Employment disputes

Q: What is the ACAS early conciliation process?

If you raise a grievance directly with your employer and they don’t deal with it properly, you can use ACAS early conciliation to try and settle the dispute out of court within a month (with a maximum 2-week extension). If it’s still unresolved, you’ll get an ACAS certificate which allows you to issue a claim in the Employment Tribunal.

Disputes with your employer go far beyond loss of income. Stress in your daily working life can take a huge toll on your wellbeing. And in some cases, an employer dispute can cause damage to your future career and reputation.

You have rights as an employee. If you feel they’ve been violated, we can help you raise a grievance, mediate a dispute, and go through the Employment Tribunal or court if necessary.

Speak To Us Today

Expert legal advice

If you have a dispute with your employer, our lawyers can help. We support senior executives and professionals and help to resolve disputes.

Employment disputes are often resolved without the need to go to the Employment Tribunal or court. We can support you through:

Raising a grievance with your employer
The ACAS pre-claim conciliation process (you have to go through this process if you want to take your claim through to the Employment Tribunal)
Employment Tribunal
County Court
High Court.

We are expert negotiators and regularly secure six-figure settlements for our clients. Our lawyers aren’t intimidated – we act against large multinational corporations and often have cases in the High Court.

But in many instances we’re able to resolve disputes before they get to court or Tribunal. And we’ll work hard to try and preserve your relationship with your employer too. We are practical and will give you advice that’s got your best interests and reputation at heart.

What legal claims might I have against my employer?

A dispute with your employer can result in stress, loss of income and damage to your reputation. Our employment disputes solicitors can give you expert guidance and support.

Your employer must honour your rights and act within employment law. Issues we can help you with include:

Redundancy
Discrimination
Worker status
Whistleblowing
Unfair dismissal
Breach of contract
Misconduct allegations
Bullying and harassment
Allegations of poor performance
Pay, bonus, and reward disputes
Dealing with regulatory investigations
Restrictive covenants and team moves.

We can also work to negotiate a severance package if it becomes impossible for you to continue working for your employer.

Speak to our experts

We have the largest private client team in the UK, our team of experts are here to provide discreet legal advice to support you and your family.

Shah Qureshi

Partner

Find out more

Meet Our Experts

Shah Qureshi

Partner

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACAS early conciliation process?

What is the Employment Tribunal process?

Once you’ve issued a claim, your employer has 30 days to send their defence. The Tribunal will list the case for a full hearing in six to nine months, and we’ll work with you during this time to prepare your case. This can be a long and stressful process, but our employment tribunal solicitors have been through it many times and will support you every step of the way.

It’s important to speak to us as soon as possible, as you only have three months to start the ACAS process from the date of the employer's improper action.

What are the possible outcomes of making a claim against my employer?

If your claim goes to the Employment Tribunal or to court, possible outcomes are:

Compensation
Declaration of your rights
Formal recommendation to your employer to prevent it happening again.

If we settle your claim through negotiation, we may be able to get a reference and an apology for you, as well as a confidentiality agreement and terms that protect your reputation. This can be much less stressful than going to court - and you may receive a more favourable compensation settlement.

Making an enquiry

We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.

Complete our online form
We need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phone
On the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointment
Your next step is an in-depth appointment with a specialist solicitor to discuss how we could advise you.

Get in touch

Our commitment to you

Our experts always start by listening, so we understand what matters most from day one.

01
Clear legal guidance
You will always get straightforward, honest advice, with regular updates to keep you clear on the way forward.
02
Specialist knowledge
A wide-ranging team of trusted specialists who understand what it takes to protect your future, your family or your business.
03
Your needs first
Whether you’re navigating complex personal situations or business decisions, we take the time to understand your world and what’s at stake.