Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Yualande Christopher & Associates ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website www.chrislawassociates.com (the "Website"), use our legal services, or communicate with our firm.

This Privacy Policy complies with the Jamaican Data Protection Act 2020 and applies to all personal information we collect through our Website, email, telephone, in-person consultations, and other means of communication.

By using our Website or services, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use our Website or services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide to Us

We may collect the following personal information that you voluntarily provide to us:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, mailing address, telephone number, mobile number
• Identification Information: Government-issued ID numbers, passport information, Tax Registration Number (TRN)
• Professional Information: Occupation, employer, business information
• Financial Information: Payment card information, bank account details, billing address
• Legal Matter Information: Details about your legal needs, case information, documents, and communications
• Consultation Information: Appointment requests, preferred contact methods, availability
• Correspondence: Email messages, letters, notes from meetings, and other communications with our firm

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• Log Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, access times, pages viewed, referring URLs
• Device Information: Device type, unique device identifiers, mobile network information
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies
• Analytics Data: Google Analytics data about how you use our Website

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

• Payment Processors: Transaction information from Sagicor MPGS (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services)
• Public Records: Court records, property records, and other publicly available information
• Referral Sources: Information from other attorneys, clients, or professional contacts who refer you to our firm
• Third-Party Services: Information from Google Ads, Google Analytics, and reCAPTCHA

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Legal Services

• Providing legal advice, representation, and services
• Communicating with you about your legal matters
• Conducting legal research and case preparation
• Managing case files and documentation
• Preparing and filing legal documents
• Representing you in legal proceedings

3.2 Business Operations

• Processing payments and managing billing
• Scheduling consultations and appointments
• Responding to inquiries and providing customer support
• Managing client relationships
• Maintaining accurate financial and business records
• Complying with legal and regulatory obligations

3.3 Website and Marketing

• Operating, maintaining, and improving our Website
• Analyzing Website usage and user behavior
• Sending newsletters, updates, and marketing communications (with your consent)
• Tracking advertising effectiveness through Google Ads conversion tracking
• Preventing fraudulent activity and enhancing security

3.4 Legal Compliance

• Complying with court orders, legal processes, and government requests
• Fulfilling obligations under the Jamaican Data Protection Act
• Meeting anti-money laundering and know-your-client requirements
• Maintaining professional conduct and ethical standards

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Professional Services

• Co-Counsel and External Attorneys: When necessary for your legal representation
• Expert Witnesses and Consultants: To support your legal matter
• Court Personnel and Opposing Parties: As required in legal proceedings
• Government Agencies: When filing documents or responding to official requests

4.2 Service Providers

We engage third-party service providers who assist us with:

• Payment Processing: Sagicor MPGS for processing credit/debit card payments (Visa, Mastercard)
• Email Services: SMTP services for client communications
• Website Analytics: Google Analytics for understanding Website usage
• Advertising: Google Ads for marketing and conversion tracking
• Security Services: reCAPTCHA for spam and bot protection
• IT Support: Cloud storage, backup services, and technical maintenance

These service providers have access to your personal information only to perform services on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

4.3 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your personal information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, including:

• Responding to court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes
• Complying with government investigations or regulatory requests
• Protecting our legal rights and defending against legal claims
• Preventing fraud, security threats, or illegal activity

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption: SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission, secure storage encryption
• Access Controls: Role-based permissions, password protection, multi-factor authentication
• Network Security: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, regular security audits
• Physical Security: Secure office premises, locked file cabinets, controlled access to records
• Staff Training: Regular security awareness training for all personnel
• Data Minimization: Collecting only necessary information and retaining it only as long as needed

Payment Security: We use Sagicor MPGS (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services) to process payments securely. We do not store full credit card numbers on our servers. All payment transactions are encrypted and processed through PCI DSS compliant systems.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Our retention practices include:

• Client Files: Retained for a minimum of 7 years after case closure, as required by Jamaican legal practice standards
• Financial Records: Retained for 7 years in accordance with Jamaican tax and accounting regulations
• Correspondence: Retained for the duration of the attorney-client relationship and as required by law
• Website Data: Analytics and log data retained for up to 26 months
• Marketing Data: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion

After the retention period expires, we securely delete or anonymize your personal information in accordance with our data retention and destruction policies.

7. Your Rights Under Jamaican Data Protection Act

Under the Jamaican Data Protection Act 2020, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Right of Access

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to receive a copy of that information.

7.2 Right to Rectification

You have the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

7.3 Right to Erasure

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (such as legal obligations or ongoing legal matters).

7.4 Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

7.5 Right to Data Portability

You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

7.6 Right to Object

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes or on grounds relating to your particular situation.

7.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we process your personal information based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

• Email: legal@chrislawassociates.com
• Phone: +1 (876) 906-1333
• Address: Suite 6, 9A Garelli Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica

We will respond to your request within 30 days. Please note that certain rights may be subject to legal or professional obligations that prevent us from fulfilling your request.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze Website usage.

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for Website functionality, security, and session management
• Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our Website
• Advertising Cookies: Google Ads cookies to track conversions and measure ad effectiveness
• Security Cookies: reCAPTCHA cookies to prevent spam and fraudulent activity

8.2 Third-Party Services

• Google Analytics: Collects anonymous data about Website usage and visitor behavior
• Google Ads: Tracks conversion events when users book consultations or submit contact forms
• Google reCAPTCHA: Protects forms from spam and automated abuse

8.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete cookies that have already been set. However, blocking or deleting cookies may prevent you from accessing certain features of our Website.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside of Jamaica, including the United States, where our third-party service providers (such as Google, Sagicor MPGS) are located. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from Jamaica.

When we transfer your personal information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

11. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms, government websites, and other resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on our Website with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification to registered clients
• Displaying a prominent notice on our Website homepage

Your continued use of our Website or services after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

14. Data Protection Officer

For matters specifically related to data protection and privacy, you may contact our designated Data Protection Officer:

Email: privacy@chrislawassociates.com

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Jamaican Data Protection Commissioner if you believe your data protection rights have been violated.

15. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Jamaica, including the Jamaican Data Protection Act 2020. Any disputes arising from this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Jamaica.