Settlement Agreement Solicitors Manchester

Being asked to sign a settlement agreement is a significant moment, and it usually comes with a deadline attached. Before you sign anything, the law requires you to take independent legal advice on what the agreement means and what you are giving up. In almost every case, your employer will pay for that advice, so getting it costs you nothing.

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MAR Legal advises both employees and employers on settlement agreements across Manchester and the UK. Whether you have just been handed an agreement to sign, or you are an employer preparing one, we can turn advice around quickly.

What is an Employee Settlement Agreement?

A settlement agreement is one of the most significant legal documents either party will encounter in the employment relationship. For employers, a poorly drafted agreement can fail to provide the protection it was intended to give, leaving the business exposed to future claims. For individuals, signing without proper settlement agreement legal advice can mean giving up valuable rights for less than you are entitled to. Our solicitors advise on the full range of exit arrangements, from straightforward redundancy settlements to complex senior executive departures involving restrictive covenants, share options, and negotiated terms.

Do I Have to Pay for Advice on My Settlement Agreement?

In almost all cases, no. Employers who offer a settlement agreement will typically contribute a fixed sum toward your legal fees for advice on the terms, and this is usually enough to cover a straightforward review in full. It is a legal requirement that you receive advice from a qualified solicitor before the agreement is binding, and your employer’s contribution exists to make sure that happens.

If your situation is more complex, for example if you want to negotiate the terms rather than simply have them explained, there may be a small amount to cover beyond your employer’s contribution. We will always tell you exactly what that is before any work begins.

Our Employment Settlement Agreement Services

From straightforward redundancy settlements to complex exit negotiations, our settlement agreement lawyers provide focused, practical support at every stage.

For Employers

Settlement Agreement Drafting: We draft settlement agreements for employers that are legally sound, properly structured, and provide the certainty needed to conclude a departure cleanly. A poorly drafted agreement can be challenged or fail to settle the claims it was intended to address.
Redundancy Settlement Advice: As a redundancy agreement solicitor advising employers and individuals, we manage redundancy programmes, draft redundancy agreements, and advise on whether the settlement reflects statutory and contractual entitlements.
Without Prejudice & Protected Conversations: We advise employers on initiating and managing without prejudice discussions and protected conversations correctly, before any formal process has started.
Senior Executive & Director Exits: Complex departures involving share options, LTIPs, bonus entitlements, and post-termination restrictions require specialist advice. We advise on the full range of issues that arise at senior level exits.

For Individuals

Settlement Agreement Review: Our settlement agreement lawyers review the terms being offered, advise on whether they are reasonable, identify anything that should be changed, and where appropriate, negotiate improved terms before you sign. If you are looking for settlement agreement solicitors near me, our Manchester team advises clients across the UK.
Exit Package Negotiation: Where the initial offer falls short, our solicitors advise on negotiation strategy and support you in reaching terms that reflect the value of what is being settled, including compensation, notice, benefits, and references.

Why Getting This Right Matters

Signing a settlement agreement ends your ability to bring a claim. Once it’s signed, there’s no going back to renegotiate. Taking proper advice from settlement agreement lawyers before you sign means you understand exactly what you’re giving up, and whether the offer reflects what you’re actually entitled to.

What We Check Before You Sign

A settlement agreement waives your right to bring claims against your employer, so getting the detail right matters. When we review one, we look at:

Statutory Entitlements

Whether the payment reflects your statutory entitlements as a starting point, and what is being offered on top

Pay and Holiday

Notice pay, accrued but untaken holiday, and any bonus or commission that may be owed

Tax Treatment

Whether the tax treatment of the payment has been correctly applied

Restrictive Covenants

Any restrictive covenants, and whether they go further than necessary to protect the business

Confidentiality and NDAs

Confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions, and their legal limits, since these clauses cannot be used to prevent you speaking to a regulator or the police

References

Reference wording, and whether it is agreed and attached to the agreement itself

Why Choose MAR Legal for Settlement Agreements

Solicitor-Led Advice

Every settlement agreement is reviewed or drafted by a qualified settlement agreement lawyer with direct employment law experience.

