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Ackroyd Legal

Cost Transparency

Cost Transparency – SRA Transparency Guidelines.

Employment Tribunal cases – claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal

Real Estate (Residential Conveyancing)

Core services involved in the conveyance of a residential property includes the sale or purchase of freehold property, the sale or purchase of leasehold property, and the mortgage and re-mortgaging of property.

General fees related to a residential property transaction

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Legal fees not including VAT: –  from £500+VAT
  • Electronic money transfer fee starts at:-  £50+VAT
  • VAT:- 20%
  • Search fees:- from £300
  • HM Land Registry fees:- from £20
  • Misc disbursements such as Land Registry and bankruptcy search fees:- from £20

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ freehold purchases. 

Depending on the complexity of the case and the fee earner involved, fees may be higher. Furthermore, stamp duty depends on the purchase price of the property. Please refer to the HMRC website (HRMC Website) to calculate the amount which needs to be paid.

Time taken for a residential conveyancing transaction:

A precise timeline cannot be provided due to residential conveyancing transactions being dependent on a number of factors. However, on average, a freeholder purchase takes between 8 to 12 weeks and leasehold purchases can take longer.

This can be quicker or slower depending on the parties involved. Your file handler would be able to provide you with more information on this.

We do not agree to a deadline to exchange contracts being set at the outset as there are too many variables that are unknown at that time. 

General stages of a residential conveyancing transaction, as per outlined on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website 

For example, purchase of a freehold residential property:

  • Take your instructions;
  • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed;
  • Receive contract documentation;
  • Order and review searches;
  • Raise enquiries;
  • Report to the client on all documents and information received;
  • Report to the client on the mortgage offer;
  • Exchange contracts to agree the completion date;
  • Request funds from the mortgage lender and client; 
  • Complete purchase;
  • Submit a Stamp Duty Land Tax application; and
  • Deal with application for registration at Land Registry.

We are not Tax Experts. We do not give advice on Tax matters. Clients are advised to obtain independent financial advice from an accountant or other suitably qualified independent financial advisor where they have questions on tax matters such as Stamp Duty liabilities.   

File handlers

Each residential conveyancing transaction is supervised and monitored by our senior solicitors, Peter Simon Benjamin and Ashkan Ghadimy Nejad.

Ashkan will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His hourly rate starts at £350+VAT per hour, but this rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 to £500 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff list. 

Real Estate (Commercial Property)

General fees related to a commercial property transaction

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Legal fees start at £650.00 not including VAT;
  • Electronic money transfer fee starts at £50.00;
  • VAT 20%;
  • Search fees usually only Environmental Search £54.00;
  • HM Land Registry fees £40 – £500;

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ commercial property transactions. 

Depending on the complexity of the case and the fee earner involved, fees may be higher. Furthermore, stamp duty depends on the purchase price of the property. Please refer to the HMRC website (HRMC Website) to calculate the amount which needs to be paid.

Time taken for a commercial property transaction:

Commercial property transactions tend to involve the purchase/sale/re-financing of a property for business use.

The time taken to complete on these transactions may significantly vary from the usual 8 to 12 week timeline of standard residential conveyancing transactions, depending on the business needs of the parties involved. 

General stages of a commercial property transaction:

For example, a commercial property purchase: 

  • Kickstarting the heads of terms process;
  • Appointing professional advisors, such as agents and solicitors;
  • Analysing the property and taking steps to address any issues in relation to the property;
  • Considering and evaluating any restrictions and limitations to the sale;
  • Purchasing of the Energy Performance Certificate;
  • The purchaser will need to appoint professional advisors and assess funding options;
  • Carry out searches;
  • Prepare pre-contractual legal packs;
  • Obtaining title deeds and redemption statements;
  • Negotiation of the contract;
  • Investigate the title and reply to enquiries;
  • Conduct surveys on the property;
  • Prepare reports;
  • Exchange of contracts;
  • Payment of the deposit and arrange insurance;
  • Preparation of the redemption statement;
  • Preparing replies to requisitions on the title;
  • Signing of completion documents;
  • The purchaser will need to carry out pre-completion priority searches;
  • Transfer of completion monies;
  • The carrying out of land registry searches;
  • Preparing of completion statement;
  • Request of the mortgage advance, and ensuring the balance of the purchase price is deposited with the purchaser’s solicitors;
  • Upon completion, the discharge of the mortgage is executed, and the completion documents are sent to the purchaser and the balance of the purchase money sent to the vendor; and
  • Following completion, stamp duty land tax, deeds, and land registry applications need to be handled.

File handlers

Each commercial property transaction is supervised and monitored by our senior solicitors, Peter Simon Benjamin and Ashkan Ghadimy Nejad.

Ashkan will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His hourly rate starts at £250.00 per hour, but this rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 to £500 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

VAT and disbursements are charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff list. 

Disputes

We offer a multitude of litigation services, namely property litigation, commercial litigation, civil litigation, dispute resolution, and personal injury.

Property litigation: generally involves resolving disputes between property owners and tenants. However, the issues can be more far reaching and involve matters relating to ownership and commercial issues, to name a few.

Commercial litigation: involves business entities involved in a dispute. This could involve a range of issues such as breach of director duties, employment issues, and breach of contract cases, to name a few. 

Civil litigation: involves the process of resolving legal disputes between two or more parties, such as individuals and business entities, who are seeking compensation for damaged or specific performances which have not been performed.

Dispute resolution: involves the process of achieving a resolution to a disagreement between parties, within or outside the legal court system. 

Personal injury: this involves bringing a claim against a party who has caused injury to one’s body, emotions or mind, and tends to be characterised as a tort lawsuit. 

Duration of a litigation matter

A case can generally take anywhere between 3 to 18 months to settle, and potentially much longer if a matter extends to court trial.

General litigation process

  • Pre-commencement proceedings;
  • Evidence gathering process;
  • Analysis of potential defendants;
  • Determination of legal costs, such as conditional fees agreements and after the event insurance);
  • Commencement of the claim;
  • Interim matters;
  • Trial; and
  • Post-trial processes.

File handlers

Each litigation matter is supervised and monitored by our senior solicitors under the supervision of Ben Posener who is the head of the department.

Our team:

Ben Posener – Solicitor with over 20 years post qualification experience.

Tom Crittenden – Solicitor with over 15 years post qualification experience.

Raneen Wadi Al-Amiry – Solicitor with over 7 years post qualification experience.

Rachael Hyde – Solicitor admitted in Australia in 2014, currently completing the Bar Transfer Test.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. 

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff.

Family Law

Our services cover issues relating to children, divorce, and domestic abuse disputes.

General fees related to a family law matter:

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Partner fees: £420 + VAT per hour 
  • Qualified solicitor fees: £250 + VAT per hour
  • Unqualified staff fees (this includes trainee solicitors, paralegals and support staff): £175 + VAT per hour

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ family legal matters. However, fees may rise significantly depending on the file handlers involved in a case and the complexity of the matter at hand.

All the above fees do not include VAT. VAT will be charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Fees may also significantly vary depending on the disbursement fee structure.

Further in some cases a fixed fee arrangement may be agreed between the firm and client. This will allow the client to know exactly what the costs are each step of the way.

Duration of a family law matter

Some cases can extend to 26 weeks in duration. However, depending on the complexity of the matter, this could be shorter or longer in duration. 

Children matter – process

There are various issues that may arise when it comes to children however, we do our best resolve those issues. 

We offer initial legal advice on custody of children and can help you with obtaining a Private Law Children Order(s).

  • If you and your ex-partner are having any child custody problems related to:
  • Agreeing who your child/children should live with
  • Agreeing the time a child/children should spend with the other parent
  • Agreeing with a specific child/children care, school, medical or religious issue
  • The following legal options available through these Court Orders:
  • Child Arrangements Order
  • Specific Issue Order
  • Prohibited Steps Order
  • Child Arrangements Order

Agreeing what’s right for the children when parents separate it can be difficult to agree:

  • Which parent the child/children should live with 
  • When and how much time kids spend with the parent they don’t live with
  • Changing a child’s name or school, any religious or medical treatment issues

Child Arrangements Order can set out:

  • Arrangements for where a child lives either with a parent or a non-parent. 
  • Arrangements for a child to spend time with or otherwise have contact with a person they don’t live with. This is often the non-resident parent.

When dealing with a Child Arrangements Order application, the Court will take the stance that it is generally better for a child/children if a parent is involved in their lives.

  • Specific Issue Order

A Specific Issue Order can be applied for to ask the Court to resolve a disagreement about any matter related to Parental Responsibility. For example:

  • Which school the child/children should go to
  • Whether the child/children should receive medical treatment
  • Whether the parent with care can take the child to live abroad
  • How religion should be included in the child/children’s upbringing

If you want to take a child that lives with you abroad this is a complex matter with extra factors that the Court must consider. It could be a criminal offence to take a child out of England or Wales without the right consent of the other parent or Court Order, so it’s important to get legal advice beforehand.

  • Prohibited Steps Order 

A Prohibited Steps Order can ask the Court to prevent one parent taking a particular action related to Parental Responsibility. For example:

  • Preventing the child/children associating with someone with adverse influence
  • Preventing the child/children being permanently removed from the United Kingdom
  • Preventing medical treatment

We charge fixed fees for private law children’s proceedings for work up to and including the first hearing only of £1800 + VAT. If there is further work to be undertaken, we can provide fixed fees. Clients can decide to use the hourly rate arrangement.

