{"id":11915,"date":"2023-09-12T17:59:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T15:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/privacy-policy\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T11:16:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:16:03","slug":"privacy-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/privacy-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Privacy Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"11915\" class=\"elementor elementor-11915 elementor-3\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-573c0d8e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"573c0d8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce3f2ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce3f2ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As a law firm, Wilhelm Avocats SA (\u2018we\u2019, \u2018our firm\u2019) attaches particular importance to the protection of your data. Protecting your data is not just an empty phrase for us. This policy describes how we process the personal data of individuals who instruct us, seek our services, subscribe to our newsletter or members\u2019 area, or visit our website.  <\/p><p> <\/p><p><em>Version: June 2026 (replaces the January 2021 version).<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0c57fb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a0c57fb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c26f98 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c26f98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>1. Data controller<\/h3><p>The data controller within the meaning of Article 5(j) of the Data Protection Act is:  <\/p><p>Wilhelm Avocats SA, Avenue de Rumine 13, 1005 Lausanne \u2014 t\u00e9l. : 021 711 71 00 \u2014 email: <strong><a href=\"mailto:info@wg-avocats.ch\">info@wg-avocats.ch<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 company registration number (IDE) : [CHE-409.055.819]. <\/p><p>As a law firm based in Switzerland, we are subject to the Federal Data Protection Act (FADP, in force since September 1st, 2023), it being understood that, whatever the circumstances, we remain bound by our obligations regarding professional secrecy. As we do not deliberately target residents of the European Union in connection with the provision of our services within the meaning of Article 3(2) of the GDPR, we do not consider ourselves to be subject to the GDPR in the course of our activities.   <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfb1bc7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bfb1bc7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>2. What data do we process?<\/h3><p>We may process the following categories of personal data relating to you:<\/p><ul><li>identification and contact details: surname, first name, address, telephone number, email address;<\/li><li>professional data: occupation, employer and any other basic data, in particular when opening a file;<\/li><li>financial data: bank details and billing information, in the course of our business dealings;<\/li><li>surname, first name, email address and employer, when you subscribe to our newsletter or register for our subscribers\u2019 area;<\/li><li>any information you provide to us, or which comes to our attention, in the course of carrying out an assignment or our communications.<\/li><\/ul><p> <\/p><p><strong>Sensitive data. <\/strong>In the course of our mandates, we may need to process sensitive data within the meaning of Article 5(c) of the Data Protection Act (FADP) \u2014 in particular data relating to health, criminal or administrative proceedings or sanctions, social welfare measures, or data revealing religious, philosophical, political or trade union opinions or activities. The processing of such data is based on the exercise or defence of your legal rights and is therefore directly related to the performance of the mandate you have entrusted to us (Article 31(2)(a) FADP) and is carried out on the basis of your express consent (Article 6(7) FADP).   <\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong>Sources of data. <\/strong>We collect data directly from you, as well as indirectly from third parties (opposing parties, other representatives, authorities) or from publicly available sources (public registers and databases), to the extent necessary for the performance of the mandate. Where we are bound by professional secrecy, we are exempt from the duty to provide information (Art. 20(1)(c) FADP): opposing parties and third parties cannot therefore expect to be informed of the collection of data concerning them. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35a722e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"35a722e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>3. For what purposes do we process your data?<\/h3><p>The processing of your data may serve several purposes:<\/p><ul><li>to communicate with you (by email, telephone or post);<\/li><li>to manage conflicts of interest;<\/li><li>to manage the performance of the mandate you have entrusted to us, including administrative and invoicing matters;<\/li><li>to send you our newsletter;<\/li><li>to grant you access to our subscribers\u2019 area and send you publications, alerts or invitations to events;<\/li><li>to comply with our legal and ethical obligations and, where necessary, to disclose data to the authorities in fulfilment of these obligations.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad7fb79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ad7fb79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>4. What are the legal bases for our data processing?