Privacy Policy

Last updated on 6 January 2023

We take your privacy very seriously. Please read this privacy policy carefully as it contains important information on who we are and how and why we collect, store, use and share your personal data. It also explains your rights in relation to your personal data and how to contact us or supervisory authorities in the event you have a complaint.
When we use your personal data we are regulated under the relevant data protection laws . We are the ‘controller’ of your personal data for the purposes of the processing outlined in this Privacy Policy. Our processing of your personal data is subject to the relevant UK, EU and other legislation and our professional duty of confidentiality.
We may update this privacy policy from time to time.

2. Key terms

It would be helpful to start by explaining some key terms used in this policy:

We, us, our
Laytons LLP

Our data protection partner
Geraint Thomas

Personal data
Any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual

Special category personal data

Personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs or trade union membership
Genetic and biometric data
Data concerning health, sex life or sexual orientation

3. Personal data we collect about you

When you use our website, engage with us or apply for a job or a role with us, we may process the following personal information:

Your name, address and telephone numbers, email address and other contact details
Information to enable us to check and verify your identity, e.g. your date of birth or passport details
Information relating to the matter in which you are seeking our advice or representation
Your financial details so far as relevant to your instructions, e.g. the source of your funds if you are instructing on a purchase transaction
Information about your use of our IT, communication and other systems, and other monitoring information, e.g. if using our secure online client portal
Your National Insurance and tax details
Your bank and/or building society details
Details of your professional online presence, e.g. LinkedIn profile
Details of your spouse/partner and dependants or other family members, e.g. if we are instructed on a family matter or a will
Your employment status and details including salary and benefits, e.g. if you instruct us on matter related to your employment or in which your employment status or income is relevant
Your nationality and immigration status and information from related documents, such as your passport or other identification, and immigration information, e.g. if you instruct us on an immigration matter
Details of your pension arrangements, e.g. if you instruct us on a pension matter or in relation to financial arrangements following breakdown of a relationship
Information to enable us to undertake a credit or other financial checks on you
Your employment records including, where relevant, records relating to sickness and attendance, performance, disciplinary, conduct and grievances (including relevant special category personal data), e.g. if you instruct us on matter related to your employment or in which your employment records are relevant
Your racial or ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation, religious or similar beliefs, e.g. if you instruct us on discrimination claim
Your trade union membership, e.g. if you instruct us on discrimination claim or your matter is funded by a trade union

Your medical records, e.g. if we are acting for you in a personal injury claim
Your image or likeness, e.g. captured during our seminars or events or as part of KYC documents
information relating to your application for a job or a role with us, such as your curriculum vitae, your qualification and education, employment history, experience, skills, interests, salary information, background checks (e.g. financial and criminal checks), information relating to next of kin and your fitness to work.

4. How your personal data is collected

We collect most of this information from you. However, we may also collect information: 

from publicly accessible sources, e.g. Companies House or HM Land Registry;
directly from a third party, e.g.:
- sanctions screening providers;
- credit reference agencies;
- client due diligence providers;
- third party referrers;
- recruitment agencies.
from a third party with your consent, e.g.:
- your bank or building society, another financial institution or advisor;
- consultants and other professionals we may engage in relation to your matter;
- your employer and/or trade union, professional body or pension administrators;
- your doctors, medical and occupational health professionals;
- persons you have nominated to provide your reference.
via our website—we use cookies on our website (for more information on cookies, please see our cookies policy
via our information technology (IT) systems, e.g.:
- case management, document management and time recording systems;
- door entry systems and reception logs;
- automated monitoring of our websites (such as Google Analytics) and other technical systems, such as our computer networks and connections, CCTV and access control systems, communications systems, email and instant messaging systems;

5. How and why we use your personal data

We may use your personal data on one of more of the following legal bases:

to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations;
for the performance of our contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract;
for our legitimate interests or those of a third party; or
where you have given consent.

A legitimate interest is when we have a business or commercial reason to use your information, so long as this is not overridden by your own rights and interests.

The information below explains in further detail what we use (process) your personal data for and our reasons (legal basis) for doing so: 

  
      What we use your personal data for
      Our reasons
    
      To provide legal services to you
      For the performance of our contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract
    
      Conducting checks to identify our clients and verify their identity

Screening for financial and other sanctions or embargoes

Other processing necessary to comply with professional, legal and regulatory obligations that apply to our business e.g. under health and safety regulation or rules issued by our professional regulator

      To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations
    
      Gathering and providing information required by or relating to audits, enquiries or investigations by regulatory bodies
      To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations
    
      Ensuring business policies are adhered to e.g. policies covering security and internet use
      For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e. to make sure we are following our own internal procedures so we can deliver the best service to you
    
      Operational reasons, such as improving efficiency, training and quality control
      For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e. to be as efficient as we can so we can delivery the best service for you at the best price
    
      Ensuring the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information
      For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e. to protect our intellectual property and other commercially valuable information

To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations

      Statistical analysis to help us manage our practice, e.g. in relation to our financial performance, client base, work type or other efficiency measures
      For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e. to be as efficient as we can so we can delivery the best service for you at the best price
    
      Preventing unauthorised access and modifications to systems
      For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e. to prevent and detect criminal activity that could be damaging for us and for you

To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations

      Updating and enhancing client records
      For the performance of our contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract

To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations

For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, e.g. making sure that we can keep in touch with our clients about existing and new services

      Statutory returns
      To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations
    
      Ensuring safe working practices, staff administration and assessments
      To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations

For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, e.g. to make sure we are following our own internal procedures, staff management, and working efficiently so we can deliver the best service to you

      Recruitment (including without limitation for training contracts, vacation schemes and work experience), for example: 

        To assess your suitability for the role for which you may apply. 

To review our equal opportunity profile in accordance with applicable legislation. 

      For the performance of our contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract. 

For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, e.g. to ensure we engage suitable personnel for the relevant position. 

To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. 

        Your consent where the above legal bases do not apply. 

Marketing our services to:  

        existing and former clients  

third parties who have previously expressed an interest in our services  

  third parties with whom we have had no previous dealings   

      For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e. to promote our business to existing and former clients 

      Credit reference checks via external credit reference agencies
      For our legitimate interests or a those of a third party, i.e. for credit control and to ensure our clients are likely to be able to pay for our services
    
      External audits and quality checks by auditors, regulators and providers of accreditation
      For our legitimate interests or a those of a third party, i.e. to maintain our accreditations so we can demonstrate we operate at the highest standards

To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations

We will only process special category personal data where we are able to do so under applicable legislation or with your explicit consent.

6. Promotional communications

We may use your personal data to send you updates (electronically or by post) about legal developments that might be of interest to you and/or information about our services where it is lawful for us to do so.

We have a legitimate interest in processing your personal data for purposes of marketing our services (see above ‘How and why we use your personal data’). This means we do not usually need your consent to send you promotional communications. However, you have a right to opt out as outlined below. Where consent is needed, we will ask for this consent separately and clearly.

We will always treat your personal data with the utmost respect and never sell it to or share it with other organisations to enable them to market to you.

You have the right to opt out of or withdraw your consent for receiving promotional communications at any time by:

contacting us by email (info@laytons.com)
using the ‘unsubscribe’ link in emails
updating your marketing preferences via the link found in any promotional email received from us

We may ask you to confirm or update your marketing preferences if you instruct us to provide further services in the future, or if there are changes in the law, regulation, or the structure of our business.

7. Who we share your personal data with

We routinely share personal data with:

relevant members of our staff;

professional advisers whom we instruct on your behalf or refer you to, e.g. barristers, accountants, tax advisors, surveyors or other experts;
other third parties where necessary to carry out your instructions, e.g. your mortgage provider or HM Land Registry in the case of a property transaction, or Companies House;
our group companies;
credit reference agencies;
our insurers and brokers;
external auditors, e.g. in relation to the audit of our accounts;
our banks;
external service suppliers, representatives and agents we may use to make our business more efficient, e.g. typing services, marketing agencies, website hosts, providers of client relation management systems, document collation or analysis suppliers
IT hosting services;
Referees, recruitment agencies and third party providers such as reference checking agencies in relation to your application for a job or a role with us;
Third party providers of employment administration services, such as payroll, IT;
any relevant regulator such as the SRA.

We only allow our service providers to handle your personal data if we are satisfied they take appropriate measures to protect your personal data. We also impose contractual obligations on service providers relating to ensure they can only use your personal data to provide services to us and to you.

We may disclose and exchange information with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. 

We may also need to share some personal data with other parties, such as potential buyers of some or all of our business or during a re-structuring. Usually, information will be anonymised but this may not always be possible. The recipient of the information will be bound by confidentiality obligations. 

8. Where your personal data is held

Information may be held at our offices and those of our group companies, third party agencies, service providers, representatives and agents as described above (see 'Who we share your personal data with’).

Some of these third parties may be based outside the European Economic Area. For more information, including on how we safeguard your personal data when this occurs, see below: ‘Transferring your personal data out of the EEA’.

9. How long your personal data will be kept

We will retain your personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose for which the data was collected and any other permitted related purpose and for the purposes of complying with any legal, regulatory, accounting or reporting requirements; for example,:

to respond to any questions, complaints or claims made by you or on your behalf;
to show that we treated you fairly;
to keep records required by law.

We will not retain your data for longer than necessary for the purposes set out in this policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data. Further details on this are available in our Information Retention, Destruction and Erasure Policy.

When it is no longer necessary to retain your personal data, we will delete or anonymise it.

10. Transferring your personal data out of the EEA

We may transfer your personal information to a location (for example to a secure server) outside the UK or the EEA, if we consider it necessary or desirable for the purposes set out in this policy. In such cases, to safeguard your privacy rights, transfers will be made to recipients in a country to which the UK adequacy regulations or the European Commission adequacy decision apply (these are decisions from the UK government or the European Commission (as the case may be) confirming that adequate safeguards are in place in that country for the protection of personal data) or will be carried out under standard contractual clauses (“SCC”) or International Data Transfer Agreements or Addenda to the SCC that have been approved by the European Commission or the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) as providing appropriate safeguards for international personal data transfers. Copies of the SCC are available from the EU Commission’s website and copies of the International Data Transfer Agreement and Addenda to the SCC are available from the ICO’s website. We may also make such transfers with your explicit informed consent or where it is permitted by law.

If you would like further information please contact our data protection partner (see ‘How to contact us’ below). 

11. Your rights

You have the following rights, which you can exercise free of charge:

  
      Access
      The right to be provided with a copy of your personal data 
    
      Rectification
      The right to require us to correct any mistakes in your personal data
    
      To be forgotten
      The right to require us to delete your personal data—in certain situations
    
      Restriction of processing
      The right to require us to restrict processing of your personal data—in certain circumstances, e.g. if you contest the accuracy of the data
    
      Data portability
      The right to receive the personal data you provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and/or transmit that data to a third party—in certain situations
    
      To object
      The right to object:

        at any time to your personal data being processed for direct marketing (including profiling)

          in certain other situations to our continued processing of your personal data, e.g. processing carried out for the purpose of our legitimate interests.

      Not to be subject to automated individual decision-making
      The right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (including profiling) that produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you

For further information on each of those rights, including the circumstances in which they apply, please contact us or see the Guidance from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on individuals’ rights under the relevant data protection laws.

If you would like to exercise any of those rights, please:

complete a data subject request form—available on request by emailing dpp@laytons.com; or
email, call or write to our data protection partner—see below: ‘How to contact us’; and

let us have enough information to identify you including full name, address and client or matter reference number if available);
let us have proof of your identity and address (a copy of your driving licence or passport and a recent utility or credit card bill); and
let us know what right you want to exercise and the information to which your request relates.

12. Keeping your personal data secure

We have appropriate security measures to prevent personal data from being accidentally lost or used or accessed unlawfully. We limit access to your personal data to those who have a genuine business need to access it. Those processing your information will do so only in an authorised manner and are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We also have procedures in place to deal with any suspected data security breach. We will notify you and any applicable regulator of a suspected data security breach where we are legally required to do so.

Laytons has a robust and effective firewall and virus protection. 

If you would like detailed information from Get Safe Online on how to protect your information and your computers and devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other online problems, please visit www.getsafeonline.org. Get Safe Online is supported by HM Government and leading businesses.

13. How to complain

We hope that our data protection partner can resolve any query or concern you may raise about our use of your information. 

You have a right to lodge a complaint with the UK ICO if you are based in the UK. If you are based in the EU, you may lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in the European Union (or European Economic Area) state where you work, normally live or where any alleged infringement of data protection laws occurred.

14. How to contact us

Our contact details:

Yarnwicke
119-121 Cannon Street
London EC4N 5AT
+44 (0)20 7842 8000 | london@laytons.com

Our data protection partner's contact details:

Geraint Thomas
Yarnwicke
119-121 Cannon Street
London EC4N 5AT
+44 (0)20 7842 8000 | dpp@laytons.com