On this page we are pleased to share with you some case studies of settlement agreements we have worked on.
November 2018 – agreement 2.5 times the original offer
Sarah advised employee K in her exit from the company resulting in a settlement agreement 2.5 times the original offer.
Employee came to see Sarah when she had been presented with a settlement agreement for notice and £10,000. After some tactical advice, which saw her submit a data subject
access request and raise a grievance before she was then dismissed, the package grew to £25,000 plus notice.
May 2018 – payment three times higher than initial offer
Sarah advised employee in spurious allegations against her which resulted in settlement for a payment three times higher than the initial offer.
Employee had been suspended and sought advice. Sarah notified the employer that we were instructed and would bring claims against them if they took the decision to dismiss.
Settlement negotiations commenced and the client secured £13,500 plus notice and was able to find another role swiftly.
December 2017 – complex agreement with shares
At the end of 2017 we acted for Mr A in his settlement agreements against a large corporate. We increased his settlement package by £13,000 as a result of claims he had. We also got large commission payments and holiday payments agreed. This was a complex agreement given his benefits package which included shares. He was confident that in the New Year he could gain employment swiftly.
In this case, as a senior executive with lots of benefits, the legal fees on offer from the employer were woefully short of the time required for a complex benefits package so there was a contribution required from him of £750 plus VAT in excess of the sums paid by his employer but given the large financial benefits he received as a result of that advice he was happy to pay the fees.
December 2017 – increased employment period
At the end of 2017 we acted for Miss S in her settlement agreement negotiations.
She was still in employment and had been offered a settlement agreement instead of performance management. She was offered her notice and less than two month’s money. As a result of our input and negotiations she decided to accept a revised settlement agreement.
The final settlement agreement gave her longer in employment and thus pay, her notice and an increased compensation payment which was increased by over 100%. We also secured an increase in her legal fees and no fees were charged to her personally.
The client was very happy with the results.
November 2017 – garden leave
In the Autumn of 2017 Mr M was referred to us having negotiated a generous settlement agreement package from his employer that he was happy to accept. Even in a case such as this there were still amendments and benefits to the settlement agreement that we were able to negotiate for him. We secured a period of garden leave for him so that he did not have to work his notice just handle a handover and also a release from his restrictions contained in his employment contract. There was no charge to this client personally in respect of our advice and the benefits he secured.
September 2017 – resolve tax treatment
Mr J was employed by a large organisation who gave him a settlement agreement with his six months’ notice pay. We managed to resolve the tax treatment of this payment which was incorrect in the settlement agreement and would have left him open to a claw back under the tax indemnity and secure an additional £12,000 for him as compensation as well as an additional six months use of the Company car.
In this case the employee paid no personal contribution to the settlement agreement and the employer paid our fees direct.
August 2017 – Northamptonshire – released from all restrictions
During 2017 we acted for S against her employer based in Northamptonshire.
The Employer was a small employer represented by a well-known employer’s representative organisation who shall remain nameless.
She called me and emailed through what was probably the shortest settlement agreement I have ever seen and including signatures and headings it was less than 5 pages. The sum on offer was less than one month plus notice.
I was instructed and negotiated for her and we ended up with an agreed reference, release from all restrictions and three months plus notice and an extended period of employment meaning that this was about 5 times what she had started with as well as enhanced financial terms.
Her contribution towards legal fees – nothing = one very happy client.
There were background circumstances as to why this client and this employer settled at this amount and we did not seek even more.