This privacy policy (Privacy Policy) explains how Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors Pty Ltd (ABN 39 146 318 783) (ABLA, we, us or our) handles and manages personal information we collect about you as:
- a client, whether as an individual or representative of an entity (Client);
- a visitor (Visitor) to our website, (Website) whether or not you are a Client; or
- an individual who is interested in becoming an ABLA employee (Candidate).
By using the Website and/or providing us with any personal information you agree that you are 15 years of age or older and acknowledge that this Privacy Policy details our collection, use, holding and disclosure of any of your personal information and you consent to our collection, use and disclosure of your sensitive information in accordance with and as set out in this Privacy Policy. If you are under 15 years of age, your parent or guardian must read and agree to this Privacy Policy on your behalf.
If you provide us with the personal information of another individual, you warrant that you have informed them of this, provided this Privacy Policy to them and that you have their permission to provide their personal information to us.
1 What personal information we collect and how
1.1 For Clients
As a Client, we collect personal information including, but not limited to:
- your full name, gender, date of birth and position/role at your organisation (where applicable);
- name and ABN of your business;
- your address, mobile phone number and email address; and
- banking / payment details (including your bank and credit card details).
We collect personal information when you (or someone on your behalf) provide it to us for the purposes of requesting our services, or via the Website, such as when filling out a contact form or registering for an event that we are running.
1.2 For Visitors
As a Visitor we collect your personal information if:
- you provide it to us on the Website (i.e. entering information into a form or contacting us via the Website, or joining a webinar or event);
- you enter and/or participate in a competition or survey of ours; and/or
- if you otherwise contact us by phone, email or mail.
We also collect personal information through the use of cookies (explained in the Cookies section below).
1.3 For Candidates
If you are a Candidate, we primarily collect your personal information (including sensitive information) in two stages: (i) when you submit an expression of interest (EOI Stage); and (ii) as part of the background checks we must carry out to process your application to work with us (Application Stage).
At the EOI Stage we collect your personal information (which you may provide to us in your cover letter or CV) including:
- your name, date of birth, country of birth, postcode and gender;
- contact information such as your address, email address and phone number;
- education information including your educational background, qualifications and professional registrations;
- background and profile information including your visa information, employment status, current and past positions, career and school history, responsibilities, references and languages spoken; and
- your police check (where applicable).
At the EOI Stage and/or Application Stage we collect your personal information about you including:
- identification information including your driver’s licence number and passport number;
- any disability you have;
- citizenship, residency status, ethnicity and language(s) spoken; and
- your tax file number.
Personal Information relating to employment applications may be collected directly from the Candidate, or from third parties, including recruitment agencies.
2 How we use your personal information
2.1 For Clients
We use the personal information we collect about you for the purpose of providing products and services to you, in particular:
- to process and deliver products and services to you such as legal, regulatory, or other advisory services (e.g. preparing and delivering documents, managing payments, fees and charges);
- to provide you with information about our products and services you requested and any other products or services that are related to those that you requested information about;
- to personalise and customise the products and services we offer you; and
- to process payments and transactions relating to products and services provided to you.
2.2 For Visitors
We use the personal information we collect about you:
- to respond to your queries and any complaints;
- to send you marketing communications as described below in Section 4;
- tailor our products and services to your needs;
- to conduct surveys and promotions; and
- for other purposes as permitted or required by law.
2.3 For Candidates
We use your personal information to:
- conduct employment related activities when you are seeking employment with us, including verifying your identity; and
- give you advice and information about roles and/or services that may be of interest to you.
We may retain personal information collected in relation to an employment application to assess a Candidates’ suitability for other roles with us.
3 How we share your personal information
3.1 For Candidates
If you are a Candidate and apply for employment with us, we will share your personal information with your referees and former employers in connection with your application.
We also share your personal information with:
- our insurers and workers’ compensation bodies for the purposes of coverage and claims administration; and
- relevant regulatory bodies where relevant.
