Your Journey: From Agreement to Decision
Most people who contact us from Taunton have just been handed a settlement agreement and aren’t sure what to do with it. That’s completely normal. These documents are full of legal language, they come with deadlines, and they usually arrive at an already stressful time.
Here’s what we want you to know: there’s a clear path through this, and we’ll be with you at every stage. You don’t need to understand the legal detail yourself. You don’t need to visit an office. And you don’t need to pay anything, because your employer covers the cost of your legal advice.
Whether you work at Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset Council, one of the schools or colleges in Taunton, or for a contractor linked to Hinkley Point C, the process is the same. Let’s walk through it together.
How Your Settlement Agreement Review Works
Five clear steps, typically completed within 24 to 48 hours. Here’s exactly what happens at each stage.
Upload Your Agreement
Send us your settlement agreement through our secure upload system, or call us and we’ll talk you through it. There’s no form to fill in and no appointment needed. Once we have the document, we’ll confirm receipt and let you know when to expect our review. Most people upload in the morning and hear back the same day.
We Review Same Day
We go through every clause: the termination terms, the payment structure, the tax treatment, any restrictive covenants, confidentiality provisions, and the reference your employer is offering. We check whether the financial offer is reasonable and flag anything that needs attention.
Phone or Video Consultation
This is your time to ask questions and understand what you’re signing. We’ll spend 30 to 60 minutes explaining every part of the agreement in plain English, what it means for you, and what your options are. If everything looks fair, we can sign off straight away. If there are problems, we’ll discuss what to do next.
Negotiate If Needed
This step is optional, and many agreements don’t need it. But if we think you could get a better deal, we’ll explain why and offer to negotiate on your behalf. Our fee for negotiation is 20% of any financial increase we achieve. If we don’t get you more money, you pay nothing for this stage.
Sign Off and Complete
Once you’re comfortable with the terms, we provide our formal sign-off confirming you’ve received independent legal advice. This is what makes the agreement legally binding and allows your employer to process the settlement payment. You’ll have everything you need to move forward with confidence.
The whole process typically completes within 24 to 48 hours, though we can work faster if your deadline is tight. You’re in control at every stage.
What to Expect from Us
Same-Day Review
Upload in the morning, reviewed by afternoon. We know you’re under time pressure, and we work to match it.
Free to You
Your employer pays our fee of £350-500+VAT as part of the settlement agreement. You pay nothing for our review and advice.
Specialist Expertise
We only practise employment law. We review settlement agreements every day, not once in a while.
Negotiation Available
If we think you could do better, we’ll say so. Our negotiation fee is 20% of any increase we achieve. No increase, no fee.
Our Service for Taunton Employees
Taunton is Somerset’s county town, and that means a concentration of employers, from the NHS at Musgrove Park to Somerset Council at County Hall, from the schools and colleges that serve the region to the growing number of people employed on or around the Hinkley Point C project. Settlement agreements arise in all of these workplaces, and we help employees across every sector.
Our service is entirely remote, which means you don’t need to take time out of your day to visit a solicitor’s office in Taunton town centre. Everything happens by phone, video call, and secure document upload. For most people, this is more convenient and less stressful, especially when the last thing you want is to be seen walking into a solicitor’s office while you’re still employed.
Under section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, your employer must pay for you to receive independent legal advice before a settlement agreement becomes binding. This is not optional. It means the review is free to you, and you can choose any solicitor you like; you’re not limited to the firm your employer suggests. Choosing a specialist makes a real difference.
Settlement Agreements in Taunton: What We See
Taunton’s employment landscape produces settlement agreements in some very recognisable patterns. Here are the sectors where they arise most often.
🏥 Healthcare and NHS
Key Employer: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (Musgrove Park Hospital)
Musgrove Park Hospital employs around 4,000 staff and serves a population of approximately 340,000. The Trust also runs Yeovil Hospital and community hospitals across the county. NHS settlement agreements commonly arise in specific, well-documented circumstances.
Common Situations:
- Performance management processes
- Capability and long-term sickness
- Workplace grievance outcomes
- Departmental restructuring
🏛️ Public Sector
Key Employer: Somerset Council (County Hall, Taunton)
Somerset Council became a unitary authority in April 2023, merging five former councils into one organisation headquartered in Taunton. Reorganisations of this scale typically generate a significant number of settlement agreements as roles are restructured and consolidated.
Common Situations:
- Post-merger restructuring
- Budget-driven role reductions
- Performance and attendance management
- Senior leadership changes
⚡ Energy and Construction
Key Project: Hinkley Point C (EDF Energy)
Hinkley Point C is one of Europe’s largest construction projects, employing thousands of workers across Somerset. Many live in and around Taunton. As the project moves between construction phases, contract endings and workforce transitions create settlement agreement situations across the supply chain.
