Reforms are being phased in
Upcoming changes mean employers should review how they manage contracts, policies and staff issues.
SRA-Regulated · Solicitor-Led · Fixed Monthly Support
Protect Your Business Before Employee Issues Become Expensive.
Get fixed-fee employment law and HR support from qualified solicitors — tailored to your staff size, sector and risk profile, with insured and uninsured options available.
From
£95/mo
Uninsured · advisory support + document maintenance
or from
£135/mo
Insured · adds tribunal defence cost protection, subject to terms
Trusted by SMEs across England & Wales · 60-second quote
- SRA No. 640898Authorised & regulated
- Established firmSolicitor-led practice
- Named solicitorDirect line to your team
- Insured optionTribunal cover available
The Risk
Employee issues become expensive — fast.
Most employer-side legal costs come from issues that could have been prevented or de-escalated earlier. These are the situations our retained clients see most.
- Procedure
Disciplinaries handled badly that turn into tribunal claims
- Escalation
Grievances that escalate due to weak procedures
- Process
Dismissals carried out without the right process
- Restructure
Redundancy decisions exposing the business to claims
- Absence
Long-term sickness absence with no clear plan
- Conduct
Discrimination, harassment and bullying allegations
- Tribunal
Tribunal threats arriving by email or solicitor letter
- Documents
Older contracts may leave gaps that no longer protect you
Why Now
Employment law reform is being phased in — your HR processes need to keep up.
With employment rights changes being introduced in phases, employers have time to review contracts, policies and internal procedures before issues become formal disputes. Smiths Business HR’s fixed-fee support helps businesses get solicitor-led guidance before key decisions are made.
Older documents may leave gaps
Legacy contracts and templates may not reflect how your business now operates or the procedures you rely on.
Processes need ongoing maintenance
Disciplinary, grievance, absence and redundancy processes should be reviewed before problems become formal.
The Solution
Ongoing protection, not panic phone calls.
Ongoing solicitor-led protection. Not ad-hoc legal advice.
Most employers only call a solicitor once an issue has already escalated — when costs are highest and options narrowest. Our monthly support model gives you a named legal team who already know your business, your contracts and your people.
- Direct access to qualified employment solicitors
- Contracts and handbooks kept current as the law changes
- Step-by-step guidance through live employee issues
- Insured option available to help reduce financial risk, subject to terms
A premium retainer, built for SMEs
Clear fixed monthly fee. Guidance before issues escalate. Tailored to your business.
FixedMonthly fee
24hResponse target
1:1Named solicitor
SRARegulated
What's Included
Practical, end-to-end employment support.
Everything most SMEs need to stay protected and respond confidently when issues arise.
Day-to-day legal guidance
- Unlimited employment law helpline
- Named solicitor relationship
- HR audit on onboarding
Contracts & policies kept current
- Drafting & reviewing contracts
- Bespoke staff handbook & policies
- Annual contract & policy refresh
Support when something happens
- Disciplinary & grievance support
- Sickness absence management
- Redundancy & restructure planning
When matters escalate
- Settlement agreements
- TUPE guidance
- Tribunal defence (insured option)
Two Levels
Insured vs uninsured — the practical difference.
Both give you full advisory cover. The insured option adds financial protection if a claim escalates to tribunal.
Uninsured
From £95/mo
Full advisory support and document maintenance, with legal fees billed separately if a tribunal claim arises.
- Helpline & guidance
- Contracts & policies
- Live case support
- Pay-as-you-go tribunal defence
Insured
From £135/mo
Same advisory cover plus insurance against tribunal defence costs and qualifying awards — subject to terms.
- Everything in Uninsured
- Tribunal defence costs covered
- Awards cover (subject to terms)
- Greater cost certainty
Pricing Logic
Why your monthly fee is tailored.
There is no single price for every business. These factors help shape the most suitable monthly support level.
Longer-term support options may be available at reduced monthly rates, but you are not locked in by requesting a quote.
Factor 01
Staff count
More employees means more documentation and more potential issues.
Factor 02
Sector
High-turnover, shift-based or regulated sectors typically need more support.
Factor 03
Current documentation
Bringing contracts and policies up to standard takes initial work.
Factor 04
Live issues
Active disciplinaries, grievances or claims affect the right support level.
Factor 05
Support level
Uninsured advisory support vs. insured support with tribunal defence cost protection, subject to terms.
Factor 06
Business complexity
Multiple sites, shift patterns, high staff turnover or regulated environments can affect the support required.
Get Your Quote
Tell us about your business.
Eight quick questions. A real person reviews every submission.
- Takes around 60 seconds
- No obligation
- A solicitor or HR specialist will review your answers and call you back
Who It's For
Built for employers who need legal confidence without hiring an in-house HR team.
Owner-managed SMEs
Typically suited to businesses with growing teams, higher staff interaction, or no dedicated in-house HR function.
- Hospitality
- Care
- Construction
- Retail
- Logistics
- Recruitment
- Manufacturing
- Cleaning & security
- Clinics
- Trades
- Professional services
When this is right for you
- You want predictable employment law costs
- You do not have an in-house HR team
- You are worried about employee disputes or tribunal exposure
- Your contracts or policies have not been reviewed recently
- You want guidance before making sensitive staff decisions
Compare
One-off legal advice vs. monthly support.
| How they compare | One-off advice | Monthly support |
|---|---|---|
| Cost predictability | Charged per matter or hour | Clear monthly fee for agreed support |
| Business context | Usually starts when an issue arises | Relationship builds over time |
| Documents | Separate review usually needed | Contract and policy support available depending on plan |
| Live issues | Reactive support | Earlier guidance before escalation |
| Tribunal defence | Separate instruction | Insured option available, subject to terms |
Why Smiths Business HR
A solicitor-led practice you can build a long-term relationship with.
Established law firm
A solicitor-led practice with deep employment expertise.
SRA-regulated
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Sector experience
Hospitality, care, construction, logistics and more.
Insured option
Optional cover for tribunal defence costs, subject to terms.
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. SRA No. 640898 · England & Wales.
Your team
Named solicitor & HR specialist
Direct line, assigned on onboarding.
How It Works
Four steps to being properly protected.
Take the quote quiz
60 seconds to share your basics.
Speak with our team
We review your answers and call you back.
Receive your tailored plan
Fixed monthly fee based on your business.
Start being protected
Onboarding HR audit and document refresh.
In Practice
Common employer situations we support.
Difficult dismissal process
An employer needed to manage a sensitive dismissal fairly. We guided the process step by step, helping reduce the risk of a tribunal claim.
Outdated handbook review
Contracts and policies had not been reviewed in years. We refreshed the documents so they better reflected how the business actually runs.
Grievance process support
A formal grievance landed without warning. With early solicitor-led guidance, the employer had a clearer process to follow.
FAQ
Common questions, answered plainly.
Is the quote binding?
No — getting a quote does not commit you to anything.
Submitting the quiz gives you an indicative monthly figure and a callback. You only proceed if the proposal is right for your business.
What affects my monthly fee?
Your fee is tailored to your business, not a flat rate.
Can I use this if I already have an active employee issue?
Yes — let us know during the quote so the team can scope it.
What does insured support mean?
It can add tribunal defence cost protection, subject to terms.
Am I locked in by completing the quote?
No — completing the quiz creates no obligation.
Are you regulated?
Yes — Smiths Business HR is SRA-regulated.
Get protected
Find out which monthly support level fits your business.
Takes around 60 seconds. No obligation. A solicitor or HR specialist will personally review your answers.