1. Purpose and Scope

Parke Lawyers Pty Ltd (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting personal information and complying with applicable privacy and financial crime laws.

This Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and manage personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988, and how we meet our obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act), as regulated by AUSTRAC. This Policy applies to all clients, prospective clients, and third parties whose personal information we collect in the course of providing legal services.

PART A — PRIVACY

2. What is Personal Information

Personal information means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable.

  • This may include (without limitation):
  • name, address, email and telephone details
  • date of birth and identification details
  • occupation and financial information
  • government identifiers (where permitted)
  • sensitive information where relevant to legal services

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information through:

  • client interviews and consultations
  • correspondence (including email and electronic communications)
  • our website (www.pl.com.au), forms and cookies
  • publicly available sources
  • third parties (e.g. referrers, agents, counterparties)

Where reasonable and practicable, we collect information directly from you.

4. Purpose of Collection

We collect and use personal information for:

  • providing legal services
  • communicating with clients and stakeholders
  • managing client relationships
  • complying with legal and regulatory obligations
  • limited marketing and service updates (subject to consent requirements)

We may also use information for secondary purposes where reasonably expected or required by law.

5. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose personal information:

  • with your consent
  • to persons authorised to act on your behalf
  • to courts, tribunals, regulators or government agencies
  • where required or authorised by law

6. Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure through:

  • physical, electronic and procedural safeguards
  • secure IT systems and access controls
  • document management and destruction protocols

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as required for:

  • the purpose for which it was collected
  • legal, regulatory and professional obligations

In most cases, this will be a minimum of seven (7) years.

8. Access and Correction

You may request access to personal information we hold about you. We may require verification of identity prior to release. We will take reasonable steps to correct inaccurate or outdated information.

9. Direct Marketing

We comply with the Spam Act 2003. You may opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time.

PART B — AML/CTF OBLIGATIONS

10. Our Legal Obligations

We are required to comply with the AML/CTF Act, which is designed to detect and prevent money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious financial crime. This imposes obligations that may require us to collect, verify, use and disclose personal information without your consent.

11. Collection of Identification Information (KYC/CDD)

Before providing certain services, we are required to collect and verify information including:

  • identity information (e.g. passport, driver licence)
  • residential address
  • date of birth
  • beneficial ownership and control (for entities)
  • source of funds and/or source of wealth (where required)

We may use electronic verification systems and independent data sources to verify this information.

12. Ongoing Monitoring and Risk Assessment

We are required to:

  • assess the risk profile of clients and matters
  • conduct ongoing due diligence
  • monitor transactions and activities

This may result in additional information being requested over time.

13. Use and Disclosure Without Consent

Under the AML/CTF Act, we may:

  • collect and use personal information where required by law
  • disclose information to AUSTRAC

This includes (but is not limited to):

  • Suspicious Matter Reports
  • regulatory reporting obligations

These disclosures:

  • may occur without your knowledge or consent
  • may be required by law

14. Prohibition on Telling Clients (“Tipping Off”)

In certain circumstances, we are legally prohibited from informing you:

  • that a report has been made
  • that a suspicion has arisen
  • that information has been provided to a regulator

We will comply strictly with these legal restrictions.

15. Consequences of Non-Compliance

If you do not provide required information, we may:

  • be unable to act for you
  • delay or cease providing services
  • terminate the client relationship

16. Data Sharing and Third-Party Verification

We may disclose personal information to:

  • identity verification service providers
  • credit reporting or data verification agencies
  • regulatory bodies
  • for the purpose of complying with AML/CTF obligations.

17. Interaction with Privacy Law

The Privacy Act permits the collection, use and disclosure of personal information where required or authorised by law. Our AML/CTF obligations operate alongside and, where necessary, override consent-based aspects of privacy law.

PART C — GENERAL

18. Policy Updates

This Policy may be updated from time to time and will be available on our website.

19. Contact Details

If you have any questions or complaints regarding this Policy, please contact:

Parke Lawyers Pty Ltd
GPO Box 66
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Email: law@pl.com.au