Our Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 19, 2023
Clearview Counsel P.C. ("Clearview", "we", or “our”) is dedicated to protecting the personal information we collect, use, and disclose while providing legal services and managing our law firm.
This privacy policy (this “Privacy Policy”) complements our professional obligations of client confidentiality and generally outlines how we gather, use, disclose, and protect the personal information of users of clearviewcounsel.io (our “Site”), our clients, other individuals (collectively, "you").
By using our Site, you accept the privacy practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, you may choose not to use our Site.
Please remember that our Site may include links to third party websites, plug-ins, services, social networks, or applications. Using these links may allow others to collect or share your data. These third parties have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for them. We encourage you to read their privacy policies, and we accept no responsibility or liability for others’ privacy practices.
In any case, we adhere to all applicable regulatory requirements, including relevant privacy laws and our professional obligations. Additionally, as practicing lawyers, we must maintain the confidentiality of information obtained within our client relationships.
Accountability
Clearview is accountable under applicable privacy laws for the personal information in our possession or control. This includes personal information we receive directly from clients or others, and personal information we receive indirectly. Canadian privacy legislation defines "personal information" as any information about an identifiable individual. Typically, personal information excludes business contact information such as your name, title, position, business, phone, or fax number.
We have implemented policies and procedures to protect personal information accordingly.
The Personal Information We Collect
We may collect various types of personal information about you, including your name and home contact information, billing and account information, information relevant to a client's legal matters, and other information related to providing legal advice and services.
Examples of personal information we may collect include information about directors, officers, and employees of a client or other party, witnesses, beneficiaries, family members, opposing parties or parties-in-interest, and information about shareholders, security holders, investors, potential investors, business partners, competitors, or customers of clients, individuals, clients, or other relevant individuals.
We may also collect information about your online interactions through our Site, our email communications, and our online ads.
Why We Collect, Use, and Disclose Personal Information
Clearview collects, uses, and discloses personal information primarily to provide our clients with professional legal services and representation, including:
to establish and manage client relationships, provide legal advice, perform legal services, fulfill legal duties, and avoid conflicts of interest
to share personal information with third parties for providing legal services in the context of legal proceedings, including conducting litigation, arbitrations, mediations, or other proceedings. These third parties may include opposing parties, parties in interest, opposing, foreign and other counsel and advisors, witnesses, courts, adjudicators, arbitrators, other decision-makers, and experts
to represent clients in the context of business transactions involving the exchange or disclosure of personal information, such as purchase, sale, lease, merger, amalgamation, arrangement, or any other type of acquisition, disposition, public offering, securitization, investment, financing, or other transaction
to establish and maintain commercial relationships with clients, suppliers, and other third parties, including issuing invoices, managing accounts, collecting and processing payments, evaluating credit standing, and fulfilling contractual obligations
to communicate with clients and other individuals for conducting market research and evaluating client service and satisfaction
to distribute our publications to individuals who subscribe to our mailing lists
to maintain, develop, and manage our document management, knowledge management, and precedent systems and databases
to develop and manage our business and operations
to detect and protect against error, negligence, breach of contract, fraud, theft and other illegal activity, and where necessary to meet our insurance requirements
as permitted by, and to comply with, applicable legal or regulatory requirements or provisions.
We may collect personal information to (i) tailor content we may send or show you, (ii) authenticate you, enable access to information, and manage the Site, and (iii) analyze our digital interactions to better understand our firm's brand.
When We Collect Personal Information.
With Your Consent
We will obtain a client's consent to collect, use, and disclose personal information about the client, and the consent of other individuals when required by applicable privacy legislation. We get electronic or verbal consent from individuals who subscribe to our publications or express interest in receiving such materials (which you may opt-out of, using the mechanisms described in this Privacy Policy).
We don't collect, use, or disclose personal information without consent unless it's allowed or required by law. Accordingly, we may collect, use, or disclose personal information:
If a client gives us personal information about third parties for our legal representation or advice
When a court order or subpoena is issued, or under applicable rules of production, a regulatory or other body with the authority to compel production needs it
If the information is publicly available as defined by relevant privacy laws, like in professional directories, public registries, publicly-filed court records, or published materials
When we're investigating a breach of an agreement, a legal duty, or a violation of the law, and obtaining consent would compromise the investigation or the accuracy of the information
If we must disclose personal information to a lawful authority
Or as otherwise allowed by law.