Both Sides Advised

We act for employers and individuals, giving us a clear understanding of what each party needs from the agreement.

Fast Turnaround

Settlement agreements often have tight deadlines. Our settlement agreement lawyers work efficiently to meet them without compromising the quality of advice.

Clear, Fixed-Fee Options

Transparent settlement agreement solicitors cost before committing, with no unexpected additions. We are always clear about settlement agreement solicitor fees from the outset.

What Our Clients Say

    
 
 
         
   George Alexo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t recommend Mar Legal highly enough. From the first consultation they were clear, knowledgeable, and straightforward with their advice — no jargon, no runaround. They were responsive whenever I had questions and clearly had my best interests at heart throughout. If you’re looking for legal support you can actually trust, this is the team.
  
 
        
   Mark West 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Perfect experience! We required our IDs verified for a house purchase in another town. The team were very friendly, helpful and quick to sort everything out for us. I highly reccomend!
  
 
        
   Yoana Mitova 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fast and easy way to verify your ID online. Great customer service.
  
 
        
   Conor Morrison 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I instructed MAR legal to assist with company formation and trademark applications for my business. The whole process was straightforward and handled professionally from start to finish. They were responsive, knowledgeable and made sure everything was completed properly. I would definitely use MAR legal again for future business matters.
  
 
        
   Anah Akbar 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I used MAR legal to prepare my UK will and found the service very professional and easy to deal with. Everything was explained clearly and the process was handled efficiently from start to finish. It gave me real peace of mind knowing everything had been done properly. I would happily recommend MAR legal to anyone looking to put a will in place.
  
 
        
   Safiy U 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have used MAR legal for a range of corporate and commercial matters and have always found them reliable, responsive and easy to work with. Their advice is practical and commercially focused, which is exactly what you want as a business owner. They have supported us with contracts, business agreements and general commercial advice, and everything has been handled professionally and efficiently. Communication has always been clear and turnaround times have been very good. It is refreshing to work with a firm that takes the time to understand the commercial side of a business rather than just giving generic legal advice. We would happily recommend MAR legal to other businesses looking for ongoing legal support.
  
 
        
   Sarah Ibrar 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tanawish was super helpful and very responsive
  
 
        
   Pooja Cheema 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I needed independent legal advice on a bridging loan for a refinance and MAR legal handled it well. They were quick to respond, easy to deal with and turned everything around within 24 hours. The fees were reasonable and there were no delays. I would be happy to use them again.
  
 
        
   Ibby Tv 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I used MAR Legal for independent legal advice on a mortgage and was very pleased with the service. I was able to get a same day appointment, which was really helpful, and everything was turned around within 24 hours. They talked me through everything in a way that actually made sense and were easy to deal with throughout. I would use MAR legal again without hesitation.
  
 
        
   Sajaad Nawaz 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. MAR legal assisted with drafting an employment contract for my business and the service was very good. They took the time to understand our requirements and produced a clear and well structured contract that suited our needs. The advice was practical and the process was handled efficiently. I would be happy to use MAR legal again for future legal support.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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When To Seek Advice

You are an employer looking to conclude a departure cleanly and need a legally sound agreement drafted
You have been presented with a settlement agreement and need a settlement agreement lawyer to explain what you are signing
You believe the settlement being offered does not reflect what you are entitled to and want to negotiate
You are managing a redundancy programme and need settlement agreements drafted for multiple employees
A senior executive or director departure involves complex financial arrangements that need specialist advice

How Our Employment Settlement Agreement Process Works

Initial Consultation

We take a brief on the situation, review any documentation provided, and give you an honest assessment of the terms and your position.

Review or Drafting

We review the agreement in detail or draft new terms from scratch, identifying issues, flagging risk, and advising on what needs to change.

Negotiation

Where the terms need improving, we advise on negotiation strategy and support the process until better terms are agreed.

Sign-Off

Once the terms are agreed and the agreement is in final form, we advise on signature and ensure all parties understand the effect of what is being signed.

Meet with a Settlement Agreement Lawyer in Manchester

MAR Legal is based at Regus, 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF, in the city’s business district. The office is a short walk from Deansgate and Manchester Oxford Road stations, with St Peter’s Square and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stops both within 10 minutes on foot. The nearest car park is on Quay Street, a couple of minutes away.

