Instead of signing a settlement agreementA legally binding contract between you and your employer that settles any claims you might have in return for an agreed payment. You must take independent legal advice before signing one, and your emp..., you and your employer reach terms through ACASThe Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. A public body that provides free, impartial guidance on workplace rights and disputes, and runs the mandatory early conciliation process before any ... conciliation and record them on a COT3A legally binding agreement reached through ACAS conciliation, recorded on a COT3 form. It settles a claim in the same way a settlement agreement does, but doesn't require you to have taken independen... form. It's just as binding, but you don't need to have taken legal advice first.