- (07) 5506 9800
- office@hqf.com.au
- 2/82 Marine Parade, Coolangatta, 4225, QLD
- PO Box 327, Coolangatta
This Privacy Policy explains how HQF Lawyers handles personal information and how you can access or correct it.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected by HQF Lawyers in connection with our legal services, our business operations and use of our website.
“Personal information” is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information is true or not and whether it is recorded in a material form. This may include your name, contact details, date of birth, identification information and information relevant to your legal matter.
We collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide legal services and operate our practice. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
contact details (name, address, email address and telephone number)
identification details (including date of birth and government-issued identification where required)
information relevant to your instructions and legal matter
billing and payment information
communications with us (including emails, telephone notes, meeting notes and correspondence)
Where required or relevant, we may collect sensitive information (for example health information), but only where it is necessary for your matter, you have consented where required, or collection is otherwise permitted by law.
We may collect personal information:
directly from you (in person, by telephone, email, online forms or other correspondence)
from your authorised representative (for example an attorney, executor, guardian or agent)
from third parties where relevant to your matter (for example barristers, experts, courts, government agencies, service providers or other parties involved in the matter), where lawful and appropriate
We use personal information for purposes connected with providing legal services, including to:
take instructions and act for you in current and future legal matters
communicate with you and provide updates and advice
verify identity and meet legal, regulatory and professional obligations
manage our business operations, billing and accounts
improve our services and maintain records
We may also use your information to send updates, publications, event invitations or other information that may be of interest. You can opt out at any time (see clause 7).
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information.
We may disclose personal information where it is necessary to provide our services, where you have authorised us to do so, or where required or permitted by law. Common examples include disclosure to:
barristers, expert witnesses and consultants engaged for your matter
courts, tribunals, mediators and government agencies
third parties involved in transactions or disputes (for example other solicitors, counterparties or insurers)
service providers who assist our practice (including IT providers, secure document storage providers, practice management software providers and accountants)
professional bodies where relevant (for example where a membership organisation has referred you and confirmation is required)
Where we use service providers, we take reasonable steps to ensure they handle personal information appropriately.
If we send marketing communications, we will do so in accordance with applicable laws. You can ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time by contacting us using the details below.
You can request access to personal information we hold about you and request corrections if it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. We may need to verify your identity before providing access.
In some circumstances, access may be refused or limited as permitted by law. We may charge a reasonable administrative fee to provide access (for example retrieval and copying costs).
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes physical, electronic and organisational safeguards such as access controls and secure systems.
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help improve user experience and website performance. Where we collect information through website forms (such as your name and email address), it is collected with your knowledge and used for the purpose it was provided (for example responding to an enquiry).
If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us and we will investigate and respond.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version will be available on our website.