Privacy and Cookies Policy

Last updated March 2023

Introduction

In order to act as mediator or barrister I, Harry Spurr, need to collect and hold personal information. This may be your personal data or information relating to other parties. I will take all possible steps to protect personal information. I will ensure that I do not do anything that may infringe your rights or undermine your trust. This privacy notice describes the information I collect about you, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.  

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a Data Controller for the personal data that I hold and process as a barrister. My registered address is St John’s Chambers, 101 Victoria St, Bristol, BS1 6PU and my ICO registration number is ZA785319. If you need to contact me about your data or this privacy notice, you can reach me at harry@harryspurr.com. 

Data collection 

The vast majority of the information that I hold about you is provided to, or gathered by, me in the course of my work as a mediator or barrister. Your solicitor and/or I will tell you why I need the information and how I will use it. In addition to the information you may provide to me or your solicitor, I also obtain information from other sources as follows: 

  • Information that is available publicly in registers, searches or in the media

  • Other legal professionals including solicitors and barristers and their associates, trainees and staff 

  • Expert or other witnesses 

  • Regulatory, public or administrative bodies

  • Court staff & officials

  • Clients

  • References 

What data do I process about you? 

Depending on the type of work, I collect and process both personal data and special categories of personal data as defined in the UK GDPR. This may include: 

  • Names

  • Email addresses

  • Phone numbers

  • Addresses

  • Payment or bank details 

  • Dates of birth 

  • Next of kin details 

  • Details pertaining to education and employment 

  • Information on the background & current circumstances of individuals

  • Financial information

Where relevant, I may also need to process special category personal data that reveals:  

  • Racial or ethnic origin 

  • Political opinions 

  • Religious and philosophical beliefs 

  • Trade union membership 

  • Genetic data 

  • Biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person 

  • Data concerning health

  • Sex life and sexual orientation

On occasion, I may also process personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences. 

My lawful basis for processing your information 

In order that I can work as a mediator and barrister, I must process your personal data. The UK General Data Protection Regulation (the UK GDPR) requires that where I process personal data, I must have a lawful basis for doing so. The lawful bases identified in the UK GDPR that I seek to rely upon are as follows:  

  • Consent of the data subject – where this required, I will ensure that I have your specific consent for processing your data for the specified purposes. You will also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Where you do so this will not affect the legality of data processing which had taken place prior to your withdrawal of consent.

  • Performance of a contract with the data subject, or to take steps to enter into a contract. 

  • Compliance with a legal obligation – to comply with various regulatory and professional obligations, e.g. filing tax returns with HMRC. 

  • The legitimate interests of my business or a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests, rights or freedoms of the data subject.   Examples of legitimate interests include but are not limited to

    • Provision of legal services and advice. 

    • Purposes of practice management, accounting and debt recovery.

    • Completion of professional regulatory requirements.

    • Processing for direct marketing purposes, or to prevent fraud.

    • Reporting threats to public security.

    • Certain other purposes as set out in legislation.

Special category processing 

The UK GDPR specifies that where I process special category data, I must rely upon certain exemptions in order to do so lawfully. The following exemptions can be applicable to my practice:

  • Where I have your explicit consent to do so; or 

  • Where it is necessary for the exercise or defence of legal claims or judicial acts. 

Criminal data processing 

On occasion, I process data relating to criminal offences where it is necessary for: 

  • The purpose of, or in connection with, any legal proceedings;

  • The purpose of obtaining legal advice; or 

  • The purposes of establishing, exercising or defending legal rights 

  • Where I have your explicit consent to do so. 

Purposes

I may use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • to provide of mediation services, legal advice and representation; 

  • in connection with the training of other professionals; 

  • to investigate and address your concerns; 

  • to communicate with you about news, updates and events;

  • to investigate or address legal proceedings relating to your use of my services, or as otherwise allowed by applicable law; 

  • to make statutory returns as required by law;

  • to assist in any tendering or panel membership applications; 

  • to assist in any other applications for the purpose of professional development or career progression;

  • to communicate mediation and legal updates and judgments to other legal professionals;

  • for marketing purposes and to promote my practice;

  • to manage my relationship with you and / or your business including by maintaining my database of contacts and other third parties for administration, accounting, relationship management;

  • for professional development purposes

  • for the management and administration of my practice;

  • to recover debt;

  • to manage complaints with regulators;

  • to communicate with regulators;

  • where relevant to conduct anti money laundering, terrorist financing or conflict of interest checks;

  • to establish, exercise or defend my legal rights or for the purposes of legal proceedings;

  • for internal operations, including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, research, statistical and survey responses;

  • as I feel is necessary to prevent illegal activity or to protect interests. 

In the course of processing your information to provide legal services to you, I may share your personal data with: 

  • others involved in your case, including lawyers and other individuals and experts; 

  • other professionals under my training; 

  • court officials, including the judiciary; 

  • the management staff who run the mediation panels of which I am a member and my chambers, and who provide administrative services for my practice and who deal with complaints;

  • expert and other witnesses; 

  • my regulator or legal advisors in the event of a dispute, complaint or other legal matter; 

  • law enforcement officials, government authorities, or other third parties, to meet any legal obligations; 

  • legal directories, for the purpose of professional development; 

  • any relevant panel or tendering committee, for the purpose of professional development; 

  • other mediators and barristers for the purposes of my professional development;

  • accountants and banking officials;

  • regulators or arbitrators, where complaints or disputes arise; 

  • any other party where I ask you for consent, and you consent, to the sharing;

  • the police or intelligence services where where required by law or pursuant to a court order 

I will not retain your personal data for longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected.  This period may vary from one piece of information to another, and will take into account my need to meet any legal or regulatory obligations, good practice and my legitimate business purposes.  The need to retain or use your personal data will be reassessed on a regular basis and any data that is no longer required will be destroyed or disposed of securely and effectively.

Your rights 


The UK GDPR gives you specific rights in terms of your personal data. For example, you have the right of access to the information I hold and what I use it for, and you can ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you.

You can ask me to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold, and you can ask me to stop sending you direct mail or emails or, in some circumstances, ask me to stop processing your details.  

Finally, if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data, you can complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how I have processed your information or dealt with your query. You may also seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred.  

You can find out more information from the ICO’s website: 

http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information 

Accessing and correcting your information 

You may request access to, correction of, or a copy of your information by contacting me at harry@harryspurr.com.  

Marketing opt-outs 

You may opt out of receiving emails and other messages from my practice by following the instructions in those messages.  

I will occasionally update my privacy notice. When I make significant changes, I will publish the updated notice on my website.

Use of my website and cookies

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