Our Fees
Transparent pricing. Most of the time, your employer pays. Always clear upfront.
The Good News
Most settlement agreements include a clause requiring your employer to pay your legal fees. This is standard practice. It recognises that you need proper legal advice on an agreement your employer has offered to you. In most cases, you won't be paying out of your own pocket.
How Our Fees Work
Our Professional Fee
Depending on complexity:
Usually capped at your employer's contribution, unless the matter is particularly high value or complex. We provide a fixed fee as soon as we see the draft agreement.
Admin Fee
Administration and processing fee:
Exception: This is waived if you've been a client within the last 12 months.
Same-Day Signing Service
Need your agreement reviewed and signed the same day?
This is on top of the professional fee and admin fee. We prioritise your work and ensure you get a same-day sign-off.
How It Works in Practice
You pay the admin fee (£36 if you're a new client, waived if returning)
We invoice your employer for their contribution towards your legal fees
You only pay if the contribution doesn't cover our minimum fee of £500 + VAT.If there's a shortfall between the employer's contribution and our minimum fee, you pay the difference — not the full fee. We'll tell you this upfront before you commit.
Can the employer contribute more?
Yes — and in around 70% of higher value or more complex matters, we can usually negotiate a higher contribution to costs from your employer. This means that even if the initial offer doesn't fully cover our fee, we can often arrange for the employer to pay more towards it as part of the overall negotiation.
We handle this as part of the process. You don't need to ask your employer yourself — we raise it during the negotiation and it's usually agreed without difficulty.
What's Included in Our Fee
Assessment & Review
- ✓Initial consultation about your situation
- ✓Detailed review of your settlement agreement
- ✓Analysis of all clauses, terms, and conditions
- ✓Identification of any risks or concerns
Advice & Legal Work
- ✓Clear advice on your options and position
- ✓Statutory advice required by law
- ✓Professional sign-off and confirmation letter
- ✓Copies of all documentation for your records
When Does the Employer Usually Pay?
In most cases, the settlement agreement letter from your employer will include a clause offering to cover your legal fees. This clause typically says something like: "The company will reimburse you for reasonable legal fees up to £[amount] for obtaining independent legal advice on this agreement."
How it works in practice: You pay us upfront, then submit our invoice to your employer. They reimburse you directly, so the money flows back to you to cover our fees.
What to do: Look at your settlement agreement letter. Check what amount your employer has offered. Let us know what that amount is when you contact us, and we'll confirm we can work within it.
About Our Minimum Fee
We have a minimum professional fee of £500 plus VAT. This is a floor — we won't charge less than this because it ensures we give your agreement proper attention.
Most employers offer to contribute around £500–£2,000 plus VAT towards your legal fees. This is standard practice. The exact amount depends on the complexity of your agreement and whether the matter involves any disputes or negotiation.
The key point: We only ask you to pay anything additional if the employer's contribution doesn't cover our minimum fee and the fees for your actual case. We discuss this with you upfront, in plain English.
What If the Contribution Doesn't Cover Everything?
If your employer's contribution is less than our fee, or if your case is more complex, we'll tell you this upfront before you commit to anything. No surprises.
You have options:
- 1Ask your employer to increase it. If the agreement is complex or the case is unusual, it's often worth asking for a higher contribution. They may well say yes.
- 2Pay the difference yourself. You can cover the gap from your settlement payment or personal funds. Many people find this worthwhile for the clarity and confidence.
- 3Proceed with your employer's contribution. If your agreement is straightforward, we can work within their offer and keep the scope focused on the essentials.
Whatever you decide, you'll always know the exact cost upfront. We're transparent about fees because we know you're already dealing with a difficult situation, and money worries add to the stress.
What If My Employer Won't Pay?
This is uncommon — most employers recognise that employees deserve proper legal advice and build it into their offer. But it does happen occasionally. If your employer hasn't offered to pay, we can still help you.
In this situation, you'd cover the cost yourself. You still get the same professional advice, the same thorough review, and the same SRA-regulated service. You're protected either way.
Think about it this way: If you're being offered a substantial settlement, paying for proper legal advice protects that payment. Getting the terms wrong could cost you far more than the legal fee. It's an investment in getting this right.
Transparent Pricing
We believe in being upfront about costs. You'll know exactly what you're paying for and why. Here's what's included in our quote, and what isn't:
Included:
- ✓Detailed agreement review and analysis
- ✓Legal advice on terms and effect
- ✓Professional sign-off letter
- ✓Follow-up queries about the advice
Not Included:
- –Renegotiating terms (that's a separate service)
- –Ongoing representation in disputes
- –Court proceedings or litigation
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1: Straightforward Matter
A straightforward agreement where the employer's contribution covers our minimum fee. You only pay the admin fee.
Scenario 2: Complex Matter
A more complex matter costs more. The employer's contribution covers part of it, and we discuss the remainder with you upfront—no surprises.
Scenario 3: Same-Day Signing
If you need same-day turnaround, we charge an additional £500 + VAT surcharge. The employer's contribution covers the base fee, so you pay the surcharge and admin fee.
Next Steps
When you get in touch, have your settlement agreement letter ready. Tell us what fee your employer has offered (if anything), and we'll give you a clear quote that breaks down exactly what you'll pay and what the employer will cover.
There's no obligation. We'll just be clear and honest about the numbers, so you can decide whether to go ahead.
Ready to get advice?
Call 0116 366 7900 or email steven@stevenmather.co.uk. We're usually available within hours.
Need advice on your settlement agreement?
Get in touch today. No obligation. Your employer often covers the fee.
No obligation. Initial response usually same day.