Skip to main content

Data retention policy

The firm

Your Data will be kept for certain periods after your retainer with us has terminated. The periods for which we will retain Your Data depend on the practice area under which we provided our services to you. The periods are as follows:

Practice areaRetention period
Abortive transaction/matter did not proceedA discretionary decision by Legal Staff and the Supervising Partner (for example, if no engagement letter was sent or received) – 1 year as a guide.
Beneficiary information/data7 years, unless there is a will trust, in which case until the trust end date plus 7 years.
Corporate Commercial12 years or longer if it involves complex issues.
Criminal7 to 15 years (depending on the seriousness of the crime) or longer if a life or indeterminate sentence has been imposed.
Docusign, Inc. dataDocument and draft envelope retention periods 30 days.
Employment7 years.
Family15 or 21 years (for example, if children are involved).
Leasehold and Tenancy7 years or length of the term of tenancy/lease plus 3 years.
Litigation12 years or longer if necessary (for example, if you are disabled).
Marketing3 years.
Medical Negligence15 years or longer if it involves children or complex issues (for example, lifetime or provisional damages being awarded).
Personal Injury7 to 15 years or longer depending on the complexity of the case (for example, lifetime or provisional damages being awarded), the seriousness of the injury or if children are involved.
Private Client (non-litigious)7 years.
Property Purchase and Mortgage15 years.
Property Re-Mortgage7 years.
Property Sales7 years.
TrustsFor the duration of the trust and then an additional 7 years.
Wills and ProbateIndefinitely (if in keeping with a will or trust) or 21 years.

Any data held to comply with our obligations under anti-money laundering regulations as may be in force will be held for five years from the date of the last active matter’s file closure, with a long stop date of 10 years.

Please note that we may keep Your Data for longer than the above periods if necessary. However, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If we determine that it is necessary to keep Your Data for longer than the periods listed above, we will confirm this to you in writing at the end of our retainer with you and explain why it is necessary.

Stay in touch

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay in touch

By completing your details and submitting this form you confirm you are happy for us to send you marketing communications and that you agree to our Website Privacy Policy and Legal Notice and to us using Mailchimp to process your data.


Sending

News/Insight

  • What is the Employment Rights Bill 2024?
    The Employment Rights Bill 2024 marks a pivotal moment in UK employment law, promising the most significant reforms in over three decades


    Read more
  • Autumn Budget Statement 2024
    Key implications for employment law, property law, and estate planning


    Read more
  • Disclosure against warranties in UK corporate transactions
    In UK corporate transactions, disclosure of information is a vital strategy for sellers to shield themselves from warranty claims when selling their shares or business.


    Read more
  • How the Employment Rights Bill 2024 impacts employers and businesses
    The government’s new Employment Rights Bill outlines significant changes to employment laws, focusing on workers' rights and flexibility.


    Read more
  • Business First Magazine
    Autumn/Winter 2024 Edition


    Read more

What they say...

  • Stephen, November 2024
    “Outstanding family lawyer who came through for me in a difficult case. In the world new to me of divorce and the aftermath, [Pippa Marshall] provided excellent advice from the first call and right through to conclusion. She made a difficult ex

  • M. M. Homes, November 2024
    “Charlotte explained everything very clearly and made the whole process nice and easy. Have already started recommending her to my friends.” Wills and LPAs

  • Nim, November 2024
    “I highly recommend James McMullan and his team. They all did a fantastic job with helping me through a particularly difficult family situation. They are extremely professional, caring, and experts in their field.” Probate and contentious

  • Man Kiu Wan, November 2024
    “Thank you Charlotte for your excellent and professional services.” Probate

  • Ms K, November 2024
    “I was recently made redundant, and my company had handled some of the process quite poorly. Patrick came recommended by a friend who had used him during her own redundancy, and I can now wholeheartedly recommend him myself. His initial consult

Read more