HBL Forensics – Terms and Conditions for Services
Any work undertaken by HBL Forensics (“HBL”) constitutes a binding contract between HBL Forensics (“HBL”) and the instructing party (“the Client”). By providing instructions to HBL, the Client accepts these Terms and Conditions and agrees to be responsible for all fees and charges incurred.
- Instruction and Commencement of Work
1.1. Work will not commence until all relevant and complete data (including but not limited to Call Data Records (CDRs), mobile phone downloads, relevant exhibits), and associated documentation have been received, verified, and confirmed as suitable for analysis.
1.2. Any delays in the provision of data by the instructing party may affect the agreed delivery timeline and may result in a revised completion schedule.
1.3. HBL Forensics reserves the right to reject or request clarification on incomplete or improperly formatted datasets.
- Scope of Work and Deadlines
2.1. The scope of the required work, that is specified in instructions, including deadlines and expected deliverables, will be agreed upon in writing prior to commencement.
2.2. HBL Forensics will complete the instructed work within the agreed timeframe, provided that all necessary data and instructions are received promptly and in a usable format.
2.3. Where specific deadlines are imposed by the court, the instructing party must clearly state these in the initial instructions and provide sufficient notice.
- Fees and Payment Terms
3.1. HBL Forensics will provide a written quotation or fee estimate in advance of undertaking work.
3.2. Unless otherwise agreed, all invoices are due for payment prior to the commencement of work. The Client is the contracting party and is solely responsible for payment of all invoices, regardless of any arrangements the Client may have with third parties, including defendants, insurers, or funding bodies.
3.4. Where work is funded by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), the Client remains responsible for payment upon receipt of HBL’s invoice and may subsequently reimburse themselves once LAA funds are released.
3.5. For Crown Court matters, instructing parties are encouraged to make a ‘payment on account’ application via the LAA using the LF1 claim form. The Legal Aid Agency should release funds within 21 days of submission, however payment should still be made prior to the commencement of work.
3.6. The LF1 claim form can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lf1-claim-litigator-fees
- Cancellations and Postponements
4.1. In the event that an instruction is withdrawn after work has commenced, HBL Forensics reserves the right to invoice for the proportion of work completed, including time spent on data preparation, analysis, and reporting.
- Expert Reports and Court Attendance
5.1. Expert reports will be prepared in compliance with the relevant Criminal or Civil Procedure Rules.
5.2. Where expert court attendance is required, this must be agreed in advance. Additional fees for preparation and attendance will apply.
5.3. HBL Forensics requires prompt notification of court dates to ensure availability.
- Confidentiality and Data Handling
6.1. All data and materials supplied, including but not limited to handset extraction data and call records, will be handled confidentially and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
6.2. Original call data records, handset extraction reports, and analysis outputs will be retained for a reasonable period, to ensure that they retain relevant information and documentation for any further work, and/or attendance at court.
- Limitation of Liability
7.1. HBL Forensics shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from errors in data provided by third parties.
7.2. Analysis and conclusions are based solely on the data received and verified. Any limitation in the data may affect the robustness of findings.