Protecting your privacy is important to Bickford & Associates and its management corporations (collectively, “BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES”, “we” or “us”).

This Policy explains how BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES collects, uses and discloses personal information concerning its clients and other individuals (“you”), other than BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’ professionals, employees and agents.

Any personal information you provide to us will be treated with care and, subject to the terms of this Policy and applicable law. Our professionals, employees and agents are also subject to professional and ethical obligations relating to the confidentiality of information BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES receives in the context of providing legal services.

If you do not consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Policy, please do not provide any personal information to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES. Of course, certain services can only be offered to you if you provide personal information to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES, and therefore BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may not be able to offer you those services if you choose not to provide us with required personal information.

1. Personal Information

The term “personal information” refers to any information about an identifiable individual or any information that allows an individual to be identified. In general, personal information does not include business contact information, such as your name, title or position, business address, business telephone or fax number. During your relationship with BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES, you may be asked to provide certain personal information concerning you and/or other individuals (such as witnesses, family members, adverse parties, employees, directors, officers, shareholders, investors, business partners, customers, etc.). Examples of such information include name, date of birth, home address and phone number, occupation, details of your government issued identification (driver’s licence, passport or similar record), tax residency and identification, financial and credit information, billing and account information and other information relating to the provision of legal services by BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES.

2. Purposes for which Personal Information is Collected

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES collects, uses and discloses personal information for the purposes identified at the time of collection, or as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law, including for the following purposes:

• to provide legal and other related services;
• to comply with our professional obligations, including the rules regarding client identification and verification;
• to establish and manage client relationships, including considering whether to establish such a relationship;
• administrative, management and business purposes, such as to issue invoices, administer accounts, collect and process payments, evaluate credit standing, fulfill contractual obligations, and to audit and protect our business operations;
• for any other purpose for which you have given your consent.

3. Limiting Collection, Use and Disclosure

We strive to limit the amount of personal information we collect to that necessary and appropriate for the identified purposes. We will not use or disclose your personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with your consent or as permitted or required by applicable law.

4. Consent

To the extent possible, we will obtain consent to collect, use and disclose personal information about an individual directly from such individual. However, if you provide personal information concerning another individual (including adverse parties and other individuals involved in legal proceedings) to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES, you represent that, prior to submitting such information, you have obtained the necessary consent or authority to permit us to collect, use and disclose such personal information for the purposes set out in this Policy, or the collection, use and disclosure is permitted by applicable law.

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES will not collect, use or disclose personal information without the consent of the individual(s) concerned unless we are permitted or required to do so by applicable law. We generally do not obtain the consent of the individual(s) concerned in the following circumstances:

• if a client provides personal information about a third person to us for purposes of our legal representation of the client;
• if legal, medical or security reasons make it impossible or impractical to seek consent; and
• when information is being collected for the detection and prevention of fraud or for law enforcement and seeking the consent of the individual may defeat the purpose of collecting the information.

5. Withdrawal of Consent/Opting-Out

You may vary or withdraw your consent to the use and disclosure of your personal information, or opt-out of certain uses and disclosures, subject to legal and contractual restrictions. To vary or withdraw your consent, please contact one of our Privacy Officers (identified below).

6. Consent for Secondary Purposes

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may also ask to use your personal information for the following secondary purposes:

• to develop our knowledge management systems and databases;
• to distribute BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES publications, invitations to seminars and events and other communications which BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES believes may be of interest to you; and
• to contact and communicate with you for the purpose of conducting market research, and evaluating clients service and satisfaction.

You will have a clear opportunity to decide if you will consent to our use of your personal information for these secondary purposes. As noted above, you may also change your mind and vary or withdraw your consent to our use of your personal information for secondary purposes.

7. Disclosure of Your Personal Information

Our professionals are subject to professional and ethical obligations and, as such, we will not disclose personal information that is subject to solicitor-client privilege unless our client has waived privilege or we are permitted or required to do so by law.

Subject always to our professional obligations and only for the purposes of providing legal services, BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may disclose personal information to third parties (including adverse parties and their counsel, experts, witnesses, service providers), including in the context of legal proceedings and business transactions.

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may also disclose your personal information to your agent.

