PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy explains how Lanser & Sutherland Inc. collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal information when you use our website or communicate with us, in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).

  1. Company Information

Company: Lanser & Sutherland Inc.
Information Officer: Anneke Mulder
E-mail address: info@lansersutherland.co.za
Physical address: A15 Westlake Square, 1 Westlake Drive TOKAI 7945

  1. Definitions

“Policy” means this Website Privacy Policy.
“Company”, “we”, “us” means Lanser & Sutherland Inc.
“Information Officer” means the person identified in clause 1.
“POPIA” means the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.
“Personal Information” means information relating to an identifiable, living natural person, and where applicable, an identifiable existing juristic person, as contemplated in POPIA.
“User”, “you”, “your” means any person who uses this website or communicates with us.

  1. Commitment to Your Privacy

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information lawfully, transparently and securely. This Policy forms part of the terms governing use of our website.

Important: Communications submitted via a website form or email are not always fully secure. Please avoid sending highly sensitive personal information unless necessary. If you become a client, confidentiality and legal professional privilege may apply to communications within the attorney–client relationship (where applicable).

  1. What Personal Information We Collect and Why

We may collect and process Personal Information in the ordinary course of our legal practice and through use of this website, including:

  • Website and enquiry information: name, contact details, details of your enquiry or matter, and any information or documents you choose to send us.
  • Client and matter information (if you instruct us): information reasonably necessary to provide legal services, conduct conflict checks, open and administer a file, take instructions, draft and file documents, brief counsel/experts, and correspond with third parties as required for the conduct of the matter.
  • Technical information: limited data such as IP address, browser/device information and website usage data collected through cookies/analytics (see clause 10).

 

We process this information to:

  • respond to enquiries and communicate with you;
  • assess whether we can assist (including conflict-of-interest checks);
  • provide legal services if you mandate us;
  • comply with legal, regulatory and professional obligations; and
  • maintain security and improve our website and internal administration.

Where information is not collected directly from you, we may obtain it from lawful sources relevant to your matter (for example, medical providers, experts, counsel, correspondents, insurers, or other parties), to the extent necessary for the conduct of the matter.

  1. Lawful Processing and Consent

We process Personal Information only where we have a lawful basis to do so under POPIA. In some cases, we rely on your consent (for example, when you voluntarily submit information via the website). In other cases, processing may be necessary to take steps related to a mandate, perform obligations, or comply with law.

If you do not provide information that is reasonably required for an enquiry or mandate, we may not be able to respond fully or provide services.

  1. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

We treat Personal Information as confidential and will only disclose it where necessary for legitimate purposes, including to:

  • operators/service providers who assist us (such as IT providers, website hosting, email and security services) and who process information on our instructions subject to appropriate safeguards;
  • professional service providers engaged in a matter where necessary (such as advocates/counsel, experts, correspondents, sheriffs, transcribers, and where applicable, courts/tribunals); and
  • third parties where legally required (for example, to comply with a court order or lawful request).
  1. Cross-border Transfers

If Personal Information is transferred or stored outside South Africa (including where systems are hosted offshore), we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place and that the transfer is lawful in terms of POPIA.

  1. Retention of Personal Information

We retain Personal Information only for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy and/or as required by applicable South African law and professional obligations.

 

  1. Your Rights in Relation to Your Personal Information

Subject to applicable law, you may request that we:

  • confirm whether we hold Personal Information about you;
  • provide access to or a description of the Personal Information we hold (a prescribed fee may apply where permitted);
  • correct or update information that is inaccurate, incomplete, misleading or outdated; and/or
  • delete or destroy Personal Information that we are no longer lawfully entitled or required to retain.

We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. There may be circumstances where we cannot comply fully (for example, where legal privilege, confidentiality obligations, or the rights of others apply).

  1. Security

We take appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect Personal Information against loss, damage, unauthorised access, or unlawful processing. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

  1. Cookies and Google Analytics

11.1 What cookies are

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites function and improve user experience.

11.2 How we use cookies

Our website uses cookies in a limited way for:

  • essential website functionality; and
  • understanding how the website is used and improving performance.

We use Google Analytics to collect information about website usage (for example, pages visited, approximate location, time spent on pages, and the way users navigate the site). This information is used to improve website performance and user experience and is generally reported in aggregated form.

11.3 Managing cookies

You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some website features may not work correctly. You can also use tools provided by Google (such as browser add-ons and advertising settings) to control how Google collects and uses data.

 

  1. Third-party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. Those websites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their practices. Please review their policies before providing them with Personal Information.

  1. Direct Marketing

We will only send marketing communications where permitted by law and where you have opted in. You can opt out at any time by following the unsubscribe option (where available) or by contacting us at info@lansersutherland.co.za.

  1. Updating of Privacy Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time by publishing the revised version on our website. The updated Policy will apply from the date it is published.

  1. Contact Information and Complaints

Questions, requests or concerns regarding this Policy or our processing of Personal Information should be directed to the Information Officer at info@lansersutherland.co.za.

You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) using the contact details published by the Regulator from time to time.