Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing our website or engaging the services of DFPI (UK) Services Limited ("DFPI", "we", "our", or "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing our services.

2. Services Provided

DFPI provides legal services and consultation in the following areas:

• Criminal Defence
• Corporate Law
• Property Law
• Family Law
• Other legal services as agreed upon

Our services are enhanced by our proprietary OMNI platform, powered by MANOTAN technology, which provides advanced legal analytics and case management capabilities.

3. Client Engagement and Retainer

3.1 Scope of Engagement

Legal services will be provided based on the agreed scope outlined in your engagement letter or retainer agreement. The specific terms, fees, and scope of work will be confirmed in writing before commencement of work.

3.2 Client Instructions

We will act on your instructions provided they are:

• Clear and unambiguous
• Within the scope of our engagement
• Lawful and ethical
• In your best interests

3.3 Professional Relationship

By engaging our services, you acknowledge that:

• A solicitor-client relationship is formed upon written confirmation
• We owe you duties of care, confidentiality, and loyalty
• You will provide accurate and complete information
• You will cooperate with us in a timely manner

4. Fees and Payment Terms

4.1 Fee Structure

Our fees may be charged on the following basis:

• Hourly Rate: Based on the time spent on your matter
• Fixed Fee: An agreed fixed amount for specific services
• Conditional Fee: Success-based fees where applicable and agreed
• Retainer: Advance payment held on account

4.2 Payment Terms

Unless otherwise agreed:

• Invoices are due within 14 days of issue
• We may require payment on account before commencing work
• Interest may be charged on overdue accounts at 8% per annum above Bank of England base rate
• We reserve the right to cease work if fees remain unpaid

4.3 Disbursements

You are responsible for payment of disbursements including court fees, expert fees, search fees, and other third-party costs. These will be invoiced in addition to our professional fees.

5. Client Obligations

As our client, you agree to:

• Provide complete, accurate, and timely information
• Respond promptly to our requests for information or instructions
• Inform us immediately of any material changes to your circumstances
• Pay our fees and disbursements in accordance with agreed terms
• Not ask us to act in any way that would breach professional standards or the law
• Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive case information

6. Confidentiality and Legal Professional Privilege

6.1 Confidentiality

We will maintain strict confidentiality regarding all information you provide to us, subject to our legal and professional obligations. Information will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except where:

• Required by law or court order
• Necessary to prevent serious harm or crime
• Required for professional indemnity insurance purposes
• With your explicit consent

6.2 Legal Professional Privilege

Communications between you and us are protected by legal professional privilege. This means they generally cannot be disclosed without your consent, even in legal proceedings.

6.3 OMNI Platform Security

All communications and documents shared via our OMNI platform are encrypted and securely stored in accordance with UK data protection laws.

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1 Scope of Liability

Our liability to you is limited to losses directly caused by our negligence or breach of contract. We shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, consequential, or economic losses
• Loss of profits, business, or opportunity
• Actions of third parties (including courts, experts, or counsel)
• Outcomes we cannot control
• Losses arising from incomplete or inaccurate information provided by you

7.2 Cap on Liability

Our total liability to you shall not exceed the lesser of:

• £3,000,000 (three million pounds); or
• The limit of our professional indemnity insurance applicable to your claim

7.3 Time Limits

Any claim against us must be notified within 6 years of the act or omission giving rise to the claim, or within 3 years of you becoming aware (or reasonably should have become aware) of the grounds for the claim, whichever is earlier.

8. No Legal Outcome Guarantee

While we will provide professional legal services to the best of our ability, we cannot and do not guarantee any specific legal outcome. Legal matters depend on many factors outside our control, including:

• Actions of courts, tribunals, and other parties
• Changes in law or legal interpretation
• Evidence available and its admissibility
• Decisions of judges, juries, or other decision-makers

9. Termination of Services

9.1 Your Right to Terminate

You may terminate our engagement at any time by providing written notice. You will remain liable for:

• Fees for work completed up to termination
• All disbursements incurred
• Reasonable costs of transferring your file to new representatives

9.2 Our Right to Terminate

We may terminate our engagement with you if:

• You fail to pay our fees or disbursements
• You fail to provide instructions or information
• A conflict of interest arises
• You ask us to act in breach of our professional obligations
• Our professional relationship has irretrievably broken down

We will provide reasonable notice unless immediate termination is necessary.

10. Conflicts of Interest

We maintain systems to identify and manage conflicts of interest. If a conflict arises or is identified:

• We will notify you immediately
• We will not act if there is an actual conflict
• We may implement information barriers if appropriate
• We may need to cease acting for you or other clients

11. Money Laundering and Financial Crime

We are required by law to:

• Verify your identity and source of funds
• Conduct due diligence checks
• Report suspicious transactions to the National Crime Agency
• Decline to act if we cannot complete verification

We cannot inform you if we make a report to authorities, as this would constitute "tipping off", which is a criminal offence.

12. File Retention and Destruction

We will retain your file for a minimum of 6 years after completion of your matter, or longer if:

• Required by law or professional regulations
• Necessary for limitation period purposes
• You request longer retention (additional fees may apply)

After the retention period, files will be securely destroyed unless you request their return (collection charges may apply).

13. Intellectual Property

13.1 Your IP

You retain all intellectual property rights in materials you provide to us.

13.2 Our IP

We retain intellectual property rights in:

• Legal advice, opinions, and strategies we develop
• Our OMNI platform and MANOTAN technology
• Templates, precedents, and know-how

You may use our work product for the purposes of your matter, but not for commercial exploitation or sharing with others without our consent.

14. Website Terms of Use

14.1 Acceptable Use

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

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Introduce viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Scrape or harvest data from our website
• Use our website in any way that could damage, disable, or impair it

14.2 Website Content

The content on our website is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on website content without obtaining specific legal advice for your circumstances.

14.3 Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of external sites.

15. OMNI Platform Terms

15.1 Access and Security

If you are granted access to our OMNI client portal:

• You must keep your login credentials secure
• You are responsible for all activity under your account
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• We may suspend access if we suspect security breaches

15.2 Platform Availability

While we strive to maintain continuous availability of the OMNI platform, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. We may perform maintenance, updates, or temporary suspensions as necessary.

16. Data Protection

We process your personal data in accordance with UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy. By engaging our services, you consent to our processing of your data as necessary to provide legal services. Please see our Privacy Policy for full details.

17. Communication

17.1 Methods of Communication

We may communicate with you via:

• Email (including through OMNI platform)
• Telephone
• Post
• In-person meetings
• Secure messaging via OMNI

17.2 Email Security

Email communication carries inherent security risks. By communicating via email, you accept these risks. For sensitive matters, we recommend using our secure OMNI platform.

18. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for failure to perform our obligations due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Natural disasters, pandemics, or acts of God
• War, terrorism, or civil unrest
• Government action or legal restrictions
• Utility failures or telecommunications outages
• Strikes or labor disputes

19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from or related to our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

20. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

21. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with your engagement letter and our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and DFPI regarding our services, superseding any prior agreements or understandings.

22. Amendments

We reserve the right to amend these terms at any time. Material changes will be notified to active clients. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

23. Complaints

If you are unhappy with our services, please see our Complaints Procedure for information on how to raise concerns.

24. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: