Privacy & Cookie Policy

McCollum Consultants Ltd ("MCL", "we", "us", "our")

Company No. 11365662
Registered Office: 3 The Stables, Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5PG

Last updated: October 2026

2. About this Notice

1.1 This Privacy and Cookies Notice explains how MCL collects, uses, stores and protects personal data when you:

• visit or use our website;
• contact us with an enquiry;
• instruct us or communicate with us in connection with our services;
• act as, or apply to become, an Expert on our panel;
• provide services to us as a supplier or professional contact; or
• receive marketing or other communications from us.

1.2 This Notice should be read together with any other privacy notice, terms of business, instruction terms or other information we provide where we collect or process personal data for a particular purpose.

1.3 Where MCL processes personal data for its own business purposes, such as operating our website, managing professional relationships, dealing with enquiries, administering our Expert panel or marketing our services, MCL will generally act as a Controller.

1.4 Where MCL processes personal data on behalf of an Instructing Party in connection with an expert witness instruction, the Instructing Party will generally act as the Controller and MCL will act as the Processor, subject to the circumstances of the particular processing and applicable Data Protection Laws. This reflects the position set out in our Terms of Business. MCL Terms of Business updated 0…

2. Who we are and how to contact us

2.1 McCollum Consultants Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 11365662.

2.2 Our registered office is:

3 The Stables
Wilmslow Road
East Didsbury
Manchester
M20 5PG

2.3 If you have a question about this Notice, our use of your personal data or your data protection rights, please contact us at:

Email: info@mccollumconsultants.com

2.4 You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office ("ICO"), the UK supervisory authority for data protection matters. We would, however, welcome the opportunity to address any concern with you first.

3. What personal data we may collect

3.1 The personal data we collect depends on your relationship with MCL and the reason we are dealing with you.

3.2 We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

Identity data, including your name, title, date of birth where relevant, professional position and organisation.

Contact data, including your postal address, email address and telephone number.

Professional data, including your job title, employer, professional qualifications, registration details, areas of expertise, CV, professional history and professional interests.

Expert panel data, including qualifications, professional registrations, medico-legal insurance details, continuing professional development records, CV, specialisms, availability, fee information and information relevant to your suitability to remain on the MCL Expert panel.

Case and instruction data, including information provided in connection with a medico-legal or expert witness instruction, such as correspondence, records, reports, imaging, instructions, court documents, hearing information and other material relevant to the instruction.

Special category data, including health and medical information, where this is relevant to a medico-legal instruction.

Financial data, including bank details, payment information, invoices, VAT details and other information required to make or receive payments.

Technical data, including IP address, browser type and version, device information, operating system, time zone and other technical information relating to use of our website.

Usage data, including information about how you use our website and online services.

Marketing and communications data, including your preferences for receiving communications from us and records of communications with you.

Compliance data, including information relating to complaints, regulatory issues, professional restrictions, sanctions, investigations or other matters where relevant to our relationship with you.

4. How we collect personal data

4.1 We may collect personal data directly from you when you:

• contact us;
• submit an enquiry;
• instruct MCL;
• provide instructions or case materials;
• correspond with us;
• apply to join our Expert panel;
• update your Expert profile;
• provide us with professional or supplier information;
• attend meetings or events;
• provide feedback; or
• subscribe to communications.

4.2 We may also receive personal data from third parties, including:

• solicitors, law firms and other Instructing Parties;
• clients represented by an Instructing Party;
• Experts;
• agencies, claims management companies or other intermediaries;
• medical and healthcare providers;
• courts, tribunals and regulatory bodies;
• professional bodies;
• insurers, funders and other relevant organisations;
• publicly available sources, including Companies House and professional registers;
• websites and professional social media platforms; and
• service providers supporting our website, IT, communications and administration.

4.3 We may collect Technical and Usage Data automatically through cookies and similar technologies when you use our website.

5. How we use personal data and our lawful bases

5.1 We will only use personal data where we have a lawful basis to do so.

5.2 Depending on the circumstances, our lawful basis may include:

• performance of a contract;
• taking steps before entering into a contract;
• compliance with a legal obligation;
• our legitimate interests or those of a third party;
• consent, where required; and
• where special category data is processed, an additional lawful condition permitted under Data Protection Laws.

