Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how urgentexpertwitness.co.uk ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores and protects your personal information when you use our website and services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal data is the operator of urgentexpertwitness.co.uk. For any privacy-related enquiries, please contact us through the details provided on this website.

3. Information We Collect

We collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Contact Information: Your name, email address and telephone number, provided when submitting an enquiry through our contact form.
• Enquiry Details: The specialism you require, urgency level, case description, and whether you are a legal professional or individual.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types, operating system and platform, and other technology on the devices you use to access this website.
• Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, products and services.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To respond to your enquiry and connect you with suitable expert witnesses.
• To communicate with you about your request and any follow-up matters.
• To maintain records of our interactions for quality and compliance purposes.
• To improve our website and services.
• To comply with legal obligations.

The legal basis for processing is your consent (when submitting the form) and our legitimate interests in providing the expert witness matching service you have requested.

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We may share your information with:

• Expert Witnesses: When matching you with a suitable expert, we will share your contact details and case information with the identified expert, but only to the extent necessary for them to consider your instruction.
• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who provide services on our behalf, such as IT support, data storage and email delivery, who are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order or regulatory obligation.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected. Enquiry records are typically retained for 6 years from the date of submission to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. After this period, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised.

7. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses essential cookies to ensure proper functionality. We do not use tracking or advertising cookies. Essential cookies are necessary for the website to operate and cannot be disabled. By using our website, you consent to the use of these essential cookies.

8. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights:

• The right to access your personal data.
• The right to rectification of inaccurate data.
• The right to erasure ("right to be forgotten").
• The right to restrict processing.
• The right to data portability.
• The right to object to processing.
• The right to withdraw consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details on this website. We will respond within one month of receiving your request.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.