Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Confidentiality definition

What does Confidentiality mean? In legal practice, confidentiality is the obligation to keep a client’s information and affairs private and to use or disclose it only with proper authority. For lawyers, this duty of confidentiality arises from professional conduct rules (e.g., the SRA Standards and Regulations; the Law Society of Scotland Standards of Conduct; the Law Society of Northern Ireland rules; and the Law Society of Ireland guidance), from contract (engagement terms and non‑disclosure agreements), and from the equitable duty of confidence recognised in case law (breach of confidence). It sits alongside, but is distinct from, legal professional privilege, which protects defined categories...

Confidential information in pre-PA 2023 public procurement: PCR 2015 protections, FOI exemptions, award disclosure and TCC litigation handling (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

This practical guidance relates to the pre-Procurement Act 2023 regime

This Practice Note provides direction for public procurement processes initiated before the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) took effect on 24 February 2025. Any in-scope procurement started on or after that date is subject to PA 2023. Under PA 2023’s transitional and savings arrangements, the former procurement regimes continue so far as is required to enable contracting authorities to finalise and administer procurements begun before commencement (ie procurements already under way). This Practice Note should be read on that basis. For background, see Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023. Additional practical material on PA 2023 appears in a separate subtopic, see: Procurement Act 2023—overview, which includes the following Practice Note: How to deal with Confidentiality issues—PA 2023.

Confidentiality in public procurement and the wider public sector context

This Practice Note should be read alongside Practice Notes: Disclosure in connection with procurement challenges—pre-PA 2023, Use of Confidential information in civil proceedings and Introduction to freedom of information. Safeguarding confidential information linked to a public procurement must be assessed within the broader public sector setting, including...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Deborah Ramshaw

Womble Bond Dickinson

Deborah is a nationally renowned procurement law specialist, noted for her commercial and pragmatic advice to clients. She is also WBD's Head of Procurement. Deborah advises clients in the public and private sector and uses her knowledge of acting for both sectors to provide practical advice on running processes which are as defensible as possible and advising bidders on how to challenge processes.Deborah has a particular interest in advising on procuring innovation and complex projects. Deborah has significant experience in establishing and using framework agreements. Deborah advises clients in a wide range of sectors including central and local government, NHS bodies, education, transport and utilities sectors and third sector organisations....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...