PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information may be collected, used, stored, disclosed and otherwise processed in connection with myDubaiLawyer.ae (the “Website”). It should be read together with the Website Terms and Conditions and Disclaimer.

The Website concerns the professional profile of George Saji Kuruvilla (“George”), Head of Disputes at Ammar Almulla Advocates and Legal Consultants LLC (“AMCO Law Firm”). The Website is not a separate legal practice. Where an enquiry progresses to a proposed or accepted legal matter, information may be transferred to and processed by AMCO Law Firm in accordance with its own legal, regulatory, professional and privacy obligations.

1. SCOPE AND DATA PROTECTION FRAMEWORK

This Policy applies to personal information collected through the Website, its enquiry functions and contact channels, and to information supplied in connection with a Website generated enquiry. Personal information is processed in accordance with applicable UAE data protection law, including Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 Regarding the Protection of Personal Data, to the extent applicable, together with other applicable legal, regulatory and professional obligations.

This Policy does not replace any privacy notice, confidentiality obligation or information handling term that may apply if AMCO Law Firm formally accepts a legal matter.

2. INFORMATION THAT MAY BE COLLECTED

Depending on how you interact with the Website, information collected may include (i) name, telephone number, email address, employer, job title, nationality and other identifying or contact information you choose to provide; (ii) the contents of enquiries, messages and communications; (iii) information concerning a dispute, transaction, claim, investigation, proposed engagement or other legal matter; (iv) documents and attachments voluntarily submitted; (v) information required for conflicts, identity, compliance, sanctions, anti money laundering or client acceptance checks where relevant; (vi) billing or administrative information where a matter progresses; (vii) technical information such as IP address, device, browser, operating system, approximate location, date and time of access, referral source and Website usage information; and (viii) information obtained from public sources or third parties where relevant and lawful.

Legal enquiries may contain sensitive personal information or information about other individuals. You should provide only information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose of the enquiry and that you are entitled to provide.

3. SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Information may be collected directly from you, from a person acting on your behalf, from AMCO Law Firm where an enquiry is referred or coordinated internally, from publicly available sources, from professional or business contacts, and automatically through Website technology where such technology is enabled.

4. PURPOSES OF PROCESSING

Personal information may be processed where permitted by applicable law for purposes including (i) receiving, assessing and responding to enquiries; (ii) arranging meetings, calls or communications; (iii) determining whether AMCO Law Firm may accept a matter; (iv) conducting conflict, identity, compliance and client onboarding checks; (v) referring or allocating an enquiry to appropriate personnel within AMCO Law Firm; (vi) maintaining records of communications and enquiries; (vii) operating, administering, securing, monitoring and improving the Website; (viii) detecting or preventing fraud, misuse, security incidents or unlawful activity; (ix) complying with legal, regulatory, court, professional or law enforcement requirements; (x) establishing, exercising or defending legal rights; and (xi) sending legal updates or other communications where requested, consented to or otherwise permitted by law.

5. LEGAL BASIS AND CONSENT

Personal information will be processed only where a lawful basis exists under applicable law. Depending on the circumstances, processing may be based on consent, steps taken at your request before a possible engagement, performance of an accepted engagement by AMCO Law Firm, compliance with legal or regulatory obligations, protection of legal rights, or another basis recognised by applicable law.
Where processing is based on consent, consent may be withdrawn subject to applicable law. Withdrawal does not affect processing already lawfully carried out and does not prevent continued processing where another lawful basis applies.

6. ENQUIRIES BEFORE FORMAL ENGAGEMENT

Submitting personal information through the Website does not create a lawyer client relationship and does not mean that George or AMCO Law Firm has accepted a matter. Before an engagement is confirmed, you should not send confidential, privileged or highly sensitive information unless specifically requested.
Information submitted with an enquiry may be reviewed for the limited purposes of assessing the enquiry, identifying conflicts, satisfying compliance requirements and deciding whether the matter can be accepted. If a matter is not accepted, information may nevertheless be retained for a reasonable period where necessary to maintain conflict records, demonstrate compliance, protect legal rights, prevent fraud or comply with applicable law and professional obligations.

7. DISCLOSURE AND SHARING

Personal information may be disclosed only where reasonably necessary and permitted by law, including to (i) AMCO Law Firm and relevant members of its legal, administrative, compliance, finance and technology teams; (ii) service providers supporting Website hosting, email, cybersecurity, document storage, communications, analytics or other technology; (iii) professional advisers, insurers or auditors where appropriate; (iv) courts, tribunals, regulators, government bodies, law enforcement authorities or other competent authorities where disclosure is required or lawfully appropriate; and (v) other persons where necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights or to protect against fraud or misuse.
Where third party service providers process personal information on behalf of the Website or AMCO Law Firm, reasonable steps are taken, where required by law, to ensure appropriate confidentiality, security and data protection arrangements.

8. AMCO LAW FIRM AND LEGAL MATTERS

If an enquiry is referred to or accepted by AMCO Law Firm, AMCO Law Firm may process the relevant information as required to consider, establish, administer and perform the legal engagement. At that stage, AMCO Law Firm’s terms of engagement, privacy practices, professional confidentiality duties and record retention requirements may apply in addition to this Policy.
The fact that an enquiry originated through the Website does not make the Website a separate provider of legal services and does not create a separate personal engagement with George.

9. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

Some Website, email, hosting, storage, communications or other service providers may process or store information outside the United Arab Emirates. Where personal information is transferred internationally, reasonable steps will be taken, where required by applicable law, to ensure that the transfer is made on an appropriate legal basis and subject to appropriate safeguards.

10. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

The Website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for operation and, where enabled, for security, performance, preference management or analytics. Such technology may collect technical and usage information about visits to the Website.
Browser settings can generally be used to refuse or delete cookies, although doing so may affect Website functionality. Where non essential cookies or similar technologies require consent under applicable law, the Website should provide the relevant consent or preference mechanism.

11. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

Where legal updates, invitations or other professional communications are sent, they will be sent only where requested, consented to, or otherwise permitted by applicable law. You may ask to stop receiving such communications at any time. Administrative, legal or service related communications concerning an enquiry or accepted matter may continue where necessary.

12. RETENTION

Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for legitimate record keeping, conflict checking, compliance, security, legal and professional purposes. Retention periods may differ depending on the nature of the information, whether a legal matter was accepted, and applicable limitation, regulatory or professional requirements.
Information may be retained for longer where necessary for actual or anticipated legal proceedings, regulatory enquiries, professional obligations, fraud prevention, dispute resolution or protection of legal rights.

13. SECURITY

Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss, misuse or destruction. Access may be restricted to persons who reasonably require the information for the relevant purpose.
No electronic transmission, email service, Website, cloud platform or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You therefore submit information electronically at your own discretion and should avoid sending unnecessary sensitive material through ordinary electronic channels.

14. YOUR RIGHTS

Subject to applicable law and any lawful exemption, you may have rights in relation to your personal information, including rights to obtain information concerning processing, request access, request correction or updating, request deletion or restriction in appropriate circumstances, object to certain processing, withdraw consent where consent is relied upon, and request transfer of data where applicable.
A request may be refused, delayed or limited where permitted or required by law, including where disclosure would affect another person’s privacy, confidentiality, legal professional privilege, professional duties, legal proceedings, regulatory obligations, the prevention or detection of unlawful conduct, or the proper administration of justice. Reasonable information may be requested to verify identity and authority before a request is processed.

15. CHILDREN

The Website is directed to adults seeking professional information and is not intended to solicit personal information directly from children. Information relating to a child should be submitted only by a parent, guardian or other person with lawful authority and only where reasonably necessary in connection with a legitimate enquiry.

16. THIRD PARTY WEBSITES

The Website may contain links to third party websites or platforms. Their privacy practices are outside the control of George and AMCO Law Firm. You should review the privacy information provided by the relevant third party before submitting personal information to it.

17. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, Website functionality or information handling practices. The current version will be published on the Website and will apply from the date stated on it.

18. CONTACT AND REQUESTS

Questions or requests concerning personal information handled through the Website may be submitted using the contact details published on myDubaiLawyer.ae. Where a request concerns information held by AMCO Law Firm in connection with a proposed or accepted legal matter, it may be referred to AMCO Law Firm for appropriate handling.