Paterson Bell Solicitors is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This statement outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal data.
Who We Are
Paterson Bell Solicitors is a legal firm based in Scotland, providing expert legal services. As a data controller, we determine the purposes and means of processing your personal data.
What Personal Data We Collect
We may collect and process the following personal data:
- Name, contact details, and identification documents
- Financial and payment information
- Case-related information
- Any other information necessary for legal representation
How We Use Your Data
We process your personal data for the following purposes:
- Providing legal services and advice
- Fulfilling our legal and regulatory obligations
- Communicating with clients and third parties related to legal matters
- Processing payments and managing accounts
Lawful Basis for Processing
We process your data under the following lawful bases:
- Performance of a contract
- Compliance with a legal obligation
- Legitimate interests in providing legal services
- Consent (where applicable)
Data Sharing and Security
We only share your data with third parties when necessary, such as:
- Courts, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement agencies
- Third-party service providers assisting in legal services
- Opposing legal representatives as required by law
We implement strict security measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure.
Your Rights
Under GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.
Retention Period
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil legal and professional obligations. When data is no longer required, it is securely deleted.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about this GDPR statement or how we handle your data, please contact us:
Paterson Bell Solicitors
34 Blair St, Edinburgh EH1 1QR