Privacy Policy

1. Preamble

Data protection is important to us. Below you will find information on what data we collect, process and use from you, when we do so, and for what purpose.
We collect, process and use personal data only to the extent that you have consented to this or where permitted by law.

2. Data controller

The data controller within the meaning of data protection laws is:
HARNISCH&PARTNER
Invalidenstraße 123, 10115 Berlin
Telephone +49 (0)30-30329220
Fax: +49 (0)30-30329222
Email: info@harnisch-partner.de

3. Collection and storage of personal data, as well as the nature and purpose of its use

a) When visiting the website
When you visit our website www.harnisch-partner.de, the browser used on your device automatically sends information to our website’s server. This information is temporarily stored in a so-called log file. The following information is collected without any action on your part and stored until it is automatically deleted:
• IP address of the requesting computer,
• Date and time of access,
• Name and URL of the file accessed,
• Website from which access is made (referrer URL),
• Browser used and, where applicable, your computer’s operating system, as well as the name of your internet service provider.
We process the aforementioned data for the following purposes:
• To ensure the website connects smoothly,
• To ensure a user-friendly experience on our website,
• To assess system security and stability, and
• For other administrative purposes.
The legal basis for data processing is Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest arises from the purposes of data collection listed above. Under no circumstances do we use the collected data for the purpose of drawing conclusions about your identity.
In addition, we use cookies and analytics services when you visit our website. Further details can be found in sections 4 and 5 of this privacy policy.

4. Disclosure of data

Your personal data will not be transferred to third parties for purposes other than those listed below.
We will only disclose your personal data to third parties if:
• you have given your explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR,
• the disclosure is necessary pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding legitimate interest in the non-disclosure of your data,
• where there is a legal obligation to disclose data in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR, and
• where this is permitted by law and necessary for the performance of contractual relationships with you in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

5. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. These are small files that your browser creates automatically and which are stored on your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our website. Cookies do not cause any damage to your device and do not contain viruses, Trojans or other malware.
Information is stored in the cookie that relates to the specific device used. However, this does not mean that we thereby gain direct knowledge of your identity.
The use of cookies serves, on the one hand, to make the use of our website more convenient for you. For example, we use so-called session cookies to recognise that you have already visited individual pages of our website. These are automatically deleted when you leave our site.
In addition, we also use temporary cookies to improve user-friendliness; these are stored on your device for a specific, predefined period. If you visit our site again to use our services, the system will automatically recognise that you have visited us before and recall the entries and settings you have made, so that you do not have to enter them again.
We also use cookies to collect statistical data on the use of our website and to evaluate this data for the purpose of optimising our offering for you (see section 5). These cookies enable us to automatically recognise that you have already visited our site when you return. These cookies are automatically deleted after a defined period of time.
The data processed by cookies is necessary for the aforementioned purposes to safeguard our legitimate interests and those of third parties in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.
Most browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you can configure your browser so that no cookies are stored on your computer or so that a notification always appears before a new cookie is created. However, completely disabling cookies may mean that you cannot use all the functions of our website.

6. Analysis tools

a) Tracking tools
The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. We use these tracking measures to ensure that our website is designed to meet your needs and to continuously optimise it. Furthermore, we use the tracking measures to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimising our offering for you. These interests are to be regarded as legitimate within the meaning of the aforementioned provision.
The respective data processing purposes and data categories can be found in the relevant tracking tools.
i) Google Analytics
For the purpose of designing our pages to meet your needs and continuously optimising them, we use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter “Google”). In this context, pseudonymised user profiles are created and cookies (see section 4) are used. The information generated by the cookie regarding your use of this website, such as
• browser type/version,
• operating system used,
• referrer URL (the previously visited page),
• host name of the accessing computer (IP address),
• time of the server request,
are transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The information is used to analyse website usage, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services relating to website and internet usage for the purposes of market research and to tailor the design of these web pages to user needs. This information may also be transferred to third parties where required by law or where such third parties process the data on Google’s behalf. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other data held by Google. IP addresses are anonymised so that they cannot be linked to you (IP masking).
You can prevent the installation of cookies by adjusting your browser settings accordingly; however, we would like to point out that in this case, you may not be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent.
You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address), as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing a browser add-on.
As an alternative to the browser add-on, particularly for browsers on mobile devices, you can also prevent data collection by Google Analytics by clicking on this link. An opt-out cookie will be set, which prevents the future collection of your data when you visit this website. The opt-out cookie applies only to this browser and only to our website, and is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you will need to set the opt-out cookie again.
Further information on data protection in connection with Google Analytics can be found, for example, in the Google Analytics Help.
ii) Google AdWords Conversion Tracking
To statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimising our website for you, we also use Google Conversion Tracking. In this process, Google AdWords sets a cookie (see section 4) on your computer if you have arrived at our website via a Google advert.
These cookies expire after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits specific pages on the AdWords customer’s website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the customer can recognise that the user clicked on the advert and was redirected to that page.
Each AdWords customer receives a different cookie. Cookies cannot therefore be tracked across the websites of AdWords customers. The information collected using the conversion cookie is used to generate conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. AdWords customers are informed of the total number of users who have clicked on their ad and been redirected to a page tagged with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that can be used to personally identify users.
If you do not wish to participate in the tracking process, you can also refuse the setting of the cookie required for this purpose – for example, via a browser setting that generally deactivates the automatic setting of cookies. You can also deactivate cookies for conversion tracking by setting your browser to block cookies from the domain www.googleadservices.com can be blocked. Google’s privacy policy regarding conversion tracking can be found here.
iii) Matomo
We use the open-source software Matomo to analyze and statistically evaluate website usage. Cookies are used for this purpose (see Section 4). The information generated by the cookie regarding website usage is transmitted to our servers and aggregated into pseudonymous usage profiles. The information is used to evaluate website usage and to enable us to design our website in a way that meets user needs. The information is not shared with third parties.
Under no circumstances is the IP address linked to other data relating to the user. IP addresses are anonymized so that they cannot be traced back to an individual (IP masking).
Your visit to this website is currently being tracked by Matomo web analytics. Click here to stop your visit from being tracked.

7. Social Media

We also use social media to raise awareness of our law firm. The underlying promotional purpose is to be regarded as a legitimate interest within the meaning of the GDPR. The respective providers are responsible for ensuring that their services are operated in compliance with data protection regulations.
a) Facebook
If you are logged into Facebook, Facebook can directly associate your visit to our website with your Facebook account.
Facebook may use this information for advertising, market research, and to tailor the Facebook pages to your needs. To this end, Facebook creates usage, interest, and relationship profiles, e.g., to evaluate your use of our website in relation to the ads displayed to you on Facebook, to inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website, and to provide other services related to the use of Facebook.
If you do not want Facebook to associate the data collected via our website with your Facebook account, you must log out of Facebook before visiting our website.
In addition to storing the data you specifically enter on this social media platform, the social network provider may collect, process, or use additional information. The social network provider may also collect, process, and use key data from the computer system you are using to access the site—for example, your IP address, the type of processor used, and your browser version.
For information on the purpose and scope of data collection, as well as the further processing and use of the data by Facebook, and your related rights and privacy settings, please refer to Facebook’s Privacy Policy.

8. Data Subject Rights

You have the right:
• pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR, to request information about your personal data processed by us. In particular, you may request information regarding the purposes of processing, the categories of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, or objection; the existence of a right to lodge a complaint; the origin of your data, if it was not collected by us; and the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, and, where applicable, meaningful information regarding its details;
• pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR, to request the immediate rectification of inaccurate personal data or the completion of your personal data stored by us;
• to request the erasure of your personal data stored by us in accordance with Article 17 of the GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information, to comply with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims;
• to request, pursuant to Article 18 of the GDPR, the restriction of the processing of your personal data, provided that you contest the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful but you oppose its erasure and we no longer need the data, but you require it for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims, or you have objected to the processing pursuant to Article 21 of the GDPR;
• pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive the personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, or to request its transmission to another controller;
• pursuant to Art. 7(3) GDPR, to withdraw your consent at any time; As a result, we may no longer continue the data processing that was based on this consent in the future; and
• to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority pursuant to Article 77 of the GDPR. As a general rule, you may contact the supervisory authority in your usual place of residence, place of work, or where our law firm is headquartered.

9. Right to Object

If your personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, you have the right, pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR, to object to the processing of your personal data, provided there are grounds arising from your particular situation or the objection is directed against direct marketing. In the latter case, you have a general right to object, which we will honor without requiring you to specify a particular situation.
If you wish to exercise your right of withdrawal or objection, simply send an email to info@harnisch-partner.de.

10. Data Security

During your visit to our website, we use the widely adopted SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol in conjunction with the highest encryption level supported by your browser. This is typically 256-bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we will use 128-bit v3 technology instead. You can tell whether a specific page on our website is being transmitted securely by the closed key or lock icon displayed in the status bar at the bottom of your browser.
We also employ appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction, or unauthorized access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.

11. Validity and Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is currently in effect and was last updated in May 2018.
Due to the ongoing development of our website and the services offered through it, or due to changes in legal or regulatory requirements, it may become necessary to amend this privacy policy. You can view and print the current version of the privacy policy at any time on the website at https://www.harnisch-partner.de/en/datenschutz.