This privacy policy sets out how McNeil & Co uses and protects any information that you give us when you use this website/our services. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.  McNeil & Co may change this policy from time to time. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 1st April 2018.

To enable us to carry out your instructions it will be necessary for you to provide us with personal data from time to time eg. name, address, telephone number, bank details, GP details, employment details.  We will only request such data as is necessary to progress your matter.  We use the information you provide primarily for the provision of legal services to you and for related purposes including:

• updating and enhancing client records
• analysis to help us manage our practice
• statutory returns
• legal and regulatory compliance

What we do with the information we gather

We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:

• To progress any instructions you may have given us.
• Internal record keeping
• We may use the information to improve our products and services

Our use of that information is subject to your instructions, the General Data Protection Regulations and our duty of confidentiality. Please note that our work for you may require us (after consultation with you) to provide your personal data to third parties such as expert witnesses and other professional advisers.

We also perform some processing of personal data for purposes required by law eg. money laundering checks.  In some cases we will need to process sensitive personal data for the above purposes.  As part of our risk management strategy, we reserve the right to make a search with a credit reference agency.

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect.

Controlling your personal information

We will not distribute your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so.

You have a right under data protection legislation to:-

• access the personal data that we hold about you
• have us rectify any incorrect data we hold
• request we delete any personal data we hold.
• restrict our use of your personal data.

If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please let us know as soon as possible. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.

We may from time to time send you information that we think might be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive that information please notify our office at any time.

We are professionally and legally obliged to keep your affairs confidential. However, solicitors may be required by statute to make a disclosure to police, government or financial agencies where they know or suspect that a transaction may involve money laundering or terrorist financing. If we make a disclosure in relation to your matter, we may not be able to tell you that a disclosure has been made. We may have to stop working on your matter for a period of time and may not be able to tell you why.

If you wish any other person to be given access to your information, or details of your case (for example a relative) then please contact us and we can discuss the implications of this and advise you further.