In summary, 'personal information' is information or an opinion relating to an individual which can be used to identify that individual.

BlandsLaw collects personal information in order to conduct our business, to provide and market our services and to meet our legal obligations. The type of information we may collect and hold includes (but is not limited to) personal information about:

• clients, business associates and potential clients and their employees
• suppliers and their employees
• prospective employees, employees and contractors; and
• other people who we come into contact with from time to time.

In general, the type of personal information we collect and hold includes (but is not limited to) names, mailing addresses, contact details, occupations and other information which assist us in conducting our business, providing and marketing our services and meeting our legal obligations.

In most cases, if personal information we request is not provided, we may not be able to supply the relevant product or service.

BlandsLaw generally collects your personal information directly from you. For example, we may collect personal information about you when you deal with us over the telephone, send us correspondence (whether by letter, fax or email) subscribe electronically to our publications or when you have contact with us in person.

There may be occasions when we need to source personal information about you from a third party. For example, we may collect personal information from a company for whom you work, other organisations with whom you have any dealings, a credit reporting agency, an information service provider or from a publicly maintained record.

We may use and disclose your personal information for the primary purpose for which it is collected, for reasonably expected secondary purposes which are related to the primary purpose and in other circumstances authorised by the Privacy Act.

In general, we use and disclose your personal information for the following purposes:

• to conduct our business;
• to provide and market our services;
• to communicate with you;
• to purchase from you;
• to comply with our legal obligations; and
• to help us manage and enhance our services.

We may disclose your personal information to:

• other companies or individuals who assist us in providing services or who perform functions on our behalf (such as specialist consultants and barristers);
• courts, tribunals and regulatory authorities; and
• anyone else to whom you authorise us to disclose it.

Some personal information which we collect is ‘sensitive information’. Sensitive information includes information relating to a person's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional or trade association membership, sexual preferences and criminal record, that is also personal information and health information about an individual.

Sensitive information will be used and disclosed only for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose, unless you agree otherwise, or where certain other limited circumstances apply (eg, where required by law).

BlandsLaw takes reasonable steps to protect personal information held from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, for example by use of physical security and restricted access to electronic records.

Where we no longer require your personal information for a permitted purpose, we will take reasonable steps to destroy it.

We endeavour to ensure that the personal information held is accurate, complete and up-to-date. We encourage you to contact us in order to update any personal information we hold about you.
Subject to the exceptions set out in the Privacy Act, you may gain access to the personal information which we hold about you by contacting us.

We will require you to verify your identity and to specify what information you require.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about privacy-related issues please contact us.