Last updated: July 2026
Newcastle is home to some major employers, alongside a large professional services and public sector base. If your employer has offered you a settlement agreement, the law requires you to take independent legal advice before you can sign. We’ll go through it and explain the terms and effects, and we offer same day appointments. Your employer covers the legal fees in almost every case, see our cost promise for details on how we don’t charge you any extra.
Call 0800 861 1883 or start your settlement online.
How we take you through it
Step 1: Get the agreement to us. Send it over by email and we’ll book a consultation, often the same day.
Step 2: Have it explained properly. We’ll set out what you’re being offered, and explain what you’d be giving up.
Step 3: Sign when you’re ready. Your solicitor countersigns the adviser certificate the law requires.
Step 4: Your employer pays out according to the agreed timetable.
The Legal Framework
A settlement agreement (previously called a compromise agreement) is a legally binding contract that ends employment on agreed terms, usually involving a payment to the employee in return for the employee agreeing not to bring specified legal claims. The Employment Rights Act 1996 sets the conditions for validity: the agreement must be in writing, must relate to particular claims, and the employee must have received advice from an independent, qualified adviser first.
Newcastle’s Employment Landscape
Newcastle’s economy has shifted decisively towards professional and financial services, technology and the public sector over the past two decades. Sage Group, the accounting software company, has its global headquarters here and is one of the North East’s biggest employers; Greggs, the UK’s largest bakery chain, is headquartered in the city too, and Virgin Money’s headquarters sit just north in Gosforth. Deloitte and other major professional services firms have a significant Newcastle presence, and forecasts point to professional services being the city’s fastest-growing sector for employment over the next few years. Alongside this, the public sector, education and healthcare remain substantial employers in their own right.
Whatever your situation, we can talk you through your settlement agreement quickly by phone or video.
Newcastle settlement agreements
Where would a tribunal claim from Newcastle be heard? At the Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QF. Most settlement agreements are agreed well before a claim reaches that stage.
Is my settlement payment fully tax-free? Our tax guide explains the general rules.
Do I need to travel anywhere in Newcastle for advice? No. All consultations are handled by phone or video call, which is generally quicker to arrange and just as thorough as an in-person meeting.
How long do I get to think about the offer? There’s no fixed statutory deadline, but Acas guidance suggests around 10 days as a reasonable period.
Who actually pays for my legal advice? Your employer, in almost all cases, since independent advice is a legal requirement for the agreement to take effect. See our cost promise for the details.
The key thing to know about settlement agreements
Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, a settlement agreement only takes legal effect once the employee has received advice from an independent, qualified adviser. Read our full settlement agreement guide.
Speak to a solicitor
Call 0800 861 1883 or request a call back for a confidential conversation about your settlement agreement.
We can help with Newcastle based settlement agreements.
We that losing your job or having a dispute at work can feel overwhelming and stressful. However, we have long term experience of helping people reach the best outcomes possible with their settlement agreements. Getting the right advice means we can ensure you are getting the best deal (and negotiate on your behalf if you’re not) and allow you to sign your settlement agreement and move on.
Legal Disclaimer
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.
