Privacy Policy
PRIVACY NOTICE Van Beers Mediation / The Divorce Negotiator
1. Business Van Beers Mediation is a family mediation practice operated by L. Van Beers (LVB). This practice also operates under the trading name The Divorce Negotiator. For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, LVB is the Data Controller of your personal data.
• ICO Registration Number: ZC095294
• Telephone: 02032977358
• Address: 6a The Gardens, Fareham PO16 8SS
• Email: info@vanbeersmediation.co.uk
• Complaints: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). However, LVB would appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO, so please contact her in the first instance at info@vanbeersmediation.co.uk. LVB will acknowledge any complaint within 30 days and provide a full response without undue delay.
• ICO Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
• Helpline: 0303 123 1113 | www.ico.org.uk.
2. The Type of Information Collected In the course of providing family mediation and consent order assistance, the following is collected and processed:
• Identity & Contact Data: Names, addresses, contact details and dates of birth.
• Financial Data: Comprehensive information including (inter alia) income, assets, liabilities, pensions and property details.
• Family Data: Information relating to children and family circumstances.
• Legal Data: Court documentation and correspondence between parties and solicitors.
• Audio Data: Recordings of mediation sessions (see Section 6).
• Special Category Data: Health information or data relevant to legal claims may be collected and processed. This is collected directly from you or shared by your legal representatives or the other party during the mediation process.
3. Lawful Basis for Processing Your personal data is processed on the following lawful basis:
• Contract: Necessary to provide mediation services and prepare legal documentation.
• Legitimate Interests: For the effective administration of the practice and professional record-keeping.
• Legal Obligation: Where required to comply with court or regulatory duties.
• Special Category Data: Under Article 9(2)(f) UK GDPR, processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
• Provision of your data is a contractual requirement. Failure to provide necessary information may mean LVB is unable to proceed with the mediation or draft the required legal documentation.
4. How Your Information Is Used Your information is used strictly to:
• Conduct mediation sessions and facilitate financial settlements.
• Prepare mediation summaries, prepare agreements and draft Consent Orders.
• Communicate with you and comply with Court (HMCTS) requirements.
• Maintain accurate professional records for six years.
5. Who Your Data May Be Shared With Data is only shared where necessary for your case, including with:
• The Family Court / HMCTS.
• Solicitors acting for either party.
• Pension administrators or financial institutions (where relevant).
• Professional advisers (e.g., insurers or accountants).
• LVB does not sell or trade personal data.
6. Audio Recordings Mediation sessions may be audio recorded for the sole purpose of ensuring accurate notetaking.
• Recordings are for LVB’s internal use only and are not shared with the parties.
• Recordings are stored on an encrypted device and are deleted within 14 days of the file notes being completed.
• Recordings are subject to legal obligations and cannot be excluded from statutory rights of access where applicable.
7. Data Storage and Security
• Full-Disk Encryption: All digital files are stored on a device protected by FileVault full-disk encryption and secure passwords.
• Access: Access to all personal data is restricted solely to LVB.
• Cloud Security: Where cloud storage is used for backup, LVB ensures providers use end-to-end encryption and comply with UK standards.
• Physical Security: Any paper documents are stored in a locked, secure facility.
• International Transfers: Where data is transferred outside the UK (e.g., via secure cloud backups), LVB ensures this is done under UK Adequacy Regulations (such as the UK-US Data Bridge) or appropriate safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses.
8. Retention of Data
• Client Files: Retained for six years from the conclusion of your case, in line with professional indemnity requirements.
• Audio Recordings: Deleted within 14 days (see Section 6).
• Disposal: Data is securely shredded or permanently deleted after the retention period.
9. Your Rights Under UK law, you have the right to request access to, correction of, erasure of, restriction of processing, or to object to processing of your data and the right to data portability.
• Requests will be responded to within one month.
• Note: Some rights may be limited where mediation confidentiality, professional privilege, or the "legal claims" exemption applies. LVB is only required to conduct reasonable and proportionate searches when responding to requests.
10. Data Breaches If a personal data breach occurs that poses a risk to your rights, LVB will notify the ICO and affected individuals in accordance with legal obligations.
Last updated: February 2026