Divorce matter – process

You need to have been married for at least one year and one of you will need to be a resident in England or Wales. 

A marriage is ended by the court by making two decrees.  A Decree Nisi which decrees that the court is satisfied that there are grounds for a divorce and the correct legal process has been followed.  After six weeks and one day later the Decree Absolute brings the marriage to an end.

  • Basic steps of a simple divorce:
  • Petition for divorce filed – one of the parties (the Petitioner) prepares this legal document and sends it to the court and their spouse. 
  • Acknowledgement – the spouse prepares a separate legal document indicating whether the divorce is to be contested. 
  • Request for a Decree Nisi – this legal document is usually prepared by the Petitioner’s solicitor and sent to the court.
  • Pronouncement’ of the Decree – if the court is satisfied with the grounds and the process has been followed the court will make this first decree in court (there is usually no need for either party to attend). 
  • Application for Decree Absolute – the Petitioner applies to the court to make the Decree Absolute.
  • Decree Absolute –  the court, if it is satisfied with the process, will make this decree and the marriage comes to an end.

We charge fixed fee for simple divorce is £999 + VAT. We confirm that fee includes the current Court fee of £593. 

We deal with financial proceedings within divorce. Depending on the complexity of the case we consider whether to charge and fixed fee or hourly rates.

Domestic family disputes – process

Domestic abuse or domestic violence is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

Domestic abuse occurs across society, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth or geography. Although statistically it mainly affects women domestic abuse and/or violence also affects men although they are less likely to seek help.

Children are affected directly and indirectly by abuse and in some circumstances, children can be protected by the use of Injunction Orders.

There are two basic orders for injunctions as follows:

  • Non-Molestation Order – This is a Court Order forbidding someone from being violent or threatening violence. A Non-Molestation Order also usually covers other types of behaviour such as pestering, intimidating, or harassing.
  • Occupation Order – This is a Court Order that regulates the occupation of the home, for example, it might provide for a person to leave the home or for the other person to occupy the home exclusively. An Occupation Order might also provide for a person to occupy only certain parts of the home.

Injunction Order proceedings are highly sensitive, they are heard by a Judge in private and no one unconnected with your case will be allowed into the Court room. You can also ask for your address to be kept confidential to prevent the perpetrator from finding out where you live.

Depending on the circumstances of your case it may be appropriate to make an application to the Court on the same day. This is called a Without Notice Application. Normally however once your application has been issued at the Court office and the other person has been served with the Court Order documents you will need to return to the Court in a few days for a hearing.

If you are a Respondent in Injunction proceedings and an Injunction Order was made without you having notice, it should contain a date for the next Court hearing. If you deny the allegations, you can attend the Court hearing to set out your position. You may wish to be legally represented at this hearing and therefore it is important to get legal advice as soon as you receive the Injunction Order.

We charge fixed fees for injunction proceedings for work up to and including the first hearing only of £1800 + VAT. If there is further work to be undertaken, we can provide fixed fees. Clients can decide to use the hourly rate arrangement. 

File handlers

Each Family law matter is supervised and monitored by our solicitors, particularly Majharul Miah. 

Majharul Miah will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His hourly rate starts at £250 per hour, but this rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as trainee solicitors and paralegals. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

VAT and disbursements are charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff list. 

Immigration Law 

Whether you need support with marriage and family visas, British citizenship applications, deportation appeals, work permits, employment immigration, leave to enter, or leave to remain, our skilled and experienced immigration experts can help.

Immigration law is any law that determines who can enter, work in, and live in the UK. Immigration law can be incredibly complex, so it’s essential you have a professional on your side.

General fees related to a family law matter

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Fixed fee: depends on the complexity of the matter and the parties involved. 

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ immigration legal matters. However, fees may rise significantly depending on the file handlers involved in a case and the complexity of the matter at hand.

All the above fees do not include VAT. VAT will be charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Fees may also significantly vary depending on the disbursement fee structure.

Duration of an immigration law matter 

This ultimately depends on the complexity of the matter and the parties involved. For instance, for an immigration appeal, an individual representing themselves will have 14 days following a decision to lodge an appeal. However, for those who are required to leave the country before the time they are allowed to appeal, will have 28 days from the time they have left the country. 

The timeline varies depending on the matter, such as whether advice is needed on family visas, British citizenship applications, and work permits, to name a few.

Your solicitor will be best placed to advise on how long your specific legal process may last, factoring in all the relevant details of your matter.

Immigration Matters:

  • Marriage and family visas
  • British citizenship applications
  • Deportation appeals
  • Work permits
  • Employment immigration
  • Leave to enter
  • Leave to remain

File handlers

Each immigration law matter is supervised and monitored by our solicitors, particularly Sue Chana. 

Sue Chana will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. Her hourly rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 to £500 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

VAT and disbursements are charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff list. 

Private Client 

Acting for individuals, partnerships, trusts, companies, investors, and financial institutions, our conveyancing solicitors have a wealth of experience working with clients across London, the UK, and internationally.

 

A Will is a legal statement specifying how your wealth will be managed after your death.

 

Probate is the legal process that takes place in order to manage the estate of someone who has died. It is a complex matter and each case is unique, so it’s vital you find the right support.

General fees related to a private law matter

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Partner fees: £350 per hour
  • Qualified solicitor fees: £295 per hour
  • Unqualified staff fees (this includes paralegals, trainee solicitors, and support staff): £150 per hour
  • Estimated subtotal: Depends on the time spent on the file. If the estate is liable for inheritance tax, our fees could range between £7,500.00 to £10,000.00 excluding VAT and disbursements.
  • If the estate is not taxable for inheritance tax, we could arrange a fixed fee for £2,500.00 plus VAT and disbursements, depending on the number of beneficiaries inheriting from the estate. 

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ private client matters. However, fees may rise significantly depending on the file handlers involved in a case and the complexity of the matter at hand.

All the above fees do not include VAT. VAT will be charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Fees may also significantly vary depending on the disbursement fee structure.

Duration of a private client matter:

The probate process, on average, takes between 12-18 months in England and Wales. However, this of course varies depending on the complexity of the matter at hand. 

The time taken to draft a will generally takes around 30 minutes, depending on the circumstances. However, as above, this is dependent upon the complexity of the matter. 

Private Client Legal Matter Process

  • If the estate is taxable for inheritance tax, the IHT400 and related forms when submitted need to be audited by HMRC. When a clearance certificate is issued, an application is then made to the Probate Registry for the Grant of Probate.

File handlers

Each private client matter is supervised and monitored by our solicitors, particularly Ali Ebrahim. 

Ali Ebrahim will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His hourly rate starts at £295 per hour.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

VAT and disbursements are charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff list. 

Corporate

Corporate work at the firm includes company law advice, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions, through to corporate structuring and insolvency, venture capital, to name a few. 

The firm have represented start-ups and cooperatives, multinational corporates and financial institutions, and everyone in between.

We also assist on corporate matters relating to international and investment, trading standards and compliance, intellectual property, and risk management.

General fees related to a corporate matter

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Partner fees: £550 per hour
  • Qualified solicitor fees: £300 per house
  • Unqualified staff fees (this includes paralegals, trainee solicitors, and support staff): £225
  • Estimated subtotal: £8000 plus VAT

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ corporate matters. However, fees may rise significantly depending on the file handlers involved in a case and the complexity of the matter at hand.

All the above fees do not include VAT. VAT will be charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Fees may also significantly vary depending on the disbursement fee structure.

Duration of a corporate matter:

This is very much dependent upon the corporate matter which you are seeking advice on, and the complexity involved.

For instance, assistance on the drafting of board minutes can be completed within a few hours, depending on the file handler involved and the complexity of the matter. 

However, a merger or acquisition could potentially take years before completion, which again is also influenced by the complexity of the matter being dealt with.

Corporate Legal Matters

  • Shareholder agreements
  • Company advice
  • Mergers & acquisitions
  • Commercial contracts
  • Corporate transactions
  • Management buyouts
  • Banking and finance
  • Procurement

File handlers

Each client matter is supervised and monitored by our solicitors, particularly Markus Malik. 

Markus Malik will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His hourly rate starts at £550 per hour, but this rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 to £500 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

VAT and disbursements are charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Please see our firm’s website team directory to gain further information on our staff list. 

Criminal

Many people find themselves facing criminal prosecution for a wide range of reasons. Whatever the circumstances, the process can be incredibly daunting, especially if you’ve never been through it before.

We offer expert support and advice, without any judgement.

If you’ve committed a criminal offence or you suspect you may have been involved in criminal activity, it’s vital you seek legal advice immediately. The earlier you get in touch, the better – we’ll respond immediately and help to resolve the issue as swiftly as possible.

Whether you’ve been arrested, you’re on bail, or you’ve been requested to attend a police interview, we’ll be at your side, providing the support and advice you need.

Criminal law refers to the state or government launching a prosecution against an individual, who they believe have committed a crime.

General fees related to a criminal law matter

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Partner fees: £250 per hour
  • Qualified solicitor fees: £200 per hour
  • Unqualified staff fees (this includes paralegals, trainee solicitors, and support staff): £100 per hour

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ criminal legal matters. However, fees may rise significantly depending on the file handlers involved in a case and the complexity of the matter at hand.

All the above fees do not include VAT. VAT will be charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Fees may also significantly vary depending on the disbursement fee structure.

Duration of a criminal legal matter:

The length of a criminal legal matter or the length of time taken during a court proceeding is dependent upon the nature of the offence.

The nature of the offence also determines whether the matter will be heard in the Crown Court or the Magistrates’ Court.

Thus, the matter could take 12 months or longer/shorter, depending on the complexity and the facts of the case at hand.

Your solicitor would be best positioned to advise on the duration of the legal process, upon gathering the relevant facts of your matter. 

Criminal Legal Matters

  • Cyber crime
  • Drug offence
  • Human trafficking
  • Motoring offences
  • Offences against a person
  • Proceeds of crime
  • Sexual offences
  • Business crime
  • Trading standards

File handlers

Each client matter is supervised and monitored by our solicitors, particularly Scott Ewin. 

Scott Ewin will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His/her hourly rate starts at £250 per hour, but this rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 to £500 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

Employment 

If you are having issues with your employer, have concerns about your contract, or you feel you have been treated unfairly or discriminated against.

All employees are protected by employment law, and it’s important you are aware of your rights.

Whether you’re in need of legal advice and guidance for employment contracts, redundancy, dismissal, grievances, discrimination, or bullying and harassment, we can help.

Our skilled and experienced team are experts in employment law, so they can offer reliable, specialist advice and insights, ensuring you are fully supported every step of the way.

Our employment services include employment contracts, disciplinary proceedings, and advice and guidance.

General fees related to an employment law matter

Solicitor fees and disbursements:

  • Partner fees: £500 per hour
  • Qualified solicitor fees: £300 per hour
  • Unqualified staff fees (this includes paralegals, trainee solicitors, and support staff): £150 per hour

Please note: the above is only a general estimate of the fees involved in ‘straightforward’ employment legal matters. However, fees may rise significantly depending on the file handlers involved in a case and the complexity of the matter at hand.

All the above fees do not include VAT. VAT will be charged on top of the base legal fees for all fee earner work.

Fees may also significantly vary depending on the disbursement fee structure.

Duration of an employment legal matter 

As with any practice area, the time taken to complete and resolve an employment legal matter is dependent on factors like the complexity of the matter and the parties involved.

For instance, when it comes to “ordinary” unfair and constructive dismissal claims, the usual time limit for issuing a tribunal claim is 3 months less one day from the termination of one’s employment. 

The limitation date can however be extended, once ACAS has the claim lodged under their early conciliation procedure. 

Alternatively, for breach of contract claims, in the employment tribunal an employee has 3 months from the date of termination, or the last day which the employee worked to bring a claim for a breach of contract. This is different for civil courts, whereby the time limit is 6 years from the cause of the action.

Thus, the above is a very general insight into the timescales involved in employment matters.

You solicitor would be best positioned to advise on the duration of your matter, upon factoring the applicable details. 

Employment Legal Matters

  • Redundancy
  • Workplace grievance
  • Settlement agreement
  • Whistleblowing claims
  • Maternity pay and maternity benefits
  • Flexible working arrangements and employment rights

File handlers

Each client matter is supervised and monitored by our solicitors, particularly Ben Posener. 

Ben will usually take primary responsibility on monitoring active files. His/her hourly rate starts at £500 per hour, but this rate may rise significantly depending on the complexity of the matter.

The files may be handled by unqualified staff such as paralegals and trainee solicitors. However, as mentioned above the files are monitored and supervised by legally qualified staff. Fees for unqualified staff generally start at £150 to £500 per hour, but this may rise significantly depending on the fee earners experience.

Immigration

TEAM

The team at 16 Prescot Street, London, E1 8AZ is led by Sue Chana and supervised by, Markus Malik and comprises of solicitors and/or other fee earners.

You will have a dedicated person who will be responsible for your case and who will be supported by team colleagues.

OUR FEES

Immigration work can be cross-border, multi-jurisdictional, and complex. As we offer tailored and bespoke services, the fees outlined below are for guidance only.

Costs

Our estimated fees below are provided on the basis of one applicant without any applications for dependent family members. Multiple applicants may be charged at different rates. We tailor our fees to our client’s circumstances and take into account matters such as compliance with the relevant immigration rules, prior adverse immigration history, provision of documents and instructions in a timely manner, the urgency of the matter, and discretionary aspects.

Appeal and Administrative review costs are not included in the fees.

We usually charge on a fixed fee basis. Our hourly rates range from £1000 to £1,500 fixed fee not including disbursements i.e counsel fees

Our immigration team can assist with all types of UK immigration applications. If a particular application or service is not listed below, please do not hesitate to contact our immigration team for a quote.

