Legal Terms

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy regulates the processing of personal data of users (hereinafter “User” or “Users”), collected in association with the use of the website www.vf-advogados.pt (the “Website”), by Valério, Figueiredo e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados SP RL (“VFA”), as the entity responsible for the processing.

VFA strives to promote the privacy and rights of personal data subjects, acting in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable legislation.

The provision of your personal data implies knowledge and acceptance of the conditions set out in this Privacy Policy.

1. Collection and Processing of Personal Data

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, that is, a person who can be identified, directly or indirectly, either by reference to a name, an identification number, location data, an electronic identifier or by one or more factors that are specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

Personal data subjects are the natural persons to whom the data relates.

VFA may process the following categories of personal data, belonging to different categories of data subjects, such as clients, client employees (companies), counterparties or candidates:

  1. Identification data (e.g. name, date of birth, gender, address, contact information, ID card, passport and taxpayer number, nationality);
  2. Data relating to professional experience (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, languages, curriculum vitae, former employee information);
  3. Professional data (job title, position, job description, company, office address);
  4. Professional activity data (e.g. business activities, information related to cases and files, information related to proceedings);
  5. Invoicing and expenses data (e.g. fees, travel and communication expenses on behalf of the client);
  6. Image recording data (e.g. photographic and video images).

VFA collects personal data through various means and at various times, and may, in some cases, collect personal data indirectly, namely through public sources.

When VFA processes personal data that it has collected indirectly, it will provide all the information regarding the processing of this data to the respective data subjects.

VFA has a strict security policy, from a technical and organisational point of view, which strives to protect personal data against destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access, and against any other form of unlawful or abusive processing.

The technical and organisational security measures created and implemented by VFA are also required by its service providers who may process personal data on its behalf.

2. Grounds for Processing Personal Data

VFA may process personal data for the following purposes and with the following legal grounds:

  1. For communicating and sending legal information;
  2. To recruit and select lawyers and staff according to the applications submitted;
  3. To provide legal services (e.g. client opening, communicating with the client or document archiving);
  4. To fulfil legal obligations regarding compliance matters;
  5. For invoicing and accounting management (e.g. expense accounting, cost control and reimbursements);
  6. For submitting cases to legal directories;
  7. For judicial and extrajudicial collection and claims (e.g. recovery of amounts owed by clients).

VFA will only store your data for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the purposes set out in this Policy or for as long as it is required by applicable legal or regulatory standards.

3. Personal Data Retention Periods

The retention periods for personal data, according to each processing purpose, are as follows:

  1. For communicating and sending legal information = until the data subject expresses their opposition;
  2. For the recruitment and selection of lawyers and staff according to the applications submitted = 2 (two) years from the date of submission of the application or CV, in the event that the candidate is not selected;
  3. For the provision of legal services = corresponds to the duration of the mandatory relationship, plus 20 (twenty) years;
  4. For the fulfilment of legal obligations regarding compliance matters = 7 (seven) years from the moment client identification was processed or, in the case of business relationships, after their termination;
  5. For invoicing and accounting management = 10 (ten) years;
  6. For submitting cases to legal directories = for the duration of the case or file;
  7. For judicial and extrajudicial collection and claims = until the amounts owed are paid or the dispute is resolved, as applicable.

In all other cases, the retention periods for personal data correspond to the period during which the professional relationship with VFA is maintained.

4. Transmission of Personal Data

VFA does not transmit your personal data to third parties, except in cases where this is necessary for the provision of the services you have contracted or for the fulfilment of the legal obligations to which it is subject.

The transmission of data to third parties is carried out in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation and within the limits of the purposes and legal grounds set out in this Policy.

VFA may share personal data with the following entities:

  1. Relevant parties for the legal advice we provide (e.g. counterparties, courts, regulatory authorities, government institutions or other lawyers);
  2. Public authorities and the Bar Association, in the context of the fulfilment of legal obligations;
  3. Service providers who provide services to VFA for the purposes described above (e.g. IT providers, communication services, translation services, and digital and physical archiving services).

In cases where the transmission of personal data to the aforementioned entities involves an international transfer of personal data (i.e. outside the European Union), VFA:

  1. Will carry out that transfer based on an adequacy decision by the Commission, according to which the country or international organisation in question guarantees a level of protection of personal data equivalent to that resulting from the legislation of the European Union; or
  2. If there is no adequacy decision by the Commission, it will ensure that these data transfers are carried out in strict compliance with legal provisions and that adequate guarantees are implemented, in order to ensure the protection of personal data.

5. Rights of Data Subjects

As a data subject, you have the following rights:

  1. Right of access: at any time, you can request confirmation as to whether VFA processes your data, access to your personal data and information regarding the processing of your data, and you may obtain a copy of the personal data being processed;
  2. Right to rectification: if your personal data is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that it be rectified or completed;
  3. Right to erasure: you have the right to request the erasure of your personal data;
  4. Right to restriction of processing: you may ask VFA to restrict access to personal data or to suspend processing activities;
  5. Right to data portability: in cases where the processing of your data is based on a contract in which you are a party or on your consent, you may ask VFA to present you with the data you have provided in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format;
  6. Right to object: when data processing is based on VFA’s legitimate interest or when it is carried out for purposes other than those for which the data was collected, but which are compatible with them, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data on the grounds related to your particular situation;
  7. Right not to be subject to automated individual decisions: VFA does not adopt automated individual decisions that produce effects on your legal sphere;
  8. Right to withdraw consent: in cases where data processing is carried out based on your consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time;
  9. Right to file a complaint with the supervisory authority: you have the right to file a complaint with the competent supervisory authority, the National Data Protection Commission, regarding matters related to the processing of your personal data.

VFA advises that the exercise of the rights identified above may be limited due to the existence of the rights and freedoms of third parties, legal or confidentiality obligations and prevailing legitimate interests.

You may exercise your rights, clarify doubts and obtain additional information through any of the following channels:

Email: via the email address geral@vf-advogados.pt; or

Letter: addressed to Valério, Figueiredo e Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, SP, RL
Rua da Misericórdia, 17, 2º direito, 1200-270 Lisboa.

This “Privacy Policy” may be updated, consequently, VFA advises you to consult it regularly.

Cookie Policy

1. What Cookies are

Cookies are small computer files stored by a website that make it possible to identify Users during future visits, remember their actions and preferences, while also improving their browsing experience.

Cookies do not identify the individual user, just the computer or mobile device used, and are not used to collect personal data.

2. Types of Cookies

This Website uses the following types of cookies:

  • Session Cookies: temporary cookies that remain in your Internet browser’s cookies until you leave the site, allowing the secure management of the various operations carried out by you during a session on our Website.
  • Permanent Cookies: cookies that are stored on your Internet browser and are used whenever you visit the Website.

3. Cookie functions

The cookies used by VFA, whether their own or third-party, may have the following functions:

  • Essential Cookies – allow optimal and personalised browsing on the Website, and certain services cannot be provided without them.

In general, the User’s consent is not required for their installation.

  • Analytical Cookies – used anonymously to analyse statistics in order to improve Website functioning.
  • Functionality Cookies – store the User’s preferences regarding the use of the Website.

4. Characteristics of Cookies

Most Internet browsers allow you to exercise some control over the use of cookies, enabling them to be blocked or deleted.

To learn more about cookies and how to manage the settings of various Internet browsers, please consult www.allaboutcookies.org.

If you have any questions, you may contact us through the following channels:

Email: via the email address geral@vf-advogados.pt; or

Letter: addressed to Valério, Figueiredo e Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, SP, RL
Rua da Misericórdia, 17, 2º direito, 1200-270 Lisboa.

Terms and Conditions

This Website was created and is operated by Valério, Figueiredo e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, SP RL (“VFA”) and is subject to the following Terms and Conditions.

1. Website and Legal Notices

VFA maintains this Website exclusively for informational and non-commercial purposes and does not use it to provide any legal advice.

The information contained on this Website is not confidential and does not establish an attorney-client relationship with any of VFA’s lawyers; it is merely informative.

VFA will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that all the information contained on the Website is accurate and up to date, but does not make any guarantees regarding the use of the Website or the material contained therein.

2. Information Protected by Intellectual Property Rights

The User recognises that the contents of this Website are protected by intellectual property rights and undertakes to respect the rights regarding texts, images, graphics, sound and animation, and all other information and the way in which they are graphically represented on the Website, including brands, logos and symbols.

The User is not authorised to modify, copy, sell, use or distribute, in any way, the texts, images or other information contained on this Website or part of the Website without prior written authorisation from VFA.

Any unauthorised use of the contents of the Website may violate legislation on intellectual property, trademarks, personality rights and advertising, and may also violate other laws and regulations.

The Website also contains references to third-party intellectual property.

3. Liability

VFA expressly excludes any liability for any damages or viruses that may infect the User’s computer or mobile device.

VFA shall not be liable for errors that may occur due to system irregularities or Website failure.

4. Links to Third-Party Websites

VFA may provide links to third-party websites that are not owned or controlled by VFA.

The use of these links is the sole responsibility of the Users of the Website.

5. Access to the Website

VFA has the exclusive right to suspend or terminate access to the Website at any time, namely for maintenance, repair, alteration or modernisation operations.

6. Changes to the Terms and Conditions

VFA reserves the right to make changes and additions at any time and without prior notice by posting new Terms and Conditions on the Website.

The User should consult the Terms and Conditions periodically, in order to be aware of any updates or changes that have taken place.

7. Acceptance of Terms

The use of the Website constitutes full acceptance of each of these Terms.