We assume that an individual has consented to our reasonable collection and use of personal information consistent with the purposes for which the information was given when the individual contacts us or voluntarily provides personal information to us. Likewise, we assume that clients who retain us or individuals involved in proceedings or matters opposite or adverse to our clients consent to the reasonable collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information by our professionals and agents for the purpose of our representation or provision of legal advice to our clients and the conduct of the transactions or proceedings involving our clients.
Nevertheless, as a law firm, we follow professional and ethical obligations and don't disclose personal information protected by solicitor-client privilege unless the privilege is lawfully waived or we're required by law to disclose it.
Online Communications
To provide our Site users with information or requested services, visitors may voluntarily submit personal information for purposes like subscribing to or downloading publications, attending a meetings with Clearview Counsel, participating in surveys, or asking questions. We use the personal information you provide solely for the purpose it was provided.
If you have provided information to us in the past, we may combine that information with the information submitted on our Site. At any time, however, you may unsubscribe or opt-out of contact by Clearview Counsel through our Site or by emailing privacy@clearviewcounsel.io.
Email Communications
We may send email communications to you or others in our contact database to inform them of legal developments, distribute publications, or notify them of events. Each email includes an opt-out feature and instructions on how to unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive future emails from Clearview Counsel for these purposes.
Cookies and Other Automated Technologies
Cookies are small pieces of data placed on your devices when you visit a website to track its usage and improve your experience. Clearview Counsel may occasionally collect personal information about you and your use of our Site through cookies, as described above. Some browsers can be set to reject all cookies; however, if you choose to modify your browser in this way, some features offered through our Site may no longer be accessible.
We may also use third parties to serve advertisements on our Site and on third-party websites. These companies may use cookies, tracer tags, or web beacons to report information about your interaction with our email communications, websites, and online ads for the purposes of customizing content we may send or show you and for analytical purposes to better understand digital interactions with our brand. To learn more or to opt-out of tailored advertising, please visit http://youradchoices.ca/choices.
Limitations on Our Collection, Use, and Disclosure
We collect personal information fairly and lawfully, and whenever possible, directly from the individual. We try to limit the amount of personal information we collect, use, or disclose to what's necessary for providing our legal services, advice, and representation, and for running our firm. Accordingly, we limit the personal information collected and used for client relationship development and our publication programs to contact details and preferences given by the individual, and we will not store your data for longer than we need it (unless you agree otherwise or the law permits us to keep the information for a longer period of time).
We also maintain records of our work and services according to regulatory requirements and professional standards, which may include personal information. As noted below, our records are stored with safeguards that are designed to prevent improper or unauthorized access.
Accuracy of Information
To ensure a high level of service for clients or subscribers and to maintain accurate contact preferences, we might ask you to update your personal information, contact details, or preferences occasionally. We also offer an ongoing opt-out option through links or hard copies with all publications, invitations, and notices. Clients are encouraged to reach out to their lawyer to update the personal information we keep in our client files.
Safeguards
Whenever we enter into arrangements with service providers, agents, or contractors to store, handle, or process personal information on our behalf, such as for data processing, document storage, software support, or office services, our policy is to require such parties, either contractually or by other means, to provide comparable privacy protection while the information is processed or handled by them.
Additionally, We protect personal information in our files and document management systems from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, and alteration. We do this by using secure facilities, password protection, standard security practices and tools, as well as well-established internal policies and practices.
Accessing Your Personal Information
If you wish to request access to your personal information in our records, you can send a written request to:
Privacy Officer
Clearview Counsel
130 Adelaide St W, Suite 2929
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5H 3P5
privacy@clearviewcounsel.io
We'll provide access to your personal information, subject to exceptions outlined or required by applicable privacy laws. Such exceptions may include information protected by attorney-client privilege, information generated during a formal dispute resolution process, information about another individual where disclosure would reveal confidential business information, or information disclosed to the police or other lawful authorities when we're required to withhold disclosure.
If you have any questions about the access we've provided or want to inform us of inaccuracies in the information, you can contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@clearviewcounsel.io.
Updates to This Privacy Policy & Challenging Compliance
It is our policy to post any changes we make to our Privacy Policy on this page. Should we make any significant changes to our Privacy Policy and how we engage with your information, we will contact you. We also encourage you to periodically review our Privacy Policy to check for updates. The date the Privacy Policy was last revised is identified at the top of the page.
If you have any complaints or questions about our compliance with this Privacy Policy and relevant privacy laws, we encourage you to contact us at privacy@clearviewcounsel.io. We will investigate and attempt to resolve any complaints brought to our attention.