Professional Standards

1. Our Commitment

At DFPI (UK) Services Limited, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct, integrity, and client service. Since our establishment as a partnership in 2017 and incorporation as a limited company in 2025, we have built our reputation on unwavering ethical principles and exceptional legal expertise.

2. Core Professional Principles

2.1 Integrity and Honesty

We uphold the highest standards of integrity in all our professional dealings. This means:

• Acting honestly and with complete transparency in all client relationships
• Providing truthful and accurate advice, even when difficult
• Never misleading clients, courts, or other parties
• Maintaining honesty in our billing and fee arrangements
• Refusing to engage in any deceptive practices

2.2 Client Care and Service

Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We commit to:

• Treating every client with respect, dignity, and courtesy
• Providing clear, understandable advice tailored to your needs
• Responding promptly to communications and inquiries
• Keeping you informed of progress and developments
• Delivering value for money through efficient service
• Leveraging OMNI technology for enhanced client communication and case management

2.3 Competence and Quality

We maintain exceptional professional competence through:

• Continuous professional development and training
• Specialization in our practice areas
• Staying current with legal developments and case law
• Only accepting work we are qualified to handle
• Utilizing advanced MANOTAN-powered technology for legal research and analysis
• Rigorous quality control and peer review processes

2.4 Confidentiality

Client confidentiality is sacrosanct. We protect your information by:

• Maintaining strict confidentiality of all client information
• Implementing robust data security measures and encryption
• Limiting access to information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage and transmission of documents via our OMNI platform
• Training all staff on confidentiality obligations
• Only disclosing information where legally required or with consent

3. Professional Conduct Standards

3.1 Independence and Objectivity

We maintain independence by:

• Identifying and managing conflicts of interest promptly
• Providing objective advice free from undue influence
• Declining to act where independence is compromised
• Maintaining professional skepticism and critical analysis

3.2 Duty to the Court

Where we appear before courts or tribunals, we recognize our overriding duty to:

• Act in the interests of justice
• Not knowingly mislead the court
• Disclose relevant legal authorities, even if unhelpful to our case
• Comply with court rules, orders, and directions
• Treat all parties and the judiciary with respect

3.3 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment by:

• Treating all clients, colleagues, and contacts with equal respect
• Prohibiting discrimination based on protected characteristics
• Promoting diversity within our team and practice
• Ensuring accessibility of our services
• Challenging discrimination and promoting equality

3.4 Prevention of Financial Crime

We take our anti-money laundering obligations seriously:

• Conducting thorough client due diligence and identity verification
• Monitoring transactions for suspicious activity
• Reporting suspicious activity to relevant authorities
• Training staff to recognize and respond to financial crime risks
• Maintaining comprehensive records of compliance activities

4. Client Relationship Standards

4.1 Clear Information

We provide clients with clear information about:

• The scope of our engagement and services to be provided
• Who will handle your matter and their experience
• Our fee structure, rates, and billing arrangements
• Likely timescales and key milestones
• How to contact us and expected response times
• Your rights, including the right to complain

4.2 Client Identity and Verification

Before accepting instructions, we will:

• Verify your identity using appropriate documentation
• Understand the nature and purpose of the engagement
• Assess risk factors and conduct due diligence
• Explain why this information is necessary

4.3 Transparent Costs

We ensure fee transparency by:

• Providing clear information about costs at the outset
• Explaining the basis of our charges
• Providing regular updates on costs incurred
• Discussing any significant cost increases
• Providing clear, itemized invoices

5. Technology and Innovation Standards

5.1 OMNI Platform Excellence

Our proprietary OMNI platform, powered by MANOTAN technology, enhances our service delivery through:

• Security: Bank-grade encryption and secure data storage
• Accessibility: 24/7 client portal access to case information
• Efficiency: Automated updates and streamlined communication
• Transparency: Real-time visibility of case progress and billing
• Innovation: AI-powered legal research and analysis tools

5.2 Data Protection and Cybersecurity

We maintain robust cybersecurity measures:

• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Multi-factor authentication for system access
• Encrypted communication channels
• Secure backup and disaster recovery procedures
• Staff training on cybersecurity best practices
• Incident response protocols

5.3 Responsible Use of AI

While leveraging advanced AI through MANOTAN, we ensure:

• Human oversight of all AI-generated analysis
• Transparency about AI use in service delivery
• Validation of AI outputs against legal standards
• Protection of client data used in AI systems
• Continuous monitoring and improvement of AI accuracy

6. Professional Indemnity Insurance

We maintain comprehensive professional indemnity insurance to protect our clients, providing:

• Coverage of at least £3,000,000 per claim
• Protection against professional negligence
• Run-off cover as required
• Regular review and renewal of coverage

7. Continuing Professional Development

Our commitment to excellence includes ongoing professional development:

• Minimum 16 hours of CPD annually per fee earner
• Regular training on legal updates and developments
• Attendance at professional conferences and seminars
• Internal knowledge sharing and case reviews
• Training on new technologies and practice innovations
• Ethics and professional conduct refresher courses

8. File and Records Management

We maintain rigorous standards for file management:

• Comprehensive and accurate record keeping
• Secure storage of physical and electronic files
• Retention of files for required periods (minimum 6 years)
• Systematic file review and quality assurance
• Secure destruction of files after retention period
• Easy client access to their files upon request

9. Supervision and Quality Control

We ensure quality through:

• Appropriate supervision of all legal work
• Regular file reviews and quality audits
• Peer review of significant advice and documents
• Clear escalation procedures for complex matters
• Client feedback mechanisms
• Continuous improvement based on lessons learned

10. Environmental and Social Responsibility

We recognize our broader responsibilities to society:

• Environmental: Reducing our carbon footprint through digital-first practices
• Pro Bono: Providing free legal advice to those who cannot afford it
• Community: Supporting local legal education and community projects
• Sustainable: Using technology to minimize paper and resource use
• Ethical: Declining work that conflicts with our values

11. Conflicts of Interest Management

We have robust systems to identify and manage conflicts:

• Comprehensive conflict checking before accepting instructions
• Regular updates to our conflicts database
• Clear procedures for handling identified conflicts
• Information barriers where appropriate
• Transparent disclosure to affected clients
• Declining to act where conflicts cannot be managed

12. Complaints Handling

We take all complaints seriously and handle them:

• Promptly and professionally
• With investigation and fair assessment
• With appropriate remedial action
• As learning opportunities for improvement

Please see our Complaints Procedure for full details on how to raise concerns.

13. Compliance and Regulatory Standards

We comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements:

• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017
• Companies Act 2006
• All relevant procedural rules (CPR, Criminal Procedure Rules, etc.)
• Legal services consumer protection requirements
• Advertising and marketing standards

14. Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to making our services accessible to all:

• Providing documents in alternative formats upon request
• Making reasonable adjustments for disabled clients
• Offering virtual meetings where appropriate
• Clear, jargon-free communication
• Multilingual support where available

15. Review and Accountability

These professional standards are:

• Reviewed annually and updated as necessary
• Communicated to all staff and monitored for compliance
• Subject to internal audit and quality control
• Benchmarked against industry best practices
• Open to client and stakeholder feedback

16. Contact Us About Standards

If you have questions about our professional standards or wish to discuss how we uphold these commitments, please contact us:

These professional standards reflect our commitment to excellence and ethical practice. They guide our work every day as we strive to provide distinguished legal services to all our clients.