Privacy Statement  Solicitor-Client

(version 22/4/2025)

Your privacy is important to us.

All personal data we receive from you as a client (or contact person of a client) will be processed in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (‘GDPR’), as well as this privacy statement. This privacy statement provides you with more information about what personal data we process, why we process it, how we obtain it, how long we retain it and with whom we share it. In addition, you will find more information about exercising your rights. IDENTITY AND CONTACT DETAILS This privacy statement regarding the processing of your personal data is issued by the following legal entity (and by the solicitors listed on our website www.liberant.be): Liberant advocaten BV K.B.O. no. 0687.781.666 Lange Lozanastraat 24 B- 2018 Antwerp If you have any questions about the processing of your personal data, please do not hesitate to contact us: 1.    by post: to the above address, marked “Privacy” 2.    by e-mail: demeester@liberant.be 3.    by telephone:  032330580

 

PURPOSES We process your personal data for one or more of the following purposes: 1.    Legal services to clients 2.    Compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-fraud legislation 3.    Invoicing and accounting 4.    Dispute management 5.    Access control  Below, you can find out which personal data we process for each purpose, why we process it, how we obtain it, how long we keep it and with whom we share it.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Legal services to clients

In order to provide legal services to our clients, we may process your personal identification data (name, (business) address, e-mail address, telephone number), identification data issued by the government (identity card number, passport number, national registration number, driving licence number, pension number, number plate, company number, VAT number), personal characteristics (gender, date of birth, place of birth, language, nationality), family details (possibly also details relating to minors), financial details (bank account number, method of payment) and any other information provided to us for the purpose of handling your case (including, where possible and relevant, special categories of personal data such as personal data revealing your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, data concerning your health or data concerning your sex life or sexual orientation) or personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences).  

The processing of this personal data enables us to provide legal advice, draw up legal deeds and documents, represent our clients in court, in arbitration or before administrative or similar bodies, assist in negotiations and/or the conclusion of contracts, to assist in mediation, to assist in police or similar interrogations, to take on mandates (ad hoc representative, ad hoc guardian, etc.), to ensure follow-up in the event of cessation of our activities, etc.

The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is based on:

-      in the case of a private client: the conclusion and performance of a contract for legal services with the client (Art. 6.1, b) GDPR). If we pass on your personal data to banks and insurance companies, a technical adviser, a notary, a judicial administrator or another legal representative at the request of these third parties, we will ask for your consent (Art. 6.1, a) GDPR), unless there is a court ruling requiring the transfer. If we transfer your personal data to the successor solicitor in the event of cessation of our professional activity, we will ask for your consent (Art. 6.1, a) GDPR)].

-      in the case of a professional client/other parties: our legitimate interest in being able to provide our legal services to our client (Art. 6.1, f) GDPR).

 In the case of exercising a mandate as a legal representative, the legal basis is based on a task carried out in the public interest arising from the legal mandate and the legal provisions in the GDPR (Art. 6.1, e).

The legal basis for the processing of special categories of personal data and/or criminal personal data is based on the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims (Art. 9.2, f) GDPR) and the defence of our clients' interests (Art. 10 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 10.1, 2° Personal Data Protection Act), respectively.

We obtain this personal data directly from you and/or indirectly via a third party (insurance broker, insurer, legal aid agency, solicitor, another solicitor representing other parties in legal proceedings, courts, investigating judges, Public Prosecutor's Office, police, bailiffs, social workers and judicial assistants, healthcare institutions, court experts, technical advisers).

For the purposes of providing legal services to our clients, we retain your personal data for up to 10 years after the case has been closed (plus a verification period of 1 year). 

We only share this personal data with third parties with whom we collaborate in the context of providing our legal services (courts and police services, bailiffs, lawyers representing the opposing party or a professional opposing party acting without the assistance of a lawyer, successor lawyers, banks and insurance companies, healthcare institutions, a technical advisor, a court psychologist, expert or legal representative (e.g. solicitor, court administrator) appointed by judgment or decree). In addition, third parties with whom we collaborate for the storage and management of our data also have access to this personal data (IT providers). A list of these third parties with whom we collaborate is available upon simple written request.

We obtain this personal data directly from you and/or indirectly via a third party (insurance broker, insurer, legal aid agency, solicitor, another solicitor representing other parties in legal proceedings, courts, investigating magistrates, Public Prosecutor's Office, police, bailiffs, social workers and judicial assistants, healthcare institutions, court experts, technical advisers).

For the purposes of complying with anti-money laundering and anti-fraud legislation, we retain your personal data for up to 10 years after the closure of the last file (plus a verification period of 1 year), unless it needs to be retained for longer in the context of a specific offence.

We only share this personal data if necessary with parties with whom we are legally required to cooperate in the context of compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-fraud legislation (in particular the president of the bar association). In addition, third parties with whom we cooperate for the storage and management of our data also have access to this personal data (IT providers). A list of these third parties with whom we collaborate is available upon simple written request. 

