{"id":3,"date":"2026-08-20T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T18:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openpath.ie\/?page_id=3"},"modified":"2026-09-02T09:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:53:12","slug":"privacy-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/openpath.ie\/?page_id=3","title":{"rendered":"Privacy Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Privacy Policy & GDPR Notice<\/h1>

Openpath Mediation & Conflict Resolution<\/strong>
Last updated: September 2026<\/strong><\/p>

1. Introduction<\/h2>

Openpath Mediation & Conflict Resolution (\u201cOpenpath\u201d, \u201cwe\u201d, \u201cus\u201d or \u201cour\u201d) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.<\/p>

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal data when you:<\/p>

  • visit our website;<\/p><\/li>

  • contact us by telephone, email or through our website contact form;<\/p><\/li>

  • make an enquiry about mediation, conflict resolution or related services;<\/p><\/li>

  • participate in, or are otherwise involved in, a mediation or conflict resolution process;<\/p><\/li>

  • engage us to provide professional services; or<\/p><\/li>

  • otherwise communicate or interact with us.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

    We process personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016\/679 (\u201cGDPR\u201d)<\/strong>, the Data Protection Act 2018<\/strong>, the Irish ePrivacy Regulations<\/strong>, and other applicable Irish and European data protection legislation.<\/p>

    This policy should be read together with any additional privacy or confidentiality information provided to you when engaging our mediation or conflict resolution services.<\/p>

    2. Who We Are<\/h1>

    For the purposes of data protection law, the data controller is:<\/p>

    Openpath Mediation & Conflict Resolution<\/strong>
    [Business\/Registered Address]
    Ireland<\/p>

    Email:<\/strong> [Privacy\/Contact Email Address]
    Telephone:<\/strong> [Telephone Number]
    Website:<\/strong> [Website Address]<\/p>

    Openpath determines why and how personal data collected through this website and in connection with our services is processed.<\/p>

    3. Scope of This Privacy Policy<\/h1>

    This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through our website and through the provision of our mediation and conflict resolution services.<\/p>

    It may include information relating to:<\/p>

    • prospective clients;<\/p><\/li>

    • existing and former clients;<\/p><\/li>

    • parties to a mediation;<\/p><\/li>

    • individuals referred to us;<\/p><\/li>

    • solicitors, advisers or representatives acting for parties;<\/p><\/li>

    • witnesses or other persons connected with a dispute;<\/p><\/li>

    • website visitors;<\/p><\/li>

    • professional contacts;<\/p><\/li>

    • suppliers and service providers; and<\/p><\/li>

    • individuals who contact us for information.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

      Because of the nature of mediation and conflict resolution, information provided to us may sometimes relate to individuals other than the person who originally contacted us.<\/p>

      4. What Personal Data We Collect<\/h1>

      The information we collect depends upon how you interact with us.<\/p>

      Website and General Enquiries<\/h3>

      When you use our contact form or contact us directly, we may collect:<\/p>

      • your name;<\/p><\/li>

      • email address;<\/p><\/li>

      • telephone number;<\/p><\/li>

      • the contents of your message;<\/p><\/li>

      • the date and time of your enquiry;<\/p><\/li>

      • correspondence between you and Openpath; and<\/p><\/li>

      • other information that you voluntarily provide.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

        Our website contact form contains the following fields:<\/p>

        • Name<\/strong><\/p><\/li>

        • Email<\/strong><\/p><\/li>

        • Phone<\/strong><\/p><\/li>

        • Message<\/strong><\/p><\/li><\/ul>

          Please avoid providing sensitive or highly confidential information through the initial website contact form unless it is necessary for us to understand the nature of your enquiry.<\/p>

          5. Information Collected During Mediation or Conflict Resolution Services<\/h1>

          Where you engage Openpath or participate in a mediation process, we may need to process additional information.<\/p>

          Depending on the circumstances, this may include:<\/p>

          • your full name and contact information;<\/p><\/li>

          • address;<\/p><\/li>

          • information concerning the dispute or conflict;<\/p><\/li>

          • communications between the parties;<\/p><\/li>

          • correspondence with solicitors, advisers or representatives;<\/p><\/li>

          • employment or business information;<\/p><\/li>

          • information relating to contractual or commercial matters;<\/p><\/li>

          • financial information where relevant to the dispute;<\/p><\/li>

          • documents supplied by you or another party;<\/p><\/li>

          • notes relating to the administration of the mediation;<\/p><\/li>

          • agreements, settlement documents or records arising from the mediation;<\/p><\/li>

          • information about other people involved in the matter; and<\/p><\/li>

          • other information reasonably required to provide our services.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

            We aim to collect only information that is relevant and necessary for the particular matter.<\/p>

            6. Sensitive and Special Category Personal Data<\/h1>

            Because mediation frequently involves personal or sensitive matters, information supplied to Openpath may occasionally include what GDPR describes as special category personal data<\/strong>.<\/p>

            This can include information concerning:<\/p>

            • health or medical circumstances;<\/p><\/li>

            • racial or ethnic origin;<\/p><\/li>

            • religious or philosophical beliefs;<\/p><\/li>

            • political opinions;<\/p><\/li>

            • trade union membership;<\/p><\/li>

            • genetic or biometric information used for identification;<\/p><\/li>

            • sex life; or<\/p><\/li>

            • sexual orientation.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

              We do not request special category information unless it is relevant or necessary.<\/p>

              Where such information is processed, Openpath will only do so where there is both an appropriate lawful basis under Article 6 GDPR and an applicable condition permitting processing under Article 9 GDPR.<\/p>

              Depending on the circumstances, this may include explicit consent or processing which is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.<\/p>

              Where special category information is not necessary, we will seek to avoid collecting or retaining it.<\/p>

              7. Information About Other People<\/h1>

              In mediation and conflict resolution matters, you may provide us with personal information relating to another individual.<\/p>

              This may include another party to a dispute, an employee, employer, family member, colleague, adviser or other person connected with the matter.<\/p>

              You should only provide information about another person where it is relevant and appropriate for the purpose for which you are contacting us.<\/p>

              Openpath will handle information about third parties in accordance with applicable data protection law and the confidentiality obligations relevant to the mediation process.<\/p>

              The fact that information has been supplied to us by one party does not necessarily mean that it will be disclosed to another party.<\/p>

              8. How We Obtain Personal Information<\/h1>

              We may obtain personal information:<\/p>

              Directly from you<\/h3>

              For example when you:<\/p>

              • complete our contact form;<\/p><\/li>

              • telephone us;<\/p><\/li>

              • send us an email;<\/p><\/li>

              • arrange an appointment;<\/p><\/li>

              • participate in a mediation;<\/p><\/li>

              • send us documents; or<\/p><\/li>

              • otherwise communicate with us.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                From another party<\/h3>

                For example:<\/p>

                • another party to a proposed mediation;<\/p><\/li>

                • a solicitor;<\/p><\/li>

                • an employer;<\/p><\/li>

                • an employee;<\/p><\/li>

                • a representative;<\/p><\/li>

                • an adviser; or<\/p><\/li>

                • another person involved in a dispute.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                  From third parties<\/h3>

                  Where appropriate and lawful, we may receive information from:<\/p>

                  • legal representatives;<\/p><\/li>

                  • professional advisers;<\/p><\/li>

                  • insurers;<\/p><\/li>

                  • organisations involved in referring a mediation;<\/p><\/li>

                  • employers or other organisations involved in the dispute; or<\/p><\/li>

                  • publicly available sources.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                    9. Why We Process Your Personal Information<\/h1>

                    We may process personal information for the following purposes:<\/p>

                    • responding to enquiries;<\/p><\/li>

                    • arranging initial consultations;<\/p><\/li>

                    • determining whether we are able to provide mediation or conflict resolution services;<\/p><\/li>

                    • conducting appropriate conflict-of-interest checks where necessary;<\/p><\/li>

                    • communicating with parties to a mediation;<\/p><\/li>

                    • administering and facilitating mediation sessions;<\/p><\/li>

                    • providing mediation and conflict resolution services;<\/p><\/li>

                    • maintaining appropriate administrative records;<\/p><\/li>

                    • communicating with solicitors, advisers or representatives where authorised or appropriate;<\/p><\/li>

