General Conditions
1. Identity of the Contracting Parties
Cairn Legal LLC (hereinafter Cairn Legal) is a law firm under civil law operating under the form of a limited liability partnership (“société coopérative à responsabilité limitée/ coöperatieve vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid”) under Belgian law. It is registered in Brussels under the enterprise number 0825.996.372. Its partners and associates are members of the Bar Association of Brussels (the French association and the Dutch association) and/or Nivelles. They are subject to the laws, practices and ethical principles of the legal profession determined by the Belgian authorities.
Upon opening of a case file, the client (a natural person or legal entity) provides identity and personal information to Cairn Legal (hereinafter: the Client). This identity defines the Client, who agrees to inform Cairn Legal of any changes that may occur in relation with the information provided.
2. Object and Modalities of the Contract
By assigning a case to Cairn Legal, the Client enters into a contract with Cairn Legal. The missions assigned to Cairn Legal (hereinafter: the Missions) are agreed upon orally and are confirmed in writing as far as possible. The Missions shall be assigned exclusively to Cairn Legal, which is solely responsible for the proper performance and follow-up thereof. Cairn Legal agrees to make its best effort to carry out the Missions with due care in order to achieve the best possible results regarding the objectives of the Client. Cairn Legal shall take or propose any measures necessary or useful to protect the Client’s interests and undertakes regularly to inform the Client about the status of the Missions entrusted.
The Client agrees for the duration of his contractual relationship to provide Cairn Legal with all necessary and useful information to identify its objective and the means of achieve such objective, and in order to follow-up the developments of the case in an optimal manner, to act consistently with said objective and to pay the costs and fees of Cairn Legal. Unless expressly requested, the Client authorizes Cairn Legal to correspond per e-mail and/or faxes. If the Client receives, through the intermediary of Cairn Legal, a document covered by professional secrecy, the Client accepts it as such and agrees to respect the confidentiality without reserves.
3. Collaboration
Cairn Legal may freely assign its particular Missions to partners and associates of its choosing. Cairn Legal may, under its sole responsibility, call upon external attorneys. The Client is informed of the name of the person responsible for supervising his case and, if any, the name of the person in charge of daily management of his case.
4. Determination of Fees
The calculation method of the fees is arranged between Cairn Legal and the Client as from the beginning of the services provision. The fees can be a lump sum or a variable sum. The fees can be subject of an estimate or can be in relation of achieving a goal. In the absence of an express agreement, the fees due in consideration of performance of these Missions shall be calculated according to the hourly rates references. These hourly rates may be adapted to each file, according to the usual criteria: the importance of the issue at stake, the specific difficulties of performing the Missions, the experience and the competence of the attorney, the urgency of the requested services, etc.
5. Expenses and advanced payment
Expenses are the administrative costs that are paid by Cairn Legal for the execution of the assigned mission (hereinafter: Expenses). These Expenses are fixed on an inclusive basis at the beginning of the Mission. The expenses paid in advance are the specific amounts that are necessary for the execution of the assigned Missions (“Expenses Paid in Advance”). These Expenses Paid in Advance include but are not limited to legal expenses, amounts paid to bailiffs, rights and taxes, external costs for translation, costs for research, costs for experts, transportation costs outside the district of Brussels, etc.
The Expenses Paid in Advance by Cairn Legal on behalf of the Client are reimbursed completely by the Client. Unless agreed otherwise, the Client is obliged to refund immediately the Expenses Paid in Advance. The Expenses Paid in Advance are reimbursed by the Client at cost price.
6. Billing
Cairn Legal can require the Client to pay in advance a retaining fee in order to cover the first services. Afterwards, Cairn Legal will send periodically a timesheet of the performances along with invoices. Invoices issued by Cairn Legal to the Client are due immediately. Unless payment is made within 15 days from the date of the invoice, Cairn Legal will charge interests at a legal rate.
