Privacy Policy

Introduction

Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading privacy policies. But since we're a law firm that deals with corporate and IP matters all day, we figured we should at least make ours straightforward and honest.

At Rune Shardion Legal Services, we take your privacy seriously. Not just because it's legally required (though it absolutely is), but because trust is everything in the attorney-client relationship. This policy explains what info we collect, why we collect it, and what we do with it. No legal jargon where it's not needed - we save that for the courtroom.

By using our website or services, you're agreeing to this policy. If something here doesn't sit right with you, let's talk about it before we move forward.

Information We Collect

We're not in the business of collecting data just for fun. Everything we gather serves a purpose, and here's what we typically need:

Personal Information You Give Us

When you reach out or become a client, we'll ask for things like your name, email, phone number, business details, and mailing address. Pretty standard stuff. If we're handling your corporate or IP matters, we'll also need specifics about your business structure, trademarks, patents, contracts - whatever's relevant to your case.

Info We Collect Automatically

Like most websites nowadays, ours collects some technical data when you visit. We're talking IP addresses, browser type, device info, pages you viewed, how long you stayed, and where you came from. This helps us figure out what's working and what's not on the site.

Communications

Any emails, phone calls, or messages you send us get kept as part of our records. That's just good practice for a law firm - we need to document our interactions and maintain that paper trail.

How We Use Your Information

We're not selling your info to random marketing companies or doing anything sketchy. Here's what we actually do with it:

• Providing legal services - Kind of the main point, right? We use your info to handle your legal matters, draft documents, give advice, and represent your interests.
• Communication - We'll reach out about your case, send updates, answer questions, and occasionally share relevant legal developments that might affect you.
• Billing and admin - Gotta keep track of payments, invoices, and maintain our business records. The tax folks and our accountants require it.
• Improving our services - We analyze how people use our site to make it better and figure out what content is actually helpful.
• Legal compliance - Sometimes we're required by law to maintain certain records or provide information to regulatory bodies. Comes with the territory.
• Security and fraud prevention - We monitor for suspicious activity to protect both you and us from potential issues.

Disclosure & Sharing

We're pretty protective of client information - it's literally our professional duty. But there are some situations where we might share your data:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third parties for things like cloud storage, email services, accounting software, and case management systems. They only get access to what they need to do their job, and they're bound by confidentiality agreements.

Legal Requirements

If we get a valid court order, subpoena, or other legal demand, we might have to hand over information. We'll push back if we think it's overreaching, but sometimes we don't have a choice.

Business Transfers

In the unlikely event we sell the firm, merge with another practice, or go through some kind of corporate restructuring, your info would be part of that transfer. Any new owner would still be bound by this privacy policy though.

With Your Consent

If you explicitly give us permission to share your info with someone specific, we'll do that. Pretty straightforward.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Yeah, we use cookies. Not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These are small text files that help our website remember you and work better.

What We Use

• Essential cookies - These keep the site functional. Without them, basic features won't work right.
• Analytics cookies - Help us understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it.
• Preference cookies - Remember your settings and choices so you don't have to re-enter them every time.

You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you want, though it might make the site less functional. Most browsers have pretty easy instructions for managing cookies - just search "disable cookies" along with your browser name.

Security Measures

We take security seriously - probably more than most since we're dealing with sensitive legal and business info. Here's what we do:

Our systems use encryption (that's the SSL/TLS stuff you might've heard about), secure servers, firewalls, and regular security audits. We restrict access to client data on a need-to-know basis, and everyone on our team signs confidentiality agreements.

That said, let's be real - no system is 100% hack-proof. We do our best to protect your information, but we can't guarantee absolute security. If there's ever a breach that affects your data, we'll let you know as quickly as legally required.

Data Retention

We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. For active clients, that means throughout our engagement and for a reasonable period afterward.

As a law firm, we're also required by the Law Society of British Columbia to maintain certain records for specific periods - typically seven years for most client files. Even after that, we might keep some info if there's a legitimate legal reason (ongoing litigation, regulatory requirements, etc.).

If you want us to delete your information sooner, reach out and we'll see what we can do. Just keep in mind that legal and regulatory requirements might prevent us from wiping everything immediately.

Your Rights

Under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA specifically), you've got several rights regarding your personal information:

• Access - You can request a copy of the personal info we hold about you.
• Correction - If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
• Deletion - You can ask us to delete your data, though legal requirements might limit what we can actually remove.
• Withdrawal of consent - You can take back your consent for certain uses of your info (though this might affect our ability to provide services).
• Complaints - If you think we've mishandled your information, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

To exercise any of these rights, just email us at contact@runeshardion.info or give us a call at (604) 555-7829. We'll respond within a reasonable timeframe (usually 30 days or less).

International Data Transfers

We're based in Vancouver, BC, and most of our data stays in Canada. However, some of our service providers (like cloud hosting companies) might store data on servers located in other countries, including the United States.

When your data crosses borders, it becomes subject to the laws of those jurisdictions. That might include lawful access by government authorities in those countries. We only work with reputable providers who maintain strong security standards, but it's something you should be aware of.

If you've got concerns about where your data is stored, let's chat about it. In some cases, we might be able to make special arrangements.

Children's Privacy

Our services aren't directed at anyone under 18, and we don't knowingly collect information from minors. If you're under 18, please don't submit any personal info through our website.

If we discover we've accidentally collected information from a minor, we'll delete it as quickly as possible. Parents or guardians who believe we might have information about their child should contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

Privacy laws evolve, our practices change, and technology marches forward. So yeah, we might update this policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we'll post a notice on our website and update the "Last Updated" date at the top.

For major changes that affect how we handle your information, we'll try to notify active clients directly via email. We'd recommend checking back occasionally to stay informed about how we're protecting your privacy.

Contact Us

Got questions, concerns, or complaints about this privacy policy or how we handle your data? Don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help and we take these matters seriously.