Data Protection

Data protection and data security are very important to mzs Rechtsanwälte and form the basis for a trustful cooperation. Our responsible handling of your personal data will ensure that your privacy is protected.

1. Name and contact details of the data controller

This data protection information applies to data processing by:

Data controller: mzs Rechtsanwälte vereidigter Buchprüfer Meyer zu Schwabedissen und Partner mbB, Goethestraße 8 – 10, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany, Phone:+ 49 (0)211 69 002 – 0, Fax: +49 (0)211 699 002 – 24

Your contact person for data protection at mzs Rechtsanwälte can be reached at the above address or at strohmeyer(at)mzs-recht.de.

2. Collection and storage of personal data as well as type and purpose of their use

2.1. When visiting the website

When you visit our website, the browser used on your device automatically sends information to our website server. This information is temporarily stored in a so-called log file. The following information is collected without your intervention and stored until automatic deletion:

IP address of the accessing computer,
Date and time of access,
Name and URL of the file accessed,
Website from which the access was made (referrer URL),
Browser used and, if applicable, the operating system of your computer as well as the name of your access provider.

The aforementioned data is processed by us for the following purposes:

Ensuring a smooth set-up of the connection to the website,
Ensuring a comfortable use of our website,
Evaluating system security and stability, as well as
for other administrative purposes.

The legal basis for the data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest follows from the data collection purposes listed above. In no case do we use the collected data for the purpose of drawing conclusions about your person.

In addition, we use cookies and analysis services when you visit our website. You can find more detailed explanations on this under sections 4 and 5 of this data protection declaration.

2.2. Registration for our newsletter

If you have expressly consented in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR, we will use your e-mail address to send you our newsletter on a regular basis. To receive the newsletter, it is sufficient to provide an e-mail address.

You can unsubscribe at any time. You are welcome to send your request to unsubscribe by e-mail to meschede(at)mzs-recht.de.

2.3. When using our contact form

If you have any questions, we offer you the possibility to contact us via a form provided on the website. In doing so, it is necessary to provide a valid e-mail address so that we know who the enquiry is from and so that we can answer it. Further information can be provided voluntarily.

Data processing for the purpose of contacting us is based on your voluntarily given consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR.

The personal data collected by us for the use of the contact form will be automatically deleted after completion of your request.

3. Transfer of data

Your personal data will not be passed on to third parties for purposes other than those listed below.

We only pass on your personal data to third parties if:

you have given your express consent to this in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR,
the disclosure is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding interest worthy of protection in the non-disclosure of your data,
in the event that there is a legal obligation to disclose your data pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR, and
if this is legally permissible and necessary in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR for the processing of contractual relationships with you.

4. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. These are small files that are automatically created by your browser and stored on your end device (laptop, tablet, smartphone or similar) when you visit our site. Cookies do not cause any damage to your end device and do not contain any viruses, Trojans or other malware.

Information is stored in the cookie that is related to the specific end device used. However, this does not mean that we gain direct knowledge of your identity.

The use of cookies serves, on the one hand, to make the use of our offer more pleasant for you. We use so-called session cookies to recognise that you have already visited individual pages of our website. These are automatically deleted after you leave our site.

In addition, we also use temporary cookies to optimise user-friendliness, which are stored on your end device for a certain fixed period of time. If you visit our site again to use our services, it is automatically recognised that you have already visited our site and which entries and settings you have made so that you do not have to enter them again.

On the other hand, we use cookies to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimising our offer for you (see section 5). These cookies enable us to automatically recognise that you have already been to our website when you visit it again. These cookies are automatically deleted after a pre-defined period of time.

The data processed by cookies is necessary for the aforementioned purposes to protect our legitimate interests as well as those of third parties in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR.

Most browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you can configure your browser so that no cookies are stored on your computer or a notification always appears before a new cookie is created. The complete deactivation of cookies may, however, result in you not being able to use all the functions of our website.

We use the following cookies on our website

Your cookie settings

Your cookie selection history

Opt-Out Google Analytics

Opt-Out Google Maps

Opt-Out Youtube

5. Analytics Tools

5.1 Tracking tools

The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR. With the tracking measures used, we want to ensure a design tailored to the specific needs and the ongoing optimisation of our website. On the other hand, we use the tracking measures to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimising our website 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 corresponding tracking tools.

5.2 Google Analytics

For the purpose of demand-oriented design and continuous optimisation of our pages, we use Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Inc (https://www.google.de/intl/de/about/) (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter “Google”). In this context, pseudonymised usage profiles are created and cookies are used (see under section 4). The information generated by the cookie about 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 evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide other services associated with the use of the website and the internet for the purposes of market research and demand-oriented design of these web pages. This information may also be transferred to third parties if this is required by law or if third parties process this data on our behalf. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other Google data. The IP addresses are anonymised so that an allocation is not possible (IP masking).

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the respective settings on your browser. However, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing a browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de).

As an alternative to the browser add-on, especially with browsers on mobile devices, you can also prevent the collection by Google Analytics by clicking on this link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. An opt-out cookie will be set, which prevents the future collection of your data when visiting this website. The opt-out cookie is only valid in this browser and only for our website and is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you must 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 (https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en).

5.3 Google Adwords Conversion Tracking

In order 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 accessed our website via a Google ad.

These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of the Adwords client’s website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the client can recognise that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page.

Each Adwords client receives a different cookie. Cookies can therefore not be tracked via the websites of Adwords clients. The information obtained using the conversion cookie is used to create conversion statistics for Adwords clients who have opted for conversion tracking. The Adwords clients learn the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were 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 procedure, you can also refuse the setting of a cookie required for this – 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 so that cookies from the domain “www.googleadservices.com” are blocked. Google’s privacy policy on conversion tracking can be found here: https://services.google.com/sitestats/en.html

5.4 MailChimp

We use the list provider MailChimp of The Rocket Science Group, LLC, 512 Means Street, Ste 404 Atlanta, GA 30318 to dispatch our newsletter.

When you register for our newsletter, the transmitted data is transferred to MailChimp and stored there. After registration, you will receive an email from MailChimp to confirm your registration. The processed data will be transferred to the USA.

MailChimp allows us to analyse whether our newsletter is opened and which content is used. The analysis is purely group-related, an individual evaluation of the data is not carried out. MailChimp also uses the Google Analytics analysis tool and can integrate this into the newsletter.

To ensure European data protection standards, MailChimp participates in the EU – U.S. Privacy Shield. Further information on the applicable privacy policy at MailChimp can be found at https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/.

You have the right to withdraw your consent to the storage of the collected data and its use for sending our newsletter at any time. You are welcome to send your request to unsubscribe by e-mail to meschede(at)mzs-recht.de at any time.

6. Plug-ins

We use the Google Maps plug-in on our website on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR. The responsibility for data protection-compliant operation is to be assumed by their respective providers. We integrate this plug-in using the so-called two-click method in order to provide visitors to our website with the best possible protection.

7 Data deletion and storage period

The personal data of the data subject will be deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose of the storage no longer applies. Storage may also take place if this has been provided for by the European or national legislator in Union regulations, laws or other provisions to which the data controller is subject. Data will also be blocked or deleted if a storage period prescribed by the aforementioned standards expires, unless there is a need to continue storing the data for the conclusion or performance of a contract.

8. Rights of data subjects

You have the right

to request information about your personal data processed by us in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. In particular, you can request information about: the processing purposes, the category 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 correct, delete, restrict processing or object, the existence of a right of complaint, the origin of your data if it has not been collected by us, as well as the existence of automated decision-making including profiling and, if applicable, meaningful information about its details;
in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR, to request the immediate correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data stored by us;
in accordance with Article 17 GDPR, to request the erasure of your personal data stored by us, unless the processing is necessary for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims;
pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data, insofar as the accuracy of the data is disputed by you, the processing is unlawful, but you object to its erasure and we no longer require the data, but you need it for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims or you have objected to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR;
pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive your personal data that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format or to request that it be transferred to another controller;
to withdraw your consent at any time in accordance with Art. 7 para. 3 GDPR. This has the consequence that we may no longer continue the data processing based on this consent in the future; and
complain to a supervisory authority in accordance with Article 77 GDPR. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority of your habitual place of residence or place of work or our registered office for this purpose.

9. Right of objection

If your personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data pursuant to Article 21 GDPR, insofar as there are grounds for doing so that arise from your particular situation or the objection is directed against direct advertising. In the latter case, you have a general right of objection, which is implemented by us without specifying a particular situation. If you wish to make use of your right of withdrawal or objection, an e-mail to info(at)mzs-recht.de will suffice.

10. Data security

When you visit our website, we use the common SSL procedure (Secure Socket Layer) in conjunction with the highest level of encryption supported by your browser. As a rule, this is 256-bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we use 128-bit v3 technology instead. You can tell whether an individual page of our website is encrypted by the closed display of the key or lock symbol in the lower status bar of your browser.

We also use appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction or against unauthorised access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.

11. Topicality and amendment of this data protection declaration

This data protection declaration is currently valid and has the status as of May 2018.

Due to the further development of our website and offers on it or due to changed legal or administrative requirements, it may become necessary to change this data protection declaration. You can access and print out the current data protection declaration at any time on the website at https://mzs-recht.de/datenschutz.