Privacy Policy

Introduction

Kensington Counsel ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our legal services or visit our website.

This policy applies to all personal information collected through our website, in-person consultations, telephone communications, email correspondence, and any other interactions with our firm. We operate in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of Alberta and applicable Canadian privacy legislation.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact information (name, address, phone number, email address)
• Identification documents when required for legal proceedings
• Financial information necessary for billing and payment processing
• Information related to your legal matter as provided by you
• Communication records between you and our firm

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website addresses
• IP address and general location data

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you provide explicit consent for specific purposes
• Contract fulfillment: To provide legal services you have requested
• Legitimate interest: To operate our practice and improve our services
• Legal obligation: To comply with applicable laws and professional regulations

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Providing legal consultation, advice, and representation
• Preparing and filing legal documents on your behalf
• Communicating with you about your legal matters
• Processing payments and maintaining billing records
• Complying with Law Society of Alberta requirements
• Improving our services and client experience
• Responding to inquiries and providing information you request
• Protecting the security of our systems and your information

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law or professional regulations.

• Client files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following the conclusion of your matter, as required by Law Society rules
• Billing records: Retained for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
• Website analytics: Retained for up to 26 months
• Marketing communications: Until you withdraw consent

Data Protection Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure, access-controlled physical file storage
• Password-protected systems with multi-factor authentication
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on privacy and confidentiality obligations
• Incident response procedures for potential data breaches

All staff members are bound by solicitor-client privilege and professional confidentiality obligations.

Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to erasure: Request deletion of your information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Right to restrict processing: Request limitation of how we use your information
• Right to data portability: Request transfer of your information in a structured format
• Right to object: Object to certain types of processing
• Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw previously given consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Third-Party Services

We may share your information with the following categories of third parties when necessary:

• Service providers: Companies that help us operate our practice (e.g., secure document storage, IT support)
• Payment processors: For secure handling of financial transactions
• Analytics providers: To help us understand website usage patterns
• Professional advisors: When required for your legal matter
• Courts and tribunals: When necessary for legal proceedings

We require all third parties to maintain appropriate security measures and to use your information only for specified purposes.

International Data Transfers

Your information is primarily stored and processed in Canada. If we transfer information outside of Canada, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with Canadian privacy legislation. This may include contractual protections or reliance on jurisdictions with adequate privacy laws.

Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze site usage. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences, please see our Cookie Policy.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will notify you by posting a notice on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.