Privacy Policy

  1. Introduction

LaBarge Weinstein LLP and its management corporations (“we”, “us”, “our”) are committed to protecting the Personal Information (as defined below). This privacy notice (“Notice”) explains how we collect, use, and disclose Personal Information of clients, visitors of our website, www.lwlaw.com (“Website”), and other third parties (“you”, “your”) in the conduct of our business.

As we operate in Canada, we are generally subject to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. The practices described in this Notice supplement the professional obligations of our lawyers, including the obligation of client confidentiality.

In this Notice, “Personal Information” means information about an identifiable individual or any information that allows an individual to be identified. Generally, Personal Information does not include business contact information that we use to contact you in your business capacity, such as your name, title, business address or business phone number.

From time to time, we may make changes to this Notice at our sole discretion. Please review this Notice regularly so that you are aware of our current policies on the collection, use, and disclosure of your Personal Information.

  1. A note about third parties.

Our Website may contain links to sites, services, or content which are provided or operated by third parties. This Notice does not apply to the privacy practices of such third parties.

We engage third-party service providers to provide us with products or services in connection with the legal services we provide in our ordinary course of business. These products and services include document management systems, due diligence platforms, data room providers, closing logistics platforms and e-signature platforms (“Third-Party Services”). We may receive Personal Information though Third-Party Services. Any Personal Information we receive via a Third-Party Service that we can access will be subject to this Notice, but please note that such Personal Information will also be subject to the privacy practices of the applicable Third-Party Service. Please review the privacy policies of the applicable Third-Party Service for more information.

Further, we may receive Personal Information about you from a client, or from individuals or entities involved in matters adverse to our clients or that have a business, legal or other relationship with you (“Third-Party Information”). Third-Party Information we receive will be subject to this Notice, but please note that the individual or entity who shared such Third-Party Information with us may have their own privacy practices about collection, use and disclosure of Third-Party Information. We encourage you to contact them if you have questions or concerns about your Third-Party Information.

  1. A note about consent.

We obtain consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information of our clients. When individuals or entities contact us or otherwise provide us with their Personal Information, we rely on their consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of their Personal Information for the purposes for which that Personal Information was provided.

When we receive Third-Party Information, we rely on the individual or entity sharing such Third-Party Information with us for obtaining the consent necessary for us to collect, use, and disclose Personal Information as set out in this Notice. When a client provides us with Third-Party Information during our provision of legal services, generally we do not seek consent for that Third-Party Information from the third party.

We may also use or disclose Personal Information without consent if we are required or authorized by law to do so. For example, we may disclose Personal Information where a court order or subpoena is issued. Note that our lawyers are bound by professional and ethical obligations not to disclose Personal Information that is protected by solicitor-client privilege, unless that privilege is waived by our own client, or we are required by law to make such disclosure.

  1. What types of Personal Information do we collect?

Provision of Legal Services: The types of Personal Information we may collect while providing legal services to clients include home address, telephone number, e-mail address, billing and bank account information, social insurance number, photo identification, and any other Personal Information shared with us (directly or indirectly) while providing legal services. We may collect Third-Party Information related to a client’s legal matter, such as Personal Information about directors, officers, employees, shareholders, investors, or other third parties with whom the client has contractual, legal, or other relationships.

Employment: If you submit documentation to us in connection with becoming an employee or providing services to us (either directly or through a Third-Party Service or recruiter), we collect any Personal Information in such documents, such as your resume, cover letter, transcripts, or certifications. Please note that any Personal Information you submit through a third party may also be subject to the privacy practices of those third parties. If you currently work for us, please contact our Privacy Officer per Section 10 below for more information on how your Personal Information may be collected, used and disclosed.

Web Traffic Analysis: When you visit our Website, we use Google Analytics to monitor traffic patterns, Website usage, and related analytical information generated from use of the Website. Google Analytics may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect IP addresses from Website visitors and track page views to deliver aggregated statistics and reporting to us. For more information about Google Analytics, please see the following:

https://policies.google.com/privacy

https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

Events: If you attend one of our events, we may collect any Personal Information you choose to share with us at the event.

Marketing: If you sign up to receive our newsletters or other marketing information, we collect your first and last name, email address, website name, and client matter and name. Please note that you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link included at the bottom of each email. Alternatively, you can opt out of receiving email marketing communications by contacting us using the contact information provided in the “General Contact Form” on the Website or emailing us at unsubscribe@lwlaw.com. You may continue to receive legal services-related or account-related communications from us.

Client Intake Form: If you wish to retain our services, we collect your first and last name, phone number, email address, company name, and any Personal Information you choose to share with us in the client intake form.

  1. How do we use Personal Information?

We use Personal Information for the following purposes:

  • To provide our clients with legal services and any related services they retain us to provide. This may involve sharing Personal Information with third parties, such as opposing parties or counsel, parties in interest, and other decision-makers and experts, in the context of business transactions or legal proceedings.
  • To develop, manage and operate our business. This includes:
    • issuing invoices, administering accounts, collecting and processing payments
    • fulfilling contractual obligations with clients, Third-Party Services and other third parties.
    • communicating with clients, prospective clients, and third parties.
    • contacting you about future events, industry events and developments, and information about our services.
    • recruiting and considering applicants for employment or partnership and managing existing relationships with employees and partners.
    • ensuring physical and digital data security.
  • To comply with any regulatory requirements applicable to our business. Such requirements include provincial law society obligations requiring our lawyers to identify and verify clients and perform conflict checks to determine if they can represent a client for a given matter.
  • To comply with insurance obligations, which may involve identifying any fraud, theft, negligence, or illegal conduct.
  • For any other purpose for which consent was provided.

In all cases, we collect, use and disclose Personal Information in accordance with the purpose for which it was collected, and as permitted by law.

  1. How do we protect your Personal Information?

We use various safeguards to protect your Personal Information against loss, theft, misuse, unauthorized access, unauthorized disclosure, copying, or alteration. These include: security of our physical premises, strict compliance with our professional and regulatory obligations, contractual obligations that protect your Personal Information, security software and firewalls, internal document retention and disposal practices, and password protecting our electronic files.

We require any third parties (such as Third-Party Services) that may receive or view your Personal Information to show comparable privacy protection as is described in this Notice. This may include ensuring the applicability of adequate privacy legislation, through contracts, of through technological measures (such as encryption).

  1. A note about disclosures and cross-border transfers.

We will only disclose Personal Information for purposes related to provision of legal or other services to you, as required or authorized by law, or with valid consent. For example, your Personal Information may be disclosed in response to a search warrant or other legally valid inquiry or order by a government agency, or in connection with a sale of assets, merger or other corporate restructuring.

Our servers and those of third parties (such as Third-Party Services) who may receive or view your Personal Information may be in different provinces within Canada and in jurisdictions outside of Canada, such as the United States (“Foreign Jurisdiction”). Accordingly, Personal Information processed or stored in Canadian jurisdictions outside the Canadian province where the Personal Information originates or in Foreign Jurisdictions outside Canada may be available to governments or their agencies in that Foreign Jurisdiction under a lawful access order.

  1. A note about our retention practices.

We will keep your Personal Information for as long as it remains necessary for the identified purpose or as required by law, which may extend beyond the termination of our relationship with you. All retained Personal Information will remain subject to the terms of this Notice. You have the right to ask us to remove your Personal Information from our databases. On request, we will delete your Personal Information to the best of our ability, but it may not be possible to completely delete all your Personal Information due to technological and legal constraints (for example, when your Personal Information pertains to another client or third party).

We may ask you to update your Personal Information, contact information, or preferences from time to time and clients are encouraged to contact us to update their Personal Information as required.

  1. How do I access or correct my Personal Information?

You have the right to request access to your Personal Information, and to receive a general accounting of how that information has been used and disclosed, subject to certain exceptions prescribed by law. You also have a right to correct your Personal Information as appropriate. Upon receipt of your written request, we will provide you with a copy of your Personal Information. In certain limited circumstances, we may not be able to make all relevant Personal Information available to you (for example, where that Personal Information also pertains to another client). In such circumstances, we will provide reasons for the denial to you upon request. We will make every reasonable effort to keep your Personal Information accurate, and to respond to your in a timely manner.

  1. Want to contact us?

If you have any questions regarding our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer via email at privacyofficer@lwlaw.com or via mail at:

LaBarge Weinstein LLP

515 Legget Drive, Suite 800

Ottawa, ON K2K 3G4

T: 613.599.9600

F: 613.599.0018

Attention: LW Privacy Officer

Last Updated: 17th January 2025

Start typing and press Enter to search