Common Situations:
- Contract phase completions
- Subcontractor restructuring
- Corporate and senior exits
- Whistleblowing situations
🎓 Education
Key Employers: Bridgwater & Taunton College, Richard Huish College, Independent Schools
Taunton has a strong education sector, from state schools and FE colleges to well-known independent schools. Settlement agreements in education often involve fixed-term contracts, departmental reorganisation, and performance-related issues.
Common Situations:
- Fixed-term contract endings
- Departmental restructuring
- Capability and performance processes
- Academy conversions and mergers
🌾 Agriculture and Food Production
Sector: Somerset Food, Drink and Farming
Agriculture and food production employ over 15,000 people across Somerset, with Taunton serving as the market town at the centre of the county’s farming economy. Settlement agreements in this sector often follow seasonal patterns or business restructuring.
Common Situations:
- Seasonal workforce changes
- Business restructuring and mergers
- Management disputes
- Family business transitions
💼 Professional Services and Retail
Sector: Taunton Town Centre and Business Parks
Taunton’s town centre and business parks host banks, insurance firms, legal practices, accountancy firms, and a wide range of retail employers. Over a third of the town’s workforce holds managerial or professional roles, and settlement agreements in these sectors often involve more complex terms.
Common Situations:
- Senior exits and restructuring
- Branch closures and consolidation
- Bonus and commission disputes
- Restrictive covenant negotiations
Why Choose a Specialist Over a Local Taunton Solicitor?
There are good solicitors in Taunton. But most of them handle a broad range of legal work: conveyancing, wills, family law, and occasionally employment matters. Settlement agreement review is something we do every day. That difference matters.
| Feature | Us (Specialist) | Local General Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement Agreements | Review daily | Handle occasionally |
| Assessment Tools | Eligibility checker, clause scanner, fair value estimator | Standard service only |
| Tribunal Backup | Full no win no fee representation | Often no tribunal practice |
| Pricing | Transparent: free review, 20% of increase for negotiation | Often hourly rates of £200-350 |
| Convenience | Remote: phone, video, secure upload | Town centre office visits |
| Turnaround | Same day in most cases | Often several days for appointment |
How We Help Taunton Employees
The Remote Process
Settlement agreement reviews have always been well suited to remote delivery. The document is electronic, the advice is given by phone or video, and the sign-off is handled digitally. There’s no legal reason to sit in a room together, and for most people, the convenience of handling it from home is a genuine benefit. (No need to find parking near East Reach or explain to colleagues where you’re going.)
Understanding Taunton’s Employment Landscape
As Somerset’s county town, Taunton has a broader employment mix than many South West towns of similar size. The public sector presence at County Hall and Musgrove Park, combined with the huge Hinkley Point C project, the education sector, and the agricultural economy that surrounds the town, means settlement agreements here come in many different shapes.
That variety is something we see regularly. An NHS performance management settlement looks very different from an HPC contractor exit or a council restructuring agreement. Having reviewed thousands of settlement agreements, we know what to look for in each situation.
Bristol Employment Tribunal (with Taunton Hearing Venue)
If your settlement agreement isn’t right and you need to consider an employment tribunal claim instead, Taunton has an advantage over many Somerset towns: there’s a local hearing venue at Blackdown House on Blackbrook Business Park (TA1 2PX), administered by the Bristol Employment Tribunal. Not every claim will be heard there, but many are, which saves you the journey to Bristol.
The Bristol ET office itself is at the Civil and Family Justice Centre, 2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR (phone: 0300 323 0196). If a tribunal claim does become necessary, we offer no win no fee representation, so you’re protected either way.
Tools to Help You Along the Way
Before you even speak to us, these free tools can give you an initial picture of where you stand. They are part of our investment in technology that general practice Taunton firms do not make.
Settlement Agreement Offer Checker
Check whether your settlement offer is fair. Enter your salary, length of service, and the reason for the settlement, and see how your offer compares to typical ranges. The tool also shows your minimum entitlements and the factors that strengthen or weaken your position.
Check Your Offer →Settlement Agreement Tax Calculator
See what you will actually take home. Not everything in your settlement is tax-free. Our calculator breaks down your offer, showing which payments are exempt, which are taxed as earnings, and how the £30,000 threshold works. Uses current 2025/26 rates.
Calculate Take-Home Pay →Settlement Agreement Clause Explainer
Understand what you are signing. Our clause explainer walks through the 10 most common clause types in plain English, showing what is normal and flagging the red flags a solicitor would look for. Read it alongside your agreement before your solicitor review.
Explore the Clauses →Pricing and Transparency
Review and Sign-Off
£0 to You
Your employer contributes £350-500+VAT. This covers the full review, consultation, and sign-off. You pay nothing.
Negotiation Service
20% of Increase
Only if we secure more money for you. If we negotiate and achieve no increase, you pay nothing for this stage.
Tribunal Backup
No Win No Fee
If the settlement isn’t right and you need to pursue an unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, or discrimination claim, we can represent you on a no win no fee basis.
