1. Purpose and Scope

These Partnership Principles outline the standards of conduct and collaboration expected between our interactions with clients, vendors, subcontractors, freelancers, collaborators, and upstream/downstream partners (“Partners”).

These principles are intended to complement (and do not replace) our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and any statement of work, master services agreement, data processing addendum, confidentiality agreement, or other contract governing the relationship (each, an “Agreement”). If these Principles conflict with an applicable Agreement, the Agreement will control.

These Principles apply to all engagements with The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies (“we”, “us”, “our”) who interact with our people, systems, facilities, or information.

Nothing in these Principles is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership, joint venture, or relationship of employment between us and any Partner, subcontractor, or freelancer. All Partners remain independent contractors and are solely responsible for their personnel’s taxes, social security, and employment rights.

 

2. Standard of Conduct

All Partners are expected to engage in a professional, lawful, and respectful manner in all interactions, and to act in a way that supports a safe, productive working environment.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Harassment, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, or abusive behavior
• Misrepresentation, dishonest communications, or knowingly misleading statements
• Attempts to improperly influence scientific, medical, or compliance outcomes
• Any conduct that disrupts operations, compromises safety, or undermines a professional working environment

We may take appropriate and proportionate action where these standards are not met, which may include restricting access to systems or facilities, suspending work, or terminating the engagement, in accordance with the Agreement.

 

3. Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Partners must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards relevant to the engagement, including those that apply to regulated healthcare and life sciences communications.

This includes, where applicable:

• Healthcare and life sciences regulations and codes (e.g., FDA/EMA rules; industry codes such as PhRMA, EFPIA, and ABPI)
• Pharmacovigilance and safety reporting obligations as agreed in the applicable agreement(s) and project documentation
• Anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws (including the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other restrictions on improper payments, gifts, or hospitality)
• Transparency and disclosure obligations (e.g., transfer of value / disclosure reporting regimes)
• Competition/antitrust laws, trade sanctions, and export controls (where relevant)
• Data protection and privacy laws (e.g., UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 (UK), EU GDPR, CCPA/CPRA)

Partners are responsible for ensuring their personnel and subcontractors (if permitted) comply with these requirements. Material non-compliance may result in suspension or termination of the relationship and, where required by law or Agreement, notification to appropriate authorities or affected parties.

 

4. Integrity and Transparency

We expect all interactions to be conducted with honesty, accountability, and transparency.

Partners agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and timely information relevant to the engagement
• Avoid conflicts of interest, and promptly disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest as soon as it arises
• Act in good faith in communications, approvals, and deliverables
• Maintain appropriate records to support statements, claims, and decisions made in connection with the engagement (as applicable)

Partners must not offer, provide, request, or accept anything of value that could improperly influence a business decision or violate applicable law, industry codes, or an applicable Agreement.

 

5. Respectful and Safe Working Environment

We are committed to maintaining a workplace environment that is safe, inclusive, and free from inappropriate conduct.

Partners must:

• Treat all personnel with dignity and respect
• Refrain from any form of bullying, harassment, intimidation, or sexual harassment. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment, and in accordance with our proactive statutory duties, we will take immediate and decisive action against any Partner whose personnel engage in such conduct.
• Comply with reasonable workplace conduct, safety, and security standards when interacting with our teams, attending meetings, visiting facilities, or accessing our systems

If a Partner becomes aware of conduct that may violate these Principles, the Partner should promptly raise the concern through the engagement lead or other established escalation channels so that it can be addressed appropriately.

 

6. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Partners must protect confidential, proprietary, and personal information shared or accessed in connection with the relationship.

At a minimum, Partners must:

• Use information solely for the purposes of the engagement and only as authorized by the applicable Agreement(s)
• Limit access to those with a legitimate need to know and ensure personnel are bound by appropriate confidentiality obligations
• Implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction
• Comply with applicable data protection laws and any relevant data processing terms (including DPAs) where personal data is processed

Security and incident reporting:

• Partners must promptly notify The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies of any suspected or confirmed security incident, data breach, or unauthorized access involving The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies’ information and cooperate in good faith with reasonable investigation and remediation efforts, consistent with applicable law and Agreement(s).

Subcontractors:

• Partners must not share The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies’ confidential information or personal data with subcontractors unless permitted by the applicable Agreement(s) and subject to equivalent protections.

 

7. Quality and Performance Expectations

Partners are expected to perform their obligations with due care, skill, and diligence, and to support delivery of high-quality, accurate, and compliant work.

