Privacy Policy of Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP

Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP ("we," "our," or "the Firm") values the importance of protecting personal information and upholding individuals’ rights to privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines the principles and practices we adhere to in collecting, using, retaining, and disclosing personal information, supplementing our professional obligations of confidentiality and solicitor-client privilege. This Privacy Policy does not apply to information about employment candidates, employees, partners, or contracted staff.

Our privacy practices apply solely to personal information about identifiable individuals, excluding business information such as a person's business address, job title, or business telephone number. In this policy, "clients" refers to all current, former, and prospective clients of Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP.

Purpose of Collecting Personal Information

Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP collects personal information for the following purposes:

1. To provide legal and related services within our practice areas, including Real Estate Law, Family Law, and Wills and Estate Law.
2. To manage client accounts and relationships.
3. To meet regulatory requirements and uphold legal responsibilities.
4. To assess client satisfaction and improve services.
5. To inform clients about updates, legal developments, and events related to our services.

Types of Personal Information Collected

We may collect various types of personal information, including:

1. Contact information
2. Financial information relevant to transactions
3. Information regarding legal matters relevant to client representation
4. Details about other parties involved in transactions or cases (e.g., witnesses, employees)
5. Biographical information of clients and event attendees

Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information only by lawful and fair means, with consent or as permitted by law. Generally, we obtain this information directly from clients or their representatives, though we may also gather it from third parties such as financial institutions, real estate agents, government agencies, and other professional advisors involved in relevant transactions.

Use of Personal Information

Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP uses personal information for purposes that include:

1. Providing legal and related services.
2. Conducting conflict checks to ensure we can represent clients without conflict of interest.
3. Fulfilling legal and professional obligations, including those mandated by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).
4. Managing Firm operations, including contract obligations and internal audits.
5. Conducting client satisfaction assessments and developing our services.
6. Sharing information about Firm updates, services, and legal developments, as appropriate.

Disclosure of Personal Information

We maintain strict confidentiality of personal information and will only disclose it under the following circumstances:

1. To deliver legal services requested by clients, which may involve engaging expert witnesses or collaborating with other law firms.
2. At the client’s request, for example, when disclosing information to lenders in real estate transactions.
3. To comply with court orders, regulatory rules, or insurance requirements.
4. When reasonably requested by a client’s authorized agent.

If Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP undergoes reorganization or merger, we may share personal information as part of the transaction. We will ensure third parties provide equivalent protection of personal information in these cases.

Consent

By providing personal information to us, clients consent to its collection, use, and disclosure as outlined in this Privacy Policy. We will obtain additional consent when required by law and inform clients of their right to withdraw consent, subject to legal and contractual constraints.

Information Security

Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP uses various safeguards, including Leap software (compliant with LSO guidelines), secure premises, and technological measures such as passwords and firewalls, to protect personal information. However, no method of data transmission or storage is completely secure.

Data Storage and Retention

Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP securely stores client information using LEAP software, a cloud-based solution. All client data is stored on LEAP servers, which operate on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform. AWS is a leading cloud services provider known for its security measures, supporting sensitive organizations like NASA, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones. AWS prioritizes security, offering identity and access management, logging and monitoring, encryption and key management, network segmentation, and Denial of Service (DDoS) protection. LEAP data storage locations vary by region: data from Canada is stored in Canada, while data originating from other regions is stored in their respective AWS locations to maintain compliance with local data storage requirements. LEAP continuously adheres to Information Security industry best practices, leveraging AWS's advanced security infrastructure.

For additional information, refer to the AWS Security & Compliance Quick Reference Guide (2018).

Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach involving client data, LEAP will notify the client in writing without undue delay. If a vulnerability is identified or if data becomes publicly accessible outside the LEAP platform, please contact LEAP immediately at [LEAP Support Email]. Clients may request access to their personal information by submitting a written request to info@sslawyers.ca. We may request identity verification to ensure information security. Access is provided free of charge, though a nominal fee may apply if information is copied or transmitted.

Questions or Concerns

For questions, concerns, or requests to update personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer at info@sslawyers.ca or at:

Houseclosing.ca by S and S Lawyers LLP

1780 Albion Road, Unit 8

Toronto, ON M9V 1C1