Joshua Pietras
Barrister
Privacy Policy
I care about your privacy. This policy sets out my practices relating to the collection, use and storage of your information. Definitions used in my terms of engagement apply to this policy.
Personal information means information about an identifiable individual.
Why do we collect personal information?
I collect personal information in order to conduct my business, to provide and market my services and to meet my legal obligations (“Services”). By using my Services or providing your personal information to me, you consent to my collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
How do we collect personal information?
Information you provide to me directly: I collect personal information directly when an individual interacts with me for the purposes of providing my Services. For example:
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forms that are filled out, and documentation or communications that are provided to me
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face-to-face meetings and interviews
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telephone conversations.
Information I create in the performance of my Services: I may also create or obtain personal information, such as evaluative records about our interactions, and any interactions I have with third parties. Evaluative information may be confidential to me.
Information I receive from third parties: Third parties may provide me with personal information about an individual, such as a background check, credit check, verification of your identity. This may also include witnesses and third parties I meet that provide information relevant to you and your matter.
Information you make public: I may collect or obtain your personal information that you manifestly choose to make public, including via online channels such as social media.
Information collected automatically: I also collect information from this website (“Website”). When the Website is visited, I collect general user information such as user internet protocol addresses, browser type, internet service provider details and other technical information. I use this information to analyse web traffic, which may involve the use of cookies. The information does not include any personal information. Personal information may be collected if it is provided via a Website contact message, and this will be used for the purpose for which it has been supplied. Further information is available on this Website.
What personal information is collected?
I collect your personal information so that I can provide you with our Services and any related services you may request. In general, the type of personal information that I collect includes: names, addresses, dates of birth, contact details, bank account and other financial information, identity verification such as your driver’s licence, passport and birth certificate and other information which assists me to conduct my business, provide and market my Services and meet my legal obligations under applicable privacy laws. In many cases, if personal information is not provided as requested, I may not be able to carry out the instructions or provide our Services.
How do I use or disclose your personal information?
I may use and disclose personal information for the purpose for which it is collected, for directly related purposes, for other purposes authorised by you and in other circumstances authorised by the Act. I may use and disclose personal information:
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to provide legal services and client services
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to verify your identity details;
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to process your personal information for my own internal business purposes;
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to carry out transactions, such as client billing and payments, creditors, and so forth.
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to undertake credit management activities;
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for debt recovery purposes, which may also include disclosing information to debt collectors;
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for dealing with commercial or legal conflicts;
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to provide promotional information and newsletters in hard copy or electronic form, or information that I believe may be of interest;
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to communicate with instructing solicitors, clients, potential clients, suppliers, staff, contractors and others;
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to purchase products and services; and
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to comply with my legal obligations, and to meet my reporting obligations as required by law.
I may be required to disclose personal information to third parties in the course of representing and advising my clients if it is required or authorised:
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by an individual;
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by law or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
From time to time, I may share personal information with certain service providers who provide services tome or perform administrative or marketing activities on my behalf. Further information is provided in the Standard Terms.
Overseas disclosure of personal information
When I disclose personal information, it may be transferred to and used by third parties in countries other than New Zealand. Some third parties may be located in countries where they are not required to protect personal information in the way that I am under the Act. However, you can put yourself at ease. When I have to disclose personal information to a third party in another country, I'll endeavour to put safeguards in place to ensure your personal information is protected.
Storage and security of personal information
Personal information may be stored in hard copy and/or electronic form, including with third party data storage facilities and in cloud storage located both inside and outside New Zealand. Electronic data that is stored in the cloud by third parties is usually encrypted.
I will take reasonable steps to protect the personal information that I hold. I do this by use of appropriate physical security, including third party data storage facilities, and restricted access to both electronic and hard copy records. Your confidentiality will be respected.
If your personal information is subject to unauthorised or accidental access, disclosure, alteration, loss or destruction or actions which prevent me or my instructing solicitor from accessing it on a temporary or permanent basis (each event being a “Privacy Breach”), and such Privacy Breach is likely to cause you serious harm, I will notify you and the Privacy Commissioner in accordance with our obligations under the Act.
I'll retain your personal information for as long as I have a relationship with you and for a period of time afterwards where we have an ongoing business need to retain it, in accordance with our internal retention policies and practices.
Links to other websites
This Website may contain links to other websites that are not under my control. These websites may use cookies. It is the responsibility of those third parties to collect appropriate consents from you in order to permit their own cookies (to the extent this is required by law) and to inform you about the cookies they use. You should check the privacy policy on all third party websites to ensure you are comfortable with third party cookies. We have no responsibility of any kind for linked websites, and provide them solely for your information and convenience.
How can you access or correct personal information?
It is your responsibility to ensure that the personal information you provide is accurate, complete and up-to-date. You may request access to the information I hold about you, or request that I update or correct any personal information I hold about you, or ask me to restrict or cease using and disclosing your personal information by setting out your request in writing and sending it to me at joshua@joshuapietras.co.nz. I will review your request as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with my legal obligations. If I am unable to give you access to the information you have requested, I'll tell you why when we respond to your request.
Privacy Officer
I take your concerns seriously. If you have any concerns about privacy or the use or collection of your personal information please contact me at joshua@joshuapietras.co.nz and include the words “Privacy Enquiry“. I will respond as quickly as possible and handle all complaints in a way that is fair and consistent. However, if you remain dissatisfied, you can make a formal complaint with Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Updates to this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy will be reviewed from time to time to take account of new legislation and technology, changes to our operations and practises, and the changing business environment. Changes to this Privacy Policy will be notified by posting an updated version on this Website. It is your responsibility to check our Website periodically for changes to this Privacy Policy and to keep your contact information current. Your continued use of my Services following notification of any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes acceptance of those changes. If you do not agree with any aspect of the updated Privacy Policy, you must immediately cease all use of my Services.