Support when you need it

Starford is a Legal HR Consultancy business with a difference. We offer first-class legal services alongside operational strategy, project management and people-related consultancy, always supported with legal expertise.

Unlike other consultancies, we don’t create dependency, we empower clients by giving them the tools to flourish - whatever their size or situation.

We bring with us many years of experience, working with organisations of varying types and sizes. We can offer advice on the whole spectrum of HR, people management and employment law, as well as support with implementation, working with you as a flexible extension of your team. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness, and we want you to feel able to pick up the phone and talk things through, as and when you need support.

•Comprehensive employment law advice & support

•Managing employment tribunal claims

•Investigating disciplinary & grievance matters

•Redundancy and restructuring advice and support

Our business model pairs each experienced HR Consultant with an Employment Law Solicitor to ensure that all operational strategy and people-related consultancy is complemented with a solid legal foundation, offering clients a complete HR solution.

•Corporate strategy development

•Operational analysis and strategy

•Organisational design

•Business performance improvement

Legal Advice Pricing Model

Our lead solicitors will help you to manage non-complex claims using your own in-house resources and we can also support with more complex cases, including outlining the strategies available and the strengths and weaknesses of your position.

Our flexible business structure means that our fees are fair and won't hinder your growth. Our pricing model is based on timescales, which may vary depending on the complexity of each claim.

Typical Timescales

• A claim managed through the Early Conciliation process might be resolved within four weeks or so of initial ACAS contact.

• A claim might be amenable to mediation. Our managing solicitor is a qualified and experienced mediator.

• Unfair dismissal claims might be heard within 3 to 6 months of the formal claim being submitted to the Tribunal.

• More complex cases, such as those involving discrimination can take longer to complete, typically 6 to 12 months.

How Much Will It Cost?

We aim to resolve claims as smoothly and cost-effectively as possible for you. Our hourly rate for work undertaken is £200 plus VAT.

Charges arise from:

• Distilling relevant facts from the contextual complexity of a claim.

• Preparation of complex legal arguments to defend a claim.

• Interviewing witnesses and documenting responses.

• Identifying and collating relevant documentation.

• Extended litigation between you and a claimant.

• Requirements for additional procedural hearings arising from circumstantial complexities.

• Specific additional preparation requested by an Employment Tribunal.

• Costs of third parties required to support your defence; barristers, medical or other experts as appropriate.

Typical Claim Costs:

• Non-complex money claims with a one-day tribunal hearing: £4,000 - £5,000 plus VAT.

• Non-complex claims involving unfair dismissal with a one-day tribunal hearing: £7,000 - £12,000 plus VAT.

• Discrimination claims generally require more preparation and require a tribunal hearing of two to three days: £15,000 - £25,000 plus VAT.

The costs of instructing a barrister to carry out the advocacy at a Tribunal hearing will be discussed with you at the start of us supporting you to defend any claim.

We will endeavour wherever possible to agree a fixed fee for each required stage of work to provide you with cost assurance.  We will keep you apprised of the likely costs involved in completing each project and detail fully the time undertaken in resolving the claim.

To discuss pricing models for other legal HR projects, management consultant support or bespoke training sessions for your company, please contact the Starford team on 01342 347063 or email julie.jones@starfordlegalhr.com

VAT

UK standard rate VAT at 20% (the prevailing rate at April 2023) will be added to all legal fees and disbursements incurred by our UK fee earners working on UK matters for our clients.