Terms of Service

Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Harkness Vale. These Terms of Service govern your use of our website and the legal services we provide. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these terms.

Please read these terms carefully before using our services. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you should not use our website or services.

These Terms of Service should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which explain how we handle your personal information.

Service Usage Terms

1. Scope of Services

Harkness Vale provides legal advisory services in the areas of commercial contracts, employment matters, and property transactions. Our services are tailored to each client's specific needs and circumstances.

Information provided on this website is for general guidance only and does not constitute formal legal advice. Formal advice can only be provided after we have reviewed your specific situation and established a professional relationship with you.

2. Acceptable Use Policy

When using our website and services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and truthful information when contacting us or engaging our services
• Use our services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these terms
• Respect the intellectual property rights in content published on our website
• Maintain the confidentiality of any access credentials or sensitive information we provide
• Not attempt to interfere with or disrupt our website's functionality or security

3. Prohibited Uses

You must not use our website or services to:

• Engage in any unlawful activity or promote illegal conduct
• Transmit harmful code, viruses, or malicious software
• Attempt unauthorized access to our systems or networks
• Harvest or collect information about other users without permission
• Impersonate another person or entity
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

4. Service Access Requirements

To use our services, you must be at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into contracts. Certain services may have additional requirements, which will be communicated to you during the engagement process.

Establishing Professional Relationship

A solicitor-client relationship is not created simply by viewing our website or contacting us with an initial enquiry. A formal professional relationship begins only when:

1. We have conducted an initial consultation and assessed your matter
2. We have confirmed that we can assist you and that there are no conflicts of interest
3. We have provided you with our standard client care letter and terms of engagement
4. You have accepted our terms and agreed to proceed with the engagement

Until these conditions are met, any communications should not be considered as legal advice, and no professional obligations exist on either side.

Service Availability and Modifications

1. Website Availability

We strive to maintain continuous website availability, but we cannot guarantee uninterrupted access. Our website may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues, or circumstances beyond our control. We will endeavor to provide notice of planned maintenance when possible.

2. Service Capacity

Our ability to accept new matters depends on our current workload and expertise. We reserve the right to decline engagement or limit services based on capacity, conflicts of interest, or the nature of the matter. Where we are unable to assist, we will inform you promptly.

3. Service Modifications

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our services or website at any time. We will provide reasonable notice where such changes materially affect active client engagements.

4. Geographic Scope

Our services are provided under English law and are primarily intended for clients within England and Wales. We may be able to assist with matters in other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis, working with local counsel where appropriate.

Fees and Payment Terms

Our fee structure and payment terms will be clearly explained before we begin work on your matter. Key points include:

• Fees are typically charged based on the complexity and time requirements of your matter
• We provide transparent fee estimates before commencing work
• Additional costs may arise for disbursements such as court fees or third-party services
• Payment terms will be set out in our engagement letter for each matter
• We may require payment in advance or on account for certain services

Intellectual Property Rights

Website Content

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Harkness Vale or our content suppliers and is protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. You may view and print content for personal, non-commercial use only.

Client Work Product

Documents and materials we create in the course of representing you belong to you as the client, subject to our right to retain copies for professional record-keeping purposes. We retain copyright in templates, standard documents, and proprietary methodologies we develop.

Trademarks

The Harkness Vale name and logo are trademarks. You may not use these marks without our prior written permission.

Confidentiality and Professional Privilege

As solicitors, we are bound by strict professional duties of confidentiality. All information you share with us in the course of seeking or receiving legal advice is treated as confidential and protected by legal professional privilege, subject to limited exceptions required by law.

However, confidentiality protections only fully apply once a formal solicitor-client relationship has been established. Initial enquiries through our website or contact form, particularly those containing detailed information about legal matters, should be made with this understanding.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• We provide our website and general information content on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind
• We are not liable for any indirect, consequential, or incidental damages arising from your use of our website
• Our liability for professional services is governed by the specific terms of engagement for each matter
• We maintain professional indemnity insurance as required by our regulatory body

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

Third-Party Links and Content

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or resources. These links are provided for convenience only. We do not control or endorse third-party websites and are not responsible for their content, privacy practices, or terms of service. Access to third-party sites is at your own risk.

Termination of Services

Either party may terminate a professional engagement in accordance with the terms set out in our engagement letter. Generally:

• You may terminate our services by providing written notice, subject to any outstanding fee obligations
• We may withdraw from representation if continuation would breach professional obligations or if fees remain unpaid
• Upon termination, we will provide you with your files and documents, subject to our right of lien for unpaid fees where permitted by law

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, unless specific alternative dispute resolution provisions are agreed in an engagement letter.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For active client engagements, any changes to terms will be communicated directly and will not affect existing engagement letters unless mutually agreed.

Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms. We encourage you to review these terms periodically.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision will be replaced with a valid provision that most closely approximates the intent of the original.

Contact Information