Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Sombat Counsel ("we", "us", "our") is committed to handling personal information with care and transparency. This policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, how long we keep it, and what rights you have in relation to it.

This policy applies to all individuals who contact us, submit enquiries, or engage our legal services. It covers information collected through this website, by email, by telephone, and in person.

If you have questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at [email protected].

2. Data We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal data:

• Identity information: full name, and any other names relevant to your matter
• Contact details: email address, phone number, postal address
• Matter-related information: details of your estate, family situation, or legal matter that you share with us in the course of engagement
• Communication records: emails, correspondence, and notes from telephone or in-person meetings
• Website usage data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time of visit — collected via cookies (see Section 6)

We collect this data when you submit a contact form on our website, send us an email, call us, or attend a meeting in person.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data on the following legal grounds:

• Contract: where processing is necessary to provide legal services you have engaged us for
• Legitimate interest: to respond to enquiries, maintain records, and improve our services
• Legal obligation: to comply with applicable Thai law, including professional obligations as registered legal practitioners
• Consent: where you have explicitly agreed — for example, subscribing to updates

4. How We Use Your Data

Personal data is used for the following purposes:

• Responding to enquiries and initial consultations
• Delivering legal services under an engagement agreement
• Correspondence with courts, government agencies, or other parties on your behalf
• Maintaining internal case and client records
• Complying with professional and legal obligations
• Improving our website and communications

We do not use your personal data for unsolicited marketing without your consent, and we do not sell personal data to third parties.

5. Data Sharing

We share personal data only where necessary and appropriate:

• Courts and government agencies: as required to conduct legal proceedings or filings on your behalf
• Third-party service providers: such as secure email hosting or document storage — bound by confidentiality obligations
• Other legal counsel: where your matter involves co-counsel arrangements, with your knowledge

We do not share data with advertising networks or data brokers.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected:

• Client matter files: retained for a minimum of 7 years following conclusion of the matter, in accordance with Thai legal professional obligations
• Enquiry records (no engagement): retained for up to 12 months
• Website analytics data: retained for up to 26 months

After the applicable retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised.

7. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and to gather basic usage statistics. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.

• Essential cookies: necessary for the site to function correctly
• Analytics cookies: used to understand how visitors use the site (e.g. Google Analytics)
• Preference cookies: to remember choices such as cookie consent status

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time. See our Cookie Policy for full details.

8. Data Protection Measures

We take reasonable steps to protect personal data against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction:

• Encrypted email and secure document transmission where appropriate
• Access to client files restricted to relevant staff
• Physical client records stored securely on premises
• Periodic review of data handling practices

In the event of a data breach that poses a risk to individuals, we will take prompt remedial action and notify affected parties as required by applicable law.

9. Your Rights

You have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

• Access: to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Rectification: to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure: to request deletion of your data where it is no longer needed (subject to our legal retention obligations)
• Restriction: to ask us to limit processing in certain circumstances
• Objection: to object to processing based on legitimate interest
• Portability: to receive a copy of data you have provided in a structured, machine-readable format
• Withdrawal of consent: where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing

To exercise any of these rights, please write to us at [email protected]. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

You may also raise concerns with Thailand's Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) or another applicable supervisory authority.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies directly.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under 18. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, please contact us and we will promptly remove it.

12. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The updated policy will be published on this page with a revised date. We encourage you to review it periodically.

13. Contact

For questions or concerns about this policy or the handling of your personal data:

• Email: [email protected]
• Post: Sombat Counsel, 183/6 Charansanitwong Road, Bang Phlat, Bangkok 10700, Thailand