Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, disclose and protect personal information.
Last updated:
Glade Law ("the firm", "we", "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information entrusted to us. This policy explains what we collect, why, and what you can do about it. It applies to this website and to our practice generally.
We handle personal information in accordance with British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) where applicable, and the professional obligations of confidentiality and privilege imposed on lawyers by the Law Society of British Columbia.
What we collect
Through this website, we collect only what you choose to provide:
- Enquiry details. Your name, email address, telephone number, preferred meeting arrangement, the area of law your matter concerns, the name of the other party, whether court proceedings exist, whether you are already represented, how you heard about us, and the message you write.
- Technical information. Your IP address, browser user-agent string and the time of submission, recorded with each enquiry for security and abuse prevention.
- Server logs. Standard web server logs recording requested URLs, response codes, referring pages and IP addresses.
We do not use advertising cookies, third-party analytics or tracking pixels on this site. No cookie is set by us for marketing purposes.
Why we collect it
- To perform a conflict-of-interest check before we can speak with you about your matter
- To respond to your enquiry and, if we are able to act, to open and administer your file
- To meet our professional, regulatory and record-keeping obligations
- To protect the website against automated abuse and to maintain its security
We do not sell personal information, and we do not use enquiry details to send marketing material unless you separately ask us to.
The conflict check
We ask for the other party's name because we are professionally required to establish that we do not act for, and have not previously acted for, someone whose interests conflict with yours. That name is checked against our records and retained for the same purpose in future. Sending us an enquiry does not create a solicitor–client relationship, and information you send before we confirm we can act may not be protected by privilege. Please keep your first message general and do not attach documents until we have replied.
Disclosure
We disclose personal information only where necessary, and only to:
- Anyone working on your matter within the firm who needs it in order to act
- Service providers who process information on our behalf under contractual confidentiality obligations — our practice management system, email provider and website host
- Third parties where you have instructed us to, such as opposing counsel, experts, mediators, agents or a court, in the conduct of your matter
- Any person where disclosure is required or permitted by law, by court order, or by the rules of the Law Society of British Columbia
Where information is held
This website and the enquiries it receives are hosted on infrastructure located in Canada. Some service providers may store or process data outside Canada, in which case the information may be accessible to foreign courts and law enforcement under the laws of that jurisdiction. We select providers with that risk in mind and require contractual protections.
Retention
Client files are retained for the minimum period required by the Law Society of British Columbia and by applicable limitation periods, generally at least ten years after a file closes, and are then securely destroyed. Enquiries that do not become files are retained for the period necessary to maintain a reliable conflicts record. Server logs are retained for a short period and then rotated.
Security
The site is served over TLS. Enquiry data is transmitted encrypted, access to our systems is restricted and authenticated, and paper records are held in locked premises. No method of transmission is perfectly secure, and email in particular is not. If a matter is sensitive, tell us and we will arrange a secure channel.
Your rights
Subject to the exceptions in PIPA — which include information subject to solicitor–client privilege and information about other people — you may request access to the personal information we hold about you, ask that it be corrected, and withdraw a consent you previously gave. Use the contact details at the foot of this page and we will respond within the statutory time limit.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may complain to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.
Children
This website is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of majority through it.
Changes
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. Material changes will be noted here.
Contact
Questions about this policy, or about how we handle personal information, should go to our Privacy Officer:
Glade Law
1688 152 St Unit 404, Surrey, BC V4A 9Y1
(604) 560-8890