Settlement Agreement Solicitors

Have you been offered a settlement agreement by your employer? Or perhaps you need to negotiate a settlement to resolve a dispute or potential dispute? Our settlement agreement solicitors can provide the independent advice and representation you need.

Work with an expert settlement agreement lawyer

Our experts can provide clear, practical advice and support to help you secure the best available settlement for your circumstances.

At WSP Solicitors, we regularly advise employees of all levels on settlement agreements. We can let you know if a settlement you have been offered is fair or whether a better deal may be possible. We can also negotiate with your employer for you so you get the right settlement for you.

Independent settlement agreement advice for employees

Our settlement agreement lawyers can advise on matters including:

• Independent advice on settlement agreements
• Redundancy settlement agreements
• Negotiating settlement agreements
• Refusing a settlement agreement

Consult our settlement agreement solicitors in Gloucestershire

For expert settlement agreement advice, please contact your local WSP Solicitors office in Gloucester or Stroud.

If you have a quick question or would like to request a call back, you can also use our simple online enquiry form.

How we can assist with settlement agreement advice

Independent advice on settlement agreements

If you have been offered a settlement agreement by your employer, then you must get independent legal advice before signing. Not only does this help to ensure that you understand the agreement and whether it represents a good deal for you, it is also a legal requirement for the agreement to be binding.

Our employment lawyers for employees can provide a truly independent review of your settlement agreement. While your employer is normally required to cover the cost of this advice, it does not mean that you have to use a lawyer that they recommend. Our experts can offer assurance that the advice you receive will only take into account your best interests, so you can be confident that you are getting the best deal possible.

Redundancy settlement agreements

If you have been made redundant, it is common for your employer to offer you a redundancy settlement agreement. This protects them against the risk of you making any legal claim against them in relation to the redundancy (e.g. for unfair dismissal) but can also mean that you receive an additional payment above and beyond statutory redundancy pay or any enhanced redundancy package you are owed.

Our settlement agreement lawyers can advise on the terms of the agreement and whether you may potentially have a claim against your employer. We can then let you know if we believe the agreement is fair, whether a better deal might be possible or if pursuing a claim could be in your best interests.

Negotiating settlement agreements

Sometimes, it may be necessary to negotiate a settlement agreement. This might be where you have been offered a settlement but are unhappy with the terms or where you are in a dispute with your employer and wish to resolve it by reaching a settlement.

Our team can provide advice on negotiating with your employer, including around your rights and what a reasonable settlement looks like. We can also handle these negotiations for you, helping you to secure the best deal available.

Refusing a settlement agreement

In some cases, the best option may be to refuse a settlement agreement and initiate an employment claim. This does not necessarily mean that you will need to attend an employment tribunal as, in many cases, it will be possible to reach a better settlement before things get to that point. However, it is important to be prepared for all possible outcomes if you choose to refuse a settlement.

We can provide honest, pragmatic advice on the risks and potential benefits of refusing a settlement. Our team will never advise refusing a settlement unless we firmly believe this is in your best interests.

Employee settlement agreements explained

What is a settlement agreement?

A settlement agreement is a legal agreement between an employer and employee to resolve a dispute or head off a potential dispute. The employee will typically receive a payment in exchange for agreeing not to bring an employment claim in relation to a specific matter.

What is the purpose of a settlement agreement?

Settlement agreements are intended to resolve employment disputes without the need for an employment tribunal or to protect an employer against a potential claim.

How to negotiate a settlement agreement

To negotiate a settlement agreement, you must first be clear about your legal position and what you are entitled to. This will then give you an idea of what a reasonable settlement looks like. You can either negotiate with your employer yourself or have a solicitor negotiate with them for you.

It is strongly recommended to at least speak to a solicitor before attempting to negotiate with your employer so you understand your rights and entitlements. You should also get a solicitor to review any agreement you reach before signing.

Should you accept the first offer of a settlement agreement?

Whether to accept a settlement agreement will depend on whether you may theoretically be owed more than the settlement offers, how likely you believe your employer is to offer a better deal, your willingness to take a risk and how prepared you are for a possible fight.

Our settlement agreement lawyers will be happy to review a settlement for you and advise on whether we think there is a better deal to be done. We will always be honest about what is involved, including the risks.

Can you ask for more money in a settlement agreement?

Yes, you can always attempt to negotiate a better settlement but there is no guarantee your employer will agree. It is important to be sensible with your expectations and we strongly advice getting expert legal advice before asking for more money.

How long does it take to negotiate a settlement agreement?

How long it takes to get a settlement agreement will depend on the situation but, in most cases, it is usually possible to negotiate a settlement in a few days or a few weeks at most. However, this will vary based on how complicated the situation is and how willing the parties are to reach a settlement.

Who pays the legal fees for a settlement agreement?

Generally, the employer will make a contribution to the employee’s legal fees. This may cover all or part of their costs, depending on the situation. Employers do this because it is a legal requirement that employees have independent legal advice before signing an agreement.

Why choose WSP Solicitors for settlement agreement advice?

Experience you can rely on

Having supported many different clients with settlement agreements in all types of situations, we can provide experienced advice and representation no matter how challenging your circumstances.

Independent advice you can trust

You can have full confidence that the settlement agreement advice we offer is truly independent. We will always look out for your best interests and make sure you get the best settlement possible.

Clear pricing with no hidden costs

In many cases, we can assist with settlement agreements on a fixed fee basis. This means you know the full cost of our service in advance. Where ongoing support is required, we will agree an hourly rate in advance and keep you regularly updated about your costs.

Contact our settlement agreement solicitors in Gloucestershire

For expert advice on an employee settlement agreement, please contact your local WSP Solicitors office in Gloucester or Stroud.

If you have a quick question or would like to request a call back, you can also use our simple online enquiry form.