Robert Ruddock Law understands the importance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information. Lawyers have a professional obligation to keep confidential information received within a lawyer-client relationship. This privacy policy outlines how Robert Ruddock Law manages your personal information.
Your Privacy Rights
Most organizations engaged in commercial activities must comply with the Personal Information Privacy and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Although lawyers have always been obligated by the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct to maintain the confidentiality of client information, PIPEDA provides additional rights over the privacy of your personal information.
Consent
By submitting personal information to Robert Ruddock Law, or its service providers and agents, you agree that Robert Ruddock Law 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 for which Robert Ruddock Law collects information at any time by contacting Robert Ruddock Law. If you provide Robert Ruddock Law, or its service providers and agents, with personal information of another individual, you represent that you have all necessary authority and/or have obtained all necessary consents from such person to enable Robert Ruddock Law to collect, use and disclose such personal information for the purposes set forth in this privacy policy.
Consent for the collection, use and/or disclosure of personal information may be obtained orally or in writing, and may be given or implied. In determining how Robert Ruddock Law obtains your consent, Robert Ruddock Law will consider the sensitivity of the personal information about you that Robert Ruddock Law is collecting, using or disclosing.
What is Personal Information?
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual or information that allows an individual to be identified. It does not include name, business address or telephone numbers of an employee of an organization.
Why Does Robert Ruddock Law Collect Personal Information?
Robert Ruddock Law collects personal information from its clients to:
- provide legal services to you in accordance with your instructions;
- fulfill legal duties;
- avoid conflicts of interest;
- in the course of providing legal services, share personal information to and from third parties, including opposing parties, parties sharing the same interests, opposing, foreign and other counsel and advisors, witnesses, decision makers and experts;
- provide information to you about developments in the law;
- advise you of upcoming firm events;
- develop and manage Robert Ruddock Law’s knowledge-management precedent systems and databases;
- detect and protect Robert Ruddock Law and other third parties against error, negligence, breach of contract, fraud, theft, and other illegal activity, and to comply with Robert Ruddock Law policies and contractual obligations; and
- any other purpose to which you consent.
How Does Robert Ruddock Law Collect Your Personal Information?
Robert Ruddock Law may collect personal information directly from you at the start of a retainer and/or in the course of our representation of you.
Sometimes, Robert Ruddock Law may also obtain information about you from other sources, for example:
- your insurance company;
- government agency or registry;
- your accountant;
- your employer;
- other consultants obtained by you to assist with your concerns.
Use of Your Information
When Robert Ruddock Law uses your personal information to provide legal advice and services to you, including for billing purposes and any direct marketing activities, Robert Ruddock Law will assume that you have consented to use, unless you specifically advise otherwise. If you tell Robert Ruddock Law you no longer wish to receive information about its services or about new developments in the law, Robert Ruddock will not send any further material.
Robert Ruddock Law does not disclose your personal information to any third party to enable them to market their products without first obtaining express consent from you.
Disclosure of Your Personal Information
From time to time, under certain circumstances, Robert Ruddock Law may disclose your personal information. For example, Robert Ruddock Law may disclose your personal information:
- when Robert Ruddock Law is required or authorized by law to do so (e.g., if a court issues a subpoena or an arbitrator issues a summons);
- when you have consented to the disclosure;
- when the legal services Robert Ruddock Law is providing to you require Robert Ruddock Law to give your information to a third party. In such a case, your consent will be implied, unless you tell Robert Ruddock Law otherwise;
- where it is necessary to establish or collect fees;
- if Robert Law engages a third party to provide administrative services (like computer back-up services or archival file storage);
- if Robert Ruddock Law engages expert witnesses on your behalf;
- if Robert Ruddock Law retains other law firms on your behalf, or a person who, in the reasonable judgment of Robert Ruddock Law, is providing or seeking the information as your agent;
- any third party or parties where you consent to such disclosures, or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Updating Your Information
It is important that the information that you provide Robert Ruddock Law be accurate and up to date. If, during the course of the retainer, any of your information changes, please let Robert Ruddock Law know so that your records can be adjusted.
How Does Robert Ruddock Law Protect Your Personal Information?
Robert Ruddock Law takes all reasonable precautions to ensure your personal information is kept safe from loss, unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. This includes the following steps:
- access to personal information stored electronically is restricted;
- Robert Ruddock Law uses internal password and security policies;
Privacy and robertruddocklaw.com
robertruddocklaw.com contains links to other sites which are not governed by the privacy policy. Robert Ruddock Law may also collect personal information on its website. Robert Ruddock Law collects only the information you provide voluntarily by sending Robert Ruddock Law an email message, completing forms, or using the links contained on the website. Robert Ruddock Law collects and uses your name, address, telephone number, email address, and other information you submit on or through the website for purposes for which you provided the personal information, to respond to your inquiries and applications for positions, and to provide you with updates and information that Robert Ruddock Law believes may be of interest to you. In providing Robert Ruddock Law with personal information on or through the website, you consent to the collection and use of that information for these purposes.
Like most other commercial websites, Robert Ruddock Law may monitor traffic patterns, site usage and related site information on its website for business optimization purposes. Robert Ruddock Law may provide aggregated information to third parties, but these statistics do not include identifiable personal information.
Communicating with Robert Ruddock Law
You should be aware that email is not a 100 percent secure medium, and you should be aware of this when contacting Robert Ruddock Law to send personal or confidential information.
Changes to the Policy
Robert Ruddock Law reserves the right to modify or supplement this policy at any time. If Robert Ruddock Law makes any changes, Robert Ruddock Law will post the changes on its website and will make the revised policy and changes available upon request to Robert Ruddock.
Requests for Access
If you have any questions or wish to access your personal information, please contact Robert Ruddock at lawyer@robertruddocklaw.com or at 1-613-889-7974.