Heltavel LP
1. Introduction
- Heltavel LP ("Heltavel", the "Firm", "we", "our" or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality and security of every individual who visits our website, requests a legal consultation, subscribes to our publications or otherwise interacts with us. As a law firm, we recognise that trust is the foundation of every professional relationship, and we regard the protection of personal information and confidential communications as fundamental to the discharge of our professional responsibilities.
- This Privacy Policy explains how Heltavel LP collects, receives, stores, uses, processes, secures, retains and, where legally permissible, discloses personal information obtained through our website and related digital platforms. It also explains the rights available to individuals whose information is processed by the Firm and the measures adopted to ensure that such information remains protected throughout its lifecycle.
- This Privacy Policy applies to all visitors to our website, prospective clients, existing clients, subscribers to our newsletters, applicants for employment, vendors, consultants and every other individual whose personal information is collected by or on behalf of Heltavel LP through our website or in connection with our legal services.
- This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Terms of Use, Engagement Letter and any other policy or notice published by the Firm concerning the collection or processing of personal information.
- By accessing our website, submitting a consultation request, corresponding with us electronically or otherwise providing your personal information, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the processing of your information in accordance with its provisions and applicable law.
2. Definitions
For the purpose of this Privacy Policy, unless the context otherwise requires:
- "Consultation" means any enquiry, legal issue, request for advice or information submitted to Heltavel LP through its website, electronic platforms or any other digital communication channel before or after a lawyer-client relationship is established.
- "Cookies" mean small data files stored on a user's browser or device which enable our website to remember preferences, improve functionality, analyse website usage and enhance user experience.
- "Legal Professional Privilege" means the protection recognised by applicable law over confidential communications between a lawyer and a client for the purpose of obtaining or providing legal advice or for use in legal proceedings.
- "Personal Information" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, whether directly or indirectly, including names, contact information, identification details, electronic identifiers and consultation information.
- "Processing" includes every operation performed on personal information whether by automated or manual means, including collection, recording, organisation, storage, adaptation, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure, transmission, restriction, deletion or destruction.
- "Prospective Client" means any person who contacts Heltavel LP or submits a consultation request with the intention of obtaining legal services but whose instructions have not yet been formally accepted by the Firm.
- "Website" means the official Heltavel LP website together with any sub-domains, portals, client dashboards or digital platforms operated by or on behalf of the Firm.
3. Scope of This Policy
- This Privacy Policy governs all personal information processed by Heltavel LP through its website and other digital channels, irrespective of whether the information is collected directly from the individual concerned or through authorised representatives.
- This Policy applies to information submitted during consultation requests, communications with the Firm, newsletter subscriptions, document uploads, website interactions and every other lawful engagement with our digital platforms.
- Nothing contained in this Privacy Policy shall limit or diminish the professional obligations of confidentiality imposed upon legal practitioners under applicable law or the ethical duties owed by the Firm to its clients.
4. Personal Information We Collect
- Heltavel LP collects only such personal information as is reasonably necessary for the provision of legal services, the administration of our website and the fulfilment of our legal and professional obligations.
- Depending upon the nature of your interaction with the Firm, we may collect your full name, residential or business address, telephone number, electronic mail address, occupation, company details, identification information where required for verification purposes, billing information and other contact details voluntarily supplied by you.
- Where you submit a legal consultation through our website, we collect the information you voluntarily provide concerning your legal matter, including the facts surrounding your enquiry, relevant dates, supporting documentation, photographs, audio recordings, electronic correspondence and any other information you choose to disclose.
- We also collect technical information automatically generated through your use of our website. Such information may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, pages visited, referral sources, access times, session duration, language preferences and other analytical information relating to your interaction with our website.
- Where you subscribe to our newsletters, publications or legal updates, we collect your name and electronic mail address for the purpose of providing those communications. You may withdraw your subscription at any time.
5. How We Collect Personal Information
- We collect personal information directly from you whenever you complete an online consultation form, subscribe to our newsletters, send us electronic mail, communicate through our website, upload documents, request legal services or otherwise correspond with the Firm.
- Certain technical information is collected automatically through cookies, server logs and similar technologies whenever you access or interact with our website.
- In appropriate circumstances, we may receive personal information from third parties acting with your authority, including authorised representatives, existing clients, corporate entities, regulatory authorities or other persons lawfully entitled to provide such information.
