Privacy Policy

Introduction

Harbourside is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information provided by clients and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our website or engage our legal services.

Our privacy practices comply with applicable Canadian federal and provincial privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

Information We Collect

Contact Information

When you submit inquiries through our website forms or contact us directly, we collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Company name and position (if applicable)
• Message content and inquiry details

Client Matter Information

When you retain our services, we collect information necessary to provide legal assistance, including:

• Personal identification details
• Business information and corporate documents
• Financial information relevant to legal matters
• Shipping and customs documentation
• Employment and immigration records
• Correspondence and communications related to legal matters

Website Usage Data

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website:

• IP address and geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Date and time of access

How We Use Your Information

Legal Services Provision

We use your information to provide, maintain, and improve our legal services, including:

• Responding to inquiries and consultation requests
• Providing legal advice and representation
• Preparing and filing legal documents
• Communicating with regulatory authorities
• Managing client files and case records
• Billing and payment processing

Communication

We use contact information to communicate regarding:

• Legal matter updates and developments
• Appointment scheduling and confirmations
• Document requests and submissions
• Regulatory changes affecting your matters
• Service-related notifications

Website Improvement

Usage data helps us understand how visitors interact with our website, enabling us to improve user experience, content, and functionality.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: You have provided explicit consent for us to process your information for specific purposes
• Contract: Processing is necessary to fulfill our obligations under a legal services agreement
• Legitimate Interest: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business operations, such as fraud prevention and security
• Legal Obligation: Processing is required to comply with Canadian law, including legal and regulatory requirements

Information Sharing and Disclosure

Regulatory Authorities

We may share information with government agencies and regulatory bodies when required for legal proceedings or as mandated by law, including:

• Canada Border Services Agency
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• Transport Canada
• Courts and tribunals
• Law enforcement agencies

Service Providers

We engage trusted third-party service providers who assist with our operations, including:

• Document management and cloud storage providers
• Email and communication platforms
• Payment processing services
• Website hosting and analytics services

These providers are bound by confidentiality obligations and are prohibited from using your information for any purpose other than providing services to us.

Professional Advisors

In some cases, we may consult with other legal professionals, experts, or consultants to provide you with comprehensive legal services. All such professionals are bound by confidentiality obligations.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for different periods depending on the type of information and purpose:

• Client Files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following completion of legal matters, in accordance with Law Society of British Columbia requirements
• Financial Records: Retained for 7 years as required by Canadian tax legislation
• Website Inquiries: Retained for 2 years unless a client relationship is established
• Marketing Communications: Retained until consent is withdrawn

After retention periods expire, information is securely destroyed or anonymized.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• Secure document management systems with access controls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Employee training on confidentiality and data protection
• Physical security measures at our Vancouver office
• Secure disposal procedures for physical and electronic records

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but maintain industry-standard protections.

Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy legislation, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access

You may request access to personal information we hold about you, subject to limited exceptions under applicable law.

Right to Correction

You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.

Right to Complain

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We will respond to your request within 30 days as required by PIPEDA.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. For detailed information about how we use cookies, please review our Cookie Policy.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites not operated by Harbourside. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. Material changes will be communicated through our website or via email to active clients. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was most recently revised.

Continued use of our services following notice of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact: