Privacy policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy applies to the website www.athos-law.be and the related domain names of BV Athos-Advocaten (“the Website”) and concerns the processing of personal data by BV Athos-Advocaten. This Privacy Policy and the associated processing of personal data have been drawn up in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”)) and applicable Belgian legislation.

This Privacy Policy explains who is the controller of the personal data processed via the Website, which personal data are recorded, under what conditions and why those data are processed, to what extent personal data are exchanged with third parties, the measures taken to secure personal data, and how the user can control the processing of their personal data and exercise their rights.

1. Controller

The controller is BV Athos-Advocaten, with registered office at 1080 Brussels, Leopold II-laan 180, registered in the register of legal entities under company number 0464.429.862.

2. Nature of the personal data processed and purposes of processing

Every user may freely visit the Website and consult information about the firm, its specialisations and its services without having to provide personal data. In general, visiting and consulting the Website does not automatically lead to the recording and processing of the user's personal data, except as set out in this Privacy Policy (such as regarding IP address and cookies).

The processing of personal data of users who visit and consult the Website is limited to so-called browsing data, that is, the data that are automatically sent to the Website in connection with the functioning of the information systems used to manage the Website and the use of internet communication protocols (such as an IP address). Browsing data may be used to establish who is responsible in the event that offences are committed against or via the Website.

BV Athos-Advocaten also processes the personal data that the user of the Website provides voluntarily when using the functionalities of the Website and the services offered via the Website, such as registering for the Website, subscribing to the newsletter or mailing list, … The personal data recorded and processed by BV Athos-Advocaten consist of names and contact details such as home address, telephone number, email address and other optional data. Whenever the user provides personal data, BV Athos-Advocaten will treat them in accordance with the policy described and the legal obligations regarding the processing of personal data.

The personal data of users of the Website are processed by BV Athos-Advocaten on the one hand to optimise the functioning of the Website and on the other hand for administrative and contractual purposes, namely the provision of the services and functionalities offered on the Website and requested by the user.

For requests for information and/or contact, newsletters and other matters, BV Athos-Advocaten processes the personal data provided in order to contact the user where necessary. These data are not kept longer than necessary to achieve that purpose. If a registration takes place to receive the services offered, the personal data collected are processed in order to be able to contact the user again and to offer them optimal service. These services include elements such as the newsletter. Finally, it is also possible that these data are used to inform the user about news and new services of BV Athos-Advocaten.

3. Consent of the user

By providing their personal data via the Website, the user of the Website expressly consents to BV Athos-Advocaten processing them for the stated purposes where consent is required. In principle, however, the controller has a legitimate interest in the processing described above (e.g. optimising the use of the website for users) or in the performance of the contract (e.g. sending newsletters at the user's request). Where the user sends us their data with a question or request, the performance of a contractual relationship or the taking of steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract also constitutes the legal basis.

BV Athos-Advocaten does not pass on personal data to third parties, except at the express request of judicial authorities and in cases where this is expressly required by law. If BV Athos-Advocaten nevertheless wishes to pass certain personal data on to third parties, express prior specific consent will be requested and the user's specific attention will be drawn to this. In principle, BV Athos-Advocaten does not transfer personal data outside the European Union. If it were to do so, it would never do so without a legal basis.

4. Security of personal data

Taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation, and the nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing and the risks of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of persons, BV Athos-Advocaten takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk. The personal data provided via the Website are stored and processed via an electronic system managed by BV Athos-Advocaten in a closed, secure environment that is not publicly accessible. These data are accessible only to a designated number of persons employed by BV Athos-Advocaten who are authorised to view and process the data.

If, despite the security measures taken, security incidents should nevertheless occur, the controller accepts no liability for loss or corruption of data, identity theft, theft of data, viruses or Trojan horses, SQL injections or other attacks on IT systems or online cloud portals.

5. Use of cookies

The Website may use so-called functional ‘cookies’, small pieces of data that are sent and stored on the user's computer. These data are sent back to the Website on every visit in order to verify the user's identity. In this way the use of the Website is optimised and the user does not have to re-enter their data on every visit to the Website. Cookies give BV Athos-Advocaten no control whatsoever over the user's computer. Cookies are not used to gain access to information on the user's computer or to track the user's activities.

The user can configure their browser settings regarding cookies. For example, the user can configure the browser so that it informs them each time a cookie is created. Blocking cookies may, however, mean that the Website is harder to use and that the user cannot make optimal use of all the functionalities and services offered.

6. Retention period

Personal data will not be kept longer than strictly necessary for the purposes for which they are obtained or further processed.

7. Right of access, correction and erasure of personal data

In accordance with the provisions of the GDPR, the user has the right to ask the controller for access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data or restriction of the processing concerning them, as well as the right to object to the processing and the right to data portability. A user who wishes to exercise their rights must always make this known to BV Athos-Advocaten in writing, clearly and with reasons, by means of a dated and signed request proving their identity.

Where the processing is based on their consent, the data subject has the right to withdraw their consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

In accordance with the GDPR, the user also has the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

If you have questions about the processing of your personal data by BV Athos-Advocaten or if you wish to exercise your rights under privacy legislation, you can contact BV Athos-Advocaten, with registered office at 1080 Brussels, Leopold II-laan 180 (info@athos-law.be).

If you no longer wish to receive information about news and new services of BV Athos-Advocaten, you can let us know via info@athos-law.be. Every information email that BV Athos-Advocaten sends you will also contain a link allowing you to unsubscribe from newsletters and similar mailings.