Privacy Policy

We're not in the business of hoarding data for the sake of it. Here's what we actually collect and why:

Personal Identification

• Your name, email, phone number - the basics so we can actually communicate with you
• Business details if you're representing a company (which you probably are in our line of work)
• Mailing address for sending documents and invoices

Case-Related Information

• Details about your legal matter - maritime incidents, contract disputes, compliance issues, whatever brings you to us
• Corporate documents, shipping manifests, contracts, correspondence - you know, the stuff we need to actually help you
• Financial information when it's relevant to your case

Technical Data

• IP addresses and browser info when you visit our site
• How you interact with our website (which pages you check out, how long you stick around)
• Device information - nothing creepy, just standard analytics stuff

We're pretty straightforward about this. Your information gets used for legitimate legal and business purposes:

We won't use your personal info for marketing without explicit consent. If we send newsletters or updates, there's always an unsubscribe option - no hard feelings.

Here's the deal - we don't sell your information. Never have, never will. But there are times when we need to share certain details:

Service Providers

We work with trusted partners for things like cloud storage, billing software, and case management systems. They're all bound by strict confidentiality agreements and only get access to what they absolutely need.

Legal Requirements

Sometimes we're legally obligated to disclose information - court orders, regulatory inquiries, that sort of thing. When that happens, we'll notify you unless we're prohibited from doing so.

With Your Consent

If we need to share your info with opposing counsel, expert witnesses, or anyone else involved in your matter, we'll get your okay first. That's just good practice.

We take security seriously because we've seen what happens when firms don't. Our approach includes:

• Encryption: All client data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. We use industry-standard SSL/TLS protocols.
• Access Controls: Only authorized team members can access your files, and we maintain detailed logs of who accessed what and when.
• Secure Communications: We use encrypted email systems and secure client portals for sensitive documents. No sending contracts through regular email if we can help it.
• Regular Audits: Our systems get reviewed regularly by third-party security experts. We're always looking for vulnerabilities before someone else finds them.
• Physical Security: Our offices at 1250 Burrard Street have controlled access, surveillance, and secure document storage. Old school, but it works.
• Staff Training: Everyone here gets regular training on security protocols and privacy best practices. We're only as strong as our weakest link.

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. If there's ever a data breach affecting your information, we'll notify you ASAP and tell you exactly what happened and what we're doing about it.

Yeah, we use cookies. Not the edible kind, unfortunately. Here's what's happening behind the scenes:

Essential Cookies

These keep the site functioning properly. Session management, security features, that kind of thing. Can't really turn these off without breaking the website.

Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics to understand how people use our site. Helps us figure out what's useful and what's not. You can opt out if you want - your browser probably has settings for this.

Preference Cookies

These remember your choices so you don't have to keep telling us the same stuff every time you visit.

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. Just know that blocking certain cookies might make parts of the site less functional.

Under Canadian privacy law, you've got rights. Here's what you can do:

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at contact@obliqueharbor.info or call us at (604) 555-2847. We'll get back to you promptly.

We don't keep your information forever, but we also can't just delete everything the moment a case closes. Here's our approach:

Active Client Files

While we're actively representing you, we maintain all relevant information and communications. Pretty obvious, but worth stating.

Closed Matters

After your matter concludes, we typically retain files for at least 7 years. Maritime and commercial cases can have long limitation periods, and appeals or related issues can pop up years later. Better safe than sorry.

Accounting Records

Financial records stick around for the period required by tax authorities and our professional obligations - usually about 7 years.

Marketing Data

If you're on our mailing list but not a client, we'll keep your contact info until you unsubscribe or we haven't heard from you in a couple years.

When we do dispose of information, it's done securely - shredding for physical documents, secure deletion for digital files.

We use various third-party services to run our practice efficiently. These include:

• Cloud storage providers for document management
• Email and communication platforms
• Payment processors for billing
• Legal research databases
• Website hosting and analytics

All of these providers are carefully vetted and contractually required to maintain appropriate security and confidentiality standards. They can only use your information for providing services to us, not for their own purposes.

Our website might contain links to other sites - courts, regulatory bodies, industry resources, etc. Once you leave our site, this privacy policy doesn't apply anymore. Check out their privacy policies if you're concerned.

Here's the thing about maritime and international trade law - it's inherently cross-border. Some of our service providers have servers outside Canada, and we sometimes work with foreign counsel or parties.

When your information goes across borders, it becomes subject to the laws of those countries. We're careful about this and only transfer data internationally when:

• It's necessary for your legal representation
• You've given us explicit consent
• The receiving party has adequate privacy protections in place

If you've got concerns about international transfers in your specific situation, let's talk about it. We can usually find solutions that work for everyone.

Our services aren't directed at anyone under 18. We don't knowingly collect information from minors through our website. If you're under 18 and reading this, cool that you're interested in maritime law, but you probably need parental permission to engage our services.

If we discover we've inadvertently collected information from someone under 18, we'll delete it promptly. Parents or guardians who believe we might have such information can contact us right away.

Privacy laws evolve, technology changes, and our practices adapt. We might update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top and post the revised version here.

For minor changes, we'll just post the update. If we make significant changes that affect how we handle your information, we'll notify active clients directly via email.

We recommend checking this page occasionally, especially if it's been a while since you last looked at it. Or don't - we're not going to quiz you on it.

Got questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information? Want to exercise your privacy rights? Here's how to reach us:

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days. If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.