Brightstar Law Privacy Policy
Brightstar Law recognizes the importance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information. As lawyers, we have a professional obligation to keep confidential all information we receive within a lawyer-client relationship. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and disclose personal information and our commitment to privacy under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario.
Personal Information We Collect
We collect personal information to provide legal services and to fulfill our professional responsibilities. “Personal information” means any information about an identifiable individual and may include:
Your name, contact details, and occupation
Information related to your legal matter
Financial, property, or corporate records
Identification documentation
Communication records and client instructions
We may also collect personal information from third parties with your consent or as permitted by law.
How Do We Collect Your Personal Information?
We collect information only by lawful and fair means, and not in an unreasonably intrusive way. Wherever possible, we collect your personal information directly from you, both at the start of a retainer and in the course of our representation.
Sometimes we may obtain information about you from other sources, for example:
Your mortgage company or insurance company
Your real estate agent or mortgage agent
Government agencies and/or registries
How We Use Personal Information
We use your personal information to:
Provide legal advice and services
Open and manage client files
Communicate with you and others involved in your matter
Verify identity and prevent fraud
Fulfill our legal, regulatory, and professional obligations
Manage our business, including billing and accounting
Maintain records consistent with the requirements of professional regulatory bodies
We do not use your personal information for marketing purposes without your express consent.
Consent
We collect, use, and disclose your personal information with your consent, or as required or permitted by law. Your consent may be express or implied, depending on the circumstances. By engaging our firm, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Policy.
Disclosure of Personal Information
In certain circumstances, we may disclose your personal information:
To third-party service providers (e.g., title insurers, couriers, technology providers) we use to provide legal services
When required by law or court order
With your consent, or as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law
We ensure that any service providers who have access to your information maintain appropriate safeguards.
Security and Safeguards
We take all reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected, including:
Physical safeguards (e.g., secure file storage)
Technological safeguards (e.g., encrypted systems and secure servers)
Organizational safeguards (e.g., limited access and staff confidentiality training)
We retain your personal information for as long as our professional obligations require or longer if necessary for us to provide legal services to you.
Access to Your Information
You have the right to request access to your personal information and to correct any inaccuracies. To make such a request, please contact our office using the information below. In some circumstances, access may be restricted where disclosure would reveal personal information about another individual, or where prohibited by law.
Website and Electronic Communications
When you visit our website, we may collect limited technical information through cookies or similar tools to enhance your browsing experience. We do not collect personally identifiable information unless you choose to provide it—such as by submitting an intake form or contacting us.
Please be advised that while we take reasonable precautions to protect communications sent via email or web forms, these methods may not be fully secure. We encourage you to avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information by email unless encryption is used or unless we have otherwise confirmed a secure method of communication.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and the effective date will be revised accordingly.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to access or correct your personal information, please contact:
Brightstar Law
1400-10 King Street East
Toronto, ON
M5C 1C3