Cookie Policy
How we use cookies on our website
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Gardner Champion Solicitors ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on our website.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about the technologies we use. This policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy.
Optional analytics and advertising cookies are used only after you choose to allow them. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time using Cookie settings in the footer.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to the website owners.
Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies:
- Session cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them
Cookies can also be "first-party" (set by the website you're visiting) or "third-party" (set by a different domain).
3. Cookies We Use
3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for our website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Our website cannot function properly without these cookies.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| cookie-consent | Local storage: remembers your choices for up to one year | 1 year |
Note: Strictly necessary cookies do not require consent under UK law and are automatically set.
3.2 Analytics Cookies
With your analytics consent, we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Microsoft Clarity to understand how visitors use our website. This helps us improve our website and services. These cookies collect information about how you use our website, including:
- Pages you visit
- Time spent on pages
- How you arrived at our website
- What you click on while visiting
- Your general geographic location (country/city level)
- Device and browser information
Important: We have configured Google Analytics to not collect personal identifiable information (PII). IP addresses are anonymized, and we do not track individual users across sessions in a personally identifiable way.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Stores session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Distinguishes users | 24 hours |
For more information about how Google uses data, please visit Google's Privacy Policy and How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps.
⚠️ These cookies require your consent. We will only set analytics cookies if you accept them via our cookie banner.
Advertising and session analytics
Google Ads uses advertising storage, including _gcl_ cookies, to measure ad interactions and conversions and support ad personalisation. With your advertising consent, completed quotes also send Google Ads one-way hashed email and valid phone details for enhanced conversion matching. These identifiers are not sent to Google Analytics. Advertising is optional and controlled separately from analytics.
Microsoft Clarity uses cookies such as _clck and _clsk for session analytics, including interaction recordings and heatmaps, when analytics is allowed. Its advertising storage follows your separate advertising choice.
Rejecting optional cookies keeps these measurement tools off. Withdrawing permission stops future tracking and reloads the page to stop tools already loaded. Your preferences are stored locally in this browser; clearing site data removes them.
4. Your Cookie Choices and Controls
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies (except strictly necessary cookies).
4.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner asking you to accept or reject analytics and advertising cookies. You can:
- Accept all cookies: Allow all cookies including analytics and advertising
- Reject optional cookies: Only strictly necessary cookies will be used
- Choose cookies: Choose which types of cookies to accept
4.2 Changing Your Preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:
- Clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer
- Deleting cookies through your browser settings
- Using the cookie preference center that appears when you visit our site
4.3 Browser Controls
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to:
- Block all cookies
- Block third-party cookies only
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
- Alert you when cookies are being set
Please note that blocking all cookies may impact your experience on our website and prevent certain features from working properly.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
4.4 Google Analytics Opt-Out
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
5. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want to have your online activity tracked. We respect DNT signals and will not track your browsing activity when this signal is activated in your browser.
6. Legal Basis for Using Cookies
Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), we must have a lawful basis for using cookies.
- Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are exempt from the consent requirement as they are essential for the website to function
- Analytics Cookies: These require your consent, which we obtain through our cookie consent banner before setting these cookies
We process cookie data on the basis of your consent (Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR), which you can withdraw at any time.
7. Data Retention
Cookie data retention periods vary:
- Cookie consent preferences: Stored for 1 year or until you change them
- Google Analytics cookies: Up to 2 years (as set by Google)
Analytics data is automatically deleted after 26 months in accordance with our data retention policy and Google Analytics settings.
8. Third-Party Cookies and Services
We use Google Analytics 4, which is provided by Google LLC. Google is a third-party service provider that may set cookies on our website for analytics purposes.
We have implemented the following safeguards:
- IP anonymization is enabled
- User-ID tracking is disabled to prevent cross-device tracking
- Data sharing with Google for advertising is disabled
- Cookies are only set after obtaining your consent
Google Analytics is covered by Google's privacy policy, which can be found at https://policies.google.com/privacy.
9. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, our business operations, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.
When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
If we make material changes to how we use cookies, we will notify you by placing a prominent notice on our website or by updating our cookie consent banner.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
Email: hello@gardnerchampion.co.uk
Phone: 0333 034 4629
Address: Brook House, Brook Square, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2DT
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
Last updated: October 2025
Gardner Champion Solicitors is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with UK data protection laws including the UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).