Settlement Agreement Solicitors in Birmingham

Our Birmingham employment team advises on settlement agreements, from reviewing offers to drafting terms. If you are an employee, your employer will pay our fee, so independent advice costs you nothing.

We see clients quickly at our Digbeth office in Birmingham city centre, with same-day appointments available for both employees and employers on a tight deadline.

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Legal 500 recognised employment solicitors
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Employer-paid advice for employees
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Same-day appointments available
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Acting for employees and employers
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Birmingham city centre office

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What This Involves

Whether you have been offered an agreement or need one drafted, Witan can review your options, negotiate terms, and represent you at tribunal if talks break down.

Independent legal advice for employees

The law requires evidence of independent legal advice for a settlement agreement to be binding of the employee. We review the terms with you, explain what rights you are giving up, confirm whether the offer is fair, and advise on whether to negotiate.

Negotiating your settlement terms

The first offer is rarely final. We review the financial package, reference wording, confidentiality terms and any restrictive covenants, then negotiate with your employer. Better terms often cover our cost.

Settlement agreements in redundancy

Employers increasingly use settlement agreements in redundancy to avoid a long consultation. We check whether your package is fair and negotiate where it falls short, weighing statutory pay and notice.

Senior executive and director exits

Senior exits often involve complex terms: LTIPs, bonus entitlements, garden leave and non-compete or confidentiality clauses. Our team will advise directors and senior staff before signing, and negotiate where terms undervalue what you give up.

Tax treatment of settlement payments

Not every part of a settlement payment is taxed alike. The first £30,000 of a termination payment is usually tax-free, but other elements, including PILON, are fully taxable. We advise on your package to avoid surprises.

Disputes during the settlement process

Without prejudice talks are confidential by law, but employment disputes can arise over whether an offer was made or accepted. We advise on your position and, where a settlement fails, on your options, including an employment tribunal claim.

Your Confidence, Our Commitment

Our Approach

Initial Review

We review your settlement agreement or situation and explain your options in plain terms, so you understand what is being offered and what it means before you commit to anything.

Negotiation for Employees

Where terms need improving, we negotiate directly with your employer or their solicitor on your behalf, keeping you updated at each stage rather than leaving you to manage it yourself.

Drafting and Protection

For employers, we prepare bespoke agreements, advise on the payment amount and structure, and make sure confidentiality and restrictive covenants are robust.

Signing and Timescale

Once terms are agreed, we confirm the agreement meets the legal requirements for independent advice. Straightforward cases sign within one to two weeks, and complex cases take several weeks longer.

Meet the Team

Qarrar Somji

Solicitor-Advocate

Qarrar is an experienced solicitor and director of Witan Solicitors, with extensive experience in employment disputes and settlements.

Aliya Abid

Solicitor

Aliya qualified as a solicitor in March 2025 and advises on employment matters including settlement agreements, having settled an unfair dismissal claim without going to tribunal.

Jasia Kazmi

Trainee Solicitor

Jasia specialises in employment law, advising both employers and employees on matters such as unfair dismissal and breaches of employment contracts. She has negotiated enhanced ex gratia payments in settlement agreements.

Our Birmingham Office

Our Birmingham office is in Digbeth, less than a mile from the Bullring and New Street Station, with city-centre access by foot, car and bus.

Witan Solicitors (Birmingham)
Bradford Court
123–131 Bradford Street
Digbeth, Birmingham
B12 0NS

Make an Enquiry

Get Settlement Agreement Advice Today

Call for a free initial consultation about your settlement agreement. If you are an employee, your employer usually pays our fee, so there is no cost to you.

No pressure, just clear advice.

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0300 303 2071

Mon - Fri 8:30 - 5:30

or email us at info@witansolicitors.co.uk

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FAQ

Do I have to sign a settlement agreement?

No. You should only sign once you are satisfied with the terms and have received independent legal advice. If you do not sign, your employment continues on its existing terms, or the dispute proceeds by another route, such as tribunal.

Who pays for my legal advice on a settlement agreement?

In most cases, your employer pays a contribution toward your legal fees for independent advice on the agreement. This amount is often set in the offer, though it can sometimes be negotiated if your case is complex or takes longer to review.

What terms can be negotiated in a settlement agreement?

Common terms include the compensation amount, notice pay, reference wording, confidentiality obligations, restrictive covenants and the timing of payment. Which terms matter most depends on your circumstances and what you want to achieve.

Is a settlement agreement the same as a compromise agreement?

Yes. A compromise agreement is the older name for what is now called a settlement agreement. The law changed the term in 2013, but the document serves the same purpose: ending employment or a dispute on agreed terms.

How much is the tax-free amount on a settlement payment?

The first £30,000 of a genuine termination payment is usually free of income tax. Other elements, such as pay in lieu of notice, holiday pay and contractual bonuses, are taxed as normal earnings regardless of this threshold.

This page was last reviewed by Aliya Abid, Solicitor, Employment Law Team, July 2026. Our Employment Law content is reviewed every six months to ensure it reflects current legislation, case law and market practice.

Witan Solicitors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA 605789). You can view the firm record on the SRA register, and Witan publishes its complaints procedure online.