- We may also generate internal records arising from communications between you and the Firm, including records relating to appointments, correspondence, consultations, conflict checks and engagement decisions.
6. Legal Basis for Processing
- Heltavel LP processes personal information only where there exists a lawful basis for doing so under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and any other applicable law.
- Depending upon the circumstances, processing may be necessary for the performance of a contract or in order to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract for legal services.
- Processing may also be necessary for compliance with statutory obligations imposed upon the Firm, including obligations relating to legal practice, taxation, anti-money laundering requirements, court proceedings and regulatory compliance.
- We may process personal information where such processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided that those interests are not overridden by your fundamental rights and freedoms.
- Where required by law, we shall rely upon your consent before processing particular categories of personal information. You may withdraw such consent at any time, although this shall not affect the lawfulness of processing undertaken before its withdrawal.
7. How We Use Your Personal Information
- Heltavel LP processes personal information for the purpose of evaluating consultation requests, determining whether the Firm is able to accept instructions, communicating with prospective and existing clients, carrying out conflict checks, providing legal services and complying with applicable legal and professional obligations.
- Personal information may also be used for maintaining client records, improving the efficiency of our services, administering our website, preventing fraud, safeguarding our systems, responding to lawful requests, defending legal claims and protecting the legitimate interests of the Firm where permitted by law.
- Where you have subscribed to receive publications from Heltavel LP, we may use your electronic mail address to send newsletters, legal updates, articles, announcements and information relating to the Firm. Every marketing communication issued by us shall contain a simple mechanism enabling you to unsubscribe at any time.
8. AI-Assisted Consultation and Human Oversight
- As part of our commitment to innovation and efficient service delivery, Heltavel LP utilises an automated artificial intelligence ("AI") system to facilitate the preliminary administration of consultations submitted through our website. The AI system is designed to improve response times, organise consultation requests and support our lawyers in the initial assessment of matters requiring legal attention.
- Upon submission of a consultation request, the AI system may receive, organise and analyse the information voluntarily provided by you for the limited purposes of identifying the apparent nature and urgency of your legal issue, notifying the appropriate members of our legal team, generating internal administrative summaries, and recommending preliminary practical steps that may assist you while your consultation awaits review.
- The AI system may also generate automated acknowledgements of receipt, request additional information where the information supplied is insufficient for preliminary review, communicate that the Firm has accepted instructions, or inform a prospective client that the Firm is unable to undertake representation. Such communications are administrative in nature and are intended to facilitate efficient client engagement.
- The AI system does not replace the professional judgment of a qualified legal practitioner. It does not make legal determinations, provide definitive legal advice, determine legal rights or liabilities, establish a lawyer-client relationship or make binding decisions regarding acceptance of legal representation. Every consultation submitted through our website is subject to review by an authorised legal practitioner before any decision concerning representation is made.
- Heltavel LP continuously reviews the use of AI within its operations to ensure that such technology is deployed responsibly, ethically and consistently with applicable legal, regulatory and professional standards. We remain accountable for every decision affecting our clients, regardless of whether AI technologies assist in any administrative aspect of the consultation process.
9. Lawyer-Client Relationship
- The submission of a consultation request, enquiry or document through our website does not, by itself, create a lawyer-client relationship between you and Heltavel LP.
- A lawyer-client relationship shall only arise where the Firm expressly communicates its acceptance of your instructions and, where applicable, both parties have complied with any conditions necessary for the commencement of legal representation.
- Notwithstanding the absence of a formal lawyer-client relationship, Heltavel LP recognises that individuals seeking legal advice often disclose sensitive information in anticipation of obtaining professional assistance. Accordingly, consultation information submitted through our website shall be treated with an appropriate degree of confidentiality and handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy and our professional obligations.
10. Confidentiality and Legal Professional Privilege
- Confidentiality lies at the heart of the legal profession. Heltavel LP is committed to preserving the confidentiality of all information entrusted to the Firm and recognises that the protection of confidential communications is essential to the proper administration of justice.
- Consultation information submitted through our website is treated as confidential from the time it is received by the Firm. Access to such information is restricted to authorised personnel who require access for the purpose of evaluating consultations, providing legal services or administering the Firm's operations.
