Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 30, 2024
Privacy Policy
KPA Lawyers (“KPA”) recognizes the importance of keeping your personal information secure and confidential. As lawyers, we have a heightened duty to protect any personal information we receive during the lawyer-client relationship. Our relationship is founded on trust and confidence, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality over the personal information we collect.
Since January 1, 2004, Canadian Businesses must comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”). These standards apply to lawyers and law firms, including RGW. PIPEDA grants you rights to protect your information.
The purpose of this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) is to explain our responsibilities under PIPEDA and to provide transparency regarding our practices in the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information.
As used throughout this Policy, the terms “KPA,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to KPA Lawyers Professional Corporation.
Why does KPA need your information?
KPA provides legal services to a wide range of clients. We collect personal information for the following limited purposes:
- To identify and verify you in accordance with the Law Society of Ontario’s requirements;
- To understand your legal needs and objectives;
- To administer client accounting;
- To update your contact information and maintain client lists;
- To represent you as our client; and/or
- To provide materials concerning our services, third-party services and developments in the law.
If you no longer wish to receive information about our services, services from third-parties or new developments in the law, we will immediately cease sending you any further material.
What Personal Information do we Collect?
Personal information is any information about an individual. This may include details such as age, identification numbers, income, ethnic origin, credit or banking information, employee records, medical records, and any other information relevant to the issue we have been retained for. We collect personal information at the start of our retainer and only to the extent required to provide you with legal services and as otherwise disclosed in this Policy.
By choosing KPA to represent you, you have confirmed your trust in us. We are honoured by this trust and take pride in representing you. Our firm restricts the collection of personal information to the extent required to identify you, distribute marketing material from third-parties for goods and/or services related to your legal issue, and for the limited purposes of providing you with legal representation. We collect personal information in an open and lawful manner.
How do we collect personal information?
We collect personal information at the start of our retainer and as required on a continual basis. We collect this information directly from you, but information may be obtained from other sources to provide you with the most efficient service possible. For example, information may be obtained from insurance companies, real estate agents in a property transaction, government agencies, registries, employers, accountants, internally generated work products, dispute litigation investigations, and other parties to a transaction, matter, or dispute.
Consent
PIPEDA allows us to collect, use, and disclose information for matters related to your engagement.
In most cases, we ask for your consent if we collect, use, or disclose your personal information where such collection, use, and disclosure is outside the scope of our representation of you. Consent may be implied through your conduct with us, or may be given expressly in writing, electronically, verbally, or through an authorized representative. You may withdraw permission to collect, use, and disclose personal information at any time, subject to reasonable and contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.
Disclosure of Personal Information
KPA will not disclose personal information to any third parties to market their products and services without your consent. Under limited circumstances, KPA will disclose personal information if:
- We are required or authorized by law to do so, for example if a court issues a subpoena;
- When it is necessary to establish or collect fees;
- When you have expressly consented to a disclosure;
- When the scope of legal services we provide you require us to give your information to third parties (for example, a lender in a real-estate transaction or a professional retained to conduct mediation), your consent will be implied unless provide notice otherwise;
- A third-party service provider is hired by us to provide administrative services (payroll, computer back-up services, etc.) provided that the third-party is bound by this Policy;
- If we engage an expert witnesses(s) on your behalf;
- The information is available publicly; or
- Other purposes for which you may consent, or as permitted or required by applicable law and the Law Society’s Rules of Professional Conduct.
Securing your Personal Information
KPA goes above and beyond to take reasonable precautions to ensure that your personal information is kept safe from loss, unauthorized access, modification, and unnecessary disclosure. Specifically, we have:
- Established premises security on-site within our office space;
- Restricted file access;
- Implemented safeguards like security software and firewalls; and
- Established internal passwords and security policies for all KPA staff.
Accuracy of Personal Information
We are committed to maintaining accurate, complete, and up-to-date personal information. If you are aware of any changes to your personal information, please inform us so we can make any necessary changes and take reasonable steps to correct such information.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
KPA regularly reviews all policies and procedures. Accordingly, we may change this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Website and related links
Our website, www.kpalawyers.ca, contains links to other sites, which are not governed by this Policy. The links you find on KPA’s website are for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or approval of these websites. Under no circumstances does KP assume responsibility for this Policy or any other privacy policies which may be established or amended from time to time, that are accessed through our website. Clients/Users should consult the privacy policies of such linked sites before providing any personal information.
Like most commercial businesses, we may monitor traffic patterns, site usage, and related site information to optimize our web service. While we reserve the right to provide aggregated information to third parties, such information does not include any identifiable personal information unless you have consented to such disclosure.
Contacting KPA via the website or email address does not constitute a trigger of the lawyer-client relationship of any kind whatsoever. Any communications received on this website shall not be construed as legal advice.
Access to Personal Information and Questions
If you have any questions, wish to access or update your personal information, or have a privacy complaint, please write to our Privacy Officer at:
KPA Lawyers
200 Matheson Blvd. W., Suite 100
Mississauga, Ontario
L5R 3L7
Attention: Privacy Officer
Email: info@kpalawyers.ca