Business compliance, privacy and technology agreements

Start with the activities your business actually carries on

The requirements to consider depend on your operations, industry, customers and where you do business. A useful review begins by defining those facts.

We assist with legal risk assessments, compliance audits and reviews of applicable regulatory and industry requirements within an agreed scope. Describe the products or services you offer, the locations involved, your role and any change you are planning.

Set the boundaries of the review

A focused assessment might concern a new customer process, an online service, a technology rollout or a group of business policies. We identify the documents and questions to be considered, the proposed deliverable and the issues requiring separate advice. A review of one process does not establish compliance across the entire business.

Documents we can discuss

• Existing policies, procedures and relevant notices
• Privacy policies, website terms and e-commerce agreements
• AI-use policies and internal technology rules
• Software, cloud and other technology vendor agreements
• Confidentiality, data-use and digital-content licence terms

Turn findings into defined next steps

The agreed work may include advice on identified gaps, proposed document changes, contractual negotiations or a plan for connected professional input. We can also discuss ongoing counsel for contracts, governance and compliance as the business changes.

Connect privacy and customer-facing terms with real practices

A policy needs to describe how information is handled. Website and e-commerce terms address a different part of the customer relationship.

We can draft or review privacy policies, website terms and e-commerce agreements in the context of your operations. Explain what information is collected, why it is needed, who uses it, which providers receive it and how customers interact with the business.

Assess the applicable privacy framework

The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) generally applies to personal information handled in commercial activities, subject to its scope and exceptions. Other laws may apply to particular information, sectors or jurisdictions. The relevant rules need assessment before relying on a general template.

Make the documents work together

Privacy notices, consent processes and internal practices should be considered together. Customer-facing terms may also need to address the service or product, order acceptance, payment, cancellation, permitted use and responsibility for content. The appropriate provisions depend on the transaction and applicable requirements.

Read technology commitments alongside information and ownership rights

The software licence, vendor terms and internal use policy should be considered with the way the tool will operate in your business.

We can review software and technology vendor agreements, confidentiality obligations, permitted data-use terms and internal AI-use policies. Identify the tool, its intended users and the broad categories of information involved without sending sensitive datasets in your first inquiry.

Clarify what the provider may do

Contract questions may include service scope, licences, access rights, data uses, subcontractors, storage locations, support, fees, renewals, liability, notice of incidents and the return or deletion of information when the relationship ends. Contract terms and a provider’s actual practices both matter.

Set internal rules for AI tools

An AI-use policy can address approved tools and uses, confidential or personal information, human review, staff responsibilities and escalation of concerns. We consider the proposed legal rules with the provider’s terms and the business use case. Legal obligations continue to need assessment when AI is involved.

Digital content, software, inputs and outputs can also raise ownership and licensing questions. We help document the relevant commercial rights and identify where connected intellectual property strategy or other advice is needed; ownership or permission should not be assumed from access to a tool.