Privacy policy

effective date: May 25th, 2018

The following document sets out the conditions and ways how we handle your personal data when providing legal services. In today's modern electronic time, the privacy is extremely important, as evidenced by the adoption of the EU General data protection regulation, which is known under the GDPR abbreviation (English General Data Protection Regulation). This Regulation is a generally binding legal act and it is therefore directly applicable in all Member States of the European Union. The National Council of the Slovak Republic implemented this regulation into the new National Act no. 18/2018 Coll. on the Personal Data Protection and about Amendment of other Acts.

Our law firm processes personal data in accordance with the above standards as well as with the rules of the Slovak Bar Association. The personal data of our clients are processed for the purpose of fulfilling a contract for the provision of legal services. The legal basis for the processing of personal data is the Contract for the provision of legal services concluded with the client and the fulfillment of the obligations arising therefrom.

WHY DO WE NEED TO PROCESS PERSONAL DATA?

The activity of attorney at law is also specific in connection with the protection of personal data. Attorney at law is unable to provide his / her services to a client without him / her providing the personal data and often the specific categories of personal data of which protection by law and regulation is specially regulated, as the provision of personal data is necessary for the provision of legal services, the creation of contracts, representation in proceedings, submission of various documents to courts and other state institutions, and the disclosure of personal data is required directly by special laws.

We can process personal data also by the people who are not our clients, to ensure professional advocacy. Personal information of other persons can be obtained from public sources, requests from public authorities, obtaining as evidence in favor of a client´s case, etc.

WHAT IS PERSONAL DATA?

Means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person; an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

Special categories of personal data include data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation of natural person.

DO WE SHARE PERSONAL DATA WITH THIRD PARTIES?

During advocacy it is essential to share the personal data of the client with third parties, but only in the context and to the extent necessary for the provision of legal services and the fulfillment of legal obligations. This data is available only to people who are required to maintain confidentiality and comply with all data protection obligations, e.g. representing lawyer, lawyer clerk, accounting adviser and, in the case of disciplinary proceedings, bodies of the Slovak Bar Association. Also, in the cases of prevention and clarification of certain crimes (e.g. crimes under the twelfth title of the Criminal Code), we are obliged to provide personal data also to law enforcement agencies. Each client has the right to be given a list of third parties to whom personal data has been provided in case of interest.

DO WE TRANSFER PERSONAL DATA TO COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EU?

Your personal data will not be sent to countries outside the European Union.

WHAT IS THE TIME PERIOD FOR STORING YOUR PERSONAL DATA?

Your personal data will not be stored longer than necessary. The retention of client files is governed by a number of rules regulating advocacy. Pursuant to the rules of the Slovak Bar Association, the attorney is obliged to keep client files for 10 years from the legal termination of the case.

WHAT ARE THE CUSTOMER'S RIGHTS WITH REGARD TO THE STORAGE OF PERSONAL DATA?

In the event that we process your personal data beyond the  Contract for the provision of legal services, for purposes other than the provision of legal services, i.e. subject to your consent, you have the right to revoke this approval at any time without affecting the legality of the processing performed prior to its revocation. Each client has the right to request access to his or her personal data, their correction and accuracy. If you suspect a violation of regulations GDPR or Data Protection Act in the processing of your personal data, you have the right to file a motion to initiate proceedings at the Office for Personal Data Protection of the Slovak Republic.

In the event that we process your personal data while the provision of legal services, the client or any other natural person is not entitled to object to such processing. Under Section 18 (8) of Act no. 586/2003 Coll. on advocacy as amended, an attorney is under no obligation to provide information on the processing of personal data, to allow access or portability of personal data if this could lead to a violation of the lawyer's duty to keep things confidential under this Act.