The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies commit to:

• Communicating clearly, professionally, and in a timely manner
• Addressing issues proactively, and escalating risks that could impact quality, timelines, compliance, or client expectations
• Following agreed processes for review, approvals, and change control (where applicable)
• Promptly correcting errors or deficiencies within a reasonable timeframe, particularly where regulated or compliance-sensitive content is involved

 

8. Intellectual Property and Proper Use

Partners must respect intellectual property rights and use materials, systems, tools, and content only as authorized by the applicable Agreement.

Unless expressly permitted in writing:

• Partners may not copy, reproduce, distribute, reverse engineer, or create derivative works from The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies’ materials or systems
• Partners may not use The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies’ name, trademarks, branding, or logos (including in marketing materials, public announcements, or case studies) without prior written approval
• Partners may not reuse or repurpose engagement deliverables outside the scope and purpose of the engagement

Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of materials may result in suspension or termination  and other remedies as provided by law or applicable Agreement(s).

 

9. AI / Automated Tools & Responsible Use

Partners may use artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, or similar tools in connection with the engagement only in a responsible, transparent, and lawful manner.

At a minimum, Partners must:

• Not use The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies’ or any of their respective clients’ confidential or proprietary information to train, fine‑tune, or improve AI or automated tools unless expressly permitted in writing
• Ensure that any AI‑assisted outputs are reviewed by appropriately qualified personnel for accuracy, compliance, and appropriateness before use or delivery
• Disclose the use of AI or automated tools where required by law, regulation, industry codes, client requirements, or an applicable Agreement
• Comply with applicable laws, guidance, and contractual obligations relating to AI, data protection, intellectual property, and confidentiality

Partners remain responsible for all deliverables and outcomes, including those generated or assisted by AI or automated tools.

 

10. Records, Audit Cooperation & Compliance Inquiries

Partners must maintain accurate, complete, and truthful records relevant to the engagement, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and Agreement(s).

Where required by law, regulation, or an applicable Agreement, Partners agree to:

• Cooperate reasonably and in good faith with compliance inquiries, audits, or assessments related to the engagement
• Provide relevant information, documentation, or explanations in a timely manner, subject to appropriate confidentiality and legal protections
• Preserve records relating to the engagement for required retention periods and refrain from falsifying, concealing, or improperly destroying records

Nothing in this section requires disclosure of legally privileged information or information prohibited from disclosure by law.

 

11. Issue Escalation and Resolution & Non‑Retaliation

Partners are encouraged to speak up and raise concerns in good faith regarding suspected issues related to performance, confidentiality or security, misconduct, non‑compliance, unethical behavior, or potential violations of these Partnership Principles or applicable law.

Partners must:

• Raise concerns promptly through appropriate channels, such as the engagement lead or other designated escalation mechanisms, and provide relevant information as reasonably requested
• Cooperate in good faith with reasonable reviews or investigations related to reported concerns

Both parties agree to:

• Engage in good faith efforts to resolve issues in a timely manner
• Escalate as appropriate when resolution cannot be achieved

The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies do not tolerate retaliation against any individual who raises a concern or reports suspected misconduct in good faith.

Retaliatory conduct may result in corrective action, up to and including termination of the engagement.

Nothing in these Principles limits either party’s right to take immediate action where required to protect people, data, systems, legal compliance, or regulatory obligations, or as permitted by applicable Agreement(s).

Further, nothing in these Principles is intended to limit or restrict any individual’s right to make a protected disclosure under applicable law, including under the UK Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Individuals may report concerns to relevant regulatory or governmental authorities as permitted by law.

 

12. Enforcement and Termination

Failure to adhere to these Partnership Principles may result in proportionate action, which may include:

• Suspension of ongoing work
• Restriction or removal of access to systems, facilities, or information
• Requirement to implement corrective actions
• Termination of the relationship or applicable Agreement(s), consistent with their terms

The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies will assess concerns reasonably and may consider the severity, frequency, and impact of the conduct, including any compliance, security, or reputational risk.

Any corrective actions required under this Section shall be managed solely by the Partner as the employer of the relevant personnel. Where appropriate, parties are encouraged to resolve minor compliance or conduct issues through informal, professional dialogue between designated engagement leads. Such discussions are commercial in nature and do not constitute formal employer-employee disciplinary action.

 

13. Updates

We may update these Partnership Principles from time to time to reflect changes in legal, regulatory, security, or business requirements.  Continued engagement with The Lockwood Group and its affiliated companies after an updated version is published or communicated constitutes acceptance of the updated Principles, except to the extent an applicable Agreement provides otherwise.

These Partnership Principles should be read in conjunction with our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and other applicable policies and Agreements (if any) governing the relationship.