Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 11-06-2026
Chin & Orr Lawyers Professional Corporation is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain and protect personal information through our website and in the course of providing legal services.
As an Ontario law firm, we are subject to professional obligations, including duties of confidentiality under the Law Society of Ontario Rules of Professional Conduct. We also handle personal information in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, where applicable.
1. Scope of this Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected by Chin & Orr Lawyers Professional Corporation through:
- our website;
- online contact forms;
- email, telephone and other communications;
- client intake and consultation processes;
- the provision of legal services; and
- related administrative, billing and business operations.
This Policy does not replace our professional duties of confidentiality, solicitor-client privilege, or any obligations we owe to clients under applicable law and the Law Society of Ontario Rules of Professional Conduct.
2. Personal Information We Collect
We may collect personal information that you choose to provide to us, including:
- name;
- address;
- telephone number;
- email address;
- information about your legal matter;
- identification information required for client verification;
- billing and payment information;
- documents or records you provide to us;
- information required to open, manage or close a legal file; and
- any other information you provide when contacting or retaining us.
When you visit our website, we may also collect limited technical information, such as:
- IP address;
- browser type;
- device information;
- pages visited;
- referral source;
- date and time of visit; and
- general usage data.
This information may be collected through website analytics tools, cookies or similar technologies.
3. How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information to:
- respond to inquiries;
- assess whether we can assist with a legal matter;
- conduct conflict checks;
- verify identity where required;
- provide legal advice and legal services;
- communicate with clients and potential clients;
- manage client files;
- issue accounts and process payments;
- comply with legal, regulatory, insurance and professional obligations;
- improve our website and services;
- maintain security and prevent misuse of our website or systems; and
- for other purposes permitted or required by law.
4. Consent
By providing personal information to us, you consent to our collection, use and disclosure of that information for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or otherwise identified at the time of collection.
In some circumstances, consent may be implied by your conduct, such as when you contact us to request legal services. You may withdraw consent, subject to legal, professional or contractual restrictions. Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide legal services.
PIPEDA requires organizations to follow privacy principles when collecting, using and disclosing personal information in the course of commercial activities, including accountability, identifying purposes, consent, limiting collection, safeguards, openness, access and complaint handling. (priv.gc.ca)
5. No Lawyer-Client Relationship Through Website Use
Submitting information through our website, by email, or through an online form does not, by itself, create a lawyer-client relationship. A lawyer-client relationship is formed only when we have agreed to act for you and have completed our required intake, conflict check and retainer procedures.
Please do not send confidential, privileged or time-sensitive information through our website unless we have specifically asked you to do so.
6. Confidentiality and Solicitor-Client Privilege
We take our professional duties seriously. The Law Society of Ontario Rules of Professional Conduct require lawyers to hold in strict confidence information concerning the business and affairs of clients acquired in the course of the professional relationship, subject to limited exceptions. (lso.ca)
Our duty of confidentiality is broader than solicitor-client privilege and applies to information obtained during the professional relationship. (lso.ca)
7. Disclosure of Personal Information
We do not sell personal information.
We may disclose personal information where necessary to:
- provide legal services;
- communicate with courts, tribunals, opposing parties, opposing counsel, experts, process servers, government offices, financial institutions or other parties involved in a legal matter;
- work with service providers who assist with technology, hosting, document management, accounting, payment processing, email, data storage or administrative support;
- comply with court orders, legal requirements or regulatory obligations;
- respond to lawful requests from the Law Society of Ontario, LawPRO, insurers, auditors or regulators;
- collect unpaid accounts;
- protect our rights, property, clients, staff or systems; or
- as otherwise permitted or required by law.
Where we use service providers, we take reasonable steps to ensure that they protect personal information appropriately.
8. Website Analytics, Cookies and Third-Party Tools
Our website may use cookies, analytics tools or similar technologies to understand how visitors use the site and to improve website performance.
These tools may collect technical information such as IP address, device type, browser type, pages viewed and time spent on the website.
You can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies, although some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.
The website uses several third-party services and tools, including Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager for tracking and analytics, embedded Google Maps, an integrated newsletter subscription system, and Zendesk live chat. These services may collect, process, or store information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
9. Email and Electronic Communications
Email and online communications may not be fully secure. We ask that you avoid sending highly sensitive or urgent information through unsecured email or website forms unless we have directed you to do so.
If you communicate with us by email, you consent to us responding by email unless you instruct us otherwise.
If we send newsletters or marketing emails, we will do so in accordance with applicable anti-spam laws and will provide an unsubscribe option where required.
10. Safeguards
We use reasonable physical, administrative and technical safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, disposal or similar risks.
Safeguards may include:
- secure file management practices;
- password protection;
- access controls;
- locked offices or file storage;
- staff training;
- confidentiality obligations;
- technology security measures;
- secure disposal procedures; and
- limiting access to information on a need-to-know basis.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada states that organizations subject to PIPEDA must take reasonable steps to safeguard personal information in their custody or control. services.priv.gc.ca
11. Retention of Personal Information
We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required for legal, regulatory, insurance, accounting, professional or business purposes.
Client file retention is also governed by professional obligations, limitation periods, Law Society guidance, insurance considerations and our internal file retention practices.
12. Access and Correction
You may request access to personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information, subject to legal and professional restrictions.
In some circumstances, we may be unable to provide access, including where disclosure would reveal confidential information about another person, affect solicitor-client privilege, interfere with legal proceedings, or be prohibited by law.
13. Privacy Breaches
If we become aware of a privacy breach involving personal information, we will take appropriate steps to contain, investigate and respond to the breach in accordance with applicable legal and professional obligations.
Where required by law, we will notify affected individuals and/or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
14. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of external websites. We encourage users to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they visit.
15. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on our website with a revised effective date.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please contact:
Chin & Orr Lawyers Professional Corporation
527 Hugel Avenue
Midland, Ontario L4R 1V8
1070 Innisfil Beach Road, Suite 15
Innisfil, Ontario L9S 4T9
Phone: (705) 526-5529
Email: info@chinandorrlawyers.ca
Attention: Privacy Officer / Managing Lawyer
You may also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you have concerns about our privacy practices.