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may disclose your personal information to a government or regulatory entity that has asserted its lawful authority to obtain the information or where BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES has reasonable grounds to believe the information could be useful in the investigation of unlawful activity, or to comply with a subpoena or warrant or an order made by a court, person or body with jurisdiction to compel the production of information, or to protect BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’s rights and property. If BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES is involved in a merger or other reorganization, BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may disclose your personal information to the resulting organization.

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may also disclose personal information as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES does not sell or exchange for consideration any personal information it holds.

8. Storing and Securing Your Information

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may store and process your personal information at BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES offices in Canada, or elsewhere. To help protect the confidentiality of your personal information, BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES employs security safeguards that are customary in the legal profession and appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including physical, organizational and technological measures. Examples of such measures include restricted access to offices, training of personnel, limiting access to information on a “need-to-know” basis, using passwords and well-defined internal policies and practices.

9. Third Party Service Providers

To the extent BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES employs third-party service providers to store, handle or process personal information on our behalf (e.g., data storage and processing, cloud computing, application hosting or office services), we use contractual and other means to provide a comparable level of protection while the information is being stored, handled or processed by those service providers.

Our service providers are committed by contractual agreements with us to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, collection, use or disclosure. Our service providers are not permitted to disclose your information to others.

Some of our service providers may store your personal information in other countries. If it is required by law or court order, your personal information could be made accessible to legal authorities, including law enforcement and national security authorities of those countries.

If you have questions about the collection, use, disclosure or storage of your personal information by our service providers outside of Canada, or you would like to obtain more information about our policies and practices with respect to service providers outside of Canada, please contact one of our Privacy Officers listed below.

10. Access to Personal Information

You may request access to your personal information and/or information about BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’s collection, use and disclosure of that information by contacting our Privacy Officer, in writing, at the addresses identified below.

11. Privacy Officers

Richard Bickford

Bickford & Associates

1243 Islington Avenue

Toronto On M8X 1Y9

Subject to certain exceptions prescribed by law, you will be given reasonable access to your personal information and will be entitled to challenge the accuracy and completeness of that information and, to the extent that you have proven such inaccuracy or incompleteness, have it amended as appropriate. Examples of such exceptions include information that contains references to other individuals, information that cannot be disclosed for legal, security or commercial proprietary reasons, and information that is subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.

You can help BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES maintain the accuracy of your information by notifying BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES of any changes to your personal information.Subject to certain exceptions prescribed by law, you will be given reasonable access to your personal information and will be entitled to challenge the accuracy and completeness of that information and, to the extent that you have proven such inaccuracy or incompleteness, have it amended as appropriate. Examples of such exceptions include information that contains references to other individuals, information that cannot be disclosed for legal, security or commercial proprietary reasons, and information that is subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.

If you have any inquiry or complaint that relates to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’ policies or procedures relating to the handling of personal information, we invite you to communicate with one of our Privacy Officers.

If we find out there has been a breach of our security safeguards and there is a real risk of significant harm to you, you will be notified unless otherwise prohibited by law.

12. Web Site and Electronic Communications

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’ Web Site and Electronic Communications Privacy Policy is an integral part of this Policy and it governs how BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES collects, uses and discloses the personal information you may provide while using BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’s web site and in its electronic publications, newsletters, and announcements.

13. Changes to Privacy Policy

Privacy laws are rapidly evolving and, as a result, this Policy may be changed by BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES from time to time in BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’ full discretion without any prior notice or liability to you or any other person. The collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES will be governed by the version of this Policy in effect at that time.

Bickford & Associates Website Use Agreement

1. Your Acceptance of this Agreement

This is an Agreement between you and Bickford & Associates (“BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES“),governs your use of the BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES Website and its content (collectively the “Website“). Each time you use the Website you signify your acceptance and agreement, and the acceptance and agreement of any person you purport to represent (and for purposes of this Agreement, “person” includes natural persons and any type of incorporated or unincorporated entity), without limitation or qualification, to be bound by this Agreement, and you represent and warrant that you have the legal authority to agree to and accept this Agreement on behalf of yourself and any person you purport to represent.

2. No Lawyer-Client Relationship

No lawyer-client, advisory, or fiduciary relationship is created by this Agreement or your use of the Website or your communication with a BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES professional by e-mail or through the Website.