- Where a lawyer-client relationship exists, communications between Heltavel LP and its clients are protected by legal professional privilege to the fullest extent recognised by applicable law. The Firm shall not voluntarily disclose privileged communications or confidential consultation information to any third party without the informed consent of the client.
- The Firm shall not disclose consultation information to employers, spouses, family members, friends, business associates, governmental agencies, private investigators, journalists or any other individual or organisation merely because such person requests access to that information.
- Consultation information shall only be disclosed where the client has expressly authorised the disclosure, where disclosure is required by applicable law or where a valid and binding order has been issued by a court of competent jurisdiction requiring the Firm to produce such information.
- Where a prospective client or client discloses information concerning actual or alleged criminal conduct in the course of seeking legal advice, the Firm shall continue to treat such information as confidential and protected by its professional obligations, except to the extent that disclosure is expressly required by applicable law or pursuant to a lawful order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Nothing contained in this Privacy Policy shall be construed as limiting or diminishing any right to legal professional privilege or any duty of confidentiality imposed upon legal practitioners under Nigerian law.
11. Disclosure of Personal Information
- Heltavel LP does not sell, lease, trade or otherwise commercially exploit personal information entrusted to it by clients, prospective clients or visitors to its website.
- Personal information shall not be disclosed to third parties except where such disclosure is necessary for the provision of legal services, required by law, authorised by the individual concerned or otherwise permitted under applicable law.
- Where disclosure is necessary, Heltavel LP shall take reasonable steps to ensure that only the minimum information necessary for the relevant purpose is disclosed.
12. Third-Party Service Providers
- In the course of operating our website and delivering legal services, Heltavel LP may engage carefully selected third-party service providers, including providers of website hosting, cloud storage, cybersecurity services, email infrastructure, document management systems and other technology services.
- These service providers may process personal information solely for the purpose of providing services to the Firm. They are not authorised to use personal information for their own purposes and are required to maintain appropriate confidentiality, security and data protection standards.
- Although Heltavel LP exercises reasonable care in selecting reputable service providers, no technology infrastructure can eliminate every security risk. Accordingly, while we employ appropriate safeguards, we cannot guarantee absolute security against every conceivable cyber threat.
13. International Data Transfers
- Certain technology providers engaged by Heltavel LP may store or process personal information on servers located outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- Where personal information is transferred outside Nigeria, the Firm shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such information receives a level of protection substantially equivalent to that required under applicable Nigerian data protection laws.
15. Data Security
- Heltavel LP implements reasonable administrative, technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against accidental loss, unlawful destruction, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
- Access to confidential consultation information is restricted to authorised personnel who require such access in the ordinary course of their professional responsibilities.
- In the event of a data security incident affecting personal information, the Firm shall take appropriate steps to investigate the incident, mitigate its effects and comply with any applicable legal obligations relating to notification or remediation.
16. Data Retention
- Personal information shall be retained only for so long as is reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations, to protect the legitimate interests of the Firm or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
- Individuals may request the deletion of consultation information or other personal information held by the Firm. Heltavel LP shall consider every such request in good faith and, where legally permissible, delete or anonymise the relevant information within a reasonable period.
- Notwithstanding any request for deletion, the Firm may retain information where retention is required by law, professional regulations, court order or for the protection of the Firm's legitimate legal interests.
17. Your Rights
- Subject to applicable law, you may request access to the personal information held by the Firm concerning you, request correction of inaccurate information, request deletion where legally permissible, object to certain forms of processing, withdraw consent where consent constitutes the legal basis for processing and unsubscribe from newsletters or other marketing communications at any time.
- Heltavel LP shall consider all legitimate requests promptly and in accordance with applicable law.
18. Children's Privacy
- Our website and legal services are not intended for children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children except where such information is provided by a parent, guardian or other person legally authorised to act on the child's behalf or where otherwise permitted by law.
19. Changes to This Privacy Policy
- Heltavel LP reserves the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in law, technology, professional practice or the Firm's operations. Any revised version shall become effective upon publication on our website unless otherwise stated.
20. Contact Us
- Questions, requests or concerns relating to this Privacy Policy may be directed to:
21. Governing Law
- This Privacy Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023. Any dispute arising from or relating to this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.
Heltavel LP
Built on Truth. Defined by Trust. Driven by Justice.