PRIVACY

Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information when we provide legal services to you, when you engage with us, or where we are required to collect information on behalf of a client or under applicable law.

Generally, we will tell you why we are collecting your personal information and how we intend to use it, or it will be apparent from the circumstances.

The personal information we collect may include:

• your name, contact details and residential address;
• date of birth;
• occupation and employment details;
• information relating to your legal matter;
• financial information where relevant to the services we provide;
• membership of professional, trade or political associations where relevant;
• information required to determine whether you are a Politically Exposed Person (PEP);
• government-issued identification documents and identifying numbers, such as a passport or driver’s licence; and
• any other information reasonably required for us to provide legal services or comply with our legal obligations.

We may collect personal information directly from you or from third parties including identity verification providers, company and trust registers, government agencies, public records, financial institutions, professional advisers and other reliable independent sources.

We also collect personal information when it is voluntarily provided through our website, for example when you submit an enquiry, subscribe to publications or register for an event.

Why We Collect and Use Personal Information

We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information to:

provide legal services;

• communicate with clients and prospective clients;
• manage and administer our client relationships;
• market our services and events;
• comply with legal, regulatory and professional obligations;
• verify identity and undertake customer due diligence procedures;
• assess and manage money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation financing and other compliance risks; and
• comply with reporting and record-keeping obligations under the AML/CTF Act.

If you do not provide information requested by us, we may not be able to verify your identity, comply with our legal obligations or provide legal services to you or the person you represent.

Ramsden Family Law is bound by professional obligations of confidentiality and legal professional privilege. We will continue to protect information we receive in accordance with those obligations.

Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

• barristers, consultants and professional advisers involved in providing services to you;
• contractors and service providers who assist our business operations;
• identity verification providers, including InfoTrack;
• courts, tribunals, government departments and regulatory authorities;
• AUSTRAC and members of our AML/CTF reporting group (where applicable);
• law enforcement agencies where required or authorised by law; and
• other parties where you have authorised the disclosure or where disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that any third parties handling personal information on our behalf do so securely and in accordance with privacy obligations.

Information Collected Through Our Website

When you visit our website or download information from it, our internet service providers may record information including:

• your IP address;
• your domain name;
• the date and time of your visit;
• pages visited and documents downloaded;
• the website that referred you to our site; and
• the type of browser and operating system used.

This information is generally anonymous and is used for statistical analysis, website administration, security and improvement of our services.

Cookies

A cookie is a small text file stored on your device by your web browser.

We use cookies to measure website traffic, improve website functionality, enhance user experience and assist with website administration. Cookies used on our website do not generally store personal information.

Most internet browsers automatically accept cookies. You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or notify you when cookies are being sent, however, some website features may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.

Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Our security measures include physical security controls, restricted access to information, secure databases, firewalls, document management procedures and staff confidentiality obligations.

While we strive to protect information transmitted electronically, the internet is not a completely secure environment and transmission of information via the internet is at your own risk.

Access and Correction

You may request access to personal information we hold about you and request correction of information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.

Requests should be directed to our Privacy Officer.

We may refuse access in circumstances permitted by law. If access is refused, we will provide reasons for our decision where required.

Retention of Information

We retain personal information for as long as required to provide our services, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including obligations under the AML/CTF Act, and fulfil our professional responsibilities.

When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact:

Privacy Officer

Ramsden Family Law

[email protected]

We will respond to privacy enquiries and complaints as promptly as reasonably practicable.