Privacy Policy of Brushstroke Chambers
Brushstroke Chambers is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and manage your personal data when you interact with our site, engage our legal services, or otherwise communicate with us. As a legal services provider, we adhere to strict ethical obligations and legal requirements regarding confidentiality and data protection, including those under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA) of Singapore and other applicable regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where relevant.
1. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information to provide you with our comprehensive legal services and to improve your experience on our online platform. This may include:
- Personal Identifiable Information (PII): This includes data such as your name, contact details (e.g., address, email, phone number), identification documentation (e.g., NRIC/passport numbers), financial information, and other personal data relevant to the legal services you seek. This information is typically provided directly by you when you inquire about our services, engage us, or correspond with us.
- Sensitive Personal Data: Depending on the legal matter (e.g., Family Law, Data Protection, Fintech Legal Advisory), we may collect sensitive personal data such as health information, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, political opinions, or trade union membership. Such data is collected only when strictly necessary for the provision of services and with your explicit consent or as permitted by law.
- Information from Third Parties: We may receive information about you from third parties, such as public records, regulatory bodies, opposing parties in litigation, expert witnesses, or other legal professionals, as necessary for the provision of our services and within legal bounds.
- Usage Data: When you visit our online platform, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse our site, we collect information about the individual web pages or services that you view, what websites or search terms referred you to our site, and information about how you interact with our site. This helps us understand how our site is used and how to improve it.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for various purposes, primarily relating to the provision of our legal services, management of our operations, and compliance with our legal and regulatory obligations. These uses include:
- Providing Legal Services: To represent you in matters related to Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate Law, Family Law, Estate Planning, International Arbitration, Mediation, Regulatory Compliance, Data Protection, and Fintech Legal Advisory. This includes conducting client due diligence, advising you, preparing legal documents, and representing you in negotiations or court proceedings.
- Communication: To communicate with you regarding your matters, updates, legal developments, and other information relevant to our services.
- Client Management: For administrative purposes, billing, and maintaining our client records.
- Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Obligations: To comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, sanctions, professional ethical duties, and other legal requirements applicable to law firms in Singapore and internationally.
- Improving Our Services and Online Platform: To analyze how our services are used and how our online platform is accessed, allowing us to improve our offerings, functionality, and user experience.
- Marketing and Business Development: Occasionally, we may use your contact information to send you updates about our services, legal insights, or events that may be of interest to you, provided you have consented to receive such communications or where permissible under applicable law. You always have the option to opt-out.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties. We may disclose your personal data in the following circumstances and only as necessary:
- To Service Providers: We may share data with trusted third-party service providers (e.g., IT support, cloud storage providers, administrative services, expert witnesses, other counsel) who assist us in operating our business and providing our services, under strict confidentiality agreements.
- To Counterparties and Courts: In the course of legal proceedings or negotiations, we may disclose relevant personal data to opposing parties, their counsel, courts, tribunals, and regulatory bodies as required by law or necessary for your representation.
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements: When compelled by law, regulation, court order, or subpoena, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.
- Professional Obligations: To our professional indemnity insurers, auditors, or other professional advisors for compliance purposes.
- With Your Consent: For any other purpose with your explicit consent.
4. International Data Transfers
As a firm based in Singapore, your data will primarily be processed within Singapore. However, in certain instances, typically related to cross-border legal matters (e.g., International Arbitration) or the use of global service providers, your personal data may be transferred to and stored at a destination outside Singapore. When such transfers occur, we take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, and that the transfer complies with applicable data protection laws, including implementing appropriate safeguards like standard contractual clauses.
5. Data Security
We implement robust technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, accidental loss, destruction, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include secure servers, encryption, access controls, regular security audits, and comprehensive training for our personnel. Despite our best efforts, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Our retention periods are determined based on the type of data, the purpose of processing, and legal or regulatory obligations. For active client matters, data is typically retained for the duration of the engagement and then for a prescribed period thereafter, consistent with legal and professional requirements.
7. Your Rights
Subject to applicable laws, you have certain rights concerning your personal data. These rights may include:
- Right to Access: To request access to your personal data that we hold.
- Right to Rectification: To request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
- Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): To request the deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
- Right to Restriction of Processing: To request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
- Right to Data Portability: To request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
- Right to Object: To object to the processing of your personal data in certain situations, particularly for direct marketing.
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided below. We may require you to provide additional information to verify your identity.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our online platform may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and for overall operational effectiveness. Cookies are small data files placed on your device or computer. You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of our site may become inaccessible or not function properly.
9. Third-Party Websites
Our site may contain links to third-party websites that are not operated by us. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every site you visit.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or services. We will post any new Privacy Policy on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Substantial changes may be communicated directly to you where appropriate.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our data practices, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us.
Brushstroke Chambers
18 Cross Street,
Floor 15, Unit #15-05,
Singapore, Central Region, 048423
Singapore