Who we Are

This legal practice is Achel Law PLLC, a law firm organised as a professional limited liability company authorized and regulated to provide legal services in the State of New York. Our firm is committed to the highest standards of professional conduct and data integrity. We serve as the primary entity responsible for the collection and protection of any personal or sensitive information shared with us, whether through our website, by email, or during the course of our legal representation.

Purpose of Information Collection

Our firm collects and processes information solely to fulfill our professional obligations and to provide effective legal representation. We use this data for the following specific reasons:

• Legal Representation: To analyze the facts of your case, provide accurate legal advice, and represent your interests in negotiations, contracts, petitions or court proceedings.

• Professional Ethics: To perform mandatory conflict of interest checks, ensuring that representing you does not violate our ethical duties to other clients.

• Identity Verification: To comply with applicable laws regarding Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering regulations, which require us to verify the identity of our clients.

• Case Administration: To maintain a secure record of your file, manage billing, and ensure we can communicate with you reliably regarding deadlines and case updates.

• Website and Communications Management: to respond to enquiries submitted through our website contact form, manage newsletter subscriptions, and maintain our relationship with prospective clients 

Categories of Personal Data Collected

To provide comprehensive legal and professional services, we collect and maintain various categories of personal data. These categories include, but are not limited to:

• Contact Information: This includes your full name, residential or business address, personal and professional email addresses, and telephone numbers.

• Demographic Information: We may collect data such as your nationality, date of birth, gender, and preferred language to ensure accurate filings and culturally relevant representation.

• Government-Issued Identification: As part of our mandatory compliance protocols, we collect identification numbers and copies of documents such as international passports, driver’s licenses, national identity cards, or voter registration cards.

• Financial and Professional Data: This includes information regarding your employment history, business affiliations, employer identification numbers (EIN), and bank account details necessary for transactions and billing.

• Website Usage Data: When you visit our website, we automatically collect technical information including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on the site, through cookies and analytics tools. 

• Communications Data: Records of your correspondence with us, including emails and contact form submission.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data on the following legal bases:

• Contractual necessity: Where processing is necessary to provide you with legal services you have requested.

• Legal obligation: Where we are required to process your data to comply with applicable law, including KYC/AML regulations and New York Rules of Professional Conduct.

• Legitimate interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services and managing our firm, and those interests are not overridden by your rights.

• Consent: Where you have given us clear consent to process your data for a specific purpose, such as subscribing to our newsletter. You may withdraw consent at any time.

Your Rights as a Data Subject.

• Right to Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you and receive information on how it is being processed.

• Right to Rectification: You have the right to request the correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

• Right to Deletion: You may request the permanent erasure of your data when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or if you object to its processing.

• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where our processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before the withdrawal.

• Right to Data Portability: You may request that your data be transferred to you or another service provider in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

• Right to Object: You have the right to object to processing carried out on the basis of our legitimate interests. 

• Right to Complain: if you are based in the EU or UK, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. If you are based in the US, you may contact the FTC or relevant state authority. 

 Disclosure of Third-Party Transfers

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. However, to fulfill our professional mandates and provide efficient services, we may share your data with the following categories of trusted third parties:

• Professional Service Providers: This includes specialized consultants, co-counsel, expert witnesses, or technical engineers who are directly involved in your legal case or production project.

• Regulatory and Legal Authorities: We may disclose information to government agencies, courts, or law enforcement bodies when required by mandatory laws and regulations or valid judicial orders.

• Third-Party Processors: We utilize secure service providers for essential business functions, including encrypted cloud storage, secure payment processing, and professional practice management software. 

• International Transfers: As a New York-based firm serving international clients, your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States. Where required by applicable law, including the EU and UK GDPR. We take appropriate steps to ensure such transfers are lawful, including the use of Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable.

Data Retention Policy

We retain personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or to comply with our professional, legal, and regulatory obligations. Our retention periods are determined by the following criteria:

• Active Representation/Project Duration: We store your data for the entire duration of our professional relationship to ensure the seamless delivery of legal or production services.

• Statutory Requirements: In accordance with KYC/AML regulations, certain identification and transaction records must be retained for a minimum of five (5) years after the conclusion of the business relationship.

• Legal Defense & Limitation Periods: To protect the interests of both the firm and the client, we may retain case files and correspondence for the duration of the relevant statute of limitations to address any future legal inquiries or professional liability claims.

• Financial Records: Accounting and billing information is kept for the period required by the tax authorities.

• Website and Enquiry Data: Contact form submissions and communications from prospective clients are retained for two years] unless a client relationship is established.

Security Measures

To protect your information, we utilize a multi-layered security strategy that combines technical safeguards with strict internal protocols. We secure all data using industry-standard encryption and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized digital access. Access is  limited to personnel who require it in the course of their work, and all staff are bound by confidentiality obligations. Our system is continually monitored for threats and vulnerabilities. 

Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience and gather analytics data. You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect some functionality. By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies as described in this policy. A full list of the cookies we use is available at [link]

No Attorney-Client Relationship

Submitting an enquiry or contact form through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Achel Law PLLC. No attorney-client relationship is formed until a formal engagement letter has been signed by both parties. Please do not send confidential or sensitive information through this website until such a relationship has been established.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Statement or your personal data, please contact us at: counsel@achellaw.com.