Terms of Service

Effective Date: 10th September 2024

1. Introduction

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Fancy Trails website and our legal services. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

2. About Fancy Trails

Fancy Trails is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our registered office is located at:

3. Legal Services

3.1 Services Offered

We provide legal services in the following areas:

• Property Law and Conveyancing
• Business and Commercial Law
• Family Law
• Personal Injury Claims
• Wills, Trusts and Probate
• Criminal Defence

3.2 Client Relationship

A solicitor-client relationship is only established when:

• We have conducted a conflicts check
• You have provided us with appropriate identification
• We have agreed to act for you in writing
• You have agreed to our Letter of Engagement and fee arrangements

4. Website Terms

4.1 Use of Website

You may use our website for lawful purposes only. You agree not to:

• Use the website in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations
• Transmit any harmful, offensive, or inappropriate content
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Use automated systems to scrape or download content
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the website

4.2 Website Content

The information on our website is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information without seeking professional legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

5. Fees and Payment

5.1 Fee Arrangements

Our fees will be clearly set out in our Letter of Engagement. We offer various fee arrangements including:

• Fixed fees for certain services
• Hourly rates for ongoing matters
• Conditional Fee Arrangements (CFAs) where appropriate
• Damages-based agreements in suitable cases

5.2 Payment Terms

Unless otherwise agreed:

• Invoices are payable within 14 days of receipt
• We may require payment on account before commencing work
• Interest may be charged on overdue accounts
• We reserve the right to cease acting if fees remain unpaid

6. Professional Standards

We are bound by the SRA Standards and Regulations, including:

• SRA Principles
• SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs
• SRA Code of Conduct for Firms
• SRA Accounts Rules

These standards are available on the SRA website at www.sra.org.uk

7. Confidentiality

We owe you a duty of confidentiality regarding all information you provide to us. This duty continues even after our retainer has ended. However, we may be required to disclose information:

• Where required by law or court order
• To prevent serious harm or criminal activity
• For money laundering and terrorism prevention
• With your express consent

8. Limitation of Liability

Our liability to you is limited in accordance with our professional indemnity insurance and applicable law. We maintain professional indemnity insurance of at least £6 million. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by our negligence
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Any other liability that cannot be excluded by law

9. Complaints Procedure

If you are unhappy with our service, please contact us immediately. We have a formal complaints procedure:

1. Contact your solicitor or our complaints manager
2. We will acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days
3. We will investigate and respond within 8 weeks
4. If unresolved, you may contact the Legal Ombudsman

Legal Ombudsman Contact Details:

• Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
• Phone: 0300 555 0333
• Email: [email protected]
• Post: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ

10. Data Protection

We process your personal data in accordance with UK data protection laws. Please see our Privacy Policy for full details of how we collect, use, and protect your information.

11. Termination

Either party may terminate our retainer in accordance with the terms set out in our Letter of Engagement. We may terminate immediately if:

• You fail to pay our fees
• There is a conflict of interest that cannot be resolved
• You provide us with false or misleading information
• We are required to do so by law or professional obligations

12. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is owned by or licensed to Fancy Trails and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by English law, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website with a new effective date. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us using the details provided above.