Litigation

At Mowll & Mowll we strive to help all our clients avoid the stress and cost of time-consuming disputes. You can expect us to:

  • provide accurate, clear and practical advice.
  • fully explain our charges and update you throughout the course of the dispute.
  • try to settle your dispute through negotiation, arbitration or mediation before it escalates to Court proceedings.
  • guide you through the Court process if this stage proves unavoidable.

We have extensive experience in a wide range of disputes including:

  • Landlord and tenant
  • Boundaries
  • Contracts
  • Building and construction
  • Debt collection
  • Bankruptcy and personal insolvency
  • Inheritance claims and disputed wills
  • Professional negligence claims

To discuss your issue in more detail please contact solicitor Ross Hamilton.

Employment (acting for employee or employer)

Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal

Simple case:                           £1,500 – £2,500 (excluding VAT)

Medium complexity case:       £2,500 – £5,000 (excluding VAT)

High complexity case:            £5,000 – £7,500 plus (excluding VAT)

Factors that could make a case more complex (and hence increase costs):

  • If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
  • Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
  • Making or defending a costs application
  • Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
  • The number of witnesses and documents
  • If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
  • Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal

There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £1,000 per day (excluding VAT).  Generally, we would allow 1 – 2 days depending on the complexity of your case.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Counsel’s fees estimated between £1,500 to £2,500 per day (excluding VAT) (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

Key stages

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

  • Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
  • Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
  • Preparing claim or response
  • Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
  • Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
  • preparing or considering a schedule of loss
  • Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
  • Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
  • Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
  • preparing bundle of documents
  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
  • agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
  • Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel
  • Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
  • preparing bundle of documents
  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
  • agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
  • Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.

How long will my matter take?

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 16 weeks plus. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take up to 52 weeks. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

Debt recovery: Range of estimated fees

Debt value (a Court issue fee will be payable in addition)     Our fee

Up to £10,000                                                                         £500 plus VAT

£10,000 – £25,000                                                                  £750 plus VAT

£25,000 – £50,000                                                                  £1,500 plus, plus VAT

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

Only limited fixed costs are recoverable in the event that a Judgment in default is obtained.  These costings only relate to claims where Judgment is obtained in default.

Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.

The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

Our fee includes:

  • Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
  • Undertaking appropriate searches
  • Sending a letter before action
  • Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
  • Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgment in default
  • Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
  • Undertaking appropriate searches
  • Sending a letter before action
  • Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
  • Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgment in default
  • When Judgment in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
  • If payment is not received within 14 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs

Matters usually take 12 – 16 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

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