Truman Hoyle, Lawyers believes that privacy is an important individual right and is important to our own business and the businesses of our clients. This policy sets out our commitment to maintain information handling standards.

If you would like to find out more about our information handling practices please contact our Privacy Officer, Jan Thomas by calling (02) 9226 9888.

Collection of Personal Information
We only collect personal information where it is necessary for our business purposes or if there is a legal requirement for us to do so.

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that you know why we are collecting your information, what we use it for, to whom we may disclose it and how you can access it to ensure it is accurate and up to date. There are circumstances where it is not reasonable or practicable for us to let you know this information. For example, it is our practice not to disclose such information to an individual if doing so would:

(a) Breach our legal and professional obligations to our client; or

(b) undermine the purpose for which the information is being collected (where collection is for a legitimate business practice); or

(c) where we collect information from public records.

Sensitive Information
We may collect sensitive information (such as information relating to your health, ethnicity or sexual orientation) where collection is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal or equitable claim. As confidentiality is important for the due process of the law, it is often not possible or legally necessary to obtain your consent in such circumstances. However, if we need to collect sensitive information in other circumstances, then we will obtain your consent.

Use and Disclosure
We will only use or disclose your personal information for the purpose it was collected unless: you have expressly or impliedly consented to its use or disclosure; the use/disclosure is related to the purpose of collection and you would reasonably expect us to use or disclose it in such a way; or we are required by law or otherwise compelled to disclose such information.

We have controls and procedures to ensure that personal information provided to us remains confidential. Our staff have professional duties of confidentiality to the firm and to clients. We are also subject to professional standards of honesty and fairness as to the way we conduct our business. We do not sell or trade personal information, or allow third parties to use that personal information for their own purposes.

Overseas Transfers
We will only transfer your personal information overseas where:

(a) we are satisfied that the recipient is subject to effective data protection standards: or

(b) you have consented to the transfer or requested us to do so; or

(c) it is impracticable for us to obtain your consent, the transfer is for your benefit and you would be likely to give consent if we were able to contact you.

Security of Personal Information
We aim to achieve best industry practice in maintaining the security of personal information we hold. Where possible, work product or documents retained are deidentified. Otherwise it is our policy to destroy personal information once there is no longer a legal or business need for us to retain it.

Access, Correction and Concerns
If you believe that information we hold about you is incorrect, or if you have concerns about how we are handling your personal information then we ask that you contact us and we will try to resolve those concerns. In some cases we may not be able to give you access to personal information we hold regarding you if making such a disclosure would breach our legal obligations to our client.

Questions, access requests or concerns should be directed in writing to our Privacy Officer,

Jan Thomas,
Level 11,
68 Pitt Street,
Sydney NSW 2000.

In some cases we may request an administrative fee to cover the cost of access.

Effect of Policy
This policy does not form a contract between an individual and Truman Hoyle. The policy may also be subject to change. Whenever you need to refer to this policy you should contact us for the most up to date version.

Policy was last updated: April 2005