Advertising Disclosure

Our Commitment to Transparency

At Hartwick, we believe in complete transparency about our business practices and any commercial relationships that might influence the information we provide. This Advertising Disclosure explains how we present our services, any financial relationships that exist, and our commitment to honest, ethical advertising practices.

As a legal practice regulated by the Law Society of Scotland, we adhere to strict professional standards governing how we advertise our services and communicate with potential clients. This disclosure supplements those professional obligations and provides additional transparency about our advertising practices.

Affiliate Relationships and Partnerships

Professional Referral Arrangements

In certain circumstances, we may participate in professional referral arrangements with other service providers. These arrangements are subject to strict professional conduct rules and include:

Referrals to specialist legal counsel for matters outside our areas of practice
Relationships with estate agents, financial advisers, or other professionals who may refer clients to us
Participation in professional networks or associations that facilitate client referrals

We do not pay for client referrals in ways that would compromise our professional independence or create conflicts of interest. Any referral fees or arrangements are structured to comply with Law Society of Scotland regulations and are disclosed to clients when relevant.

Commission-Based Relationships

We do not receive commissions or financial incentives from third parties for recommending their services or products to clients. When we suggest particular providers such as surveyors, valuers, or other professionals, these recommendations are based solely on our professional assessment of quality, reliability, and suitability for your specific needs.

Independence in Recommendations

Any recommendations we make regarding third-party services or products are based on our professional judgment and your best interests. We maintain independence in all professional recommendations and do not allow commercial considerations to influence our advice or guidance to clients.

Disclosure of Material Relationships

If we have any financial or business relationship with a provider we recommend, or if we receive any benefit from such recommendation, we will disclose this to you before making the recommendation. You are always free to choose your own service providers, and we will not make our services conditional on using particular third parties.

Third-Party Advertising Networks

Display Advertising

Our website does not currently display third-party advertisements. Should we choose to incorporate advertising in the future, we will update this disclosure to explain what advertising networks we use, how advertisements are selected and displayed, and how you can control your advertising preferences.

Behavioural Targeting

We may use remarketing and targeted advertising services to reach potential clients who have previously visited our website. These services use cookies and similar technologies to show relevant advertisements on other websites you visit. Our use of such services is governed by our Cookie Policy, and you can control these preferences through your cookie settings.

Advertising Networks Used

When we engage advertising networks or platforms, we work with reputable providers that maintain appropriate data protection standards. These may include:

Search engine advertising platforms for targeted keyword campaigns
Social media advertising platforms for reaching relevant professional audiences
Professional directory services where clients search for legal services
Display advertising networks that meet our quality and privacy standards

Data Usage for Advertising

When we use advertising services, we do not share personally identifiable client information with advertising networks. We may use aggregated, anonymised data to improve targeting of our advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness. Your personal information remains protected in accordance with our Privacy Policy and data protection regulations.

User Rights and Controls

Advertising Preference Management

You have control over how advertising affects your experience:

You can manage cookie preferences through our Cookie Policy page to control tracking for advertising purposes
You can adjust your browser settings to block third-party cookies used by advertising networks
You can opt out of personalised advertising through industry opt-out programmes
You can adjust advertising settings on social media platforms where we advertise

Opt-Out Procedures

To opt out of targeted advertising:

Visit our Cookie Policy page and adjust your advertising cookie preferences
Use browser settings to block third-party cookies and tracking technologies
Visit industry opt-out websites such as the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page
Adjust settings on advertising platforms we use, such as search engines and social media networks
Contact us directly to request removal from remarketing lists

Impact of Opting Out

Opting out of advertising tracking means you may continue to see advertisements from us, but they will not be personalised based on your browsing behaviour. You will still see general advertisements for our services on various platforms, but the frequency and targeting will not be based on your individual profile or interests.

Rights Under Privacy Regulations

Under data protection regulations, you have rights regarding data used for advertising purposes. These include the right to access data collected about you, the right to request deletion of your data, the right to object to processing for marketing purposes, and the right to withdraw consent for data processing. For more information about these rights, please see our Privacy Policy.

Accuracy and Truthfulness in Advertising

Honest Representation

All statements made in our advertising and promotional materials are accurate and truthful to the best of our knowledge. We do not make exaggerated claims, guarantee outcomes that depend on factors outside our control, or misrepresent our qualifications, experience, or track record.

Limitation on Outcome Claims

Legal matters involve uncertainties, and outcomes depend on many factors including specific circumstances, applicable law, court decisions, and actions of other parties. We do not make guarantees about case outcomes or promise specific results. Any references to past successes or case studies in our advertising materials are factual examples and should not be interpreted as promises of similar results in your matter.

Qualification and Experience Claims

Claims about our qualifications, experience, specialisms, and professional recognition are accurate and verifiable. We hold the professional qualifications stated, have the experience described, and any awards or recognition mentioned are genuine. We comply with Law Society of Scotland rules regarding how legal practices may describe their services and expertise.

Testimonials and Reviews

If we feature client testimonials or reviews in our advertising materials, these are genuine statements from actual clients who have experienced our services. We do not fabricate testimonials or use misleading endorsements. Client testimonials reflect individual experiences and should not be considered guarantees of similar outcomes for other clients.

Compliance with Advertising Standards

Professional Conduct Rules

Our advertising practices comply with the Law Society of Scotland's practice rules, which govern how solicitors may advertise their services. These rules ensure that legal services advertising is honest, not misleading, maintains professional dignity, and does not bring the profession into disrepute.

Industry Standards

We adhere to general advertising standards applicable in the United Kingdom, including those set by the Advertising Standards Authority. Our advertisements are legal, decent, honest, and truthful. We ensure our advertising does not mislead consumers, does not exploit vulnerability, and respects principles of fair competition.

Consumer Protection

Our advertising practices respect consumer protection laws and regulations. We provide clear, accurate information about our services and fees. We do not use high-pressure tactics or create artificial urgency. We respect your right to make informed decisions about engaging legal services.

Changes to Advertising Practices

We may update our advertising practices and relationships from time to time. When we make significant changes that affect how we advertise our services or our commercial relationships, we will update this Advertising Disclosure accordingly. We will note the date of the last update at the bottom of this page.

Significant changes might include adopting new advertising platforms or networks, entering into new partnership arrangements, changing how we handle referrals, or modifying our use of targeted advertising technologies.

Questions and Concerns

If you have questions about our advertising practices, concerns about any advertising you have seen, or wish to report potentially misleading advertising, please contact us:

Email: info@domain.com

Phone: +44 141 582 3947

Address: 41 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2ER, United Kingdom

We take all concerns about our advertising seriously and will investigate any issues raised. If you believe our advertising violates professional standards or regulations, you may also contact the Law Society of Scotland or the Advertising Standards Authority.