PRIVACY

In the course of providing services to its clients, Vermeer Law Office collects personal information about its clients and others. This information may be used for contact purposes, and to communicate with our clients and others respecting legal affairs and the services that we provide.

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When Vermeer Law Office is retained to act on behalf of a client, we use, retain, and disclose personal information on behalf of, and as instructed by, that client in connection with our advice. Our use, retention, and disclosure of such information is governed by our duty of confidentiality to our client, and, as applicable, by solicitor-client privilege. Vermeer Law Office recognizes the importance of protecting the personal information that has been entrusted to us.

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This policy outlines the framework of Vermeer Law Office policies and procedures regarding its collection, use, retention, and disclosure of personal information in respect of its clients and others. This policy supplements, where applicable, our professional obligations of confidentiality and solicitor-client privilege.

 

Why Does Vermeer Law Office Collect Personal Information?

Vermeer Law Office collects personal information in order that we may provide legal services to our clients.

 

How Do We Collect Your Personal Information?

Vermeer Law Office only collects personal information by lawful and fair means, and only that information which is reasonably necessary for the purposes identified. Whenever possible, we collect personal information about clients and other individuals directly from those parties or through referrals by persons who such parties have requested to provide us with such information.

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How Do We Use Your Information?

Vermeer Law Office may use your personal information for purposes such as, but not limited to, providing legal services, billing, record-keeping, and other client contact and service matters, and responding to client comments and suggestions.

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When Do We Disclose Your Personal Information?

Vermeer Law Office will only disclose personal information for purposes related to its provision of services, or with express consent, or if required or authorized by law. For example, we may disclose information when the legal services we are providing require us to give information to third parties (e.g. reciprocal disclosure during litigation), where it is necessary to establish or collect fees, if we engage expert witnesses, if we retain other law firms in other jurisdictions, and if a court issues a subpoena or requires us to do so under order.

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Consent

Vermeer Law Office may obtain consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of information either expressly for stated purposes (such as in a retainer), or impliedly when the purposes are not stated expressly but are indicated by the relevant circumstances or follow logically from other expressly stated purposes. Individuals may withdraw or amend any consent previously given by contacting our Privacy Officer, subject to any legal or contractual restrictions and upon reasonable notice to us.  Consent to our collection of certain personal information may be required in order for us to provide legal services. However, we will not require, as a condition of providing our services, that personal information not related to providing such service be collected.

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Updating Your Information

Since Vermeer Law Office uses personal information to provide legal services, it is important that the information be accurate and up-to-date. If any information changes, we may require the individual to inform us so that we can make any necessary changes.

 

Security

Vermeer Law Office uses appropriate security measures to protect against loss, theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, use, or modification of personal information. In communicating with us, individuals should be aware that e-mail is not a fully secure medium. Vermeer Law Office requires that third party service providers to whom personal information may be transferred provide a level of security for such personal information that meets standards established by Vermeer Law Office.

 

Access To Your Personal Information

Vermeer Law Office will respond promptly to any request for access to personal information. Vermeer Law Office will not respond to requests for access to personal information that are frivolous, or repetitious. In certain circumstances, Vermeer Law Office may be unable to provide access to some or all of the personal information that we hold. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, those in which the personal information cannot be separated from the records of others, cannot be disclosed for reasons of personal security or commercial confidentiality, or is protected by professional standards relating to confidentiality or solicitor-client privilege.

 

Correcting Errors

If Vermeer Law Office holds information about an individual and the individual advises us that it is not accurate, complete, or up-to-date, we will take appropriate steps to correct it.

 

Changes To Our Privacy Policy

As part of our regular review of all of our policies and procedures, Vermeer Law Office may change our privacy policy from time to time.

 

Inquiries, Requests and Complaints

Please direct any inquiries, requests or complaints regarding our firm’s collection, use, disclosure or retention of personal information to:

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Chief Privacy Officer
Vermeer Law Office
65 King Street, P. O. Box 938, Dryden, ON  P8N 2Z5
Phone: (807) 223-3311
Fax: (807) 223-4133
Email: lawweb@vermeerlaw.com