3.2 For everyone
A number of third party service providers support us in providing services to you and we will share your personal information with them (and others as noted below) to assist us to perform one or more of the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy and, in particular:
- Xero, our billing system;
- My Emma, our digital marketing platform;
- LEAP, our matter management and billing system; and
- Kentico, our Website content management system.
Our third-party service providers are headquartered or have their data centres located in Australia.
In addition to the above, we share your personal information with our owner NSW Business Chamber Limited (ABN 63 000 014 504) (Business NSW) and its related entities (together Business NSW Group), for the purpose of identifying other products and services that may be relevant to you and contacting you about them. Please read Business NSW’s privacy policy, accessible at https://www.mybusiness.com.au/privacy-policy for more information as to how they handle your personal information.
We also share your personal information with:
- our professional advisors (e.g. accountants, auditors and lawyers);
- persons you have authorised to receive information we hold about you (including our business partners and sponsors); and
- other entities, authorities or agencies as required or authorised by law to do so.
Lastly, we use certain third-party tools ourselves (and do not transfer your personal information to these third parties for their own use). While we review the privacy and security arrangements of our third-party service providers and control the data they store, in some cases it is technically possible for them to access data containing your personal information.
4 Marketing communications
Our Website offers functionality allowing you to opt in to receive marketing communications relevant to you. We will only send you marketing communications that you choose to receive and by the means that you choose to receive them. If you change your mind, you will always have the option to unsubscribe.
5 Updating and/or accessing your personal information
You have the right to ask what personal information we hold about you and request access to and/or correction of your personal information at any time by contacting us. There is no charge for making such a request but we may charge a reasonable fee for responding to a request. We will respond to your request within 30 days of receiving it. If we cannot fulfil your request for any reason, we will write back to you and explain why and how you may complain about our decision.
We take reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of your personal information before we use it. To help us do this, please tell us immediately if your personal information changes.
6 Security of your personal information
We take reasonable steps to protect the security of your personal information.
6.1 Storing your personal information
We store your personal information on our Xero, My Emma and LEAP systems.
6.2 Transmitting your personal information
Unfortunately, no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while Business NSW will take all reasonable steps to protect your personal information including the use of encryption of in-transit data, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any personal information you transmit via the internet.
We also have reasonable security controls in place to protect your personal information once it reaches us, including encryption of data at rest, regular software patching and logging of system access.
7 Cookies
Information may be collected through the use of "cookies" on our Website. Cookies are small text files that a website can use in order to recognise visitors who revisit a website so as to facilitate their ongoing access to and use of the website. They enable usage behaviour to be tracked and aggregate data to be compiled that would facilitate more targeted advertising and improved content. Typically, cookies involve the assigning of a unique number to the visitor.
You can prevent the use of cookies by setting up your web browser to block them.
8 Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may, from time to time, update this Privacy Policy so please ensure you review it periodically for changes. If any changes are significant or substantial we will either let you know in writing or post a message to that effect on our Website.
Your continued use of the Website, requesting or continued use of our services or products, or the provision by you of further personal information to us after this Privacy Policy has been revised, will be deemed to be your acceptance of and consent to the revised Privacy Policy.
This Privacy Policy was last revised on 26 March 2025.
9 If you have a privacy complaint
If you wish to make a complaint about an alleged breach of this Privacy Policy or the Privacy Act by us you can contact us using the contact information in the Our contact information section below. You will need to provide us with sufficient detail regarding your complaint and any supporting evidence.
Our Privacy Officer will investigate the issue and determine the steps to be taken to resolve the complaint. We will notify you in writing if we require any additional information and also of the outcome of the investigation.
If you are not happy with the outcome of our investigation, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) whose contact details can be obtained from the OAIC website noted below in the Further information section.
10 Our contact information
Any queries about this Privacy Policy, correction or access requests or privacy complaints should be addressed to:
Privacy Manager
ABLA
Level 7, 8 Chifley Square
Sydney NSW 2000
privacy.manager@businessaustralia.com
11 Further information
For further information about the Privacy Act or to make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner, please see the website of the OAIC at www.oaic.gov.au.