Privacy Policy
KW Law and Peterkin & Kidd (P&KW) are committed to preserving the privacy of all visitors to www.kwlaw.co.uk and www.peterkinandkidd.co.uk. Our privacy policy details how we use and protect the information that you provide us. We are committed to using this data in accordance with the relevant data protection laws such as the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (Data Protection Legislation).
Please read our privacy policy thoroughly to ensure you are fully aware of what information we are collecting, how and why we are collecting and using your personal data.
When we use “we”, “us” or “our” in this privacy policy, we are referring to KW Law and Peterkin & Kidd as the relevant entity responsible for processing your data. KW Law and Peterkin & Kidd are the controllers responsible for this website.
Contents
1. Who we are
2. How to contact us
3. Third Party links
4. Type of Personal Data we collect
5. How we collect your personal information
6. How we use your personal data and why
7. Disclosure of your personal data
8. Marketing
9. Cookies
10. Third Parties Marketing
11. Data Retention
12. Your Rights
13. How to make a complaint
1. Who we are?
KW Law and Peterkin & Kidd are a firm of solicitors who tender legal advice on an array of legal issues.
We are members of and are authorised by the Law Society of Scotland. A list of the firm's Partners is available on our website, displayed at the Livingston office at Torridon House, Almondvale Boulevard, Livingston EH54 6QY and can be provided on request.
We abide by the professional practice standards outlined in the Standards of Conduct Practice Rules for Solicitors by the Law Society of Scotland. The Standards of Conduct Practice Rules may be inspected by accessing the Law Society of Scotland website – www.lawscot.org.uk
It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during your relationship with us
2. How to contact us
Livingston Office
FAO Data Protection Officer
Torridon House
Almondvale Boulevard
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6QY
Bathgate Office
FAO Data Protection Officer
12 Whitburn Road
Bathgate
West Lothian
EH48 1HH
Linlithgow Office
FAO Data Protection Officer
8 High Street
Linlithgow
West Lothian
EH49 7AF
E: maildesk@peterkinandkidd.co.uk
3. Third Party Links
This site include links to third-party websites, plug-ins and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. When you leave our sites, we encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.
4. Types of Personal Data we collect
Personal data, or personal information, means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (anonymous data).
We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about you which we have grouped together as follows.
Information about you that we collect and use includes information about or in relation to:
who you are - e.g., your name, date of birth and contact details
products or services with us – e.g., your bank account detail
your contact with us –e.g., meetings, phone calls, emails/letters
automatically collected data, e.g., via cookies, when you visit one of our websites
if you visit one of our offices – e.g., visual images collected via closed circuit televisions (CCTV)
classified as ‘sensitive’ personal information – e.g., your health or marital or civil partnership status. This information will only be collected and used where needed to provide the product or services you requested or comply with our legal obligations.
Information you may provide us about other people – e.g., joint applicants, proprietors, or beneficiaries for products you have with us.
children – e.g., where a child is named as a beneficiary in a Will or on the policy taken out by a parent or guardian on their behalf. In these cases, we will collect and use only the information required to identify the child (such as their name, age, and gender)
Or
where we need to collect personal data by law, or under the terms of a contract we have with you, and you fail to provide that data when requested, we may not be able to perform the contract we have or are trying to enter into with you (for example, to provide you with goods or services). In this case, we may have to cancel a product or service you have with us but we will notify you if this is the case at the time.
We are committed to processing your data legally, fairly and transparently whist upholding confidentiality where applicable.
5. How do we collect your personal data?
We use various different methods to collect your data either from or about you including through.
· Direct interactions – You provide us with the necessary information, completing forms or questionnaires or by corresponding with us by post, phone, email or otherwise;
· Contact us about our services;
· Attending a consultation;
· Applying for a job;
· Requesting feedback;
· Making a complaint;
· Automated technologies – browsing, cookies, technical data when you visit our websites, search engines;
· Identity and contact data from publicly available sources such as Companies House, Electoral Register based inside the UK; Bureau data from companies that compile and monitor credit files such as Equifax.
If you do not wish us to collect and use your personal information in these ways, we may be unable to provide you with our products and services.
6. How we use your personal data?
We only use your personal data where the applicable legislation and regulations permit us to by law. This includes circumstances;
· To allow us to contact you regarding an enquiry.
· To allow us to complete Anti-Money Laundering checks.
· To allow this to be used in evidence in your case.
· To maintain a record of our communication with you in order to potentially provide you with a service.
· To allow us to confirm your membership or subscription and to comply with the union’s service agreements.
· To allow us to provide you with the relevant advice.
· To maintain a record of our communication with you in order to potentially provide you with services.
· To deliver relevant website content and advertisements to you and measure or understand the effectiveness of the advertising we serve to you.
· To use data analytics to improve our sites, services, marketing, business relationships and experiences.
· To make suggestions and recommendations to you about goods or services that may be of interest to you
Why?
· To potentially enter into a contract with you.
· In our legitimate interests or that of a third party
· Necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
· To comply with legal obligations.
7. Disclosure of your personal data
We may share your personal information with the following third parties:
Third parties relevant to your case, e.g. opposing party and their solicitors, counsel, mediators, witnesses, courts, search agents
Trade Unions or third-party organisations that are supporting you through your case
Professional experts, such as medical professionals
Third parties who carry out anti-money laundering checks on our behalf, For example LexisNexis. More information about how LexisNexis process your personal data can be found on their website.
The police or other law enforcement agencies, government, or regulatory bodies where it is necessary to do so for the purpose of your case, or where we have a legal or regulatory obligation to do so.
Our Insurers
Our professional advisors such as lawyers and accountants
Third parties to whom we outsource certain services such as IT system or software providers, confidential waste disposal, translation services, postal/ courier services.
8. Marketing
We hope to assist and provide you with choice regarding certain personal data uses, particularly around marketing and adverting. We may use your identity, contact, technical and usage to form a view on what we think you may want, need, or what may be of interest to you. This includes services and offers.
9. Cookies
Cookies are small text files that we may store on your computer, mobile device, tablet, or other access device. These files help us distinguish you from other users of our website. When you log in, our system may place cookies on your device, making it easier for you to use the website during your current and future visits.
Cookies enhance your browsing experience by enabling certain features, reducing the need to enter your password frequently, monitoring website traffic, and personalizing content for you. Some website functions may only be accessible through cookies.
You have the right to decide whether to allow cookies. However, if you choose to disable them (or specific types of cookies) using your browser or device settings, some features of the website may not function properly or may become unavailable.
10. Third Party marketing
We will get your express opt in consent before we share your personal data with any third party for marketing purposes.
We prioritise information and system security and are committed to meeting our data protection obligations. Any personal information collected, stored, or processed, whether in physical or digital form is safeguarded with appropriate measures to ensure compliance with these obligations.
Security controls are in place to prevent loss or damage due to accidents, negligence, or intentional actions. Our employees are required to protect sensitive and confidential information when handling or transmitting data electronically and must complete training to reinforce these responsibilities.
We aim to effectively mitigate risks to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your information.
11. Data Retention
For those who make enquiries with us for legal advice, and where we are unable to proceed to open a file and act on any capacity, we will retain your personal information for a period of 7 years. We require to retain this information to satisfy any enquiries or legal actions which may arise in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Law Society of Scotland.
We will retain client files containing personal information for the mandatory time period in accordance with the Law Society of Scotland guidance. We can provide you with the allocated period we will retain as this depends on the legal matter or alternatively, you can obtain this information from the Law Society of Scotland website. We require to retain these files to satisfy any enquiries or legal actions arising after the end of your case and to follow the guidelines set out by the Law Society of Scotland.
We may also keep your information after this period but only where required to meet our legal or regulatory obligations. The length of time we keep your information for these purposes will vary depending on the obligations we need to meet.
12. Your Rights
In certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal data, such as
· To access and obtain a copy of the information we hold on you.
· Ensure accuracy of the information - you are entitled to keep your information up to date or complete inaccurate or incomplete information we hold in relation to you.
· Right to erasure - depending on the circumstances we can delete personal information.
· Restriction of processing
· Right to data portability; which enables you to transfer or send the personal data to a third party/ data controller (e.g. another solicitor)
· Review by an independent body or authority; right to lodge a complaint, (ICO, SLCC)
· Prevent marketing. We do not sell your personal data.
· Object to other uses or withdrawal of your consent.
13. How to make a complaint?
We will always strive to collect, use and safeguard your personal information in line with data protection laws. If you do not believe we have handled your information as set out in our Privacy Policy, please raise your concerns in writing with our Client Relations Partner Kirsty Cargill, KW Law, Torridon House, Almondvale Boulevard, Livingston, EH54 6QY.
Your complaint will be acknowledged within five working days. After a full investigation, you will usually receive a detailed response within ten working days.
Please contact our Staff Consultant, Valerie Forsyth on 01506 415333 for more information on these positions, or email her your CV to:vforsyth@kwlaw.co.uk.