Privacy

Personal data enjoys special protection. We would like to inform you at this point whether and how your data is collected or used when you visit our website. At the same time, this serves to fulfill the information obligations in the sense of Art. 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

A. BASIC DISCLOSURES ACC. ART. 13/14 GDPR

RESPONSIBILITY FOR DATA PROCESSING


1. RESPONSIBILITY FOR DATA PROCESSING

AWB Tax GmbH
AWB Law GmbH
Piusallee 76
D-48147 Münster

In the following „AWB“
T +49.251.6203069-0
F +49.251.6203069-1
info@awb-international.de

2. DATA PROTECTION OFFICER OF AWB

AWB Tax GmbH
AWB Law GmbH

Data Protection Officer
Piusallee 76
D-48147 Münster
datenschutz@awb-international.de

3. SUPERVISORY

If you believe that the processing of your personal data by AWB is not lawful, you may lodge a complaint with any data protection supervisory authority. The competent supervisory authority pursuant to Art. 55 GDPR is the

Landesbeauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Nordrhein-Westfalen
Postfach 20 04 44                                        
40102 Düsseldorf
Tel.: 0211/38424-0                                            
Fax: 0211/38424-10
E-Mail: poststelle@ldi.nrw.de

4. YOUR RIGHTS

In accordance with the statutory provisions, you as the data subject have the right to obtain information free of charge at any time about your data stored by AWB.

In addition, you may assert your rights to rectification, to erasure or restriction of processing or the right to object (see section B no. 7 below) against AWB at any time. This also applies to a right to data portability.

If you have provided us with your personal data on the basis of consent, you could withdraw the consent at any time for the future.

B. Purposes and scope of data processing

1. ACCESSING THE WEBSITE


a) PROCESSING OF COMMUNICATION DATA

Each time a user accesses a page from the AWB offer and each time a file is retrieved, access data about this process is stored in a log file on our server. Until automatic deletion, the following data is stored without further input by the user:

• IP address of the visitor's terminal device
• Date and time of access by the visitor
• Name and URL of the page accessed by the visitor
• Website from which the visitor accessed the law firm's website (so-called referrer URL)
• Browser and operating system of the visitor's terminal device as well as the name of the access provider used by the visitor

We use this data exclusively to enable the use of the retrieved web pages in the first place, for statistical purposes and to improve our Internet offering. The processing is explicitly not for the purpose of gaining knowledge about the person of the visitor of the website. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR.

b) PROCESSING OF CONTENT DATA

If the opportunity for the input of personal or business data (email addresses, name, addresses) is given, e.g. via our contact form, the input of these data takes place voluntarily according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. Here too, your data will be treated confidentially and will not be passed on to third parties without your consent. A link with the above-mentioned communication data also does not take place.

The personal data collected for the use of the contact form will be automatically deleted as soon as the request is completed and there are no reasons for further storage (e.g. subsequent commissioning of our law firm).

c) RECIPIENT OF DATA

As a matter of principle, we do not pass on your data to third parties unless you have consented to this. However, for the hosting and maintenance of our website and the dispatch of our newsletter, we are dependent on the use of service providers, which we oblige to comply with the legal requirements via order processing.

2. REGISTRATION FOR CLIENT INFORMATION EVENTS


From time to time, it is possible to register for client information events via our website. The data collected in this context will be used exclusively for organizational purposes.

When registering for a client information event, you also have the option of registering to receive the AWB newsletter (see below).

3. AWB-Newsletter


To register for our newsletter, we ask for the following data:

• Mandatory data: E-mail address
• Voluntary data: Salutation, title, first name, last name

To protect against misuse, your newsletter subscription will only be activated when you click on the link in the confirmation e-mail.

By subscribing to the newsletter, you expressly agree to the processing of the transmitted personal data. The legal basis for the processing of the visitor's personal data for the purpose of sending newsletters is consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 a) GDPR. You can unsubscribe from receiving future newsletters at any time. This can be done by using a special link at the end of the newsletter or by sending a corresponding message by e-mail to info@awb-international.de.

4. USE OF PERSONAL DATA FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES


If you request information on the services offered by the AWB companies or make bookings for client or other events organized by the AWB companies, we will store and use the data you provide to us for the purpose of providing the services and for invoicing. You may object to this use at any time with effect for the future, provided that this does not conflict with the requirements of professional law (e.g. with regard to our retention obligations).

5. DATA PROCESSING IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS


Information on data processing in the online application process can be found here.

