How Do I Find the Best Settlement Agreement Lawyer?

If you’ve been offered a settlement agreement by your employer, finding the right lawyer is crucial. The outcome could directly affect your career, finances, and reputation – you need an expert on your side who knows exactly how to protect your interests.

But with so many settlement agreement lawyers out there, how do you choose the best one?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

1. Clarify Your Needs

Before searching, think carefully about your situation. What do you want to achieve from the settlement agreement?

Are you happy with the offer and just need speedy sign off?
Do you want to negotiate for more?
Do you have high value share options?
Do you need to protect your reputation?
Do you need advice on your post termination restrictive covenants?

A good settlement agreement lawyer will ask what your ideal outcome looks like – and then explain what’s realistically achievable.

2. Assess Your Employment Situation

Settlement agreements often arise when there’s tension with your employer. Ask yourself:

Are you being pushed out/is the ‘writing on the wall’?
Why are you being pushed out?
Have you been treated less favourably than your peers?
Is that less favourable treatment linked to a protected characteristic like disability age, sex, race, religion etc.?

Understanding what might be behind you being offered a settlement agreement will help you choose a lawyer with the right expertise.

3. Research Experience and Expertise

Employment law is wide-ranging, so you want a lawyer who regularly handles settlement agreements.

Key things to check:

What is covered under the fixed fee charged? – Unlike many other settlement agreement lawyers, David includes an overview of how tribunals calculate awards within the review fixed fee, which will help you decide whether your offer is fair.

Experience – How many years have they been practising? The more years’ experience, the better. Do they specialise in exit work?
Specialisation – Some lawyers work mainly with senior executives, while others help a broad range of employees. Find someone who matches your profile and situation.
Track Record – Look for evidence of expertise by looking at whether the lawyer is ranked in the Legal 500 (the main independent guide to the best lawyers in the UK). It is also worth looking at their client testimonials and google review rating.

Why is David Greenhalgh the best settlement agreement lawyer for you?

Employment Partner David Greenhalgh has over 35 years of experience advising employees and senior executives on their settlement agreements.
David has advised on over 10,000 settlement agreements.
He’s ranked as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 (2026) and holds a 5-star Google review rating, reflecting his track record of achieving excellent results for clients.
He works for employer clients so knows the best tactics to get you what you want from your employer.
He provides a speedy turnaround for reviewing and signing off settlement agreements for those not looking to negotiate on their settlement agreement.
Where you are unhappy with what you are being offered David specialises in negotiating settlement agreements terms to secure you the best possible exit package.
If you are a senior executive with high value incentives, David regularly negotiates these high value/complex elements. Each month he negotiates exits packages worth many millions.

Common Questions Answered

Why do I need a lawyer to review my settlement agreement?

UK law requires independent legal advice to be taken before a settlement agreement can become legally binding. Without it, the agreement is unenforceable. An experienced employment lawyer will ensure you understand every clause and that your interests are fully protected.

How much does it cost to get a settlement agreement reviewed?

Your employer will usually pay for you to get independent legal advice on the terms and effect of your agreement. This is standard practice and is typically written into the agreement itself as a contribution towards your legal costs.

Can my settlement agreement be improved?

Often, yes. David regularly negotiates for increases in value, better exit terms and stronger protections for his settlement agreement clients. Even where an employer presents a figure as “final”, there is frequently room to negotiate.

How long does the process take?

With David, many clients get to sign-off in a matter of days if all they need is advice and sign-off. On urgent agreements David provides a same-day service, so a tight deadline is never a barrier to getting the right advice.