Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Harrison Bryce LTD (Company Number 08203101), trading as Harrison Bryce Solicitors, is committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our legal services or visit our website.

We are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and comply with all relevant data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information We Collect

We collect and process various types of personal information depending on how you interact with us:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact Information: Name, address, email address, phone number
• Case Information: Details about your legal matter, including accident reports, medical records, employment details, financial information
• Identification: Date of birth, National Insurance number, passport or driving licence details (when required)
• Financial Information: Bank details for payment purposes
• Communication Records: Correspondence via email, phone, post, or in-person meetings

2.2 Special Category Data

For certain legal matters, we may need to process special category data, which includes:

• Health and medical information (for personal injury and medical negligence claims)
• Criminal records or allegations (for criminal injury claims)
• Biometric data (if required for identification)

We will only process this sensitive information with your explicit consent or where necessary for legal claims.

2.3 Information We Collect Automatically

• Website Usage: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, time spent on pages
• Cookies: Data collected through cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy)
• Communication Metadata: Date, time, and duration of calls or emails

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

3.1 Legal Services

• To provide legal advice and representation
• To assess and pursue your claim or legal matter
• To communicate with third parties on your behalf (courts, insurers, opposing parties)
• To instruct barristers, expert witnesses, or other professionals
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations

3.2 Administration

• To manage your case file and maintain accurate records
• To process payments and manage billing
• To respond to your enquiries
• To maintain our accounts and business records

3.3 Marketing (with consent)

• To send you information about our services
• To provide legal updates or newsletters (you can opt out at any time)

3.4 Website Improvement

• To analyse website usage and improve user experience
• To maintain website security
• To troubleshoot technical issues

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Contract: Processing is necessary to provide legal services under our engagement with you
• Legal Obligation: We must process data to comply with legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., SRA regulations, anti-money laundering laws)
• Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests (e.g., managing cases, preventing fraud)
• Consent: Where you have given explicit consent (e.g., for marketing communications or processing special category data)
• Legal Claims: Processing is necessary for establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims

5. Sharing Your Information

We may share your personal data with the following third parties when necessary:

5.1 Legal and Professional Services

• Barristers and counsel
• Expert witnesses (medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, etc.)
• Court services and tribunals
• Other solicitors or law firms

5.2 Insurance and Claims

• Insurance companies
• Claims management companies
• Medical examination providers

5.3 Regulatory and Government Bodies

• Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
• Law enforcement agencies (when legally required)

5.4 Service Providers

• IT service providers and cloud storage
• Payment processors
• Document storage and archiving services
• Marketing and communication platforms

We ensure all third parties respect the security of your data and treat it in accordance with the law. We do not allow them to use your data for their own purposes.

6. Data Security

We take the security of your personal data seriously and have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures, including:

• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• Secure servers and firewalls
• Access controls and password protection
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on data protection
• Secure physical storage for paper documents
• Confidential waste disposal procedures

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will notify you promptly of any data breach where required by law.

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy and to comply with legal obligations:

• Active Cases: We retain data throughout the duration of your case
• Closed Cases: We typically retain case files for at least 7 years after case closure (in line with SRA requirements and limitation periods)
• Children's Cases: Files involving minors may be retained until the individual reaches age 25
• Financial Records: Retained for 6 years in accordance with tax regulations
• Marketing Data: Retained until you withdraw consent or for 2 years of inactivity

After the retention period, we securely delete or anonymise your data unless we are legally required to retain it longer.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights:

Please note: Some rights may be limited where we have legal or regulatory obligations to retain data, or where data is necessary for legal claims.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@harrisonbryce.com or call 0161 771 2432. We will respond within one month of your request.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyse website traffic. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.

Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
• Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Marketing Cookies: Track your activity to deliver relevant advertising (with consent)

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

10. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., Trustpilot, Companies House, SRA). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. International Data Transfers

Your personal data is primarily processed and stored within the United Kingdom. If we need to transfer data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• Standard contractual clauses approved by the ICO
• Transfers to countries with adequate data protection laws
• Your explicit consent where required

12. Children's Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16 through our website without parental consent. If we handle cases involving minors, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place and obtain consent from parents or legal guardians where necessary.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on our website with the "Last Updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

For significant changes, we will notify you by email or through a prominent notice on our website.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us: