Fast, specialist settlement agreement advice. Same day appointments available.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Have you been offered a settlement agreement by an employer in Brighton or Hove?
Call 0800 861 1883 to speak to a specialist settlement agreement solicitor. Advice is by telephone or video call across Brighton, Hove and Sussex, and same-day appointments are usually available. We cap our fee at your employers’ contribution and invoice your employer directly, so in almost every case there is nothing for you to pay. Start my settlement.
What is a settlement agreement?
A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract between you and your employer. In it, you agree not to bring certain employment claims against your employer, and in most cases the agreement also brings your employment to an end. In return, your employer usually makes a payment and may agree other terms, such as an agreed reference.
You will normally take on some obligations too. These commonly include keeping the agreement and the employer’s information confidential, not making derogatory comments about the business, and returning company property.
For the agreement to settle statutory claims, such as unfair dismissal or discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, it must meet conditions set by law. These are in section 203(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, with equivalent rules in section 147 of the Equality Act 2010. The most important is that you must receive advice on the agreement’s terms and effect from a relevant independent adviser before you sign.
Before you call: what Brighton employees usually ask
The first question is nearly always cost. In almost every case your employer pays, because a contribution towards your legal fees is a standard term of the agreement. We speak to clients by phone or video, and can usually do so the same day.
The tribunal centre at City Gate House on Dyke Road only hears benefit appeals. If your workplace is in Brighton or Hove (BN1 to BN10), a claim would go to London South in Croydon; if you work in Worthing, Lancing or Shoreham, it would go to Bristol.
On timing, the Acas Code says you should normally have at least 10 calendar days to consider the written terms (paragraph 12). If something went wrong at work on or after 1 October 2026, you now have six months less one day to bring most tribunal claims, rather than three. And the first £30,000 of a payment for losing your job can usually be paid free of income tax.
Settlement agreements and Brighton’s employers
Brighton and Hove’s larger employers fall into three main groups:
Financial services
From major banks to wealth management companies, much of Brighton’s employment is in financial services. When it comes to settlement agreements, these can include significant financial payouts, including bonus and share awards, and they also need to be carefully checked for references (if you work in a regulated firm).
Health
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust employs nearly 20,000 staff across seven hospitals, three of them on its Brighton campus: the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and the Sussex Eye Hospital.
When it comes to NHS exits, they often run through a set scheme, such as a mutually agreed resignation scheme.
Universities, the council and the creative sector
The University of Sussex and the University of Brighton are major employers, as is Brighton & Hove City Council. Brighton and the surrounding area is well known for its digital, media and creative businesses.
Where would a Brighton claim be heard?
An employment tribunal claim is presented online and then allocated to a regional office. HMCTS guidance T420 says the office is normally decided by the postcode of the place where you worked. Brighton and Hove (BN1 to BN10), Portslade and Southwick (BN41 and BN42) and Eastbourne are allocated to London South in Croydon. Worthing, Lancing and Littlehampton (BN11 to BN18) and Shoreham-by-Sea (BN43) are allocated to Bristol. So two people working a few miles apart along the coast can have their claims handled by different offices.
What makes a settlement agreement legally binding
Section 203(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 sets out six conditions. If any one is missing, the waiver of your statutory claims does not take effect:
- The agreement must be in writing.
- It must relate to the particular proceedings.
- You must have received advice on its terms and effect from a relevant independent adviser.
- The adviser must be covered by insurance or an indemnity.
- The agreement must identify the adviser.
- The agreement must state that the statutory conditions have been met.
The adviser can be a qualified lawyer, a certified trade union official or a certified advice centre worker (section 203(3A)). Most people choose a solicitor; our guide explains what a settlement agreement solicitor does.
How long do you have to decide?
Paragraph 12 of the Acas Code of Practice on Settlement Agreements says that, as a general rule, you should have at least 10 calendar days to consider the proposed formal written terms and take advice. If you are being pressed for a quick answer, call us straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an employment tribunal in Brighton?
No. The Brighton Tribunal Hearing Centre at City Gate House, 185 Dyke Road, BN3 1TL, deals with benefit appeals, not claims against employers. Claims from workplaces in Brighton and Hove (BN1 to BN10) are allocated to the London South Employment Tribunal at Montague Court, 101 London Road, West Croydon, CR0 2RF. Where and how a hearing takes place, including whether it is held by video, is a matter for the tribunal.
I work in Worthing, Lancing or Shoreham. Where would my claim go?
HMCTS guidance T420 allocates claims by the postcode of the workplace. BN11 to BN18, which covers Worthing, Lancing, Littlehampton and Arundel, and BN43 to BN45, which covers Shoreham-by-Sea and Steyning, are allocated to the Bristol tribunal office, not London South. We advise by phone and video wherever you work.
How long do I have to bring a tribunal claim?
The law changed on 1 October 2026. If the problem happened on or after that date, you have six months less one day for most claims. If it happened before 1 October 2026, most claims still have three months less one day.
Who pays for settlement agreement advice?
Your employer, in almost every case. A contribution towards your legal fees is a standard term, and it is usually written into the agreement. We cap our fee at that contribution and invoice your employer directly. That is our cost promise.
Is my settlement payment tax free?
The first £30,000 of a compensation payment for loss of employment can usually be paid free of income tax. Salary, notice pay, holiday pay and bonuses are taxed in the normal way. Our guide explains whether the payment is tax free.
Areas we cover
We advise employees across Brighton, Hove and Sussex, including Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lewes, Newhaven, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Worthing, Eastbourne, Hastings and Chichester, all by phone or video.
Speak to a settlement agreement solicitor
Telephone: 0800 861 1883, or start your settlement, or request a call back.
John Hassells, is an employment solicitor and Head of Legal at settlementagreement.co.uk. John has over 20 years’ experience advising employees and employers on employment law and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. John Hassells is personally regulated by the SRA (SRA No. 168501).
Last reviewed: October 2026
Legal disclaimer
IMPORTANT: The contents of this article are intended to be for general information purposes only and do not amount to (nor are they intended to be) legal, tax or financial advice or a complete or authoritative statement of the law nor should they be treated as such. No warranty or promise is given, express or implied, as to accuracy of the information on this page and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. You should instruct a specialist employment solicitor to advise you on your particular situation and not act or rely on the information on this page.