Compare this with typical Taunton solicitor hourly rates of £200-350+VAT. With us, the review costs you nothing. Negotiation is success-based. And tribunal representation is no win no fee. We think that’s how it should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a solicitor based in Taunton for settlement agreement advice?
This is one of the questions we hear most often, and the answer is no. Settlement agreements are reviewed remotely as standard across the industry. A Taunton postal address doesn’t improve the quality of legal advice; specialist expertise does. We handle everything by phone, video, and secure upload, which is actually more convenient for most people.
How quickly can you review my settlement agreement?
Same day in most cases. If you upload your agreement in the morning, we can typically complete the review and your consultation call by the afternoon or early evening. If you’re under a tight deadline, let us know and we’ll prioritise accordingly.
Which Employment Tribunal covers Taunton?
Taunton falls under the Bristol Employment Tribunal, but there’s a local hearing venue at Blackdown House, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton TA1 2PX. Not all hearings are held there, but many Taunton cases are, which saves you the trip to Bristol. If your settlement agreement doesn’t work out and you need to pursue a tribunal claim, your case would be administered through Bristol.
What if my employer is a Taunton-based organisation?
We work with employees from all types of Taunton employers, from the NHS and Somerset Council through to smaller businesses on the high street. The principles of settlement agreement review are the same regardless of employer size, though the specific issues we look for vary by sector. If anything, our distance from the local business community means complete independence: we have no referral relationships with any Taunton employers.
Do you have an office in Taunton?
No, and that’s by design. Settlement agreement reviews don’t require an office visit. Our remote model means you get the same quality of advice without the inconvenience of arranging a face-to-face meeting. For many people, this is actually preferable, especially if you’d rather not be seen visiting a solicitor while still employed.
What if I work in Taunton but live elsewhere?
That doesn’t matter at all. Whether you commute into Taunton from Wellington, Bridgwater, or further afield, or you live in Taunton and work somewhere else in Somerset, our service works the same way. Geography makes no difference to settlement agreement advice.
Can you negotiate with Taunton employers?
Yes. If we review your agreement and believe the offer could be better, we’ll explain why and offer to negotiate on your behalf. This applies regardless of whether your employer is the NHS, Somerset Council, a private business, or a construction contractor. Our fee for negotiation is 20% of the financial increase we achieve, and you only pay if we secure more money for you.
How much does my employer have to contribute towards legal fees?
The standard employer contribution is £350-500+VAT, which is built into almost every settlement agreement. This covers the full cost of our review, consultation, and sign-off. It’s commercial convention for employers to pay this, and most do so without question. You pay nothing.
Can I trust remote legal advice for something this important?
Absolutely. Remote advice for settlement agreements is now the industry standard, not the exception. What matters is the quality and specialism of the advice, not whether it’s delivered in a room or on a video call. We’re regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718), carry professional indemnity insurance, and have over 15 years’ experience in employment law. The advice is exactly the same whether you’re in Taunton, Bristol, or anywhere else.
How do I know if my settlement offer is fair?
Start with our free Fair Value Estimator, which gives you an indicative range based on your salary, length of service, and circumstances. Then, when we review your agreement, we’ll assess the offer against what we’d expect to see in your situation and tell you honestly whether it’s reasonable. If it’s not, we’ll explain why and what a better figure might look like. There’s no pressure either way; the decision is always yours.
Related Guides and Services
Complete Settlement Agreement Guide
Everything you need to know: your rights, the process, tax implications, negotiation, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Settlement Agreement Negotiation
When and how to negotiate a better deal, typical increases, and our transparent pricing for negotiation services.
Redundancy Rights Guide
If your settlement agreement follows a redundancy situation, understand your rights and what you’re entitled to.
Settlement Agreement Solicitors Bristol
Same specialist service for Bristol employees. Bristol is also home to the Employment Tribunal that administers Taunton hearings.
We’re Ready When You Are
Upload your settlement agreement or give us a call. We’ll review it the same day, walk you through every clause, and help you decide what to do next. The review is free to you, and there’s no pressure.
Legal Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every settlement agreement is different, and the appropriate course of action depends on your individual circumstances. You should obtain independent legal advice before signing any settlement agreement. Tom Street & Co Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718).
The employer contribution towards legal fees is a common commercial convention and is included in most settlement agreements. It is not a legal requirement for the employer to pay, though in practice the vast majority do. The 10 calendar day minimum consideration period applies under section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Sources and Further Reading
Tom Street
Employment Solicitor & Founder, Tom Street & Co
Tom Street is a specialist employment solicitor with over 15 years’ experience advising employees across the UK. He reviews settlement agreements daily, helping employees understand their rights, negotiate better terms, and move forward with confidence. Tom founded Tom Street & Co with a clear aim: expert employment law advice, transparently priced and genuinely accessible. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 566718).