Has your employer asked you to sign a settlement agreement and to leave your job?

If so, you need speedy and full legal advice because an employment settlement agreement is not legally binding unless you have received independent and certified legal advice on all of its terms.

We are here to advise you in these pressured situations because it can be a very confusing and disorienting time. And we believe it is important that employees are properly and sensibly advised about the terms that are on offer.

We are usually able to provide same-day assistance either here in our offices in Fleet Street in central London or on telephone or video calls.

These agreements can often be a sensible and practical way for all parties concerned to draw a line under problems arising in a workplace. They can also give you the space to make a new start in a new job with better prospects.

But you need to be aware that employers will usually require you, in return for making any termination payments, to give up your chance to seek compensation for claims you might have against them. They will also usually require you to provide assurances about your past conduct, even though you won’t be working for them anymore, and make commitments relating to your future activities through, for example, non-disclosure clauses, non-compete clauses and tax indemnities.

We are experts at helping our clients to understand and navigate these demands, and often to secure improved and fairer outcomes from these complex agreements.

We will go through with you your rights and potential claims against your employer - such as claims for breach of contract, unfair dismissal, harassment, victimisation or discrimination. We will also discuss in detail whether, and if so how, it may be in your interests to agree to an employer’s proposal.

If you do sign the agreement after receiving legal advice, an employer will usually make a significant contribution to your legal costs and agree to provide you with a reference for future employment. But if you choose not to, we can be here to help you stand your ground and, if needed, pursue your claims.