We advise clients across Greater Manchester, including Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton and Bury, as well as clients across the UK.

Meet the Founder

Marium Razzaq has spent 22 years advising on employment matters, including settlement agreements, for both employers and individuals. She is a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (ID 277854), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators & leads MAR Legal’s employment work from Manchester, and reviews settlement agreements personally.

Marium Razzaq
Solicitor & Director Mar Legal
MCIArb

Settlement and exit matters often arise alongside other employment issues. You may also need support with:

Settlement Agreements & Exit Management FAQs

A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract between an employer and an employee that resolves an employment dispute or brings the employment relationship to an end on agreed terms. In exchange for a financial payment, the employee waives their right to bring specified claims against the employer, typically including unfair dismissal, discrimination, and breach of contract. For the agreement to be legally valid, the employee must receive independent legal advice from a qualified adviser on the terms and effect of the agreement before signing. The adviser must sign a certificate confirming that advice has been given.

No. You are never obliged to accept a settlement agreement. You have the right to reject it, negotiate the terms, or take further time to consider. The offer of a settlement agreement does not in itself mean that your employer has acted unlawfully, but it does mean they want to resolve the matter without formal proceedings. A settlement agreement lawyer can help you assess whether the terms are fair, what you might be entitled to if you rejected the offer and pursued a claim, and whether there is scope to negotiate a better deal before making a decision.

It is standard practice for the employer to contribute toward the employee’s legal costs for receiving advice on a settlement agreement, usually enough to cover a straightforward review in full. See “Do I Have to Pay for Advice on My Settlement Agreement?” above for the full explanation.

They are the same thing. Compromise agreement was the term used before 2013, when the legislation was updated and the name was changed to settlement agreement. You may still see the term compromise agreement used, particularly in older documents or by solicitors who have been practising for some years, but the legal effect is identical. If you are presented with a document described as either a settlement agreement or a compromise agreement, the same rules apply and the same independent legal advice requirement must be met before it becomes binding.

A protected conversation is a mechanism that allows an employer to have a confidential discussion with an employee about bringing the employment relationship to an end, without that conversation being used as evidence in unfair dismissal proceedings. It was introduced by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The protection only applies to ordinary unfair dismissal claims. It does not protect conversations that involve improper behaviour, discrimination, or whistleblowing. Employees who are approached for a protected conversation should seek settlement agreement legal advice before responding, as what they say and how they respond can affect the outcome.

There is no fixed formula. The value of a settlement agreement depends on several factors including the employee’s length of service, their salary and benefits, the strength of any potential claims, the employer’s appetite to avoid tribunal proceedings, and any contractual entitlements such as notice pay, accrued holiday, and bonus. As a starting point, the settlement should cover at least statutory entitlements. Beyond that, the additional payment reflects the value being placed on the waiver of claims. A settlement agreement lawyer can advise on whether the amount being offered is reasonable and whether there is a basis to negotiate more.

Yes. Settlement agreements frequently include confidentiality provisions that prevent either party from disclosing the terms of the agreement or the circumstances of the departure. These are commonly referred to as non-disclosure agreements or NDAs. There are legal limits on what can be covered by a confidentiality clause. Following legislative changes, NDAs cannot be used to prevent an individual from disclosing information to the police, a regulator, or their legal adviser, and cannot be used to silence whistleblowing disclosures. Any confidentiality provision in a settlement agreement should be carefully reviewed before signing.

Settlement agreements usually come with a deadline attached, often a week or two. We understand the time pressure and can typically arrange an initial review within a day or two of you sending us the agreement. If a fast turnaround matters to you, tell us when you first get in touch and we will prioritise accordingly.

Get Help with Your Employment Settlement Agreement

Whether you’re an employer looking to manage an employee’s departure or an employee negotiating your exit terms, MAR Legal is here to help. Our team of experts will ensure that your employment settlement agreement is fair, legally sound, and in your best interests.

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Our Employment Settlement Agreement Services

From straightforward redundancy settlements to complex exit negotiations, our settlement agreement lawyers provide focused, practical support at every stage.