Privacy Policy
Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. respects the privacy of all persons and entities who are actual or prospective clients of the firm, as well as persons visiting HBMSlaw.com (“Site”). This privacy policy (“Policy”) outlines how we collect and use information about actual or prospective clients and about visitors to this Site.
This Policy is updated from time to time. The latest version will always be published on this page. The modified terms will become effective immediately when they are posted here. We recommend you review this policy from time to time.
If you have any questions about this Policy or how it is implemented, please contact us via the phone number, contact form or mailing address listed on this website.
Information Obtained From Clients And Prospective Clients
A prospective client is one who consults with a firm lawyer about the possibility of forming a client-lawyer relationship with respect to a legal matter. We may collect the name, address, cell phone number, and email address from a prospective client, and only that information that will allow us to determine whether there are any conflicts of interest with an existing client and whether the matter is one that the lawyer is willing and qualified to undertake. The Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit a lawyer from using or revealing information obtained from a prospective client except under limited circumstances.
A client has agreed with the firm to form an attorney-client relationship, typically through the joint execution of an engagement agreement. We will collect the name, addresses, cell phone number, and email address from a client, as well as information and documentation we believe is relevant to our representation. The Rules of Professional Conduct specify that a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized to carry out the representation, of the disclosure is permitted by the Rules.
Information Obtained From Users Of Our Site
What Kind Of Information Do We Collect?
When you visit our Site, we automatically collect certain information about the electronic device you use to connect to the Site, including your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, we collect information about the individual web pages you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Site, and how you interact with the Site. We refer to this automatically collected information as “Device Information.”
We collect Device Information using the following technologies:
- “Cookies” are data files placed on your device or computer and often include an anonymous unique identifier. See below for more information on cookies and how they are used on our Site.
- “Log files” track actions occurring on the Site, and collect data such as your IP address, browser type, internet service provider, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps.
- “Web beacons,” “tags,” and “pixels” are electronic files used to record information about how you browse the Site.
We may utilize Google Analytics or other tracking solutions provided by third parties to gather and analyze data related to how visitors find and access this Site. This information is used only to manage and improve this Site. You can read more about how Google uses your information here: www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/. You can also opt-out of Google Analytics here: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
What Are Cookies And How Are They Used?
A cookie is a small file placed on your computer’s hard drive. It enables our website to identify your computer as you view different pages on our website.
Cookies allow websites and applications to store your preferences to present content, options, and functions specific to you. They also may allow site administrators to see information like how many people use the Site and what pages they tend to visit.
Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. uses the following cookies:
- Strictly necessary cookies: These are required for the basic functions of the website. They allow you as a user to switch back and forth between pages without losing the benefits of your prior actions from the same session.
- Analytical/performance cookies: These cookies gather data on how you use the website, including what pages you have visited most often and whether you encounter error messages. These cookies do not collect your personal information and are used to improve website functionality.
- Functionality cookies: Similar to strictly necessary cookies, these allow the website to provide you access to services you request. These cookies collect information on your preferences like usernames and languages, but they are anonymous and do not track your browsing activity across other websites.
- Targeting cookies: These track your engagement with any marketing materials that are sent after you subscribe on the Site. Targeting cookies track information related to open rates, bounces, and click rates.
- Third-party cookies: These track your engagement to content that is hosted on external platforms or third-party websites.
For more information about cookies and how to disable cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. may use cookies to:
- Analyze our web traffic using an analytics package. Aggregated usage data helps us improve the website structure, design, content, and functions.
- Test content on our website. For example, 50% of our users might initially see one piece of content while the other 50% see a different piece of content.
- Store information about your preferences. The Site can then present you with information you will find more relevant and interesting.
- Recognize when you return to our Site. We may show you relevant content or provide functionality you used previously.
Cookies do not provide us with access to your computer or any information about you, other than what you choose to share with us.
Controlling Cookies
You can use your web browser’s cookie settings to determine how our Site uses cookies. If you do not want our Site to store cookies on your computer or device, you should set your web browser to refuse cookies. However, doing this may affect how our Site functions to address your needs. Some pages and services may become unavailable to you.
Unless you have changed your browser to refuse cookies, our Site may issue cookies when you visit it.
If you choose to communicate with us through this Site, we may collect personally identifiable information you choose to provide. This could include your name, email address, physical address, phone number, and similar information. We may collect such information to help facilitate communications with you. We will use this information for our own internal records and to contact you in response to a specific inquiry.
Our Protection Of Your Privacy
Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. assumes that, by using the internet, you recognize that electronic access and email are not considered to be completely secure media of communication. You should, therefore, never send private or confidential information through this Site or through the internet unless you are willing to assume this risk. Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. does endeavor to utilize appropriate technical measures to protect against unauthorized access to our Site or the use of the Site for any unauthorized purposes. We do not guarantee these measures are completely effective or that in every case they will prevent these acts from occurring.
Links From Our Website
Our Site may contain links to other websites. Please note that we have no control of third-party websites outside of our domain. Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. is not responsible for any information you provide nor the data protection or privacy of any other website.
California Do Not Track
Our web services do not alter, change, or respond upon receiving Do Not Track (DNT) requests or signals in browsers. As described in more detail above, we track user activity using web server logs, cookies and similar technologies. Information collected in web server logs helps us analyze website usage and improve the user’s experience. Cookies allow us to offer you a customized experience and present relevant advertising to you.
How is personal information protected?
We take certain appropriate security measures to help protect your personal information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. However, we cannot guarantee that unauthorized persons will always be unable to defeat our security measures.
Who has access to the information?
We will not sell, rent, or lease mailing lists or other user data to others, and we will not make your personal information available to any unaffiliated parties, except as follows:
- to agents, website vendors and/or contractors who may use it on our behalf or in connection with their relationship with us;
- if we are unable to assist with your matter, but know an unaffiliated attorney or firm that may be able to help you, we may refer you and share information you provided us with that party; and
- as required by law, in a matter of public safety or policy, as needed in connection with the transfer of our business assets (for example, if we are acquired by another firm or if we are liquidated during bankruptcy proceedings), or if we believe in good faith that sharing the data is necessary to protect our rights or property.
How can I correct, amend or delete my personal information and/or opt out of future communications?
You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. Contact us via the phone number, contact form or mailing address on our website at any time to:
- see what data we have about you, if any;
- change/correct any data we have about you;
- ask us to delete any data we have about you; and/or
- opt out of future communications from us.
If you have any additional questions or concerns about this privacy policy, please contact us via the phone number, contact form or mailing address listed on this website. If our information practices change in a significant way, we will post the policy changes here.
We partner with Thomson Reuters, who might also collect data as part of our marketing efforts. To learn more about the Thomson Reuters privacy policy and the data that might be collected, please visit: Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement.