Litigation and Employment Tribunal Advice

If a dispute cannot be resolved amicably, litigation in the Employment Tribunal may become necessary. Our specialist employment lawyers provide expert advice on claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination, alongside a plethora of other potential claims.

We can represent either employer or employee in tribunal claims, from negotiation during Early Conciliation, to case management during proceedings, and advocacy at final hearing. We will give you realistic, pragmatic advice on prospects and merits, and will ensure that any settlement proposal is fair and reasonable.

There are strict time limits for bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal. In most cases, employees have 3 months less 1 day from the date the dispute happened.

The first step in proceedings is for the employee to notify Acas, so that the parties can consider Early Conciliation. This gives the employee and employer the chance to come to an agreement without having to go through an employment tribunal. During Early Conciliation, the parties will be assigned a Conciliator who will be there to help negotiations but must remain impartial. Our employment lawyers can support you with legal advice throughout the process and can also negotiate settlement on your behalf.

At the end of Early Conciliation, Acas will give you one of the following documents:

• An Early Conciliation certificate will be issued if the parties cannot reach an agreement; or
• A COT3 agreement will be issued if terms are agreed and the matter is resolved.

If the parties cannot reach an agreement during Early Conciliation, and the claim proceeds in the Employment Tribunal, Laceys will work with you to ensure your position is presented clearly, providing expert representation to maximise prospects. We will guide you through case management to minimise stress and disruption, allowing you to get back to work, and we can provide advocacy at hearings to ensure consistency and familiarity. We will continue to consider settlement throughout proceedings, to ensure that the best outcome is reached in the circumstances.

Contact one of our Employment experts today to see how we can help.