At Hamara Solicitor LTD, we take privacy and confidentiality very seriously. We comply fully with the UK’s data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and related legislation. As solicitors, we also adhere to additional confidentiality obligations that govern our profession.

In the course of providing legal advice services to our clients and managing our business operations, we collect and use personal information about various categories of individuals. This privacy notice aims to be as transparent as possible regarding the personal information we collect and use.

For the purpose of the Data Protection Act 2018 (the Act), the data controller is Hamara Solicitor LTD, located at Suite 214B, Business First Centre, Davyfield Road, Blackburn, BB1 2QY.

Does This Privacy Notice Apply to You?

This privacy notice applies to the following categories of individuals (referred to as “you” in this notice):

  • Our clients and those representing them or working for them.
  • Customers of our clients for whom our clients have instructed us to act.
  • Individuals making inquiries about our services.
  • People who receive our legal updates, newsletters, or event invitations, as well as those attending such events.
  • Visitors to our website or followers of our social media channels.
  • Individuals whose personal information is necessary to enable our clients (or their customers) to obtain legal advice or exercise legal rights.
  • People (and their representatives) involved in our clients’ matters, including witnesses, other parties in litigation, or transactions.
  • Business contacts of Hamara Solicitor LTD.
  • Suppliers we or our clients use.
  • Our regulators, insurers, auditors, professional advisers, and certification bodies.

This notice does not apply to:

  • Individuals currently employed by us, previously employed by us, or interested in working for us. A separate privacy notice is available for these groups.
  • Services we provide to clients as a data processor. In such cases, our collection and use of personal information are governed by the client’s privacy policy.

If you believe that we are processing your personal information, but you are not included in the categories listed above, please contact us to discuss this.

What This Notice Covers

This privacy notice explains:

  1. The personal information we collect and use.
  2. The lawful bases for processing personal information.
  3. Why we collect and use personal information.
  4. Where we obtain personal information from.
  5. With whom we share personal information.
  6. How long we retain information and how we ensure its security.
  7. Your privacy rights.

You should review this privacy notice alongside any specific privacy notices we may provide to you from time to time.

Data Controller

Your information will be held by Hamara Solicitor LTD. Our Data Protection Officer (DPO) is Mr. Umar Khan, our Principal Director. You can contact the DPO at:

  • Email: umar@hamarasolicitor.co.uk
  • Telephone: 01254 658 966
  • Postal Address: Suite 214B, Business First Centre, Davyfield Road, Blackburn, BB1 2QY

Categories of Personal Information We Hold

The personal information we collect may include:

  • Basic details: Name, title, company you work for, job title, and relationship to others.
  • Contact information: Postal address, email address, and phone numbers.
  • Identification and background information: Details provided for identity verification and compliance checks (e.g., date of birth, nationality, passport or ID numbers).
  • Client information: Information about your circumstances if you are our client, including special category data where relevant.
  • Case-related information: Data regarding your involvement in matters we are handling for our clients.
  • Financial information: Payment-related information such as bank account or policy numbers.
  • Technical data: Information from your interactions with our website or digital platforms, such as your IP address, device type, browser type, and geographic location.
  • Event data: Information for attending our events, including dietary or accessibility requirements.

If we collect personal data in the course of providing legal and financial services, we may also obtain data from third parties such as relatives, employers, other parties involved in the matter, regulators, or authorities.

Lawful Bases for Processing Personal Information

We rely on the following legal bases to process personal information:

Legal BasisExplanation
Performance of a ContractWhen necessary to fulfil our contractual obligations to you or take steps to enter a contract.
Legal ObligationTo comply with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Legitimate InterestsWhere processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests and does not override your rights.
ConsentWhen you provide explicit consent for specific processing activities.
Public InterestWhen necessary to perform tasks in the public interest.
Legal ClaimsFor the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims.

Why We Collect and Use Personal Information

We use personal information for purposes such as:

  • Managing client relationships and providing legal and financial advice.
  • Performing background checks and complying with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws.
  • Processing payments and managing financial transactions.
  • Responding to inquiries, complaints, or queries.
  • Conducting marketing and promotional activities.
  • Preventing fraud and ensuring the security of our business operations.

For more details on the lawful basis for each purpose, please contact us.

Sharing Personal Information

We may share your personal information with:

  • Suppliers and service providers assisting with business operations.
  • Credit reference agencies for compliance checks.
  • Third parties involved in client matters, such as legal counsel, courts, or regulators.
  • Law enforcement or regulatory bodies when legally required.

We do not sell, rent, or otherwise make personal information commercially available to third parties.

Retention and Security of Personal Information

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this notice, considering statutory, regulatory, and legal obligations. Personal data is securely destroyed in line with our Data Retention Policy.

We employ physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect personal data, including encryption and pseudonymization. If you have questions about our security measures, please contact us.

Your Rights

You have the following rights under data protection laws:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data.
  • Rectification: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
  • Erasure: Request the deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Data Portability: Request transfer of your data in a reusable format.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing based on consent.

To exercise these rights, contact us using the details provided.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this notice or wish to exercise your rights, contact us at:

  • Email: umar@hamarasolicitor.co.uk
  • Phone: 01254 658 966
  • Address: Suite 214B, Business First Centre, Davyfield Road, Blackburn, BB1 2QY

You may also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via their website.

Changes to This Privacy Notice

This notice was last updated on 15 January 2025. We may update it periodically to reflect changes in the law or our practices. Please check this page regularly for updates.