At Awdry Law, we understand this can be an unsettling time, but you’ve already taken the first important step by seeking information.
With our office conveniently located at 38 Market Place in the heart of Chippenham, our experienced settlement agreement solicitors can provide the urgent advice you need – often within 24-48 hours of your first call. Book your free consultation today.
If you’ve just received a settlement agreement, follow these essential steps:
We appreciate the urgency that often accompanies settlement agreements.
Settlement agreements (formerly known as compromise agreements) are legally binding contracts that set out the terms and financial arrangements when employment is terminated.
For many Chippenham residents facing redundancy or workplace disputes, these documents can seem overwhelming with their legal terminology and implications.
That’s exactly why the law requires independent legal advice – to protect your interests and ensure you fully understand what you’re agreeing to.
Your employer is legally required to ensure you receive independent legal advice on your settlement agreement before signing. In most cases, they will contribute to or fully cover your legal fees.
Our local settlement agreement specialists offer:
Don’t panic – this is a common situation, but it’s important not to rush such an important decision.
Contact our settlement agreement solicitors immediately, explaining the urgency. We can often accommodate next-day appointments for urgent cases.
Remember that the agreement isn’t valid until you’ve received independent legal advice, regardless of the deadline. While employers may set short timeframes, these can often be extended when a solicitor becomes involved.
We can contact your employer to request a reasonable extension if needed, explaining that proper legal review is in everyone’s best interest.
Even with genuinely tight deadlines, our experienced team can efficiently review your agreement and provide the necessary advice quickly.
The most important thing is to reach out promptly rather than feeling pressured into signing without understanding the implications.
If you choose not to sign a settlement agreement, your options will depend on your specific circumstances.
If you’re being made redundant, the redundancy process would continue without the additional benefits the settlement agreement offered. You should receive your statutory redundancy entitlement but might lose any enhanced package.
If the agreement relates to a workplace dispute, you retain your right to pursue claims at an Employment Tribunal. However, this path involves uncertainty, additional costs, and can be lengthy. It is therefore important to properly consider any offer that is put forward.
The employment relationship would continue in its current state until formal termination through usual processes. This could mean continuing to work in a potentially difficult environment.
Our solicitors can help you weigh up your options and potential outcomes before deciding whether signing is in your best interests.
Sometimes declining to sign and negotiating further can lead to improved offers, but this strategy carries risks that need to be carefully assessed based on your individual situation. We can advise you fully in that regard to ensure you understand the risks before making your decision on how to proceed.
When facing redundancy or an employment dispute in Chippenham, understanding exactly what you’re signing is crucial. Our solicitors will:
Translate the legal jargon – We’ll explain every clause in plain English so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to.
Evaluate your financial package (if you instruct us to do so)- With our knowledge of the typical settlements from local employers, we’ll tell you honestly whether the offer is reasonable.
Identify potential issues – We’ll spot restrictive clauses that might affect your ability to work for other Chippenham businesses or commute to nearby Bath or Swindon for new opportunities.
Negotiate improvements – Where we see room for better terms, we’ll advocate on your behalf to try to secure them.
When you need settlement agreement advice in Chippenham, here’s why local residents choose us:
If you’ve received a settlement agreement from your employer, time is often of the essence. Contact our settlement agreement team today for prompt, expert guidance.
Call us on 01249 478333 or email us at litigation@awdry.law to book a free consultation with our Chippenham solicitors.
You can also complete our quick online enquiry form – we’ll respond promptly as we understand the urgency.
Don’t wait – the sooner we can review your agreement, the more time we’ll have to negotiate better terms if needed.
© Awdry Law Solicitors in Wiltshire
VAT number 137523963