<\/h3><p>Each purpose has a corresponding legal basis. Our processing is primarily based on the following grounds: <\/p><table width=\"624\"><thead><tr><td width=\"360\"><p><strong>Purpose of processing<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"264\"><p><strong>Legal basis (justification)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td width=\"360\"><p>Performance of the mandate, communication with you, administrative management and invoicing<\/p><\/td><td width=\"264\"><p>Performance of the mandate contract (Art. 31(2)(a) FADP)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"360\"><p>Compliance with legal and professional obligations (e.g. Anti-Money Laundering Act, record-keeping, accounting obligations)<\/p><\/td><td width=\"264\"><p>Legal obligation<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"360\"><p>Management of conflicts of interest, debt recovery, fraud prevention and the security of our systems<\/p><\/td><td width=\"264\"><p>Overriding private interest (Art. 31(1) FDAP)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"360\"><p>Sending the newsletter, access to the subscribers\u2019 area, audience measurement cookies<\/p><\/td><td width=\"264\"><p>Your consent (Art. 6(6) FDAP), which may be withdrawn at any time<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"360\"><p>Processing of sensitive data in the context of a mandate<\/p><\/td><td width=\"264\"><p>Exercising or defending legal rights on the basis of the mandate entrusted to us (Art. 31(2)(a) FDAP) and your express consent (Art. 6(7) FDAP)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94293a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"94293a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>5. Use of cookies<\/h3><p>We use cookies on our website to improve the user experience and analyse traffic. Cookies are small files stored on your device whilst you are browsing. They are categorised as follows:  <\/p><ul><li>Strictly necessary cookies: essential for the website to function properly; they do not require your consent.<\/li><li>Audience measurement cookies: we use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. This tool sets cookies and processes data that constitutes personal data (online identifiers, IP address). Its use involves the transfer of data to Google, where applicable to countries outside the EU (notably the United States), subject to appropriate safeguards (see section 9). These cookies are only set with your consent.   <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Changing your consent to cookies. <\/strong>You can change or withdraw your consent at any time via our cookie manager, which details the different types of cookies used and allows you to adjust your preferences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1247955 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1247955\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>6. Security measures<\/h3><p>We have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures (Article 8 FADP) to protect your data against loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access. These measures include, but are not limited to, data encryption, access management, regular backups and staff training. <\/p><p>However, no information system offers absolute security: despite the appropriate measures we implement, we cannot guarantee the total security of your data and accept no liability for any breach that may occur despite adequate measures being in place.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70905d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70905d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>7. Who do we share your data with?<\/h3><p>We may share your data with the following categories of recipients; such sharing is carried out at all times in accordance with our obligations under professional secrecy:<\/p><ul><li>our IT service providers (who may access your data, particularly when providing support), on the basis of data processing agreements compliant with the FADP;<\/li><li>our external service providers, such as our auditor or our bank;<\/li><li>suppliers to whom we outsource certain activities (e.g. the translation of documents or the use of IT tools based on artificial intelligence);<\/li><li>the tax authorities;<\/li><li>administrative, criminal, judicial or arbitration authorities, in connection with the mandate you have entrusted to us;<\/li><li>law firms and entities with which we communicate in the course of carrying out your mandate.<\/li><\/ul><p>We may also be required to disclose data to authorities in order to comply with our legal or regulatory obligations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96e9562 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"96e9562\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>8. Where your data is processed and transferred abroad?<\/h3><p>Our servers are hosted in-house in Switzerland and are subject to appropriate technical and organisational measures, taking into account the sensitivity of your data.<\/p><p>Data is only transferred abroad where this is necessary for the performance of the mandate (in particular to a law firm based abroad) or, where applicable, in connection with certain technical service providers. Such a transfer takes place only to a country offering an adequate level of protection recognised by the Federal Council; failing that, it is accompanied by appropriate safeguards within the meaning of Article 16(2) FDAP (in particular standard contractual clauses) or falls within one of the exceptions set out in Article 17 FDAP. Where a transfer arises from the performance of your mandate, we discuss this with you in advance and inform you of the context in which we consider it necessary to carry out the transfer (Article 19(4) FDAP). We ensure in advance that the recipient entity undertakes to comply with the duty of professional secrecy enshrined in Article 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code or is subject (particularly in the case of firms based abroad) to comparable rules.      <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-971aeaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"971aeaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>9. How long do we retain your data?<\/h3><p>We retain your data for as long as necessary for the purposes described, and thereafter for the following periods:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Client files: <\/strong>at least ten years after the end of the engagement (generally, upon settlement of our final invoice), in accordance with our professional obligations \u2014 or even longer, taking into account the applicable limitation periods, in order to protect ourselves against any potential liability claims;<\/li><li><strong>Accounting and invoicing data:<\/strong> ten years, in accordance with our accounting obligations (Art. 958f CO);<\/li><li><strong>Marketing data (newsletters, subscriber area): <\/strong>until you withdraw your consent;<\/li><li><strong>Technical data (logs):<\/strong> for as long as is necessary to ensure the security of our systems.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46502dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46502dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>10. What are your rights?<\/h3><p>In accordance with the FADP, you have the following rights:<\/p><ul><li>right of access (Article 25 FADP): to obtain confirmation that data concerning you is being processed and a copy of such data; we will normally respond within 30 days (Article 25(7) FADP);<\/li><li><strong>the right to rectification<\/strong> (Article 32(1) and article. 6(5) FADP): to have inaccurate data corrected;<\/li><li><strong>the right to request the erasure or destruction<\/strong> of your data (Article 32(2) FADP in conjunction with article 28 et seq. CC), although we may be unable to do so in view of our legal or professional obligations, or without having to terminate the mandate between us;<\/li><li><strong>the right to object<\/strong> to the processing of your data (Article 30(2)(b) FDAP);<\/li><li><strong>the right to receive or have <\/strong>your data transferred (portability, Article 28 FDAP);<\/li><li><strong>the right to withdraw your consent<\/strong> for processing operations based on that ground (newsletter, subscriber area, audience measurement cookies), at any time and without retroactive effect.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Restrictions specific to the practice of law. <\/strong>The exercise of these rights may be restricted where the law permits us to do so, in particular to safeguard professional secrecy (Article 26(1)(a) FDAP in conjunction with article 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code) or an overriding interest of our firm (Article 26 FDAP), as well as in other cases provided for by law.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-658ac9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"658ac9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>11. How to exercise your rights and lodge a complaint<\/h3><p>To exercise your rights or for any queries regarding the processing of your data, you may write to us at: <a href=\"mailto:info@wg-avocats.ch\">info@wg-avocats.ch<\/a> (contact person: Mr Christophe Wilhelm). To enable us to deal with your request efficiently, please provide your identity and the specific nature of your request; we may need to ask you for further information to verify your identity. <\/p><p>If you believe that we have failed to fulfil our obligations, you may contact the relevant judicial authority or lodge a complaint with the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC), Feldeggweg 1, 3003 Bern (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.edoeb.admin.ch\">www.edoeb.admin.ch<\/a>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8b7d47 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8b7d47\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>12. Updates to this policy<\/h3><p>We review this policy at regular intervals (generally once a year) and update it in line with changes to our data processing activities or the legal framework. The current version is the one published on our website. In the event of any substantial changes affecting your rights, we will inform you accordingly.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac10b2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac10b2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>13. Any other questions?<\/h3><p>If you have any questions regarding this policy or the processing of your data, please email us at:<a href=\"mailto:info@wg-avocats.ch\"> info@wg-avocats.ch<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a law firm, Wilhelm Avocats SA (\u2018we\u2019, \u2018our firm\u2019) attaches particular importance to the protection of your data. Protecting your data is not just an empty phrase for us. This policy describes how we process the personal data of individuals who instruct us, seek our services, subscribe to our newsletter or members\u2019 area, or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11915","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11915\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wg-avocats.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}