Professional Standards

1. Our role and independence

Tollivar Ltd is an independent strategic consultancy focused on AI governance, risk and organisational strategy. We are not a law firm, and we do not provide reserved legal services or act as regulated solicitors. Our role is to support clients in understanding and improving their AI and data governance, not to replace formal legal advice.

We maintain professional independence in our analysis and recommendations. We seek to identify and communicate risks candidly, even where this may challenge clients' preferred positions.

2. Ethical and responsible AI principles

Our work is guided by leading international frameworks and standards for responsible AI and data governance, including:

The OECD AI Principles.

The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

Guidance from the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) on AI and data protection.

Emerging international standards on AI management and governance (such as ISO/IEC and BSI-led frameworks).

Relevant professional ethical guidelines on AI and data ethics (including IEEE-style principles of safety, accountability and human oversight).

In line with these frameworks, we commit to human-centred and rights-respecting approaches, including attention to transparency, fairness, human oversight, accountability and long-term social and environmental impacts.

3. Human oversight and use of AI tools

We may use AI-enabled tools to support analysis, drafting and research, but we do not rely solely on automated outputs. All substantive opinions, reports and recommendations are subject to human review and professional judgement. We configure our tools and working practices to protect confidentiality, minimise unnecessary personal data, and reduce risks of bias or error.

We encourage our clients to adopt similar principles of human oversight, contestability and transparency in their own AI systems and governance.

4. Confidentiality and information handling

We treat client information as confidential and handle it with care. We will:

Limit access to those within Tollivar and its trusted suppliers who need to know the information.

Use secure communication and storage methods proportionate to the sensitivity of the material.

Request, wherever possible, that clients provide us with minimised or anonymised data, and with descriptions or documentation rather than raw datasets where this is sufficient for our work.

We do not generally act as a data processor for large volumes of client customer data, but where we do handle personal data, we will do so in accordance with our Privacy Policy and any applicable data protection terms.

5. Conflicts of interest

We aim to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest fairly and transparently, in line with good practice at leading professional and consulting services firms. Before accepting an engagement, we consider whether there are existing relationships or commitments that could compromise, or appear to compromise, our independence or confidentiality. If a potential conflict arises, we will discuss it with the relevant clients and agree appropriate safeguards, or decline/terminate the engagement where necessary.

6. Anti-bribery, modern slavery and DEI

We are committed to conducting business with integrity:

Anti-bribery and corruption: We do not offer, give, request or accept bribes or improper advantages in any form, and we expect the same from our clients and partners.

Modern slavery and human rights: We oppose modern slavery and human trafficking in all forms and seek to work with organisations that share this commitment.

Diversity, equity and inclusion: We aim to foster inclusive and respectful environments in our own work and in engagements we support, recognising that diverse perspectives improve AI governance and outcomes.

We may decline work where we believe that our involvement would conflict with these commitments.

7. Scope of advice and reliance

Our services provide strategic, governance and risk-oriented advice. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for jurisdiction-specific advice from qualified legal professionals. We encourage clients to seek such advice, particularly when implementing policies, entering into contracts or responding to regulatory processes.

Where we comment on legal frameworks or regulatory trends, this is to support governance decisions and risk understanding, not to provide formal legal opinions.

8. Use of case studies and learning

With the client's consent, we may reference engagements in anonymised or identified case studies and marketing materials, focusing on governance approaches and organisational learning rather than confidential details. We may also re-use general know-how and methodologies developed in the course of engagements, without disclosing identifying information.

Clients are likewise welcome to reference Tollivar's involvement in public materials, provided this is accurate and not misleading.

9. Complaints and feedback

We take concerns and feedback seriously. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, please contact us in the first instance at [insert complaints contact email]. We will acknowledge your concern, investigate it fairly, and aim to respond within a reasonable period.

At present, our consultancy is not subject to a dedicated statutory professional complaints scheme (such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority or Legal Ombudsman), and we are not a regulated law firm. You may, however, have general rights under contract and consumer laws, and you may raise concerns with relevant supervisory authorities (for example, the ICO in respect of personal data).

We will keep this section under review and update it if our regulatory status changes.