7. Recourse to Intervention by Third Parties
The choice of other third parties (bailiffs, experts and any other third party who is not attorney-at-law) whose assistance proves necessary shall be made freely by Cairn Legal, if need be after consulting and reaching an agreement with the Client. Cairn Legal may in no event be held liable for said choice, however. The Client shall be the contractual partner and debtor of such third parties, to the exclusion of Cairn Legal.
8. Documents – Archives
The Client is requested, unless agreed otherwise, not to provide original documents to Cairn Legal.
Unless agreed otherwise, the Client is responsible for archiving the case documents. If, at the Client’s request, Cairn Legal is in charge of archiving, such mission shall include the conservation of any document (correspondence, court exhibits, documents) for a duration of five years starting from the date of closing and the possibility of examining or making copies of all or part of the case file filed during that period. Upon expiration of said period, the case file shall be destroyed in its entirety, unless expressly requested otherwise by the Client.
9. Responsability
Cairn Legal has subscribed insurance policies to cover its responsibility. The extent of Cairn Legal’s liability is expressly limited to the amount that is covered by the insurance. Insurance information may be communicated to the Client upon written request. Upon written request from the Client, Cairn Legal may increase the amount of the insurance coverage, in such case the parties will agree upon the modalities of this specific insurance.
10. Applicable Law – Disputes
The contractual relation between Cairn Legal and the Client is subject to Belgian law. Every dispute arising from this agreement, will be subject to prior negotiation between parties, or mediation. Any dispute arising from this agreement shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Brussels, except for the possible jurisdiction of professional associations over disciplinary or ethical matters or disputed claims for fees.
General disclaimer
Our website (www.www.cairnlegal.be) contains general information on Cairn Legal and its attorneys.
This site is not aimed at providing legal or any other advice. Cairn Legal cannot be held liable for any damage which would be incurred by using information provided on this website. If you would like to receive legal advice, please contact a qualified attorney who will advise you on the basis of your personal situation.
Cairn Legal is not responsible for any content which would be available on external websites linked to this website.
Attorney-client relation
You can contact us via the “Contact ” section on this website or in any other manner, but you must take into account that such a contact does not automatically imply that you are or will be a client of our firm. We only accept clients after having made express arrangements in this regard and on the basis of our general terms and conditions.
Cairn Legal’s attorneys are active in the legal fields described in the “Practice areas” on this website.
Copyright
Cairn Legal has the exclusive copyright to this website, its design and its complete content. Any use of this website, or parts thereof, in any form whatsoever, without Cairn Legal’s prior written permission is prohibited.
Applicable law and competent courts
By visiting this website you accept that this website’s complete content, including the legal information, is governed by Belgian law and must be interpreted in accordance with Belgian law. The Belgian courts, thus excluding any other courts, are competent to handle any disputes which may stem from this website or the use thereof.
Our website (www.www.cairnlegal.be) contains general information on Cairn Legal and its attorneys.
This site is not aimed at providing legal or any other advice. Cairn Legal cannot be held liable for any damage which would be incurred by using information provided on this website. If you would like to receive legal advice, please contact a qualified attorney who will advise you on the basis of your personal situation.
Cairn Legal is not responsible for any content which would be available on external websites linked to this website.
Cairn Legal values the privacy of those who provide personal data to us. This privacy policy (the “Policy”) describes how and why we collect, store and use personal data, and provides information about individual’s rights.
This Policy applies to both personal data supplied to us either by an individual or by organisations. We may use personal data supplied to us for any of the purposes as set out in this Policy, or as otherwise disclosed at the point of collection.
Cairn Legal owns and operates the website www.www.cairnlegal.be
1. What terms are used in this Privacy Policy?
In this Policy, we use the terms:
2. Who is responsible for your personal data?
Cairn Legal SCRL (BCE/KBO 0825.996.372) is the data controller responsible for your personal data. Our contact details are provided below.
