalties, repayable benefits fees and charges). The estate will be responsible for these.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 3-6 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 6 – 12 weeks depending upon the speed the Probate Registry deal with an application. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 2 – 4 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 – 4 weeks.

The above estimates are provided on the basis of the assumptions that all executors and beneficiaries are known, that the deceased was domiciled in England that their assets are easily identifiable and that their personal records are in good order. Also, third parties do not add any unnecessary delay in dealing with paperwork.

For details of who may be involved in your case and their qualification and experience, see our wills, trust and probate profiles.

 

*VAT at the prevailing rate, currently at 20% (June 2024)