Privacy Policy

We will only collect information from you that is relevant to the matter that we are dealing with.  In particular, we may collect the following information from you which is defined as ‘personal data’:

·   Personal details

·   Family, lifestyle and social circumstances

·   Financial details

·   Business activities of the person whose details we are processing

·   Any other personal information that might relate to your matter and your instructions.

·   Physical or mental health details

·   Racial or ethnic origin

·   Religious beliefs or other beliefs of a similar nature

·   Criminal convictions

·   Sexual orientation

·   Trade Union membership

We will mainly use your information for the provision of legal advice and this is necessary for the performance of the contract between us.  We may also use it for:

·   Administering any accounts

·   Processing you bank/credit card details to obtain payment

·   The prevention and detection of fraud

·   Market Research

·   Marketing

·   Credit reference checks (where appropriate)

We will process your data on the following basis: performance of contract, legal compliance, consent and legitimate interests.

We will process your ‘special category’ data on the following additional conditions:

·  for the purposes of carrying out the obligations and exercising specific rights in the field of employment law

·  for the protection of vital interests of persons where they are physically or legally incapable of giving consent

·  for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims

·  for statistical purposes, doing so proportionately and anonymising your data where possible

Under our Code of Conduct, there are very strict rules about who we can share your information with and this will normally be limited to other people who will assist with your matter, those funding your matter or our Regulatory body.  This may include:

·   Barristers

·   Legal Aid Agency (Legally Aided matters only)

·   Solicitors’ Regulation Authority

·   Medical experts

·   Private investigators

·   Courts and tribunals

·   Healthcare professionals, social and welfare organisations

 

Where you authorise, we may also disclose your information to your family, associates or representative.  We may also disclose your information to debt collection agencies if you do not pay our bills.

In certain circumstances we may need to disclose personal information about you to relevant authorities, if there is a legal obligation to do so.  For further details on this, please refer to our Terms and Conditions of business, which will be provided to you at the outset of your matter.

We will keep your information throughout the period of time that we do work for you and afterwards for a minimum period of six years (and longer in some types of legal transactions) as we are required to do so by law.

We may, from time to time, transfer your personal data to a country outside of the EEA.  This will only be done if necessary for the performance of your contract with us or for the exercise or defence of legal claims on your behalf.

You have a series of rights under the General Data Protection Regulation which includes the ‘Right of access’.  Further information on all these rights and how to exercise them can be obtained from our Data Privacy Manager.

You have a right to see the information we hold about you.  To access this, you need to provide a request in writing to our Data Privacy Manager together with proof of identity.  We will usually process your request free of charge and within 30 days, however, we reserve the right to charge a reasonable administration fee and to extend the period of time by a further two months if the request is manifestly unfounded or vexatious and/or is very complex.

Full details are available in our data subject access policy which is available on request from the Data Privacy Manager.

If you are unhappy about how we are using your information or how we have responded to your request, then please raise your concerns to the person responsible for your case.  If this does not resolve the problem to your satisfaction, then please contact their Supervisor.  If the Supervisor is unable to resolve the matter then please contact either our Data Privacy Manager or our Senior Partner, who will look into the matter for you.

If your complaint remains unresolved then you can also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office, details for which are available at http://www.ico.org.uk

Name: Neil Watts (Managing Partner)
Email: Neil@johnfowlers.co.uk
Postal Address: Town Hall Chambers, St Runwald Street, Colchester, CO1 1DS

Name: Kim Kennedy (Senior Partner, Solicitor)
Email: kim@johnfowlers.co.uk
Postal Address: Town Hall Chambers, St Runwald Street, Colchester, CO1 1DS