Privacy Policy

Godwin Austen Solicitors: Privacy Policy

At Godwin Austen Solicitors, we are committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and share your personal data, in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who We Are

Godwin Austen Solicitors is a law firm based in the United Kingdom, providing a range of legal services. We act as the data controller when handling personal data, meaning we determine the purposes and means of processing your personal information.

For any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, you may contact us at:

Email: info@godwinausten.co.uk
Phone: 0121 256 8043
Address: The Business Centre, 527 Moseley Road, Birmingham, B12 9BU

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following personal data about you:

Full name, title, date of birth, and gender.

Address, email address, phone numbers, and emergency contact details.

Bank account details, payment records, and other relevant financial information.

Information required for your legal matter, such as details of your case, documents, and correspondence.

Information about your usage of our website, including IP address, browser type, time zone, and device information, collected through cookies.

Preferences for receiving communications from us, including marketing.

3. How We Collect Your Data

We collect personal data from various sources, including:

Information you provide when filling out forms, communicating with us via phone, email, or in person.

When you interact with our website, we may automatically collect Technical Data through cookies and similar technologies.

Information from third parties relevant to your case, such as other law firms, courts, and government agencies, as well as publicly accessible sources.

4. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

To advise, represent, and support you in legal matters.

To process transactions and maintain financial records.

To send updates on your case, respond to enquiries, and provide information about our services.

To meet our regulatory and legal responsibilities, including anti-money laundering checks.

To send you information about our services and updates relevant to your interests (only if you have consented to receive such communications).

We will only use your personal data where there is a lawful basis to do so, which may include consent, performance of a contract, legal obligation, or legitimate interests.

5. Sharing Your Data

We may need to share your personal data with the following parties:

External companies providing services on our behalf, such as IT support, document storage, and payment processing.

Other legal, financial, or professional advisors necessary for your case.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), HM Revenue and Customs, and other regulatory bodies as required by law.

Police or other authorities where necessary to comply with legal obligations.

We ensure that any third parties with whom we share your data follow data protection laws and only use it for the purposes for which we shared it.

6. Data Security

We take data security very seriously and have implemented appropriate security measures to protect your personal data from accidental loss, unauthorised access, or disclosure. This includes secure storage, encrypted communications, and restricted access to your data within our firm. In the event of a data breach, we will take steps to mitigate its impact and notify you and relevant authorities if required by law.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Typically, we keep client records for at least six years after the conclusion of your case, after which they are securely disposed of unless further retention is necessary.

• Right of Access: You have the right to request a copy of your personal data held by us.
• Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct any inaccuracies in your data.
• Right to Erasure: You may request that we delete your data where it is no longer necessary.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to ask us to limit how we use your data.
• Right to Object: You may object to our processing of your data if it impacts your rights or freedoms.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request the transfer of your data to another service provider in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided above. We will respond to your request in compliance with applicable law, typically within one month.

9. Cookies

Our Website uses cookies to improve user experience, analyse website traffic, and assist with marketing efforts. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or our Cookies Notice page. For more information on the cookies we use and how to control them, please see our Cookie Policy.

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The most current version will always be available on this page. If we make significant changes, we will notify you by email or with a notice on our Website.

11. Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with how we handle your data, please contact us using the details above. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s supervisory authority for data protection issues.

Contact Details for the ICO:
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Thank you for trusting Godwin Austen Solicitors. We are committed to safeguarding your personal data and upholding your privacy rights.