A direct route from first contact to signed agreement.

The settlement agreement process in detail

Understanding what to expect at each stage of the settlement agreement process can help reduce the anxiety that often accompanies a difficult employment exit. Below, we explain in detail what happens from the moment you receive a settlement agreement to the point at which everything is concluded.

Step 1 — Receiving the agreement

Your employer will typically present you with a settlement agreement either in a meeting or by email. The agreement may be accompanied by a covering letter or an explanatory note. You are under no obligation to sign the agreement and you should not do so until you have received independent legal advice.

Employers are required by law to give you a reasonable period of time to consider the agreement and take legal advice. The ACAS Code of Practice suggests a minimum of ten calendar days, though in practice many employers allow more. If you are being pressured to sign quickly, contact us immediately — we can often accommodate urgent timelines.

Step 2 — Your first contact with us

You can reach us by phone on 020 3058 3365, by email at enquiries.sa@ackroydlegal.com, or by completing the online enquiry form on our website. We aim to respond to all enquiries within two hours during business hours.

At this initial stage, we will ask you to share a copy of the settlement agreement and any background information that is relevant — such as your length of service, salary, and the circumstances of your departure. Everything you tell us is strictly confidential.

Step 3 — Our review of the agreement

Once we have received your agreement, a specialist employment solicitor will carry out a detailed review of every clause. We will assess:

• Whether the financial payment is fair and appropriate given your circumstances
• Whether there are any outstanding payments your employer has failed to address
• The tax treatment of each element of the payment
• The adequacy and accuracy of the reference terms
• The scope and enforceability of any post-termination restrictions
• The confidentiality provisions and what they prevent you from saying
• Any other terms that may be onerous or unusual

Step 4 — Your advice meeting

We will then speak with you — by telephone or video call, or in person if preferred — to walk you through our findings. We will explain each clause in plain English, answer all of your questions, and give you our honest assessment of whether the terms are fair and what, if anything, we would recommend negotiating.

This meeting typically takes between thirty minutes and an hour, depending on the complexity of the agreement and the number of questions you have. There is no rush — we want to ensure you feel completely informed and comfortable before making any decision.

Step 5 — Negotiation (where applicable)

If we identify grounds for negotiation — whether on the financial payment, reference terms, restrictions, or any other matter — we will discuss the strategy with you and, with your authority, engage directly with your employer or their solicitors. We handle all negotiations professionally and firmly, drawing on our experience of what employers will and will not accept in comparable situations.

Most negotiations are concluded within a few days. In our experience, many clients achieve a materially improved outcome compared to the initial offer.

Step 6 — Signing and certification

Once you are satisfied with the terms of the agreement, you will sign it and we will countersign the solicitor's certificate confirming that we have given you independent legal advice on the terms and effect of the agreement. This certification is a legal requirement — without it, the agreement has no effect.

We will then return the signed and certified agreement to your employer or their solicitors, and the process is complete. Your settlement payment will typically be made within the timeframe specified in the agreement.

How long does the whole process take?

For a straightforward agreement where the terms are acceptable and no negotiation is required, the entire process can be completed within 24 to 48 hours. Where negotiation is needed, the timeline is typically three to seven working days, though we can move faster where deadlines demand it.

If you have an urgent deadline, please call us directly on 020 3058 3365 and we will prioritise your matter.

What does it cost?

In the majority of settlement agreement cases, your employer is required to make a contribution towards your legal costs. This is standard practice and forms part of the settlement package. The contribution is typically sufficient to cover our fees entirely for a straightforward matter, meaning there is no cost to you.

For more complex matters requiring significant negotiation or additional work, we will discuss fees with you transparently before commencing any work beyond the initial review. We will never run up costs without your prior agreement.