Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

In addition to our legal and ethical commitment to compliance with the law, HMB Employment Lawyers Pty Ltd (HMB Law) respects our clients, Principals, staff and other individuals desire for and right to privacy. It is the policy of HMB Law to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including the Australian Privacy Principles (Australian Privacy Law).

This policy (Privacy Policy) explains the way in which HMB Law (we or us) collects, uses, stores and discloses personal information and the procedures that we have in place to safeguard your privacy in compliance with our obligations under Australian Privacy Law.

By visiting our website or otherwise providing us with your personal information, you consent to the collection, use, storage and disclosure of your information in accordance with law, this Privacy Policy and, where applicable, in accordance with our terms of engagement with you.

Collection of personal information

The following types of personal information may be collected and held for the purpose of best serving the needs of our clients, Principals, staff and other persons to whom we have a commitment (which includes serving our business needs as a legal practice):

  • information about individual clients generally as given to us by those clients or collected in the course of acting for them (e.g. names, email addresses, postal addresses, telephone numbers and occupational details);
  • information of various types about individuals with whom our clients deal, collected from our clients or from those individuals in the course of acting for our clients;
  • information about roles, means of communication with and personal attributes of officers, employees and other representatives of entities with whom we or our clients deal, collected incidentally in the course of dealing with those entities;
  • information or opinion about character, capabilities, performance and other attributes of potential employees and potential and actual agents, contractors and advisers and tax identifiers, bank account details and insurance information about agents, contractors and advisers, collected in the course of recruitment of employees or selection or engagement of and dealing with agents, contractors and advisers; and
  • information disclosed by personal users of our website and information technology systems, collected in the ordinary course of those users’ use of such technology (for example, to ensure we are meeting the needs and requirements of our website users we may collect aggregated information by using cookies).

Storage of personal information

We may store your personal information in hard copy and/or electronically in our data storage systems and/or server. HMB Law takes reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure including by:

  • investing in security software;
  • requiring access passwords to our computer systems;
  • limiting access to our data storage systems to that which is lawfully permitted by our Principals, employees, agents, contractors and advisers who need access to such data storage systems to perform their functions;
  • having procedures in place for the management of personal information; and
  • requiring all Principals and staff read this policy and ensuring they understand their responsibilities regarding personal information

However, while we endeavour to protect the security and integrity of your personal information, no data transfer over the internet or by other electronic means is completely secure. By providing us with personal information through these mediums you accept the inherent risk of doing so and release us from all responsibility for any loss, damage or breach of privacy suffered in consequence.

Use of personal information

We may disclose your personal information to third parties in certain circumstances including (1) if you agree to the disclosure, (2) when we do so for a purpose for which it was collected, (3) where you would reasonably expect that we would do so, (4) to agents, contractors or advisers (such as external photocopying or IT contractors) in the course of the performance of their duties, (4) if the third party is a person involved in a dealing or proposed dealing (including a sale) of all or part of our assets and business, (5) there are reasonable grounds to believe the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a threat to your life or health or that of another person, (6) the disclosure is to a related body corporate, or (7) otherwise as required or permitted by law.

We may transfer personal information overseas as necessary for the conduct of a legal matter or for a business transaction or other dealing. For example, by using international practice management software. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that any overseas recipient does not breach Australian Privacy Law in relation to the disclosed personal information unless:

  • we reasonably believe that the recipient of the information is subject to legal obligations that uphold principles for the protection and fair handling of personal information that are substantially the same as the APPs;
  • we are given consent by the individual concerned to do so, expressly or by implication after they are expressly informed that Australian Privacy Law will not apply in relation to the management of personal information by the overseas recipient and the individual may not be able to seek redress under the Act; or
  • we are legally authorised or required to do so.

We do not use or disclose your personal information unless, relying on our internal practices, we are confident that it is accurate, up-to-date and complete. Individuals can assist us to maintain accurate records by notifying us of any change in their personal details.

Access to and correction of personal information

If at any time you require access to or correction of your personal information you may make a request by contacting our Privacy Officer (see details below). Any such request should specify the personal information that you require access to or to be corrected. Subject to the Privacy Act, we will endeavour to provide access to or correct your personal information within a reasonable period after the request is made (usually within 30 days). If we refuse to provide you with access to your personal information, we will provide you with a written notice setting out the reasons for the refusal and the steps you may take to complain about the refusal.

Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint about our collection, storage, use or disclosure of your personal information, you may do so by lodging a complaint in writing with our Privacy Officer. Our Privacy Officer will investigate any privacy-related complaint seriously and will respond within a reasonable period after the request is made (usually within 30 days).

If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of our investigation, you may make a further complaint to the Office of the Information Commissioner via www.oaic.gov.au.

Privacy Officer

If you have a query relating to this Privacy Policy or wish to make a complaint, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Privacy Officer
HMB Law
Level 16, 379 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: +61 3 9448 6900
Email: privacy@hmblaw.com.au

A cohesive team of experts dedicated to providing clients with the right advice.

Louise Houlihan

Managing Principal

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