Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 4, 2026

Whiten Baker (“we,” “our,” or “us”) operates whitenbaker.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and interact with our services.

1. Who We Are

Whiten Baker Inc. is a litigation strategy and forensic investigation firm based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We specialize in insurance bad faith claims analysis, document forensics, demand package development, and litigation support for policyholders and plaintiff-side legal counsel.

2. Legal Framework & Regulatory Compliance

Whiten Baker Inc. operates under the following legal and regulatory frameworks:

• Solicitor-Client Privilege: All information provided to us in connection with legal consultation or representation is protected by solicitor-client privilege and professional confidentiality obligations.
• Ontario Insurance Act: We comply with Ontario’s regulatory framework governing insurance conduct and bad faith liability.
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA): Where applicable, we comply with Ontario’s FIPPA requirements.
• Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL): We comply with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation for all electronic communications.
• General Data Protection Standards: We maintain data handling practices consistent with industry-standard privacy expectations.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information Provided Directly by You

When you contact us through our website, email, or phone, we may collect:

• Personal Identification: Your name, email address, phone number, and business affiliation
• Claim Information: Details about your insurance claim, including loss description, damage type, claim timeline, and insurer/TPA information
• Sensitive Documentation: Claim files, adjuster reports, contractor estimates, policy documents, correspondence with insurers, photographs of damage, and other evidence you voluntarily provide
• Legal Context: Information about pending or anticipated litigation, attorney relationships, and case strategy

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may collect:

• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifier
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, referral source, and interaction patterns
• Analytics: Via Google Analytics (anonymized) to understand site performance and user behavior
• Cookies: Session cookies to maintain your browsing experience (see Section 5)

4. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for:

1. Case Assessment & Consultation — Evaluating your claim for bad faith indicators, preparing preliminary analysis and litigation strategy recommendations, and responding to inquiries
2. Service Delivery — Conducting forensic analysis, developing demand packages, and providing litigation support
3. Attorney Referral Network — Matching claimants with experienced plaintiff-side litigation counsel and facilitating case handoffs
4. Legal & Regulatory Compliance — Maintaining case files and responding to court orders or regulatory requests
5. Communication — Sending case updates, consultation confirmations, and status reports
6. Website Improvement — Analyzing traffic patterns and optimizing site performance

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

5.1 Essential Cookies

We use essential cookies to maintain secure login sessions, remember your preferences, and provide basic site functionality.

5.2 Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics (anonymized) to understand visitor behavior and measure content effectiveness. Google Analytics does not identify individual users and complies with privacy-by-design principles.

5.3 Opting Out

You can disable cookies in your browser settings or opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

6. Embedded Content & Third-Party Services

Our website may contain embedded videos, external links, and contact forms that integrate with third-party platforms. When you interact with embedded content, the hosting platform may collect data about you independently of our site.

7. Data Security & Confidentiality

7.1 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security practices to protect your information:

• Encryption: Sensitive data transmitted via SSL/TLS encryption
• Access Controls: Restricted access to client information (authorized staff only)
• Physical Security: Secure storage of physical documents and records
• Regular Audits: Periodic review of security protocols and compliance

7.2 Solicitor-Client Privilege

All information provided to Whiten Baker Inc. in connection with legal consultation is protected by solicitor-client privilege. We do not disclose privileged communications to third parties without explicit written consent or court order.

7.3 Limitations

While we employ reasonable security measures, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute protection against unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure.

8. Who We Share Your Data With

8.1 Attorney Referral Partners

With your consent, we share relevant case information with qualified plaintiff-side litigation counsel within our referral network to facilitate representation.

8.2 Service Providers

We may share information with email and communication platforms, case management systems, and analytics providers. All service providers are bound by confidentiality agreements.

8.3 Legal Obligations & Court Orders

We will disclose information if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or if necessary to protect the safety, rights, or property of others.

8.4 No Third-Party Sales

9. Data Retention Policies

9.1 Client Consultation & Intake

Retention Duration: Indefinitely, unless you request deletion. We maintain intake data to recognize returning clients and comply with legal obligations if litigation ensues.

9.2 Claim Files & Forensic Documentation

Retention Duration: For the duration of the relevant claim, litigation, and any appeals, plus 7 years post-resolution (compliance with Ontario legal discovery obligations).

9.3 Website Cookies & Analytics

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Preference Cookies: 1-year duration
• Analytics Data: 26 months (Google Analytics default retention)

9.4 Email Communications

Email communications are retained indefinitely as part of client relationship history.

9.5 Deletion Requests

You may request deletion of your personal information, except where we are legally obligated to retain it, deletion would violate solicitor-client privilege, or information is de-identified or anonymized.

10. Your Rights Over Your Data

10.1 Right to Access

You have the right to request access to personal information we hold about you. Submit a written request to privacy@whitenbaker.com, and we will respond within 30 days.

10.2 Right to Correction

If you believe information we hold about you is inaccurate, you may request correction. We will update records promptly upon verification.

10.3 Right to Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to the exceptions outlined in Section 9.5. We will comply within 30 days.

10.4 Right to Portability

You may request a portable copy of your personal information in a standard digital format (e.g., CSV, PDF). We will provide this within 30 days.

10.5 Right to Withdraw Consent

If you have consented to certain data collection or sharing, you may withdraw that consent at any time by contacting us in writing.

10.6 Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you may lodge a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC).

11. Comments & User-Generated Content

11.1 Comment Policy

We may accept comments on select pages. When you submit a comment, we collect your name, email address, IP address, browser user agent string, comment text, and a hashed version of your email.

11.2 Comment Moderation

All comments are subject to moderation. We reserve the right to approve, edit, or delete comments that are spam, abusive, off-topic, or violate our professional standards.

11.3 Comment Retention

Approved comments are retained indefinitely to maintain discussion context.

12. Media & File Uploads

12.1 Image Handling

If you upload images to our site, please be aware that images may contain embedded location data (EXIF) and metadata. We recommend removing EXIF data before upload. Uploaded images are stored securely and are not publicly accessible without permission.

12.2 Document Security

Claim files, invoices, reports, and other sensitive documents submitted to us are encrypted during transmission, stored in secure locations, protected by solicitor-client privilege, and never disclosed without your consent or legal mandate.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our services are directed to adults. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18. If we become aware that a child has submitted information, we will delete it promptly.

14. International Data Transfers

Whiten Baker Inc. operates in Canada and does not intentionally collect or process data from outside Canada. If you access our site from another jurisdiction, you acknowledge that your information may be processed in Canada under Canadian law.

15. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our data practices, new legal or regulatory requirements, or improvements in security. Material changes will be announced on our website with a new “Last Updated” date.

16. Contact Us

17. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada, and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any disputes arising from this policy or our data practices shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Ontario courts.

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Whiten Baker Inc. reserves the right to enforce the confidentiality and professional standards outlined in this policy to the fullest extent permitted by law.