 

Invoicing and accounting

For invoicing and accounting purposes, we may process your personal identification details (name, (business) address, email address, telephone number), identification details issued by the government (company number, VAT number), financial details (bank account number, payment method) and services provided.

The processing of this personal data allows us to draw up our invoices, keep our accounts and comply with accounting obligations, including the preparation of annual accounts. This is necessary in order to comply with our accounting obligations.

The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is based on various legal obligations, as contained in the Economic Law Code (Art. I.1 WER, Art. III.82 WER, Art. III.89 WER and Art. III.90 WER), the Royal Decree on the WVV (double-entry bookkeeping), the Companies and Associations Code (Art. 3:1 WVV) and the Income Tax Code (Art. 320 WIB) (Article 6.1, c) GDPR) and – insofar as the processing goes beyond what is strictly necessary for compliance with these legal obligations – on the legitimate interest in keeping our accounts (Art. 6.1, f) GDPR).  

 

We obtain this personal data directly from you and/or indirectly via a third party (insurance broker, insurer, legal aid agency, accountant).

For our invoicing and accounting purposes, we retain your personal data for up to 10 years after the end of the respective financial year (plus a verification period of 1 year).

We only share this personal data with third parties with whom we collaborate in the context of our invoicing and accounting (our accountancy firm KODIAC, government services, banks and insurance companies). In addition, third parties with whom we collaborate for the storage and management of our data also have access to this personal data (IT providers KLEOS). A list of these third parties with whom we collaborate is available upon simple written request.

Dispute management

For the purpose of managing potential disputes, we may process your personal identification data (name, (business) address, email address, telephone number), identification data issued by the government (identity card number, passport number, driving licence number, pension number, number plate, ...), information about your profession and employment, financial data, legal data and any other information that may be relevant to the management of a (potential) dispute.

The processing of this personal data allows us to defend our legitimate interests in all forms of dispute resolution and to take care of the administration thereof.

The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is based on our legitimate interest in safeguarding the (contractual and non-contractual, legal and other) rights of our law firm (Art. 6.1, f) GDPR).

We obtain this personal data directly from you and/or indirectly through a third party.

For the purposes of our dispute management, we retain your personal data for up to 5 years after the expiry of the last appeal period (longer if necessary, for example to comply with legal obligations) (plus a verification period of 1 year).

We only share this personal data with third parties with whom we collaborate in the context of our dispute management (external legal advisers) and with other parties if necessary (government agencies, judicial and police services, banks and insurance companies, our accountancy firm, bailiffs and debt collection agencies). In addition, third parties with whom we collaborate for the storage and management of our data also have access to this personal data (IT providers). A list of these third parties with whom we collaborate is available upon simple written request.  

Access control and camera surveillance

In order to ensure security in our offices, we may process personal identification data (name, (business) address, email address, telephone number), time of presence.

Our doorbell is equipped with a video intercom, the images from which are not stored or processed and do not serve as surveillance cameras. This video intercom allows us to ensure security in our offices. We obtain this personal data directly from you. We do not share this personal data with third parties. 

SECURITY

We have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the confidentiality of your personal data and to protect your data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access.

We have entered into the necessary contractual agreements with Wolters Kluwer Kleos, with whom we collaborate, and will not transfer your personal data outside the European Economic Area without a guarantee that your data will enjoy an equivalent level of protection there.

Your data is stored securely on servers in the EU and is certified according to ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Communication between your device and the server is via the HTTPS protocol, which is secured by Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.2). All stored data is encrypted with AES256. The encryption keys are securely stored and protected in a secure key management system with strict, regulated access control by Wolters Kluwer.

RIGHTS

You can always contact us to exercise the following rights:

You can always contact us to exercise your rights:

by post: to the address mentioned at the beginning of this privacy statement, stating ‘Privacy’ by email: demeester@liberant.be by telephone: 00 32(0)32330580

We respect all rights relating to your personal data to which you are entitled under applicable law.

For those purposes where the legal basis for the processing of personal data is a legitimate interest, you can always ask us for more information about the balancing of interests we have carried out in that context (for more information, see PURPOSES).

For those purposes where the legal basis for the processing of personal data is a task carried out in the public interest or a legitimate interest, you may exercise your right to object to the processing of your personal data at any time, stating the reasons relating to your specific situation (for more information, see PURPOSES). We will cease processing your personal data unless we believe there are compelling legitimate grounds that outweigh the interests, rights and freedoms you invoke.

Om uw verzoeken correct te kunnen opvolgen en te beantwoorden, verwerken wij uw persoonsgegevens op basis van onze wettelijke verplichtingen die voortvloeien uit hoofdstuk III juncto art. 5.2 AVG (art. 6.1, c) AVG). Wij kunnen u vragen uw verzoek te motiveren en/of ons een bewijs van identiteit te bezorgen, bijv. een kopie van de voorzijde van uw identiteitskaart.

UPDATES

This privacy statement may be amended from time to time, within the limits of applicable data protection regulations. You can always access the most recent version at www.liberant.be.