Privacy Policy

Last reviewed: March 15, 2025

R A & Associates Limited and its subsidiaries ("Rowan-Associates," "us," "we") are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Notice outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data through our websites, digital assets ("Sites"), and consulting services.

1. Definitions

• Personal Data: Identifiable information such as your name, email, or location.

• Special Category Data: Sensitive data like race, religion, health status.

• Financial Information: Banking, payment, tax, or investment details.

• Data Controller: Determines how and why data is processed.

• Data Processor: Processes data on behalf of the controller.

• Processing: Any operation on personal data.

• Consent: Freely given, informed, and specific agreement.

• Legitimate Interest: Justified reason for data use not overridden by your rights.

• Data Breach: Any unauthorized access, loss, or alteration of data.

• Supervisory Authority: The ICO in the UK.

• Sites: All Rowan-Associates websites and applications.

• Services: All consulting and related offerings by Rowan-Associates.

2. How We Collect Personal Data

• Direct interactions: Forms, emails, phone calls, consulting sessions.

• Automated technologies: Cookies, server logs, browser data.

• Third parties: Analytics tools, business partners, referrals, and public records.

3. Purpose of Data Collection

• Contract performance: To deliver services you've requested.

• Legitimate interest: Business improvement, security, and marketing.

• Legal obligations: Compliance with regulations.

• Consent: For optional activities like marketing and recordings.

4. Types of Data We Collect

• Identity, contact, financial, transaction, technical, profile, usage, marketing preferences, audio/visual data.

• We do not collect special category data unless explicitly required and consented.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

• Contract: Service delivery, billing, support.

• Legitimate Interests: Service improvement, marketing, analytics.

• Legal Obligation: Tax, employment, and regulatory compliance.

• Consent: For non-essential data use (e.g., marketing).

• Special Category: Only with explicit consent or vital interest.

See table of legal bases per activity in full policy.

6. Use of Recordings

• May include audio, video, or photos from consultations or events.

• Used for training, marketing, or quality assurance.

• You may opt out of marketing-related recordings with written notice.

• Financial/sensitive information will never be publicly disclosed.

7. Data Retention

• Data retained as long as necessary for its original purpose.

• Factors: nature of data, risk, legal obligations.

• Anonymized data may be used indefinitely.

8. Sharing Personal Data

• Who we share with: Service providers, regulators, partners, or during M&A activity.

• Safeguards: Contracts, limited access, security standards.

• We do not: Sell data, use unvetted third-party processors, or share financial info for marketing.

9. International Transfers

• Data may be transferred outside the UK/EEA.

• Safeguards: Adequacy decisions, standard contracts, approved frameworks.

10. Data Security

• Strong access controls, encryption, and secure storage.

• Staff training and breach protocols in place.

• Financial/sensitive data has enhanced protections.

11. Your Legal Rights

You may:

• Be informed

• Access your data

• Request correction or deletion

• Restrict or object to processing

• Transfer your data

• Withdraw consent

• File a complaint (ICO: www.ico.org.uk)

12. Cookies and Tracking

• Types: Necessary, analytics, functionality, targeting.

• Control: Via browser settings or cookie banner.

• Third-party tools: e.g., Google Analytics.

• We do not respond to "Do Not Track" signals.

13. Contact Us

Data Protection Officer
R A & Associates Limited
30 Bankside, Oxford, OX5 1JE
legal@rowan-associates.com
+44 0788 6271075

14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

• Jurisdiction: England and Wales

• Disputes:

  • Step 1: Good-faith negotiation

  • Step 2: CEDR mediation in London

  • Step 3: LCIA arbitration (if unresolved)

  • Urgent claims: May go directly to court

  • Services continue during disputes

15. Intellectual Property

• Rowan-Associates Materials remain our property.

• You receive a non-transferable license for internal use only.

• Feedback and derived improvements belong to Rowan-Associates.

• All rights not granted remain reserved.

16. Termination

• Either party may terminate with notice or for breach/insolvency.

• Rowan-Associates may terminate for non-payment, IP breaches, or harm to reputation.

• On termination, obligations on data protection and confidentiality remain.

By using our services, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of this Privacy Notice.