Employment Tribunal defence

A claim has arrived. Here's what happens next.

An Employment Tribunal claim has strict deadlines — typically 28 days to respond — and the quality of your early decisions shapes everything after. We handle the process end to end, and we're honest with you at every stage about your position.

  1. Honest assessment. We review the claim and your documents, and give you a written view of your position, the realistic range of outcomes, and what defence or settlement is likely to cost. If settling early is the commercially sensible move, we say so.
  2. The ET3 response. We prepare and lodge your formal response to the claim, on time and in the right form.
  3. Case preparation. Evidence and document review, witness-statement support, and preparation of the hearing bundle and written submissions.
  4. ACAS and settlement. We conduct conciliation discussions and settlement negotiations on your instructions at any stage where resolution makes sense.
  5. The hearing. We represent you at preliminary and final hearings. Representation by consultants is permitted under the Employment Tribunal's own procedure rules.

Staged pricing

StageFee
Case assessment & written recommendation£395 (credited in full against the next stage if you proceed)
ET3 / Grounds of Resistance£695
Interim relief defence (urgent)from £750
Case preparation (evidence, statements, bundle)from £1,150
Hearing representation£850 per day

***Complex cases — multiple claims, discrimination, whistleblowing, several respondents, or hearings running more than one day — carry a higher fee, quoted and agreed with you before that stage begins. You approve every cost before it's incurred; nothing is billed without your sign-off.

Solicitor-led defence of a straightforward tribunal claim typically costs £3,000–£8,000, with hearing days often exceeding £1,500. Kelvin's staged fees are usually a fraction of this, without a five-figure retainer or hourly billing.

Fixed and staged fees. Tribunal work is quoted as a fixed fee or in clearly priced stages — assessment, response, preparation, hearing — so you approve each cost before it's incurred. No hourly-rate surprises.

Two things we'll always tell you straight. First, if your case is weak, you'll hear it from us early — an honest steer at week one is worth more than false confidence at the hearing. Second, if your matter needs an authorised solicitor or advocate — for example, an appeal, court proceedings, or the independent certification an employee needs for a settlement agreement — we'll say so and refer you to one.

Received a claim? Send it to us today.

Get a same-day response