Tier 1 (Investor)  

Our fees will typically range from £1000 – £1,500 plus VAT excluding application fees and Health Surcharge fees depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Innovator/Start up visas

Our fees will typically range from £2,500 – £5,000 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Global Talent visa

Our fees will typically range from £2,500 – £5,000 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Turkish Businessperson visa

Our fees will typically range from £2,000 – £4,000 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the biometric appointment fees and any required translation or courier costs.

Appendix Skilled Worker route now

We usually charge between £2,000 – £2,500 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application and the reasons for the extension. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Our fees do not cover matters such as assisting the applicant’s Sponsor with work required for the assignment of a Certificate of Sponsorship. Should this be required, we would be happy to assist and can provide the Sponsor with a quote as necessary.

Intra company routes

We usually charge between £1,750 – £2,500 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application and the reasons for the extension. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Our fees do not cover matters such as assisting the applicant’s Sponsor with work required for the assignment of a Certificate of Sponsorship. Should this be required, we would be happy to assist and can provide the Sponsor with a quote as necessary.

Appendix Student/Child Student

We usually charge between £1,750 – £2,500 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application and the reasons for the extension. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Our fees do not cover matters such as assisting the applicant’s Sponsor with work required for the assignment of a Certificate of Acceptance. Should this be required, we would be happy to assist and can provide the Sponsor with a quote as necessary.

Temporary Worker Routes

We usually charge between £1,750- £2,500 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application and the reasons for the extension. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Our fees do not cover matters such as assisting the applicant’s Sponsor with work required for the assignment of a Certificate of Sponsorship. Should this be required, we would be happy to assist and can provide the Sponsor with a quote as necessary.

Ancestry visa

Our fees will typically range from £1,750- £2,500 plus VAT depending on whether the application is an initial grant or an extension application. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Fiancé(e) or Proposed Civil Partner of British national or settled person visa

Our fees will typically range from £1000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Spouse, Civil Partner, Unmarried Partner or Child of British national or settled person (five-year route to settlement)

Our fees will typically range from £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Dependant Adult Relative

Our fees will typically range from £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, Immigration Health Surcharge fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Standard Visitor

Our fees will typically range from £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT depending on the category of standard visitor visa. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, and any required translation or courier costs. 

Domestic Worker Visitor

Our fees will typically range from £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT depending on the Applicant’s and their employer’s circumstances. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees and any required translation or courier costs.

Indefinite Leave to Remain following five years in the UK

We usually charge between £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Indefinite Leave to Remain following 10 years in the UK

We usually charge between £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Naturalization as a British Citizen

We usually charge between £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Registration as a British Citizen

We usually charge between £1,000 – £1,500 plus VAT. Applicants will also need to pay for costs such as the Home Office application fees, biometric appointment fees, and any required translation or courier costs.

Disbursements

These are costs payable to a third party such as the Home Office. Disbursements can include Immigration Health Surcharges, Application fees, premium service fees, Court fees, Counsel fees, and country expert and/or interpreters fees.

Please do contact us for an obligation-free but case-specific quote.

The information above is provided for illustration purposes only and to help clients understand how we charge for our services. Please do call us to discuss your specific circumstances. If you instruct us, you will be provided with a detailed quotation in our client care letter which sets out the terms and conditions of our relationship.

Uncontested Probate Work

When someone passes away it is often necessary to obtain a Grant of Representation to obtain the authority to deal with the deceased’s assets and liabilities whether or not a Will had been made.

Instructing a solicitor with specialist knowledge of the process required to wind up an estate can help you at this difficult time. We can obtain the Grant on your behalf and will also be able to collect in and distribute the assets to beneficiaries and assist with any other matters that arise in relation to the estate and any ongoing trust.

Our team of experts:

The team comprises Bryony Palmer, Ali Ebrahim & Aliosman Halil who are all qualified solicitors based at 16 Prescot Street, London, E1 8AZ who have extensive experience of administering estates as well as dealing with all other areas of Private Client practice. [Ali Ebrahim] who heads the team. You can therefore be sure that your matter will be in safe and capable hands.

What are the legal costs?

We aim to offer competitive fees for high-quality advice and work. The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter, as outlined below. The fee estimates shown below apply to uncontested estates only. An uncontested estate is defined as an estate where there is no dispute as to the validity of the Will, between the beneficiaries on the division of assets and that there are no claims being made against the estate.

Work carried out by Ali Ebrahim will be charged on the basis of their hourly charging rate of £250 (excluding VAT). Work carried out by Aliosman Halil will be charged at the rate of £300 (excluding VAT) per hour. 

It may be possible to agree on a fixed fee for administering a simple estate and this could typically range between £1,500 and £3,500 (excluding VAT)depending on the circumstances of the estate and the seniority and experience of the person responsible for the work.

