Legal expenses insurance

Bring balance to your budgets and avoid shock costs

Protect your business against the cost of defending employment tribunals and health and safety claims

Even with robust policies in place and a culture of compliance embedded across your workforce, you may come up against employment tribunals or health and safety prosecutions.

This can be a shock to any business, with the average cost of defending an employment tribunal in England and Wales costing tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees. A few of these in a given financial year can amount to a big hit in the P&L statement, and even claims without basis require a detailed legal approach.

Legal expenses insurance (LEI) offers businesses clarity in their legal expenditure with a fixed-price annual cost, bringing stability to the budget.

Whether you are on the receiving end of an employment tribunal claim or a claim arising from health and safety practices, LEI offers significant coverage and protection.

LEI is an option available to all AfterAthena clients on an active employment law retainer.

Why businesses choose LEI

The reality is that any employer can face an employment tribunal claim at any time. The unexpected financial and resource commitment involved can make it difficult to plan and budget with confidence..

Common issues that lead to Tribunal claims include:

Unfair dismissal allegations
Discrimination claims
Whistleblowing claims
Wage and holiday pay disputes
Breach of contract claims
Health and safety-related matters

AfterAthena as an SRA-regulated law firm is looking to break to mould of the established way litigation solicitors defend clients against claims.

LEI ensures:

Predictability in your costs
Stability in your budgeting
Leading support from specialist and highly experienced employment law litigation lawyers
No more “checking the clock” – you’re covered up to £100,000 per case

What is covered by our legal expenses insurance?

Employment Tribunal Claims Covered from Start to Finish

The policy covers legal costs associated with defending employment disputes through multiple stages, including:

ACAS Early Conciliation
ET3 responses to Employment Tribunal claims
Preparation of evidence and witness statements
Pre-hearing reviews
Employment Tribunal hearings
County Court and High Court proceedings arising from employment disputes

Compensation Awards Covered

Many employers worry most about legal fees, but the policy can also cover:

Employment Tribunal compensation awards
Settlements approved under the policy
Tribunal fees awarded against the employer

Health and Safety Legal Defence Cover

The policy isn’t restricted to employment disputes.

It also covers legal costs relating to:

Health and safety interviews under caution
Defence of health and safety prosecutions
Appeals against improvement notices
Appeals against prohibition notices

Cover limits

Cover per claim

Up to £100,000

Cover in any one policy year

Up to £1 million

How LEI works with your wider employment law retainer

Our LEI has been specifically designed to complement the support provided through our employment law retainer.

Together, they provide a proactive and reactive solution:

Proactive support

Day-to-day employment law advice
HR guidance and best practice support
Assistance with employment documentation and procedures
Risk mitigation and compliance advice

Reactive support

Financial protection if a claim arises
Specialist Tribunal representation
Cover for legal costs and compensation awards
Support throughout the litigation process

This combined approach helps employers reduce the likelihood of claims while ensuring protection is available if disputes occur.

What our clients say

“AfterAthena has been a game-changer… their support has ensured we are fully compliant and helped reduce absenteeism to an all-time low.”

Daniel Johnson, Managing Director, The Cardbox Box Co Ltd.

“The team provided expert guidance through employment tribunal claims… resulting in all claims being withdrawn.”

Allan Thompson, Managing Director, BMP Europe

Get in touch

FAQs

Is Legal Expenses Insurance worth it for employers?

For many employers, Legal Expenses Insurance provides valuable protection against the potentially significant costs of defending Employment Tribunal claims. Even where a business successfully defends a claim, legal fees and management time can be substantial.

How much cover is available?

The policy provides cover of up to £100,000 per claim and up to £1 million during any one policy year.

Does the policy cover compensation awards?

Yes. The policy covers compensatory awards, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

Is Employment Tribunal representation included?

Yes. Where our advice has been followed, our employment litigation team will manage the defence of the claim, including representation through to the final hearing.

Does the policy cover Health and Safety matters?

Yes. The policy includes legal expenses cover for Health and Safety prosecutions and appeals.

Is LEI available to clients under a Health and Safety service plan?

LEI is designed to sit alongside our employment law retainer. While the policy includes cover for certain health and safety matters, this is connected to the wider employment law and HR support provided through AfterAthena, rather than being a standalone Health and Safety service plan product.

How much is Legal Expenses Insurance?

Our Legal Expenses Insurance is priced according to the size of your workforce, with the cost per employee typically reducing as your organisation grows. Cover is available from as little as £2.61 per employee per month for smaller businesses and from as little as £1.37 per employee per month for larger organisations.

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