Client privacy notice

The Firm is aware of its obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is committed to processing your datasecurely and transparently. This privacy notice sets out, in line with GDPR, the types of data that we hold on your behalf, as our client. Italso sets out how we use that information, how long we keep it for and other relevant information about your data.

Last updated April 2018

Data protection principles
‍In relation to your personal data, we will:

  • process it fairly, lawfully and in a clear, transparent way
  • collect your data only for reasons that we find proper for the course of your case in ways that have been explained to you
  • only use it in the way that we have told you about
  • ensure it is correct and up to date
  • keep your data for only as long as we need it
  • process it in a way that ensures it will not be used for anything that you are not aware of or have consented to (as appropriate), lost or destroyed
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‍Types of data we process
‍We may hold many types of data about you, including:

  • your personal details including your name, address, date of birth, email address, phone numbers,]Bank statements and other financial documents
  • Bank statements and other financial documents
  • Pension statements or reports
  • Payslips and employment contracts
  • Documents relating to your children, if applicable.
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‍How we collect your data
‍We collect data about you in a variety of ways and this will usually start with data you supply to us when you engage us to act on your behalf. It may also be sent to us by third parties acting on your behalf. Other details may be collected directly from you in theform of official documentation such as your driving licence, passport or other evidence.

Personal data is securely kept, in Client files or within the Company's Client and IT systems.

‍Why we process your data
‍The law on data protection allows us to process your data for certain reasons only:

  • in order to represent and advise you
  • in order to carry out legally required duties, for example to comply with SRA Regulations
  • in order for us to carry out our legitimate interests
  • to protect your interests and
  • where something is done in the public interest.
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We do not need your consent if we use special categories of personal data in order to carry out our legal obligations or exercise specific rights under family law. However, we may ask for your consent to allow us to process certain particularly sensitive data. Ifthis occurs, you will be made fully aware of the reasons for the processing. As with all cases of seeking consent from you, you will have full control over your decision to give or withhold consent and there will be no consequences where consent is withheld. Consent, once given, may be withdrawn at any time. There will be no consequences where consent is withdrawn.

‍If you do not provide your data to us
‍One of the reasons for processing your data is to allow us to carry out our duties in line with your contractual obligations. If you do not provide us with the data needed to do this, we will unable to perform those duties e.g. ensuring we represent you in the best way we can. We may also be prevented from confirming, or continuing to represent you in relation to our legal or SRA obligations if you do not provide us with this information e.g. confirming your legal status or address.

Sharing your data
‍Your data will be shared with colleagues within the Company where it is necessary for them to undertake their duties. This includes, sharing your data with other members of the team to best support and represent you.

We will only share your data with third parties with your explicit consent and in order to provide you with specialist technical knowledge to assist us in representing you in the best way, such as barristers, financial or tax advisers, Cafcass officers, accountants or therapeutic workers.

‍Protecting your data
‍We are aware of the requirement to ensure your data is protected against accidental loss or disclosure, destruction and abuse. We have implemented processes to guard against such risks.

Where we share your data with third parties, we provide written instructions to remind them that your data must be held securely and in line with GDPR requirements.

‍How long we keep your data for
‍In line with data protection principles, we only keep your data for as long as we need it, which will be for the duration of your case and for six years thereafter.

‍Your rights in relation to your data
‍The law on data protection gives you certain rights in relation to the data we hold on you. These are:

  • the right to be informed. This means that we must tell you how we use your data, and this is the purpose of this privacy notice
  • the right of access. You have the right to access the data that we hold on you. To do so, you should make a subject access request.
  • the right for any inaccuracies to be corrected. If any data that we hold about you is incomplete or inaccurate, you are able torequire us to correct it
  • the right to have information deleted. If you would like us to stop processing your data, you have the right to ask us to delete it from our systems where you believe there is no reason for us to continue processing it
  • the right to restrict the processing of the data. For example, if you believe the data we hold is incorrect, we will stop processing the data (whilst still holding it) until we have ensured that the data is correct
  • the right to portability. You may transfer the data that we hold on you for your own purposes
  • the right to object to the inclusion of any information. You have the right to object to the way we use your data where we areusing it for our legitimate interests
  • the right to regulate any automated decision-making and profiling of personal data. You have a right not to be subject to automated decision making in way that adversely affects your legal rights.


Where you have provided consent to our use of your data, you also have the unrestricted right to withdraw that consent at any time.Withdrawing your consent means that we will stop processing the data that you had previously given us consent to use.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights explained above, please contact Karen Murphy (karen.murphy@turnernicholson.com).

‍Making a complaint
‍The supervisory authority in the UK for data protection matters is the Information Commissioner (ICO). If you think your data protection rights have been breached in any way by us, you are able to make a complaint to the ICO.