Privacy Policy

Introduction

Evergreen is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you use our website or engage our legal services. We comply with Canadian privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and adhere to the professional confidentiality obligations imposed by the Law Society of British Columbia.

Information We Collect

Contact Information

When you contact us through our website or by other means, we collect information such as your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and the content of your communications with us.

Client Information

When you engage our legal services, we collect detailed information necessary to provide professional legal advice and representation. This may include personal identification, business details, financial information, and documentation relevant to your legal matter.

Usage Data

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the dates and times of your visits.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. For detailed information about our use of cookies, please review our Cookie Policy.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information on the following legal bases:

• Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal information for specific purposes
• Contract: Processing is necessary for the performance of our engagement with you
• Legitimate Interest: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services
• Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with legal and professional regulatory requirements

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide legal services and fulfill our professional obligations to clients
• To communicate with you regarding your inquiries, consultations, or ongoing legal matters
• To maintain client files and records as required by professional standards
• To process payments and manage billing arrangements
• To improve our website functionality and user experience
• To comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations
• To protect our legal rights and prevent fraud or unauthorized access

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Specific retention periods include:

• Client matter files: Retained for a minimum of seven years after the conclusion of the matter, as required by Law Society regulations
• Financial records: Retained for seven years as required by tax legislation
• Website analytics data: Typically retained for 26 months
• Marketing communications: Retained until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe

When personal information is no longer required, we securely destroy or anonymize it in accordance with professional standards and applicable laws.

Data Protection and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security measures include:

• Encrypted communication channels for sensitive information transmission
• Secure document management systems with access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on confidentiality and data protection obligations
• Physical security measures for our office premises and file storage
• Professional liability insurance covering data breaches

In the event of a data breach that poses a risk of significant harm, we will notify affected individuals and relevant authorities as required by applicable law.

Your Privacy Rights

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

• Right to Access: You may request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and obtain a copy of that information
• Right to Correction: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Right to Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances, subject to legal and professional retention requirements
• Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit how we use your personal information in certain situations
• Right to Data Portability: You may request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used format
• Right to Object: You may object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within 30 days. Please note that certain rights may be limited by solicitor-client privilege or other professional obligations.

Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may disclose your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, provided they agree to keep information confidential
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or governmental authority
• Professional Obligations: We may share information as permitted or required by Law Society rules or legal professional privilege principles
• With Your Consent: We may disclose information to third parties with your explicit consent
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity

Third-Party Services

Our website and services may utilize third-party providers for certain functions:

• Analytics: We use web analytics services to understand how visitors interact with our website
• Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure servers provided by reputable hosting companies
• Communication Tools: We use email and communication platforms that comply with professional confidentiality standards

These third parties have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review those policies when interacting with third-party services.

International Data Transfers

We primarily store and process personal information within Canada. If we transfer personal information outside Canada, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with Canadian privacy laws. We maintain contracts with service providers that include data protection clauses meeting Canadian standards.

Solicitor-Client Privilege

Communications between you and Evergreen may be protected by solicitor-client privilege. This privilege protects the confidentiality of communications made for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal advice. Privileged communications are subject to heightened protection beyond standard privacy laws and cannot be disclosed without your explicit consent except in very limited circumstances prescribed by law.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete that information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly. Your continued use of our website or services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Cookies and Tracking

For detailed information about how we use cookies and similar tracking technologies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concern, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at 1-800-282-1376 or www.priv.gc.ca.