Last updated: July 2026
If you’ve been offered a settlement agreement by your employer in Leeds, UK law requires you to get independent legal advice from a solicitor before you can sign it. Our specialist employment solicitors will advise you on the terms and effects of your agreement (so you know what you’re signing, what you’ll get and the claims you’re giving up) normally at no cost to you, because your employer pays our fees. We offer a fast sign-off service if you’re happy with the terms. Advice is given by phone or video, and same-day appointments are available.
Start My Settlement or call 0800 861 1883 to speak to a solicitor today.
How it works
Step 1 — Send us your agreement. Email us a copy of your settlement agreement and we’ll arrange a telephone or video consultation, usually the same day.
Step 2 — Talk it through with a solicitor. We’ll explain the terms and their practical effect in plain English, and make sure you understand what you’re giving up before you decide.
Step 3 — Sign when you’re ready. The agreement is executed electronically and your solicitor countersigns the independent adviser certificate that makes it legally binding.
Step 4 — Receive your payment. Your employer releases the settlement payment in line with the agreed terms.
What Is a Settlement Agreement?
A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract between an employer and an employee that ends the employment relationship on agreed terms, typically a payment in exchange for the employee agreeing not to pursue specified legal claims. Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, the agreement is only valid if it’s in writing and the employee has received advice from an independent, qualified adviser — almost always a solicitor. These documents were previously called compromise agreements; you may still see that term in older correspondence.
The Leeds Employment Picture in 2025 and 2026
Leeds is the UK’s second-largest cluster of financial and professional services firms outside London, and one of its largest legal services centres, with around 9,000 people employed in the sector locally and more than a third of the UK’s top 25 law firms holding a Leeds presence.
The city is also home to major employers including Asda, First Direct, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (one of the largest NHS trusts in the country), Sky Betting & Gaming, NHS Digital and Yorkshire Water, alongside a fast-growing FinTech sector of more than 220 firms.
That scale means Leeds sees a steady flow of restructuring, redundancy programmes and individual exit negotiations across banking, law, retail head-office functions, technology and the NHS — against a national backdrop where redundancy notifications are at a high level. Whatever sector you work in, if your employer has offered you a settlement agreement, we can talk you through it by phone or video without the need to travel into the city centre.
There’s also a potential legal change if your settlement agreement includes a confidentiality or non-disclosure clause: the government is expected to change how NDAs can be used in settlement agreements under the Employment Rights Act 2025, following a consultation that closed in July 2026. Read our full breakdown of the proposed changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a settlement agreement solicitor cost in Leeds?
Your employer will usually make a contribution towards your legal costs, because independent advice is a legal requirement for the agreement to be valid. In most cases this contribution covers our fees in full. See our cost promise.
Do I need to visit a solicitor’s office in Leeds?
No. We advise clients across Leeds and West Yorkshire entirely by phone and video call, which is usually faster than an in-person meeting and suits the focused, time-sensitive nature of settlement agreement advice.
How long do I have to decide whether to sign?
There’s no fixed statutory deadline, but Acas guidance recommends employers give at least 10 calendar days to consider the offer — sometimes called a cooling-off period. If you’re being pressured to sign more quickly than that, get in touch straightaway.
Can my employer withdraw the offer if I ask for changes?
Generally, no — most settlement discussions are protected under section 111A of the Employment Rights Act 1996, which allows employers and employees to negotiate freely without the discussion itself being used as evidence in most unfair dismissal claims. Read more about protected conversations.
Is my settlement payment tax-free?
Not automatically. Some elements are, some aren’t. See our full guide to the tax treatment of settlement payments.
What if I’ve already started an Employment Tribunal claim?
You don’t need to have issued a tribunal claim to negotiate or sign a settlement agreement — most are agreed before any claim is lodged. If a claim is already underway, settlement remains possible right up to the hearing. The Leeds Employment Tribunal sits at West Gate, 6 Grace Street, Leeds LS1 2RP.
Settlement agreement facts:
For a settlement agreement to be legally binding under the Employment Rights Act 1996, the employee must receive advice from an independent, qualified adviser before signing. Learn more about how settlement agreements work.
Need solicitor advice for a settlement agreement in Leeds?
For a confidential chat with a specialist employment solicitor please call 0800 861 1883 or request a call back.
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.
