Fees & pricing
Keane usually agrees a fixed fee for a defined piece of work. VAT is additional; the individual quotation sets out the fee, what it includes and the likely timetable before you decide.
From enquiry to quotation
Start with a brief outline of the issue and any important date. Keane assesses conflicts and suitability before proposing a particular piece of work; he aims to complete an initial conflict check within 24 hours once he has the information needed, though availability and urgency can affect timing. The first enquiry does not commit you to paid work.
For commercial, employment and sport matters in England and Wales, the usual model is a fixed fee plus VAT for agreed advice, drafting or appropriate representation. Complexity, volume of papers, number of issues, urgency and hearing length can change the quoted amount. There is no blanket price for every matter.
Indicative fees & key stages
The following are Keane's indicative fee ranges, excluding VAT, for suitable Public Access Employment Tribunal work, including ordinary unfair or wrongful dismissal matters. These are estimates, not a quote or an assurance that every stage is needed. The written proposal will identify the exact work and fee before an instruction is accepted.
| Stage | Indicative fee + VAT | Indicative timing |
|---|---|---|
| Initial written advice on merits, evidence or next steps | £500–£1,500 | 7–14 working days from accepted instructions and complete papers |
| Draft an ET1 claim or ET3 response for you to file | £750–£2,000 | 3–7 working days from accepted instructions and complete papers, subject to the filing deadline |
| Preparation for and advocacy at a preliminary hearing | £500–£1,500 | Preparation usually during the 1–2 weeks before the hearing; advocacy on the listed date |
| Final hearing preparation, for an agreed scope of papers and submissions | £1,500–£4,000 | Usually during the 2–4 weeks before the hearing |
| Advocacy at a final hearing | £2,000–£5,000 per day | The listed hearing dates, for the agreed number of days |
These are indicative times for the agreed barrister task, not the overall duration of the case. Advice and drafting estimates run from accepted instructions and receipt of complete papers. Availability, complexity, volume and condition of papers, tribunal directions and individually agreed urgent arrangements may change them; the specific timetable is agreed in the quotation. Appeals are separate. Keane is not authorised to conduct litigation: he may draft a document, but you or an authorised solicitor must issue, file and serve it, manage the case and monitor deadlines. Tribunal listing and any appeal are outside Keane's control. A case may settle, change scope or require fewer or additional stages.
Clear terms before work starts.
The proposal sets out the work Keane would carry out personally, the fixed fee and VAT, the indicative timing, client responsibilities and any foreseeable extra costs. If more work is needed later, a further agreement may be required. Keane's current agreement asks for signed terms and payment before agreed work begins. Pay only using details verified with The Barrister Group; this website never asks for bank or card details.
For an in-person hearing, travel and accommodation costs vary substantially based on the court or hearing location. Together they are typically £200–£400 per day and will be identified and built into the agreed fee quotation before you instruct, rather than added unexpectedly afterwards. The written quotation makes clear the total and applicable VAT treatment; the daily range is indicative, not a limit for every location. Separately instructed experts or other court/tribunal charges may also be relevant; any applicable costs and responsibility for them will be explained separately before that work is agreed. Consumer cancellation rights, where applicable, are addressed in the separate written agreement; this website does not set out the contract's detailed conditions.
What affects timing and price?
Volume and condition of papers, complexity, number of issues or witnesses, availability, urgent deadlines, the other party's steps and the tribunal or governing body's timetable may affect the scope and cost. The exact fee and deliverable date are agreed for the particular work, not promised by an illustrative range. Raise any approaching deadline immediately: an enquiry does not pause it.
Commercial and sport-law instructions are also usually quoted as a fixed fee plus VAT for the defined service. Once suitability and scope are understood, Keane provides a written individual quote. The five employment-stage estimates above do not apply to those other areas.