3. Quelles données collectons-nous et traitons-nous ?
We collect and process the following personal data from you:
If you provide information to us about any person other than yourself (your family, employer, employees, counterparties, advisers, suppliers…), you must ensure that they understand how their information will be used, and that they have given their permission for you to disclose it to us and for you to allow us, and our outsourced service providers, to use it. If we need personal data in respect of individuals associated with clients in order to provide legal services we ask our clients to provide this Policy to such individuals as data subjects.
4. How do we collect your personal data?
In the majority of circumstances we will collect personal data (1) from our clients or from third parties acting on behalf of our clients or (2) if you sign up to attend any of our events and/or to receive our communications. In some circumstances (3) we may collect personal data from third parties.
The circumstances in which we can collect personal data about you are the following:
Where we need to collect personal data by law or in order to process your instructions or perform a contract we have with you and you fail to provide that data when requested, we may not be able to carry out your instructions or perform the contract we have or are trying to enter into with you. In this case, we may have to cancel our engagement or contract you have with us, but we will notify you if this is the case at the time.
5. How will we use your personal data and on what basis?
We will use your personal data in such a manner as we believe is reasonably necessary only for the following purposes and on the following legal basis:
6. Who else may have access to your personal data?
On occasion, we may need to share your personal data with third parties. We will only share personal data where we are legally permitted to do so.
Where you provide us with personal data as a client, we will assume, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing, that we can disclose your personal data in such manner as we believe is reasonably necessary to provide our services (including as described in this Policy), or as is required under applicable law.
We share your personal data:
7. International transfers of Information
When we transfer your personal data to other countries, including in territories outside of the European Economic Area (“EEA”), we will safeguard that information as described in this Policy.
The legal regimes of some countries outside of the EEA do not always offer the same standard of data protection as those inside the EEA, although we will ensure that your personal data is only ever treated in accordance with this Policy. We only transfer personal data to these countries when it is necessary for the services we provide you, or it is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or subject to safeguards that assure the protection of your personal data, such as European Commission approved standard contractual clauses.
All our subsidiary undertakings and/or affiliates throughout the world ensure a level of data protection at least as protective as that required in the European Economic Area.
For further information, including obtaining a copy of the documents used to protect your information, please contact us using the contact details provided below.
8. Security of your personal data
We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. We put in place strict confidentiality agreements (including data protection obligations) with our third party service providers.
We have also put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.
9. Your rights
You may, at any time, exercise any of the above rights, by contacting us using the contact details provided below. If we have doubt about your identity, we may request you to provide us with a proof of your identity, i.e. a copy of your ID card, or passport, or any other valid identifying document.
10. Withdrawal of consent
When personal data is processed on the basis of your consent, you may withdraw consent at any time (this may apply to processing of special categories of personal data where you have instructed us to act on your behalf and includes the following: racial/ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs and trade union membership). Once we have received notification that you have withdrawn your consent, we will no longer process your information for the purpose(s) to which you originally consented unless there is another legal ground for the processing.
In the event that you no longer want to receive any marketing communications from us, please use the unsubscribe option (which is in all of our marketing emails to you), or contact us using the contact details provided below. Withdrawal of consent to receive marketing communications will not affect the processing of personal data for the provision of our legal services.
11. How long do we keep your personal data?
We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements and, where required for us to assert or defend against legal claims, until the end of the relevant retention period or until the claims in question have been settled.
Our general retention period, for the personal data which processing is necessary for the performance of a contract, is 10 years starting from the end of the contract or closing of the file. In some instances there are legal and regulatory exceptions which may require personal data to be held for longer or shorter periods. If you require further information please contact us using the contact details provided below.
Upon expiry of the applicable retention period we will securely destroy your personal data in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
12. Cookies
This policy aims to give you as clear and comprehensive information as possible about the cookies we use and their purpose.
1. What is a cookie?
A “cookie” is a small file consisting of letters and numbers stored in your browser or on your computer’s hard drive. These cookies contain information that we use to process your requests and improve our web services.
2. Why do we use cookies?
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to distinguish your usage preferences from those of other users of our website. This allows us to provide you with a better experience when you visit our website and to optimise our website.
