Settlement terms agreed
Reference, notice pay and a full release, signed by both sides.
I’m Owen Hale, an employment and business lawyer for founders, managers and their teams. One lawyer, fixed fees and plain English, from the first call to the final signature.
Trusted by founders and people teams at
Employment disputes
Whether you have been let go unfairly or your company faces a claim, I review the facts, tell you where you stand and deal with the other side, so you can get on with your work.
Learn more
Business contracts
Employment contracts, contractor agreements, NDAs and terms of business, written in plain English and checked against how your company actually works.
Learn more
Founders and startups
Founder and shareholder agreements, option schemes and first hires. The paperwork investors ask about, done once and done properly.
Learn more
Settlements and negotiation
Most disputes end in a settlement agreement. I make sure the terms, the reference and the payment are right, and push back when they are not.
Learn moreTribunal claim
Hearing listedUnfair dismissal
Contract review
3 clauses flaggedSenior hire, employment contract
Founder agreement
SignedThree founders, one cap table
Settlement offer
Agreed£48,000 and an agreed reference
12
years advising founders and their teams
About Owen
After twelve years in large firms, I kept seeing the same thing: good people paying for layers of partners and juniors, and waiting days for an answer. Verdix is the opposite. One experienced lawyer, direct access and fees you agree before anything starts.
I work with founders, managers and employees across England and Wales, mostly on employment disputes, contracts and settlement agreements.
Admitted
Solicitor, England and Wales, 2013
Focus
Employment and business law
Experience
12 years in City and regional firms
Recognition
Employment Lawyer of the Year, 2026
Owen Hale
Founder and principal solicitor
100%
of fees agreed in writing before work starts
1
lawyer on your case, from first call to signature
1 page
plain-English summary with every piece of advice
24h
longest wait for a reply to any email or call
92%
of my cases settle before a hearing
You know the cost of each stage before it starts. No hourly meter and no surprise invoices.
The lawyer you speak to on the first call is the lawyer who handles your case, start to finish.
What the law says, what it means for you and what I would do in your position. No jargon.
Every email and call is returned within one working day, and usually much sooner.
I aim for the outcome you need in the fewest steps, and tell you when a fight is not worth it.
After our first call you get a written plan: where you stand, your options, the likely outcome and what each step costs.
You hear from me at every turn, in writing, and every document and deadline sits in your client portal.
If the work grows or changes direction, you get the new scope and its price in writing before anything else happens.
I stay with your case until it is resolved: signed, paid and closed, with nothing left hanging.
Case plan
Prepared by Owen Hale
Case VX-2041
Unfair dismissal, opened 8 Aug
Letter sent to your employer
Mon, 9:04
Reply received and read
Tue, 14:30
Advice note shared with you
Tue, 16:10
Fee schedule
Agreed before each stage
Case closed
Settled without a hearing
Recovered
£8,400
Two months’ pay
Start to close
7 weeks
From the first call
After our first call you get a written plan: where you stand, your options, the likely outcome and what each step costs.
You hear from me at every turn, in writing, and every document and deadline sits in your client portal.
If the work grows or changes direction, you get the new scope and its price in writing before anything else happens.
I stay with your case until it is resolved: signed, paid and closed, with nothing left hanging.
01.
Tell me what happened. I will tell you honestly whether I can help and what it is likely to involve.
02.
I read the documents, check every deadline and send you a short written view of your position.
03.
You get a step-by-step plan with a fixed fee for each stage. Nothing starts until you agree.
04.
I negotiate, draft and, if needed, represent you until the matter is closed.
Your first call
Free30 minutes with Owen
Your case
Stage 2 of 4Written case review
Your case
Stage 3 of 4Plan and fixed fee
Your case
ClosedSettlement agreement
Every client gets a private portal with the timeline, documents, messages and fees in one place.
1Timeline
See where things stand, what happens next and every deadline, without having to ask.
Stage
2 of 4
Next deadline
14 Nov
Documents
18
Review
Negotiation
Settlement
Signed
2Documents
Contracts, letters and evidence, versioned and shared securely. No digging through email.
Employment contract.pdf
Grievance letter.docx
Settlement terms.pdf
3Messages
Message me directly. Replies within one working day, usually the same afternoon.
Owen Hale
Today, 10:42
They have replied, and they want to settle. Good news.
Great. What would you recommend?
Let’s talk at 4 pm and I will walk you through the offer.
4Fees
Each stage, its fixed fee and what is paid, so the cost of your case is never a surprise.
Fees
No hourly billing. You see the price of each stage in writing, and nothing starts until you say yes.
See all fees →First call
Free
30 minutes, no obligation
Settlement agreement
£650
Fixed, plus VAT
Disputes and contracts
From £450
Per stage, plus VAT
Something else on your mind? Send me a short note and I will reply within one working day.
Email meYes. The first 30 minutes are free and come with no obligation. If I cannot help, I will tell you, and point you to someone who can.
We split your matter into stages. Each stage has a fixed fee, agreed in writing before it starts. If something changes, we agree the new fee first.
Yes. A settlement agreement only binds you if you have had independent legal advice on it, and most employers contribute towards that advice.
Within one working day, and usually the same day. Urgent deadlines are flagged on our first call so nothing is missed.
Yes. Most of my work happens by phone, video and email, so I work with clients across England and Wales.
Your contract, any letters or emails about the issue and a short timeline of what happened. A rough note is fine.
Book a free 30-minute call. You will leave it knowing where you stand and what to do next.