An example of a simple uncontested estate is one where:

    • There is a valid will or there is no will, but it is not necessary to

trace beneficiaries under intestacy.

    • All assets and liabilities are held in the UK;
    • The deceased was UK domiciled;
    • There is no more than one property;
    • There are bank accounts held with no more than 5 banks;
    • If there are shares these are held with one registrar;
    • There are no more than 6 beneficiaries and they are all identifiable and traceable, and no trust is required (such as for a minor or vulnerable person);
    • There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full inheritance tax account to HMRC.

What does this fee include?

You will be provided with a dedicated and experienced private client solicitor who will see the process through from start to finish. Their professional service will include the following:

    • Identifying the executors or administrators and the type of Grant required;
    • Notifying the institutions holding assets and obtaining the required documents and asset valuations;
    • Completing the return of estate information form;
    • Drafting the statement of truth for you;
    • Making the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf;
    • Obtaining the Grant and sending this to the institutions;
    • Collecting the assets, attending to the institutions’ requirements, and paying any liabilities.
    • Preparing the estate administration accounts for your approval; and
    • Distributing all assets in the estate to the entitled beneficiaries.

Are there any additional costs? 

OUR FEES

AMOUNT

OTHER COSTS

Probate application fee:

£155

£1.50 for each additional sealed copy of the Grant

Land Registry title documents:

£3 per title document

 

London Gazette and local paper Notices (protect trustees against unknown creditor claims):

£62.15 – 366.15 (plus VAT)

 

Property valuations by a RICS qualified surveyor (estimate):

£450 (plus VAT)

 

Asset search for any missing assets:

£135 (plus VAT)

 

National Will Register search:

£38 – 95 (plus VAT)

 

Disbursements will be payable to third parties in addition to our fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. The potential third party costs are as follows:

How long does the process take?

  • On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4-6 months from taking instructions to closing our file. The time it takes to obtain the information required to prepare the probate application often takes 2-6 weeks. This depends both on the assets held in the estate, the efficiency of third parties in responding to us, and on how promptly the executors are able to liaise with us and sign documents. Typically, obtaining the Grant (once the application has been sent to the Registry) takes 3-6 weeks. Collecting in the assets then follows, which can take up to 8 weeks depending on the assets involved.
  • Finalising and approving the estate accounts and distributing the assets to the beneficiaries can then take up to 4 weeks.
  • If there is a property to sell, then the process will take longer to finalise and be dependent on the property market. There will also be a separate charge for acting on your behalf in connection with the sale of any property and this will be confirmed with you by a solicitor in our conveyancing team prior to any work being undertaken.

What if my matter is more complicated?

If a full inheritance tax account is required or there are other reasons why the estate is more complicated, our hourly charging rates will apply and the costs will depend on the complexity and the work which needs to be completed. It is important to provide us with as much information about the estate as you can at the outset so that we can try to provide as accurate an estimate of our costs as possible prior to commencing work.

Possible complications include:

    • Multiple beneficiaries, including those that are charitable, resident overseas, under 18 and/or vulnerable;
    • One or more of the beneficiaries cannot be located, whether under a will or an Intestacy;
    • There is more than one property, a life interest in a property, and/or investment properties;
    • Inheritance tax is payable;
    • An application for the Residence Nil Rate Band inheritance tax relief is required;
    • A trust is created in the Will, or arises in respect of a minor beneficiary;
    • There are shareholdings with more than one share registrar
    • A deed of variation is being entered into to vary the beneficial entitlements;
    • The estate has an international element, for example: the deceased was non-UK domiciled or there is a query over their domicile status or owned assets in another jurisdiction.

What if I want to do some of the work myself? 

  • If you would like to obtain valuations of all the assets and liabilities in the estate and to deal with the administration of the estate yourself but would like us to prepare and submit an application for the grant of representation on your behalf, then provided that a full inheritance tax account is not required and we do not have to communicate with any third parties other than the Probate Registry, the work would be carried out at a fixed fee of between £1,250 (excluding VAT) and £1,750 (excluding VAT) if it is not necessary to transfer an inheritance tax allowance from the deceased’s spouse. If it is also necessary to apply for the transfer of an unused inheritance tax allowance from the deceased’s spouse, the cost would be £1,500 plus VAT.
  • As part of this fixed fee we would: 
    • Identify the type of grant required and the documentation required to enable us to complete the paperwork to apply for the grant
    • Complete the return of estate information form;
    • Draft the statement of truth for you;
    • Complete any necessary form to transfer the inheritance tax allowance of the deceased’s spouse
    • Make the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf;
    • Send you the grant of representation.
  • If any additional work is required, there would be additional cost

Residential Conveyancing

TEAMS

Our office at 16 Prescot Street, London, E1 8AZ, which has a team carrying out conveyancing.

