Privacy Policy

We are committed to maintaining the accuracy, security and privacy of Personal Information in accordance with applicable legislation. This Privacy Policy is a statement of principles and guidelines concerning the protection of Personal Information of our clients, service providers and other individuals (“you”).

Consent

BY SUBMITTING PERSONAL INFORMATION TO US, YOU AGREE THAT WE MAY COLLECT, USE AND DISCLOSE SUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND AS PERMITTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW.  Subject to legal and contractual requirements, you may refuse or withdraw your consent to certain of the identified purposes at any time by contacting us. If you refuse or withdraw your consent, we may not be able to provide you or continue to provide you with certain services or information which may be of value to you.  If you provide us with personal information of another individual, you represent, agree and confirm your authority from such other individual to our collection, use and disclosure of such personal information for the purposes set forth in this Privacy Policy.

What Personal Information do we collect?

Canadian privacy legislation defines “Personal Information” broadly as information about an identifiable individual or as information that allows an individual to be identified.  For the purposes of this policy, Personal Information means information about an identifiable individual as defined from time to time in applicable privacy legislation.  Generally speaking Personal Information does not include what is considered business contact information:  your name, title or position, business address, telephone number, facsimile number or e-mail address.  The types of Personal Information that we may collect about you includes your name, home address, home telephone number, personal email address, billing and account information, information about a client’s legal issue and other information incidental to providing legal advice and services (including Personal Information about witnesses, family members, beneficiaries, directors, officers, employees, adverse parties, parties-in-interest, investigators, decision makers, experts, other professional advisors, and our clients’ business partners, investors, shareholders, competitors and customers whom are individuals).

Why do we collect your Personal Information?

In general, we collect, use and disclose Personal Information about our clients in order to provide our clients with professional legal services.  More specifically, we collect, use and disclose your Personal Information for the following purposes:

• to establish and manage client relationships, provide legal advice, perform legal services, fulfil legal duties and avoid conflicts of interest;
• to share Personal Information to and from third parties for the purpose of providing legal services (such third parties may include opposing parties; parties in interest; opposing, foreign and other counsel and advisors; witnesses; decision-makers; and experts);
• to establish and maintain commercial relationships with clients, suppliers and other third parties, including to issue invoices, administer accounts, collect and process payments and to fulfil contractual obligations;
• to understand and respond to client, supplier and other third party needs and preferences;
• to develop, enhance, market, sell or otherwise provide our products and services;
• to detect and protect us and other third parties against error, negligence, breach of contract, fraud, theft and other illegal activity;
• as permitted by, and to comply with, any legal or regulatory requirements or provisions; and
• for any other purpose to which you consent.

To whom do we disclose your Personal Information?

From time to time, we may disclose your Personal Information to:

• a person who, in our reasonable judgement, is providing or seeking the information as your agent;
• any third party or parties, where you consent to such disclosure or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.

Where do we store your Personal Information?

Depending on the nature of your Personal Information, it may be stored in various computer systems located at our office, in the record storage facilities of our service providers, or in the computer systems of our service providers. Where we use service providers who might have access to your information, we select them carefully to ensure that their stated practices align with our privacy policy and security practices.

Our firm, our service providers and other parties with whom we share information under this privacy policy, may perform activities and hold such information outside Canada. If a service provider is located in a foreign jurisdiction, they will be bound by the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are located and may disclose personal information in accordance with those laws. As a result, your information may be securely used stored or accessed in other countries and be subject to the laws of those countries. For example, information may be shared in response to valid demands from governmental authorities, courts and law enforcement officials in those countries.

How may you obtain access to your Personal Information?

Upon your written request, subject to certain exceptions, we will inform you of the existence, use and disclosure of your Personal Information and will give you access to that information.  Access requests should be sent to us, using the contact information below.

How do we protect your Personal Information?

To help protect the confidentiality of your Personal Information, we employ administrative and technological safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of your Personal Information.

Changes to the Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to modify or supplement this Privacy Policy at any time. However, we will obtain the necessary consents required under applicable privacy laws if we seek to collect, use or disclose your Personal Information for purposes other than those to which consent has been obtained unless otherwise required or permitted by law.

Further Information

For information on our privacy practices, please contact us at: