Last Updated: November 10, 2025
Look, we get it - privacy policies can be a drag to read through. But here at Embervale Ascendant Legal, we're dealing with sensitive corporate matters every day, so protecting your information isn't just something we have to do, it's actually part of our professional DNA.
This policy lays out how we handle any personal or business information you share with us, whether you're a current client, thinking about working with us, or just browsing our site to see what we're about. We've tried to keep the legalese to a minimum (ironic, right?) and explain things in plain language.
Bottom line: your privacy matters. We're bound by the Law Society of Ontario's rules, federal and provincial privacy laws, and honestly, just basic professional respect. If you've got questions after reading this, don't hesitate to reach out - we'd rather you ask than wonder.
We collect different types of info depending on how you're interacting with us:
The basics - your name, email address, phone number, business address, company name and position. Pretty standard stuff when you reach out or become a client.
When you hire us, we'll need information relevant to your case or corporate matter. This could include financial records, contracts, corporate documents, employment records, intellectual property details - whatever's needed to properly represent your interests. The scope really depends on what you're bringing us in for.
When you visit our site, we collect technical info like your IP address, browser type, pages you visit, time spent on pages, and referring websites. This helps us improve the site and understand what content folks actually find useful.
We keep records of our conversations - emails, phone calls, meeting notes, correspondence. It's part of maintaining proper file management and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
We're not in the business of selling your data or using it for anything sketchy. Here's what we actually do with your information:
This is where being a law firm really matters. We're bound by solicitor-client privilege, which is one of the strongest protections out there. What you tell us in the course of seeking or receiving legal advice stays between us - it's not just policy, it's law.
That said, there are a few narrow exceptions where we might be required to disclose information:
We use encrypted email when possible and secure file-sharing platforms for sensitive documents. Regular email isn't perfectly secure (nothing really is), but for most routine communications it's acceptable. If you're dealing with something super sensitive, let us know and we'll use more secure channels.
We've invested in proper security infrastructure because honestly, we can't afford not to. Our clients trust us with sensitive corporate information, M&A details, litigation strategy - stuff that could seriously hurt their business if it got out.
Look, no system is 100% hack-proof, but we're doing everything reasonable to protect your info. If there's ever a security incident affecting your data, we'll let you know promptly and tell you what we're doing about it.
Our website uses cookies - those little text files that websites drop on your device. We're not doing anything invasive with them, mainly just trying to make the site work better and understand what content people actually care about.
These keep the website functioning. They remember your session, keep you logged into any secure areas, that sort of thing. You can't really opt out of these without breaking the site.
We use these to see which pages get visited, how long people stick around, where they're coming from. It's aggregated data - we're not tracking individual users around the web. This helps us figure out if our content is actually useful or if we're just talking to ourselves.
These remember choices you make, like language preferences or display settings. Makes your experience smoother on return visits.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Just know that blocking some cookies might make the site less functional. Most browsers let you block third-party cookies while keeping first-party ones, which is a decent middle ground.
We work with various service providers to run our practice efficiently. These folks might have access to some of your information, but only what they need to do their job, and they're all under strict confidentiality obligations.
All these providers are vetted and contractually required to protect your information. We're not handing your data over to random companies. And we definitely don't sell or rent your information to marketers or data brokers - that's not our business model and never will be.
If we ever need to share your information with a third party for a specific purpose (like bringing in co-counsel or hiring an expert witness), we'll discuss it with you first.
Under Canadian privacy law (particularly PIPEDA and provincial legislation), you've got certain rights when it comes to your personal information. Here's what you can do:
You can ask to see what personal information we have about you. We'll provide it in a reasonable timeframe, though there might be some restrictions if the information contains privileged legal advice or references to other people.
If something we have on file is wrong, let us know and we'll fix it. Accurate records matter, especially in legal work.
You can ask us to delete your information, though this one's tricky for a law firm. We're required to keep client files for a certain period for regulatory and liability reasons. But once those retention requirements are met, we'll delete what we can.
You can withdraw consent for certain uses of your information (like marketing communications). Just note that we still need to keep core file information for the reasons mentioned above.
If you think we've mishandled your information, you can complain to us directly, or to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, or the Law Society of Ontario. We'd prefer you talk to us first so we can sort it out.
To exercise any of these rights, just contact us using the info at the bottom of this page. We'll respond within 30 days, or let you know if we need more time for complex requests.
We don't keep your information forever, but we also can't just delete everything the moment a matter closes. There are legitimate reasons (and legal requirements) for hanging onto client files for a while.
During the course of your matter, we maintain complete files with all relevant documents and communications. This is ongoing until your matter concludes.
After a matter closes, we typically keep files for at least 10 years. This is partly Law Society requirement, partly statute of limitations considerations (in case something comes back to haunt us), and partly just good practice in case you need to reference something later.
These often require longer retention due to the nature of the work. Corporate governance documents, M&A records, and litigation files might be kept longer than the standard 10 years.
Trust accounting records and financial documents are kept for 7 years minimum per CRA requirements and Law Society rules.
If you're not a client and just contacted us for information, we'll keep basic contact info for a reasonable period (usually 2-3 years) unless you ask us to delete it sooner.
When it's finally time to get rid of information, we do it properly. Physical documents are shredded or securely destroyed. Digital files are permanently deleted using secure deletion methods. We don't just toss stuff in the recycling bin and call it a day.
Privacy laws evolve, our practice changes, technology advances - so this policy might need updates from time to time. We're not gonna make dramatic changes without good reason, but adjustments happen.
When we update this policy, we'll change the "Last Updated" date at the top of the page. For minor clarifications or administrative changes, that might be all we do. If there's a significant change that affects how we handle your information, we'll make reasonable efforts to notify current clients directly via email.
We'd encourage you to check back here occasionally, especially if it's been a while since you last looked. You don't need to memorize it, but it's worth staying generally aware of how we handle your information.
Previous versions of this policy are available upon request if you want to see what's changed over time. Just reach out and ask.
If you've got questions about this privacy policy, how we handle your information, or want to exercise any of your privacy rights, we're here to talk.
Embervale Ascendant Legal
Suite 1200, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5J 2T3
(416) 555-8742