                    • managing appointments;<\/p><\/li>

                    • issuing invoices and maintaining financial records;<\/p><\/li>

                    • complying with legal, regulatory, taxation and accounting requirements;<\/p><\/li>

                    • dealing with complaints;<\/p><\/li>

                    • protecting our legal rights;<\/p><\/li>

                    • establishing, exercising or defending legal claims;<\/p><\/li>

                    • maintaining the security and operation of our website and IT systems;<\/p><\/li>

                    • preventing misuse, fraud or security incidents; and<\/p><\/li>

                    • improving the operation of our services and website.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                      We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purpose for which it was originally collected unless permitted by law.<\/p>

                      10. Our Lawful Bases for Processing<\/h1>

                      GDPR requires us to have a lawful basis whenever we process personal data.<\/p>

                      Depending on the circumstances, Openpath may rely upon the following lawful bases.<\/p>

                      Steps Prior to Entering Into a Contract<\/h3>

                      Where you contact us to enquire about our services, we may process your information where this is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into a contract.<\/p>

                      This includes responding to an enquiry, discussing our services, assessing whether we can assist and arranging an initial meeting.<\/p>

                      Performance of a Contract<\/h3>

                      Where you engage us to provide mediation or conflict resolution services, we may process personal information where this is necessary to perform our agreement with you.<\/p>

                      Legitimate Interests<\/h3>

                      We may process personal information where necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided those interests are not overridden by your fundamental rights and freedoms.<\/p>

                      These legitimate interests may include:<\/p>

                      • responding to enquiries;<\/p><\/li>

                      • administering our professional practice;<\/p><\/li>

                      • communicating effectively with parties and their representatives;<\/p><\/li>

                      • ensuring the security of our systems;<\/p><\/li>

                      • preventing fraud or misuse;<\/p><\/li>

                      • maintaining appropriate professional records; and<\/p><\/li>

                      • establishing, exercising or defending legal rights.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                        Legal Obligation<\/h3>

                        We may process personal information where necessary to comply with an obligation imposed upon us by law.<\/p>

                        This may include accounting, taxation, regulatory or legal requirements.<\/p>

                        Consent<\/h3>

                        In circumstances where we rely upon your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time.<\/p>

                        Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before consent was withdrawn.<\/p>

                        Consent will only be used where it is an appropriate legal basis for the processing concerned.<\/p>

                        11. Mediation Confidentiality<\/h1>

                        Confidentiality is an important element of the mediation process.<\/p>

                        Information provided during a mediation will be handled in accordance with the confidentiality arrangements applying to the mediation and any agreement entered into between the parties and Openpath.<\/p>

                        Data protection rights and mediation confidentiality are related but separate legal considerations.<\/p>

                        A request for personal information under GDPR does not automatically entitle an individual to receive every document held in relation to a mediation.<\/p>

                        For example, information may need to be withheld or redacted where disclosure would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of another person, where an applicable statutory restriction applies, or where information is subject to another recognised legal protection.<\/p>

                        Any such request will be assessed individually in accordance with applicable law.<\/p>

                        12. Website Contact Form<\/h1>

                        When you submit our website contact form, we collect the information you enter in the following fields:<\/p>

                        • Name;<\/p><\/li>

                        • Email;<\/p><\/li>

                        • Phone; and<\/p><\/li>

                        • Message.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                          We use this information primarily to:<\/p>

                          • identify you;<\/p><\/li>

                          • respond to your enquiry;<\/p><\/li>

                          • contact you;<\/p><\/li>

                          • understand the nature of the assistance you are seeking; and<\/p><\/li>

                          • determine whether our services may be appropriate.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                            Submitting a contact form does not subscribe you to marketing communications<\/strong>.<\/p>

                            If an enquiry does not proceed to a professional engagement, we will retain the enquiry only for an appropriate period and will then securely delete it unless there is a legitimate reason to retain it for longer.<\/p>

                            13. Email and Telephone Communications<\/h1>

                            If you contact us by email or telephone, we may retain information relating to that communication.<\/p>

                            Emails may include:<\/p>

                            • your email address;<\/p><\/li>

                            • your name;<\/p><\/li>

                            • message contents;<\/p><\/li>

                            • attachments;<\/p><\/li>

                            • dates and times;<\/p><\/li>

                            • previous correspondence; and<\/p><\/li>

                            • contact information contained within your email signature.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                              Telephone enquiries may result in an administrative note being created where this is necessary to respond to or manage your enquiry.<\/p>

                              You should consider the sensitivity of information before sending highly confidential information through ordinary email.<\/p>

                              Where appropriate, we may recommend a more secure method for exchanging particularly sensitive documentation.<\/p>

                              14. Sharing Your Personal Information<\/h1>

                              Openpath does not sell personal information<\/strong>.<\/p>

                              We will only disclose personal information where this is necessary, appropriate and lawful.<\/p>

                              Depending upon the circumstances, information may be shared with:<\/p>

                              • parties involved in a mediation where appropriate and consistent with the mediation process;<\/p><\/li>

                              • solicitors or professional representatives where authorised or necessary;<\/p><\/li>

                              • professional advisers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • accountants or bookkeepers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • insurers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • IT and cybersecurity service providers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • website and hosting providers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • email and communications providers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • cloud service providers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • payment or banking providers;<\/p><\/li>

                              • professional contractors working on behalf of Openpath;<\/p><\/li>

                              • government, regulatory, taxation or law-enforcement authorities where required by law; or<\/p><\/li>

                              • other parties where disclosure is required to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                                Service providers acting on our behalf are only permitted to process personal data in accordance with our instructions and applicable data protection law.<\/p>

                                Where required, appropriate data processing agreements are maintained with service providers that process personal information on our behalf.<\/p>

                                15. International Transfers<\/h1>

                                Some technology or cloud service providers used by Openpath may process or store information outside Ireland or the European Economic Area (\u201cEEA\u201d).<\/p>

                                Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that the information continues to receive a level of protection required by GDPR.<\/p>

                                Depending on the destination and service provider, these measures may include:<\/p>

                                • an adequacy decision adopted by the European Commission;<\/p><\/li>

                                • European Commission Standard Contractual Clauses;<\/p><\/li>

                                • contractual and technical safeguards; or<\/p><\/li>

                                • another lawful transfer mechanism permitted under GDPR.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                                  16. How Long We Keep Personal Information<\/h1>

                                  We do not retain personal information indefinitely.<\/p>

                                  Information is retained only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, taking account of legal, taxation, professional, contractual, insurance and dispute-resolution requirements.<\/p>

                                  Our general retention approach is:<\/p>

                                  General website enquiries<\/h3>

                                  Enquiries which do not develop into a client or mediation relationship will normally be deleted within 12 months of the last substantive communication<\/strong>, unless there is a reason to retain the information for longer.<\/p>

                                  Mediation and client records<\/h3>

                                  Records connected with completed professional engagements may generally be retained for up to seven years after the matter has concluded<\/strong>, where this is necessary for professional, contractual, insurance or legal purposes.<\/p>

                                  Different periods may apply where circumstances require information to be retained for a longer or shorter period.<\/p>

                                  Financial and accounting information<\/h3>

                                  Invoices and records required for taxation or accounting purposes will generally be retained for at least the period required by Irish law.<\/p>

                                  Data protection requests and complaints<\/h3>

                                  Records relating to data protection requests, complaints or disputes may be retained for an appropriate period to demonstrate how the matter was dealt with and to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.<\/p>

                                  Marketing preferences<\/h3>

                                  Where an individual opts out of marketing, we may retain the minimum information necessary to record that preference and ensure that the individual is not inadvertently contacted again.<\/p>

                                  When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, destroyed or anonymised where appropriate.<\/p>

                                  17. Data Security<\/h1>

                                  Openpath takes the security and confidentiality of personal information seriously.<\/p>

                                  We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:<\/p>