Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MacDonald Law Office (“we,” “our,” or “the firm”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our clients and visitors. This policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Law Society of Ontario Rules of Professional Conduct.

By using our website or providing personal information to our office, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this policy.

Important: Contacting our office by email, telephone, or through this website does not establish a solicitor–client relationship. A solicitor–client relationship is only created when both parties agree, typically through a signed retainer agreement.

2. Accountability

Mark MacDonald is the Privacy Officer responsible for the firm’s compliance with this policy and with applicable privacy legislation. Questions, concerns, or requests regarding your personal information should be directed to:

3. Personal Information We Collect

“Personal information” means information about an identifiable individual. It does not include business contact information used solely for business communications. Depending on the nature of your matter, we may collect:

• Name, home address, telephone number, and email address
• Date of birth and government-issued identification
• Financial information for billing, mortgage closings, or trust account transactions
• Information related to your legal matter, including documents, correspondence, and court records
• Information provided by third parties such as realtors, lenders, insurers, opposing counsel, or government agencies
• Information submitted through our website contact or quote request forms

4. Why We Collect Personal Information

We collect and use personal information for the following purposes:

• Providing legal services and advice
• Client identification and verification, as required by the Law Society of Ontario
• Conducting conflict-of-interest checks
• Processing real estate transactions, including title searches, registrations, and fund transfers
• Billing, invoicing, and collecting fees for legal services
• Communicating with you about your matter or our services
• Complying with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations

5. Consent

We obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information. Consent may be express (written or verbal) or implied (reasonably inferred from your actions, such as providing information when retaining our services).

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Withdrawing consent may limit our ability to continue providing legal services.

In certain circumstances, we may collect, use, or disclose personal information without consent as permitted by law — for example, to comply with a court order, for debt collection, or where required by the Law Society of Ontario.

6. Solicitor–Client Privilege and Confidentiality

As lawyers, we are bound by the Law Society of Ontario Rules of Professional Conduct regarding the confidentiality of client information. Solicitor–client privilege is a fundamental principle of our legal system.

We do not disclose information protected by solicitor–client privilege unless the privilege is lawfully waived by the client or we are required by law to do so. Our duty of confidentiality survives the termination of the solicitor–client relationship and continues indefinitely.

Where PIPEDA and our professional obligations overlap, we comply with both. Where they conflict, our obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct and the protection of solicitor–client privilege take precedence.

7. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose your personal information in the following circumstances:

• With your consent, to carry out the purposes for which it was collected
• To third parties directly involved in your legal matter (e.g., lenders, realtors, title insurers, co-counsel, expert witnesses)
• To service providers who assist our firm under contractual obligations of confidentiality (e.g., IT support)
• As required by law, including court orders, subpoenas, and regulatory requirements
• To the Law Society of Ontario, as required by our professional obligations
• For the purpose of collecting fees owed to us

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

8. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. File retention and destruction follow the guidelines established by the Law Society of Ontario.

When personal information is no longer needed, we dispose of it securely through shredding, deletion, or other appropriate means.

9. Safeguards

We protect personal information with safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including:

• Physical safeguards: Secure office premises and locked file storage
• Technological safeguards: Encryption, firewalls, password protection, and secure electronic registration through Teraview
• Organizational safeguards: Access to client information is restricted on a need-to-know basis, and all staff are bound by confidentiality obligations

While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted to us electronically.

10. Website Privacy

Our website (macdonaldlaw.ca) does not use cookies or tracking technologies. Information you submit through our contact form or quote request form is transmitted to us through a third-party form service (Formspree) and is used only to respond to your inquiry.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Email: Email communication is not a fully secure medium. If you send us confidential information by email, you accept the risk inherent in that method of communication.

11. Breach Notification

In the event of a breach of security involving personal information that creates a real risk of significant harm, we will:

• Report the breach to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• Notify affected individuals as soon as feasible
• Keep a record of the breach for a minimum of 24 months

12. Your Right to Access Your Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you by making a written request to our Privacy Officer. We will respond within 30 days.

In some circumstances, we may not be able to provide access — for example, where the information is subject to solicitor–client privilege, where disclosure would reveal personal information about another individual, or where disclosure could interfere with ongoing litigation.

If you believe any of your personal information is inaccurate or incomplete, please contact us so we can make the necessary corrections.

13. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer. We will investigate all complaints and respond in writing.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.