3. No Professional Advice

The Website is for convenience and informational purposes only. The Website is not intended to be a comprehensive or detailed statement concerning the matters addressed; legal or any other kind of advice; or an offer to sell or buy any product or service. You should seek appropriate, qualified professional advice before acting or omitting to act based upon any information provided on or though the Website.

The Website may not be used to request legal advice or to transmit to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES any confidential information. Information transmitted to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES through the Website may not be secure, may not be treated as confidential or protected by lawyer-client privilege, and does not create any relationship or duty of any kind. You should not send confidential or sensitive information by the Internet or e-mail unless you take appropriate precautions, such as the use of encryption.

4. Permitted Users and Access

The Website may be used only by persons who are at least 19 years old and can form legally binding contracts under applicable law. The Website may not be used by persons in jurisdictions where access to or use of the Website or any part of it may be illegal or prohibited.

5. Disclaimer and Liability Exclusion

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR YOUR USE OF THE Website. YOUR USE OF THE Website IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE Website IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, PERFORMANCE, DURABILITY, AVAILABILITY, TIMELINESS, ACCURACY, OR COMPLETENESS, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED BY BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES WILL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING FROM, CONNECTED WITH, OR RELATING TO THE USE OF THE Website BY YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON.

6. Personal Information Privacy

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES collects, uses and discloses your personal information in accordance with the Bickford & Associates Website and Electronic Communications Privacy Policy. By accepting this Agreement, and each time you use the Website, you consent to BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with the Policy as it then reads without any further notice or any liability to you or any other person.

7. Ownership and Permitted Use of the Website

All rights reserved. The Website, including all of its content, is the property of BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES and others, and is protected by Canadian and international copyright, trademark, and other laws. Your use of the Website does not transfer to you any ownership or other rights in the Website or its content.

The Website is made available to you for your lawful, personal, non-commercial use only. You may print or download Website pages for your personal, non-commercial use provided that you do not modify any of the Website pages or other content and you do not remove or alter any visible or non-visible identification, marks, notices, or disclaimers. You may not use the Website or its content for any other purpose or in any other way. In particular, the Website and its content may not be copied, imitated, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, modified, indexed, catalogued, mirrored or distributed in any way, in whole or in part, without the express prior written consent of BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES.

8. No Framing, Mirroring, Scraping, Data-Mining and Postings

You may provide a link (but not a framed link) to this site from any other Website, but not (save with our prior written agreement) in any way which creates the impression that we are associated with or have approved such other site. If you choose to link to our site, you must acknowledge the source (a clearly-visible adjacent link to www.Bickford & Associates.com is sufficient attribution).

Apart from this, you may not reproduce or store any part of this site on any other Website without our prior consent. To request permission or consent, please contact BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES at rbickford@bickfordlaw.ca

9. Termination of this Agreement and the Website

If you breach any provision of this Agreement, you may no longer use the Website. BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may, at any time and for any reason and in its sole discretion, change, suspend or terminate, temporarily or permanently, the Website or any part of it, or your permission to use the Website, without any prior notice or liability to you or any other person. If this Agreement or your permission to use the Website is terminated by you or BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES for any reason, then: (a) this Agreement will nevertheless continue to apply and be binding upon you in respect of your prior use of the Website; and (b) BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may continue to use and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Bickford & Associates Website and Electronic Communications Privacy Policy as amended from time to time. Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 survive indefinitely after the termination of this Agreement.

10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement, your use of the Website, and all related matters are governed solely by the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada and applicable federal laws of Canada, excluding any rules of private international law or the conflict of laws which would lead to the application of any other laws. Any dispute between BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES and you or any other person arising from, connected with or relating to the Website, this Agreement or any related matters must be resolved before the Courts of the Province of Ontario sitting in the City of Toronto, and you hereby irrevocably submit and attorn to the original and exclusive jurisdiction of those Courts in respect of any such dispute or matter. Any claim or cause of action you may have arising from, connected with, or relating to your use of the Website, this Agreement, or any related matters must be commenced in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Province of Ontario within six (6) months after the claim or cause of action arises, after which time the claim or cause of action is forever barred.

11. Changes to this Agreement

BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may, in its sole discretion, change, supplement or amend this Agreement as it relates to your future use of the Website from time to time, for any reason, and without any prior notice or liability to you or any other person. You may not change, supplement, or amend this Agreement in any manner.

12. Other Matters

This Agreement, including any changes made to this Agreement from time to time, constitutes the entire agreement between you and BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES relating to your use of the Website, and supersedes all previous agreements, written, oral or otherwise, between you and BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES with respect to your use of the Website.

If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed to be severed from the rest of this Agreement and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

The provisions of this Agreement will ensure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES and its successors and assigns and related persons, and you and your heirs, executors, administrators, successors, permitted assigns, and personal representatives. You may not assign this Agreement or your rights and obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES which may be withheld in BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’ sole discretion. BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations under this Agreement without your consent.

No consent or waiver by either party to or of any breach or default by the other party in its performance of its obligations under this Agreement will be deemed or construed to be a consent to or waiver of a continuing breach or default or any other breach or default of those or any other obligations of that party. No consent or waiver will be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties.

Bickford & Associates Website and Electronic Communications Privacy Policy

Protecting your privacy is important to Bickford & Associates (“BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES“). This Policy explains how BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES collects, uses, and discloses the personal information you may provide while using BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’s Website (the “Website“) and in its Electronic Publications, newsletter, and announcements (“Electronic Communications“). Any personal information you provide to us through the Website will be treated with care, and subject to this Policy will not be used or disclosed in ways to which you have not consented.

By using the Website, you signify your consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Policy. If you do not agree with this Policy, you may not use the Website.

Information Automatically Collected

Non-Identifiable Information — Like many other websites, the Website may automatically collect certain non-identifiable information regarding Website users, such as the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer, the IP address of your Internet Service Provider, the date and time you access the Website, the Internet address of the Website from which you linked directly to the Website, the operating system you are using, the sections of the Website you visit, the Website pages read and images viewed, and the materials you post to or download from the Website. This non-identifiable information is used for Website and system administration purposes and to improve the Website. Your non-identifiable information may be disclosed to others and permanently archived for future use.

Personal Information You Specifically Provide to the Website

Your Personal Information — During your use of the Website, you may be asked to voluntarily provide certain personal information (such as your name, email address, postal address, and telephone number) for purposes such as facilitating communications with you or for applying for access to certain special features or areas of the Website.

Emails from BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES — If you provide your email address, BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES may send to you, from time to time, email containing information about BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES and other matters it believes will interest you. At any time you may ask BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES to stop sending you email and other information by contacting rbickford@bickfordlaw.ca

Withdrawal of Consent — In some jurisdictions, you may withdraw your consent to the use and intention of personal information about you. To do this, please contact our Privacy Officers Webmaster@Bickford & Associates.com as noted above. Additionally, we routinely provide “opt out” or “unsubscribe” instructions on our Electronic Communications to provide for removal of your name from future transmissions.

Other Matters

Website Use Agreement — The Website Use Agreement governing your use of the Website contains important provisions disclaiming and excluding the liability of BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES and others regarding your use of the Website and provisions determining the applicable law and exclusive jurisdiction for the resolution of any disputes regarding your use of the Website. Each of those provisions also applies to any disputes that may arise in relation to this Policy and the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information, and are of the same force and effect as if they had been reproduced directly in this Policy.

Privacy Policy Changes — This Policy may be changed by BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES from time to time in BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES’s sole discretion and without any prior notice or liability to you or any other person. The collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES will be governed by the version of this Policy in effect at that time. New versions of this Policy will be posted here. Your continued use of the Website and receipt or request of any Electronic Communication subsequent to any changes to this Policy will signify that you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with the changed Policy. Accordingly, when you use the Website or receive or request any Electronic Communication, you should check the date of this Policy and review any changes since the last version. You should also bookmark this page and periodically review this Policy to ensure that you are familiar with the most current version.

Electronic Communications — Generally, Electronic Communications are not to be construed as legal advice. Delivering of the same will not instantiate or begin any relationship between BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES and the recipient as Solicitor and Client. Electronic Communications are meant to provide access to information and knowledge of interest generally, and not with respect to your particular facts or circumstances. If an Electronic Communication raises any point of interest, please feel free to contact one of our professionals to arrange for a consultation.

Your Comments — If you have any comments or questions about this Policy or your personal information, please contact BICKFORD & ASSOCIATES at rbickford@bickfordlaw.ca