However, cookies and similar technologies do not allow us to systematically collect data that could identify you. They only help us to improve the functioning of our website, to understand your interests and to assess the relevance of the content of our website.
3. Your consent
By visiting our site, we ask you to accept the use of cookies. You are free to accept or decline cookies, but please note that declining to accept them may make it more difficult or impossible for you to use our website if they are functional cookies.
Whatever your choice, you can always change your choice by clicking on the “Cookies” hyperlink located at the bottom of each page of our website.
4. More information about cookies
For more information on cookies, including how to see what cookies have been stored and how to manage and delete them, please visit: http://www.allaboutcookies.org/
For more information about our cookie policy, please contact us at privacy@cairnlegal.be.
13. Links to other websites
Our website(s) and social media pages may link to other, unaffiliated third party websites and/or social media pages. Please note that we are not, and cannot, control or be responsible for the content or privacy and confidentiality practices of any third party websites. You must always carefully review the privacy and confidentiality policy of any third party website that you may visit in order to understand how the operators of that website may collect, store and use your personal data.
14. Changes to our privacy policy
We reserve the right to update and change this Policy from time to time in order to reflect any changes to the way in which we process your personal data or changing legal requirements. Any changes we may make to our Policy in the future will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by email.
This Policy was last updated in June 2018. Please check back regularly to keep informed of updates to this Policy.
15. Contact Details
Questions, comments and requests regarding this Policy are welcomed and should be addressed to privacy team at:
Cairn Legal SCRL
Address: Chaussée de La Hulpe 177 box 12, 1170 Brussels, Belgium
Phone: +32.2.787.70.70
Email: privacy@cairnlegal.be
1. Contact Details
Cairn Legal SRL (inscrite à la BCE sous le numéro 0825.996.372)
Adress: Chaussée de La Hulpe 177 / 12, 1170 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32.2.787.70.70
2. Banking data
CBC BANQUE – Agency Waterloo
Drève Richelle, 159 – 1410 Waterloo
Bank account : BE20 7320 1019 5256 – BIC : CREGBEBB
Carpa account : BE66 7320 1034 9143 – BIC : CREGBEBB
VAT : BE 0825.996.372
3. Identifaction and Reporting
Since 2 February 2004, all lawyers must comply with the preventive measures included in the money laundering legislation, when they exercise certain activities on behalf of their clients (Belgian law of 11 January 1993 on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorism financing). This law is designed to counter money laundering and terrorism financing. To this end, it imposes a number of mandatory obligations on lawyers. Non-compliance with these obligations may result in disciplinary sanctions and administrative fines.
First, all lawyers have the obligation to identify their clients and to request and keep certain documents proving a client’s identity. During the entire duration of the client relationship, lawyers are also subject to an obligation of vigilance. Additional information may be required. This information and vigilance obligation does not only pertain to the clients of a lawyer – both natural and legal persons – but also to their agents, such as the company directors. When lawyers become aware during the exercise of the essential activities of their profession of facts, known or suspected to be related to money laundering or terrorist financing, they should immediately report this to president of the bar association, except when they are informing the client on the current state of law that applies to his personal situation or to the client’s defence or representation in (relation with) legal proceedings. It is the president of the bar association who will decide whether or not he shall pass on the reported information to the Belgian Financial Information Processing Unit.
Indeed, these obligations do not impair the professional secrecy, which continuously typifies the client-lawyer relationship.
If you have any questions in this regard, please contact info@cairnlegal.be
4. Code of Conduct
Belgian attorneys working at Cairn Legal are permitted to exercise the profession of attorney in Belgium. They are members of the Brussels and/or Nicelles bars, and carry the title of “advocaat“/”avocat” (attorney at law).
Attorneys are subject to professional deontological rules of the “l’Ordre des barreaux francophones et germanophone de Belgique” and of the “l’Orde van Vlaamse Balies”. These rules of conduct can be found on the following sites: