Our Firm’s Commitment
Protecting our clients’ privacy is a top priority at Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP. Our Privacy Policy highlights our commitment to handling your personal information in a professional, respectful and confidential manner, and informs you about the various ways we strive to ensure your privacy and personal information are protected.
By treating your privacy concerns with the utmost importance, our staff at Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP (referred to as “we”) strive to maintain the strong client relationships our firm has valued for over fifty years.
Privacy Legislation
Since January 1, 2004, all Canadian organizations engaged in commercial activities have been required to comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) and the Canadian Standards Association Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information, incorporated by reference into PIPEDA. These obligations extend to lawyers and law firms, including Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP.
As a professional services firm, we have professional and ethical obligations to keep confidential the information we receive in the context of a lawyer-client and agent-client relationships.
Personal Information
Personal information is defined in PIPEDA as information about an identifiable individual, but does not include the name, title or business address or telephone number of an employee of an organization.
Consent to Our Collection of Personal Information
In most cases, we obtain your consent to collect, use and disclose your personal information. Usually, if you retain our firm, we assume that we have your implied consent to our collection and use of your personal information, however, at times we may ask for your express consent, either verbally or in writing. Generally, we collect your personal information directly from you at the start of or during the course of your retainer with our firm. Sometimes we may obtain information about you from other sources such as a government registry or other professionals who serve you.
Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP’s Use of Personal Information
We use your personal information to provide legal advice and services to you, to issue invoices and to maintain our database of clients. In addition, if you apply for a position with Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP, we will use your personal information to assess your candidacy.
Withdrawal of Consent
You may withdraw your consent to our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions and upon reasonable notice. Your withdrawal of consent to our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information may impact our ability to represent you and provide you with legal advice. You can ask us not to send you communications by contacting any of our staff by email, phone or fax at the contact information provided on our website: http://www.centrepointelaw.com/
Disclosure of Personal Information
Generally, we do not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent unless permitted or required by applicable laws or court orders. The following are some examples where we may disclose your personal information:
• such disclosure is necessary to collect fees or disbursements; or
• we engage expert witnesses or other law firms on your behalf.
Storing Your Information
Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP will store your personal information at its office in Ottawa. To protect your information, our firm uses secure safeguards including physical, technological and organizational measures. Further information about the safeguards used by our firm can be found under “Safeguards” below.
Accuracy of Your Information
It is important that the information that we have on file be accurate and up-to-date. If during the course of the retainer any of your information changes, please inform us so that we can make any necessary changes. We may also ask you from time to time whether your personal information is up-to-date.
Safeguards
Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP uses various safeguards to ensure that your personal information is protected against loss, theft, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying or alteration. These include: security of our physical premises; our professional obligations; security software and firewalls to prevent unauthorized computer access or “hacking”; and internal passwords that restrict access to our electronic files.
Access to your Personal Information
You have a right to challenge the accuracy and completeness of your personal information and to have it amended, as appropriate. You also have a right to request access to your personal information and receive an accounting of how that information has been used and disclosed, subject to certain exceptions prescribed by law. For example, if the requested information would reveal personal information about another individual, your request for access may be limited or denied. If your request for access is denied, a member of our firm staff will notify you in writing of the reason for the denial.
To request access or to amend your personal information, please contact the staff member with whom you normally correspond. A staff member will respond within thirty (30) days of receipt of your written request.
Challenging Compliance
Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP will respond to inquiries about its policies and practices relating to its handling of your personal information. Inquiries should be directed to either: Ken Dunham or Dilshad Mohamed, using the “Privacy Contacts” information below.
Our firm will investigate all complaints and will respond within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written inquiry. If the complaint is found to be justified, we will take appropriate measures to resolve it, including, if necessary, amending this Policy and its procedures.
Website Privacy
Like most other commercial websites, we may monitor traffic patterns, site usage and related site information to optimize your visit to our website.
We do not use cookies or any electronic means to collect personal information from you or your computer; however, our website server will automatically collect IP addresses. We may view the IP log from time to time, for example, to maintain the security of our website. We do not link the IP addresses to other personally identifiable information.
Privacy Contacts
If you have any questions or complaints about this Policy or the handling of your personal information, if you wish to withdraw your consent to our use of your personal information, or to request access to or update any information we have on file, please contact the lawyer or staff member with whom you are dealing, or contact:
Ken Dunham
Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or
Dilshad Mohamed
Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If any complaint or inquiry is not handled to your complete satisfaction, you may contact:
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
112 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1H3
Telephone: 613.995.8210 Toll free: 1.800.282.1376
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website at http://www.centrepointelaw.com/ and will be made available upon request through your contact at Chiarelli Cramer Witteveen LLP. Please check from time to time to ensure you are aware of our current policy. This Privacy Policy is effective June 2020.