5.3 We may use personal data for the following purposes:

• responding to enquiries;
• providing information about our services;
• accepting and managing instructions;
• identifying and engaging suitable Experts;
• supporting and coordinating expert witness work;
• managing appointments, hearings and deadlines;
• administering the MCL Expert panel;
• carrying out annual Expert reviews;
• maintaining Expert profiles and professional information;
• processing invoices and payments;
• managing complaints, claims and regulatory matters;
• operating and improving our website;
• maintaining security and preventing misuse or fraud;
• managing our business relationships;
• complying with legal, regulatory, professional and insurance obligations;
• establishing, exercising or defending legal claims; and
• marketing our services where permitted by law.

6. Medico-legal and case data

6.1 MCL provides expert witness support and case coordination services. In doing so, we may receive and process personal data provided by an Instructing Party in connection with an instruction.

6.2 This may include health information and other special category personal data relating to an individual who is the subject of a medico-legal assessment or other expert instruction.

6.3 Under our Terms of Business, where MCL processes Personal Data on behalf of an Instructing Party, the Instructing Party is generally responsible for ensuring that it has an appropriate lawful basis and authority to provide that data to MCL and the Expert, including health and other special category data, and that any necessary notices, consents or other requirements have been satisfied. MCL Terms of Business updated 0…

6.4 MCL will process case data only as reasonably necessary to provide the Services, comply with lawful instructions and meet applicable legal, regulatory and professional requirements.

7. Experts and prospective Experts

7.1 If you are an Expert, or apply to become an Expert on the MCL panel, we may process information about you in order to:

• assess your suitability for instructions;
• recommend you to Instructing Parties;
• manage your MCL Expert profile;
• maintain information about your qualifications and specialisms;
• confirm professional registration;
• confirm medico-legal insurance;
• maintain information about your continuing professional development;
• record your availability and fee arrangements;
• carry out annual reviews;
• administer instructions;
• process payments;
• communicate with you about work;
• manage complaints or professional concerns; and
• meet legal, regulatory and insurance requirements.

7.2 We may also process information relating to any complaint, investigation, regulatory process, sanction, restriction or professional concern where it is reasonably relevant to your suitability to provide Expert services through MCL.

7.3 Where appropriate, we may share relevant professional information about an Expert with an Instructing Party for the purpose of considering or progressing an instruction.

8. Marketing

8.1 We may use professional contact information to send relevant information about MCL's services where permitted by law.

8.2 We may rely on legitimate interests for certain business-to-business marketing communications where appropriate.

8.3 Where consent is required, we will obtain it before sending marketing communications.

8.4 You can ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time by using any unsubscribe option provided or by contacting us.

8.5 Opting out of marketing will not prevent us from sending you administrative, contractual, case-related or other non-marketing communications.

9. Cookies and similar technologies

9.1 Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.

9.2 Cookies are small files or technologies that allow information to be stored on or accessed from your device.

9.3 Some cookies are necessary for the website to operate properly. These may be used without consent where permitted by law.

9.4 Other cookies may be used for purposes such as:

• analytics;
• understanding website use;
• measuring website performance;
• remembering preferences;
• improving functionality; and
• supporting marketing or communications where applicable.

9.5 Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used after you have made the relevant choice through our cookie controls or consent mechanism.

9.6 You can change your cookie preferences using the controls made available on the website and, where relevant, through your browser settings.

9.7 The specific cookies and similar technologies in use may change as our website and service providers change. The current cookie controls on the website should provide the most up-to-date information about the technologies in use.

10. Artificial Intelligence

10.1 MCL may use artificial intelligence ("AI") and AI-assisted technologies in connection with its business and services where their use is lawful, appropriate and subject to suitable confidentiality, data protection and information-security safeguards.

10.2 In line with our Terms of Business, where case materials containing Personal Data, including health or other special category data, are processed using AI, MCL will only use systems approved by MCL for that purpose and subject to appropriate safeguards. MCL Terms of Business updated 0…

10.3 MCL does not submit Personal Data or substantive Expert work to general-purpose generative AI services where those services may retain the information or use it to train or improve their models, unless the use has been specifically approved and is lawful and appropriate.

10.4 AI may be used for general administrative, drafting or business-support purposes where no case Personal Data is provided.

10.5 AI is an assistive tool and does not replace the professional judgement of an Expert.

11. Who we may share personal data with

11.1 We may share personal data where reasonably necessary with:

• Experts;
• Instructing Parties;
• professional advisers;
• insurers;
• auditors;
• banks and payment providers;
• IT, hosting and case-management providers;
• administrative and technical service providers;
• courts and tribunals;
• regulators and professional bodies;
• HM Revenue & Customs and other public authorities;
• fraud prevention or security providers; and
• other parties where disclosure is required by law or reasonably necessary for the Services.

11.2 Where MCL appoints a service provider to process Personal Data on its behalf, we will require appropriate data protection obligations to apply.

11.3 Our Terms of Business expressly allow MCL to use Experts and appropriate case-management, administrative, technical and other service providers where reasonably necessary to provide the Services. MCL Terms of Business updated 0…

11.4 We do not sell personal data.

12. International transfers

12.1 Some of our service providers or other recipients may process personal data outside the United Kingdom.

12.2 Where personal data is transferred internationally, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that the transfer is lawful and that appropriate safeguards are in place where required.

12.3 Depending on the circumstances, this may include relying on:

• UK adequacy regulations;
• approved contractual safeguards;
• other safeguards permitted by Data Protection Laws; or
• an applicable legal exception.

13. Information security

13.1 We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against accidental or unlawful loss, destruction, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access.

13.2 Access to personal data is limited to people who reasonably need access for their role or for the relevant instruction.

13.3 MCL operates as a paper-free business and, in line with our Terms of Business, requires records, imaging and other case materials to be supplied electronically using an approved secure method unless otherwise agreed. MCL Terms of Business updated 0…

13.4 Physical material supplied to MCL may be securely digitised and subsequently destroyed unless otherwise agreed.

13.5 If we become aware of a Personal Data Breach, we will take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable Data Protection Laws and any contractual obligations.

14. How long we keep personal data

14.1 We keep personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and to meet legal, regulatory, professional, accounting, insurance and dispute-resolution requirements.

14.2 Retention periods will vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it is held.

14.3 In relation to case materials, our Terms of Business provide that case materials may be securely destroyed following settlement or conclusion of a matter, subject to any legal, regulatory, professional, insurance or dispute-resolution need to retain them. MCL Terms of Business updated 0…

14.4 Where appropriate, we may anonymise information so that it no longer identifies an individual, in which case we may retain and use the anonymised information for statistical, analytical or business purposes.

15. Your data protection rights

15.1 Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

• request access to your personal data;
• request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data;
• request deletion of personal data;
• object to certain processing;
• request restriction of processing;
• request transfer of certain personal data;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
• complain to the ICO.

15.2 These rights are subject to legal conditions and exemptions and will not apply in every circumstance.

15.3 We may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.

15.4 We will respond within the period required by applicable Data Protection Laws.

16. Automated decision-making

16.1 MCL does not make decisions about individuals based solely on automated processing where that decision produces legal or similarly significant effects, unless this is permitted by law and appropriate safeguards apply.

16.2 If this changes, we will provide appropriate information about the processing.

17. Third-party websites

17.1 Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services or applications.

17.2 We do not control those third parties and are not responsible for their privacy practices.

17.3 You should review the privacy information provided by any third party before providing personal data to them.

18. Changes to this Notice

18.1 We may update this Notice from time to time to reflect changes in law, regulation, our services, our website or the way we process personal data.

18.2 The latest version will be published on our website.

19. Complaints

19.1 If you have concerns about the way MCL has handled your personal data, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address the issue.

19.2 You may also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.

McCollum Consultants Ltd
Company No. 11365662
Registered Office: 3 The Stables, Wilmslow Road, East Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5PG
Email: info@mccollumconsultants.com