The Firm recognizes the importance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information. In line with our obligations as professionals, we are committed to maintaining high standards of confidentiality and security. This Privacy Policy informs you of how we collect, use and disclose Personal Information.
Personal information
In this Privacy Policy, “Personal Information” means any information provided to or collected by Westvine Law about an identifiable individual or an individual whose identity may be inferred or determined from the information. This Privacy Policy applies regardless of whether the Personal Information is recorded electronically, or on paper. This Privacy Policy does not cover any information about more than one individual where the identity of the individuals is not known and cannot be inferred from the information.
This Privacy Policy also does not apply to information about companies or other legal entities.
Information we collect
We may collect Personal Information: (1) for the purpose of determining whether Westvine Law will enter into a professional relationship; (2) in the course of a professional relationship, or (3) when you provide us with information about yourself, or someone else associated with your need for legal services. We hold this information in strict confidence and do not reveal it to anyone unless expressly or implicitly authorized by the person or organization concerned or where permitted or required by applicable law.
In the course of our relationship with you, Westvine Law will need to collect, use, and sometimes disclose different types of Personal Information for various purposes associated with the services we provide as directed by you or your organization. The Personal Information we collect may include:
- your full name;
- contact information, such as your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or job titles;
- information to help establish your identity;
- medical and criminal records;
- information regarding your legal requirements, situation, and interests;
- information regarding your organization or other organizations, including information regarding directors, officers, or employees of our clients or other parties, witnesses, beneficiaries, adverse parties, related parties, parties in interest, business partners, investors, shareholders, security holders, buyers, sellers, business partners, and customers of clients;
- payment information; and
- any other Personal Information that you voluntarily choose to provide to us.
We may also collect information from public sources in the context of proceedings related to the legal services we are providing to one of our clients.
How we use and disclose Personal Information
Westvine Law will not sell any Personal Information it has obtained. Westvine Law may use and disclose Personal Information for the following purposes:
- Establishing your identity and compliance with “know your client” and anti-money laundering requirements and other legal obligations. This may require you to provide name, address, employment/business information, and/or other legally mandated forms of identification;
- Billing: which will include the collection, use and disclosure of names, addresses, banking, financial details and/or payment information;
- Provision of legal advice or the conduct of litigation, or other legal proceedings, which will include any Personal Information necessary to provide the services requested by you or your organization;
- Internal record keeping and to analyze and help us manage the provision of our legal services;
- Answering your questions and/or providing you with information or materials you have asked to receive;
- To conduct market research;
- To ensure regulatory compliance – for example, to conduct conflict checks;
- To help prevent fraud or other illegal activities;
- To meet our insurance requirements;
- Any purpose which is permitted or required by applicable law; and
- To carry out any other purpose which is disclosed to you and to which you consent.
Westvine Law allows certain authorized third-party providers to track and store certain information about visitors to our websites (including domain names, IP addresses and page views as described below).
Westvine Law may also disclose Personal Information to organizations that perform services for us.
Personal Information will only be provided to such organizations if they agree by way of contract to provide appropriate protection for such information.
Further, we may disclose your Personal Information for any other purpose to which you consent.
Retention of personal information
Personal Information collected in any form will only be retained by Westvine Law for as long as it is required: a) for the purpose for which it was collected and those purposes set out in this Privacy Policy; b) to be retained by law; or c) to address any issues that may arise at a later date. When Personal
Information is no longer required for these identified purposes, Westvine Law uses secure procedures to destroy, delete, erase the Personal Information.
Consent
In most cases, if we collect, use, or disclose your personal information, we will obtain your consent.
Sometimes we will ask for your consent in writing, but in some cases, we may accept your oral consent.
Sometimes your consent may be implied through your conduct with us or the nature of our retainer. Your provision of Personal Information to Westvine Law implies that you agree and consent to our collection, use and disclosure of your Personal Information under this Privacy Policy. Should you withdraw your consent for us to collect, use or disclose your personal information, it may impact on our ability to serve you and to maintain our relationship.
There may be circumstances where you have provided Personal Information for one purpose, and Westvine Law later needs to use that information for a different purpose. In such circumstances, Westvine Law will seek your consent to use the information for the new purpose unless the law permits or
requires us to use the information for that new purpose.
Please note that there are circumstances where the collection, use and/or disclosure of Personal Information may be justified or permitted without consent, or where Westvine Law may or must disclose information without consent, in accordance with applicable law.
You have the right to revoke your consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your Personal Information at any time. However, revocation of your consent may prevent us from providing services or products to you; in such circumstances, we will discuss with you the reason we need your Personal
Information and why the revocation of your consent affects our ability to provide our services or products to you.
Accuracy and access
Since we use your personal information to provide legal services to you, it is important that the information be accurate and up-to-date. If, during the course of the retainer, any of your information changes, please inform us so that we can make any necessary changes. We may also periodically
inquire of you whether your personal information is accurate and up-to-date.
You have a right to request access to your Personal Information. Detailed requests that require archive or other retrieval costs may be subject to our normal professional and disbursement fees. Your rights to access your personal information are not absolute. There are a number of situations where we may deny access, example, we will not grant access where doing so would lead to the disclosure of Personal Information of another individual and that individual refuses to provide consent to the disclosure, or where
the information is subject to privilege or other legal restrictions If we deny your request for access to, or refuse a request to correct personal information, we will provide a reason or reasons for doing so.
Contact us
If you have any questions, or wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us at:
130 Adelaide St. Suite 2929
Toronto, ON M5H 3P5
Canada
Tel: 647-451-8570
We reserve the right to make changes to this policy. Any changes to this policy will be posted.