Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

Personal information means information relating to an identifiable, living natural person, and where applicable, an identifiable, existing juristic person, as defined in POPIA [citation:1]. We may collect:

• Contact details: Name, surname, email address, telephone number, and physical address;
• Professional information: Company name, job title, and industry;
• Legal matter information: Details you provide when requesting legal services or consultations;
• Employment applications: CVs, cover letters, and other recruitment-related information [citation:1];
• Correspondence: Communications you send to us via email, contact forms, or telephone.

1.2 Non-Personal Information

We automatically collect certain non-personal information when you visit our website, including [citation:1][citation:4]:

• IP address and device type;
• Browser type and version;
• Referring website addresses;
• Pages viewed and time spent on our site;
• Date and time of access.

2. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information for the following legitimate purposes [citation:1][citation:9]:

• To provide legal services: Responding to inquiries, conducting consultations, and fulfilling our mandate obligations;
• To communicate with you: Sending updates about your matter, responding to your requests, and providing administrative notices;
• Marketing and business development: Sending legal updates, newsletters, event invitations, and other information we believe may be of interest to you (you may opt out at any time);
• Employment recruitment: Processing job applications and assessing suitability for positions at our firm;
• Website improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience and optimize our website;
• Compliance and audit: Meeting legal and regulatory obligations, including record-keeping requirements.

3. Sharing Your Information

We respect the confidentiality of your information and only disclose it in the following circumstances [citation:1][citation:9]:

• With your consent;
• To third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you (e.g., IT support, cloud hosting providers, payment processors) – provided they agree to keep your information confidential;
• To comply with the law or respond to legal process, such as a court order or subpoena;
• In the context of a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets;
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of our firm, our clients, or others.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes [citation:4].

4. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction [citation:1][citation:10]. These measures include:

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology;
• Firewalls and intrusion detection systems;
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments;
• Access controls limiting internal access to personal information on a need-to-know basis;
• Staff training on data protection and confidentiality.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. If we reasonably believe your personal information has been accessed or acquired by an unauthorized person, we will notify the Information Regulator and you as soon as reasonably possible [citation:1].

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law [citation:3][citation:9]. This includes:

• Client information: Retained for the duration of our legal mandate and for a period thereafter to comply with legal and professional obligations;
• Employment applications: Retained for the duration of the recruitment process and, with your consent, for a reasonable period thereafter;
• Marketing communications: Retained until you opt out of receiving such communications.

When information is no longer required, we securely delete or anonymize it [citation:3].

6. Your Rights Under POPIA

South African law provides you with specific rights regarding your personal information [citation:1][citation:3][citation:10]. You have the right to:

• Request access: Request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and, if so, request access to that information – free of charge, subject to certain limitations;
• Request correction: Request that we correct or delete personal information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, incomplete, misleading, or unlawfully obtained;
• Object to processing: Object, on reasonable grounds, to the processing of your personal information;
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw your consent at any time where processing is based on consent (this does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal);
• Lodge a complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if you believe your rights have been infringed.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 10. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with POPIA.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies – small text files placed on your device – to enhance your browsing experience and collect usage information [citation:1][citation:4].

7.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled;
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting anonymous information (e.g., Google Analytics);
• Functional cookies: Remember your preferences to provide enhanced, personalized features.

7.2 Managing Cookies

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically choose to:

• Accept all cookies;
• Notify you when a cookie is set;
• Reject all cookies.

Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website and your ability to use certain features.

7.3 Consent

By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Where required by law, we obtain your explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies [citation:4].

8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins, and applications, including social media platforms, legal resources, and professional associations [citation:1]. Clicking on those links may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit [citation:1].

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs [citation:1]. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page;
• Post a prominent notice on our website;
• Where appropriate, notify you directly via email.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data protection practices, please contact our Information Officer [citation:3][citation:1]:

Information Regulator (South Africa)

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you are dissatisfied with our response [citation:1][citation:9]: