Privacy Policy

We promise to:

• Keep your data safe, secure and private.
• Not sell your data to third parties.
• Not share your data with third parties, except where we have a legitimate business interest and reason to do so.

In addition to our promise, your privacy is protected by GDPR in that we are only allowed to use your personal details or information relating to your matter if we have a proper reason to do so. These reasons are:

• In compliance with our obligations as per our retainer as well as after conclusion of your matter, or
• In compliance of our overriding legal duty to the Court, or
• In compliance of protection of our legitimate interest, or
• In compliance of your instructions and you consent to it.

To enable us to fulfil our legal and contractual obligations, the following is a list of information collected by us:

• Your name, address, telephone/mobile numbers and email ID.
• Proof of your address and photo ID to verify your identity.
• Details of your legal matter, related evidence and information for which advice and representation is provided.
• Details of credit or other financial checks relating to yourself and your business, if any.
• Details relating to your financial information or source of your funds save our obligation as per the Money Laundering Regulations from time to time.

In addition to the details listed above we may collect further personal details relating to your particular matter:

• National Insurance and tax details.
• Bank and/or building society details.
• Professional online presence.
• Details for spouse, partner and dependents or other family members.
• Employment records including salary and benefits.
• Nationality and immigration status.
• Racial/ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, e.g. discrimination issues.
• Medical records, i.e. GP, hospital, optician, dentist, care home etc.

Our purpose in collecting all necessary information is to:

• Provide legal services.
• Conduct checks to verify your identity.
• Comply with our professional, legal and regulatory obligations.
• Provide information relating to audits, enquiries or investigations by regulatory bodies.
• Prevent unauthorised use, access and modifications.
• Update client details and records.
• Complete statutory returns, e.g. SRA annual reporting and HMRC accounts.
• Ensure safe practice, administration and assessment of your demands and needs.
• Contact existing and former clients to explain our services.
• Carry out internal audits and quality checks as and when required.

Please note that the majority of information will be received from you and may also be collected from the following sources:

• Publicly accessible sources.
• Directly from a third party with your consent.
• From a third party as per Court Order.
• Our website.

We have a legal obligation to ensure the security and integrity of your personal information as part of your retainer with us. We have systems in place to safeguard your personal details and documentation which will not be released to any unauthorised person except with your consent or by Court Order. However, due to the insecure nature of the Internet, we are unable to guarantee or warrant that your transmission to us is secure. We will notify you and any applicable regulator of a suspected data or security breach as and when required.

We will not sell or share your personal information other than as per your instructions or our obligations for your retainer with us. We will only share your personal information to fulfil our legal and contractual obligations and routinely share personal data with:

• Professional advisers instructed on your behalf, e.g. barristers, medical experts, accountants or any other expert.
• Other third parties where required to carry out your instructions.
• Credit reference agencies.
• Our insurers and brokers.
• External auditors and accountants.
• Our bank.
• Other service providers, representatives and agents.

We will only share your personal information with third parties necessary to perform legal services on your behalf, or to fulfil our legal obligations from time to time as per rules of the SRA and Court. We may disclose and exchange information with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies to comply with our legal duties for the sale or transfer of all or a portion of our business or assets. The sharing and receipt of your information is confidential as per the GDPR and other data protection legislation in place from time to time or as amended.

Information may be held at our office, third party agencies, other service providers, representatives and our agents as outlined above.

You can access, update, correct, change or delete your personal information at any time. We will make reasonable effort to deal with your request in a timely manner. To protect your privacy and security, we will verify your identity to deal with your request. To access, change, or delete your personal information, to report problems with the ANP website, to ask questions or to raise concerns, please write to us by post or email to info@anpsolicitors.com.

Whilst we will protect your personal information as listed above, you also have a responsibility to protect your passwords, usernames and access information from unauthorised use by others.

We will only keep your personal information received on your behalf or provided by you to us for a period of time for the purpose for which it was collected, taking into account our compliance with legal and contractual obligations or to resolve client service issues. Your attention is drawn to our retainer which explains that when a matter is concluded, your personal information will be stored for a minimum period of 6 years or beyond as per the guidance by the Law Society or the SRA. After the expiry of this period, your personal information will be destroyed or deleted from our storage and IT systems without notice to you.

Our Privacy Policy may be amended as and when required without further notice to yourself. Therefore, we request you to familiarise yourself with our Privacy Policy from time to time for the changes required by law or regulatory bodies.

You can ask for a copy of the records about you. You will need to do this in writing directly to ANP Solicitors by providing a certified ID and proof of address to allow us to deal with your request. The timescale to respond to your request is within 30 days.