The team at 16 Prescot Street, London, E1 8AZ is supervised by Peter Benjamin

You will have a dedicated person who will be responsible for your case and who will be supported by team colleagues.

OUR FEES

Our fees for conveyancing services will depend on the value of the property and the degree of complexity. We offer good value for quality work and service.

Residential Property sales and purchases.

Our fees will range from £450 plus vat at the lower end of the scale to, for example, £2,000 plus vat for purchase of £2,000,000. Some examples are given below but please do contact us without obligation us for a specific quotation tailored to the particular work involved. The more information we have about the transaction the more accurate we can be.

Our fees will include:

Purchase

  • Dealing with identity requirements and other compliance
  • Reviewing title and information supplied by the seller
  • Carrying out searches and enquires
  • Reporting to you on the transaction
  • Acting for your mortgage lender
  • Dealing with exchange of contracts
  • Preparing for and dealing with completion
  • Dealing with your Stamp Duty Land Tax Return and payment
  • Registration at land Registry

Sale

  • Dealing with identity requirements and other compliance
  • Preparing sale contract and documentation
  • Dealing with purchaser enquires
  • Dealing with exchange of contracts
  • Preparing for and dealing with completion
  • Paying off existing mortgage and accounting to you for sale monies ( if there are multiple charges or restrictions to be redeemed we may charge additional fees depending on the work involved)

Remortgage

  • Dealing with identity requirements and other compliance
  • Reviewing mortgage offer and conditions and dealing with requirements of the lender
  • Preparing mortgage documentation
  • Preparing for and dealing with completion
  • Paying off existing mortgage and accounting to you for sale monies
  • Completing the remortgage and registering at Land Registry

Non-standard transactions

We may charge different fees for cases that have particular features or complications. For example:

  • Auction purchase. Typical additional charge will be 25% of our usual fee
  • Unregistered title Registration of tile. Typical additional charge will be 25% of our usual fee.
  • New build properties. Typical additional charge will be 25% of our usual fee.
  • Islamic mortgage. Typical additional charge will be 25% of our usual fee.
  • Help to buy. Supplement £150 plus vat
  • Help to Buy ISA. £50.00 plus vat
  • Shared ownership. Supplement £250 plus vat
  • Purchase of repossessed property. Typical additional charge will be 25% of our usual fee.
  • Lease extensions and variations. Fees dependent on terms and complexity.
  • Buy to let mortgages by specialist lenders
  • Overseas identity requirements (£250 to £500 plus vat)
  • Documentation for Gifts of deposits (typically £150 plus vat)
  • Dealing with defective titles

Some example cases are provided below

Example for a leasehold purchase of a flat for £350,000 by a first time buyer

OUR FEES

AMOUNT

VAT

Our fee for acting in leasehold purchase of £350,000

£700

£140

Other Costs

  

Bank transfer fee (to complete)

£35

£7

Completing Land Transaction Return

£100

£20

 

£835

£167

   

DISBURSEMENTS

AMOUNT

VAT

Searches (indicative cost; amount varies per Local Authority)

£299

n/a

Land Registry Priority Searches

£4

n/a

Bankruptcy Search per person

£3

n/a

Stamp Duty Land Tax (assuming you have never previously owned a property)

£2,500

n/a

Land Registry Fee

£135

n/a

Check on the seller’s solicitor’s bank account (Lawyer Checker)

£14

n/a

Electronic ID checks (per person)

£20

n/a

Fee payable to landlord to record change of ownership (this is very variable depending on the lease)

£TBC

TBC

Chancel policy (to protect against any potential liability under ancient laws to contribute to church repair)

£35

n/a

 

£3,010

£

   

TOTAL

AMOUNT

VAT

OUR FEES

AMOUNT

VAT

Our fee for acting in freehold remortgage of £350,000

£475

£95

Other Costs

  

Bank transfer fee (to complete)

£35

£7

Bank transfer fee (to redeem mortgage)

£35

£7

 

£545

£109

   

DISBURSEMENTS

AMOUNT

VAT

Searches indemnity policy (if lender allows, this will be less than the cost of searches)

£60

n/a

Land Registry Priority Search

£4

n/a

Bankruptcy Search

£3

n/a

Land Registry Fee

£40

n/a

Electronic ID checks (per person)

£20

n/a

 

£127

 
   

TOTAL

AMOUNT

VAT

 

£672

£109

£3,845

£167

Freehold remortgage of freehold house with redemption of existing mortgage

Other information

This information is provided for illustration purposes and to help clients understand how we charge for our services. Please do discuss your circumstances. If you instruct us you will be provided with a tailored quotation in our client care letter / terms of business which will set out our relationship.