Redmans help client increase their settlement agreement offer by £3,500
Summary
How Chris Hadrill, a specialist employment solicitor, represented a client in settlement agreement negotiations and secured the client an increase of £3,500 to their redundancy package, as well as other amendments to the settlement agreement.
Situation
Anton (not his real name) worked for a global financial technology company. He was approached by his employer and informed that he was to be made redundant. Anton was not happy with this and instructed Redmans to negotiate the settlement agreement for him – in particular, Anton wished to increase the value of the ex-gratia package under the settlement agreement, as well as negotiate the reference and release him from the non-compete clause that he was bound by under his contract of employment. Chris Hadrill, the partner in the employment department at Redmans, advised Anton on his matter.
What we did
Chris called Anton to discuss his concerns about the termination of his employment and the requirements that he had for the settlement agreement. Chris took on board Anton’s concerns and represented him in his settlement agreement negotiations. He went through Anton’s settlement agreement in depth with him, discussed what amendments should be made to the agreement with Anton, and negotiated the settlement agreement terms directly with Anton’s employer.
Chris negotiated a higher value of settlement agreement (an increase of £3,500 to the ex-gratia value) for Anton. He also managed to persuade Anton’s employer to amend the reference, as well as for a relaxation of the non-compete covenant that Anton was bound by under his contract of employment (his employer wasn’t prepared to release him from the entirety of this). Finally, it was agreed that Anton’s employer would increase their coverage of legal fees under the settlement agreement so as to cover the majority of Anton’s legal costs for the advice.
The result
After a short period of negotiation, as detailed above, Anton’s employer agreed to increase the value of the ex-gratia sum by £3,500 (to a sum equal to three months’ gross salary for Anton), to pay Anton out for his notice period, to relax the non-compete clause that Anton was subject to under his contract of employment, to amend the reference as Anton had requested, and to cover the majority of Anton’s legal costs. It was also negotiated that the terms of the agreement – and the reason for Anton leaving his employer – would be covered by a mutual confidentiality clause and that Anton would receive an agreed reference from the business in the future.
Chris Hadrill, the specialist employment solicitor who dealt with Anton’s case, commented on the case: “I was delighted to negotiate Anton’s settlement agreement for him, and was delighted with the result that was achieved for Anton. I wish Anton the best of luck in the future and we’re always here to talk if advice is needed on employment law”