6. VIRTUAL MEETINGS (VIDEOCONFERENCES)


AWB organizes web conferences for the virtualization of meetings or discussions, in which the voice of the participants is transmitted via microphone and, if applicable, also their image is transmitted via webcam to all other participants (hereinafter: "video conferences").

For this purpose, AWB uses service providers - usually TIXEO or GoTo - which provide AWB with their software and, if applicable, their technology (hereinafter: video conferencing systems). AWB has agreed on a commissioned processing pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR with these service providers.

a)    PROCESSING OF DATA IN THE FRAMEWORK OF VIDEO CONFERENCES BY THE AWB

In order to use "video conferencing", we need to process various types of data. The total volume of data processed in the context of videoconferences depends on the functional scope of the videoconferencing system provided by the videoconferencing service provider, which data information the respective user provides before, during and after a participation in a "videoconference".

The following personal data may in principle be the subject of processing for the purpose of conducting a video conference:

Information about the user himself: e.g. display name ("Display name"), online status (optional), status messages, profile picture (optional), e-mail address if applicable, preferred language.

Meeting metadata: e.g. date, time, duration, meeting ID, phone number if applicable, and the location.

Text, audio, video, and other multimedia data: For the display of video signals as well as the playback of audio signals and multimedia files, data from the microphone, a webcam/video camera, or a screen display of your end device (using the screen/content sharing function) is processed during the meeting. The latter is necessary, for example, if you have to give a screen presentation. Data transmission from the camera and microphone can be switched on and off independently at any time and by any user. The screen/content sharing function must be actively activated by the user and can also be deactivated at any time.

In a video conference, you also have the option of using a chat function in parallel. In this respect, the text entries you make, the sharing of links or content, social interactions (such as: Emoticons, pictograms, like button for comments or the sending of so-called GIFs - Graphics Interchange Format) are processed in order to display them to the participants in "video conferences".

b)    LEGAL BASIS OF DATA PROCESSING

The legal basis differs depending on whether clients, non-clients or AWB employees participate in the video conference hosted by AWB:

If AWB clients participate in Virtual Sessions, the legal basis for data processing is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, as the processing of personal member data is "for the performance of the mandate" with AWB.

If third parties (non-clients) participate in virtual meetings of AWB, then Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR is the legal basis for data processing when conducting video conferences.

If personal data of AWB employees are processed, then Section 26 BDSG in conjunction with Art. 88 GDPR forms the legal basis for data processing for the establishment, implementation (operational organization) and termination of the employment relationship.

For other videoconferences and if no (employment) contractual relationships exist vis-à-vis participants, then our implementation of videoconferences is based on the legal basis of Art. 6 (1) f) GDPR. Here, too, we have a legitimate interest in effectively conducting "video conferences" vis-à-vis third parties.

c)    STORAGE OF DATA

A recording of "video conferences" does not take place. Should a recording be planned, then AWB will transparently communicate and - if necessary - obtain the consent of all participants.

Automated decision-making within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR is not used.

d)    RECIPIENT OF DATA

Personal data that is processed in connection with participation in "video conferences" is in principle only passed on to our order processors, i.e. the service providers who support us in carrying out the video conferences.

Apart from this, data will only be passed on to third parties if AWB is legally obliged to do so (e.g. by court order), or if the data subjects have expressly consented to the transfer of their data.

e)    DATA PROCESSING OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION

Within the scope of our possibilities, AWB has limited the storage location to data centers in the European Union. Therefore, in principle, data processing does not take place outside the European Union (EU).

7. INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHT OF OBJECTION ACCORDING TO ART. 21 gdpr


a) SINGLE CASE RESPONSE

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) GDPR (data processing in the public interest) and Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (data processing on the basis of a balance of interests); this also applies to profiling based on this provision within the meaning of Article 4 No. 4 GDPR, profiling will not take place.

If you object, we will no longer process your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims.

b) RIGHT TO OBJECT TO PROCESSING OF DATA FOR THE PURPOSES OF DIRECT ADVERTISING

In individual cases, we process your personal data for the purpose of direct marketing. You have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning you for the purposes of such advertising; this also applies to profiling, insofar as it is associated with such direct advertising.

If you object to processing for direct marketing purposes, we will no longer process your personal data for these purposes.

The objection can be made form-free and should preferably be addressed to:

AWB Tax GmbH
AWB Law GmbH
Piusallee 76
D-48147 Münster

T +49.251.6203069-0
F +49.251.6203069-1
info@awb-international.de

8. STATUS AND UPDATE OF THIS PRIVACY STATEMENT


This Privacy Policy is current as of February 2022. We reserve the right to update the Privacy Policy in due course to improve data protection and/or to adapt it to changes in government practice or case law.