Ballard Spahr LLP respects the privacy of our people, clients, alumni, colleagues, law students, job applicants, and all other visitors to the firm's Web site (the "Web site"). This Privacy Policy is in effect only for personally identifiable and non-personally identifiable information on and/or provided through Ballard Spahr's Web sites, including but not limited to the www.ballardspahr.com Web site, as well as any online features, services, and/or programs offered by Ballard Spahr and its affiliates. By using the Web site, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not accept this Privacy Policy, you should cease using the Web site.
We collect, process, use, and store personal information related to the firm's educational, marketing, networking, and recruiting activities. Our practices for collecting, processing, using, and storing information, as set forth in this Privacy Policy (the "Policy"), are designed to protect site visitors' privacy and to comply with applicable U.S. law.
Personally Identifiable Information
We do not collect personally identifiable information about you unless you provide it voluntarily. Personally identifiable information may include the following: name, e-mail address, mailing address, or telephone number.
In accordance with U.S. law, we enable individuals to opt out of receiving marketing, job application, alumni, and other discretionary communications as well as update their contact information and preferences.
Marketing Communication. You may request to be added to the firm's mailing list database to receive invitations, announcements, and legal alerts. To be added, you must complete an online form and furnish your name, title, company information, business phone number, e-mail address, and practice areas of interest. Your personally identifiable information is processed and stored by Ballard Spahr marketing personnel and resides in a contact database on a Ballard Spahr secure server, which is accessible only to Ballard Spahr personnel.
In addition, Ballard Spahr may hire or collaborate with other companies to perform services on our behalf, such as sending newsletters and event invitations. These companies may be supplied with or have access to your Personally Identifiable Information for the sole purpose of providing these services to us or on our behalf.
Information Related to Job Application. Job applicants may submit resumes and other personal information via the Web site's Careers section. This information is sent to and resides on a secure server of the third-party employment management technology provider retained by the firm to assist our Human Resources Department in centralizing and managing the job application process. All applicant information is treated confidentially by Ballard Spahr and our employment management technology provider. The information is accessed only by Ballard Spahr personnel involved in the hiring process for the particular position as well as personnel of the technology provider who require access in instances of maintenance and operational enhancements.
Alumni Web Site. Access to certain areas on the firm's alumni Web site is restricted to Ballard Spahr alumni furnished with a user ID and password after they create a user account. Information provided by alumni resides on a secure server of a third-party Web services provider retained by the firm to assist our alumni development team collect, update, and communicate relevant news and other information. The information is accessed only by Ballard Spahr alumni relations personnel, personnel of the technology provider who require access in instances of maintenance and operational enhancements, and other alumni members who have created an account.
Non-Personally Identifiable Information
The firm's Web site uses Google Analytics, a Web analytics service provided by Google, Inc., ("Google") to collect information on our Web site's activity. Google Analytics uses "cookies," which are text files placed on your computer, to help us analyze how visitors use the site.
The information generated by the cookie is transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Cookies collect information on browser type, operating system type, network location (domain), IP (Internet Protocol) address, and other similar information. Google uses this information to evaluate and compile reports on site usage, which only Ballard Spahr Web site administrators access to help maintain and improve the site. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. No personally identifiable information about you is collected via your IP address, and Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.
Additionally, our Web site's content management tool uses cookies for authenticating staff users, tracking internal sessions, and recording staff preferences. These cookies have no effect on or connection to Web site usage by external visitors. You may block cookies by adjusting the browser settings on your personal computer.
Disclosure of Information
Generally, we will not disclose personally identifiable information that we collect through your use of the site to unaffiliated third parties. We reserve the right, however, to provide such information (i) to our employees, contractors, agents, and designees to the extent necessary to enable them to perform database- and communication-related services (e.g., storage of information, distribution of newsletters), and (ii) to our partners when jointly sponsoring an educational program. We employ security measures (physical, electronic, and procedural) to keep all information secure.
Links to Third-Party Web Sites
Our Web site features links to third-party Web sites. Ballard Spahr is neither obligated to review the privacy policies of these sites nor responsible for ensuring that their practices comply with relevant laws or such third parties' own policies. Ballard Spahr is not responsible for the content on these Web sites, so view them at your own risk. We do not disclose information of any kind to these sites.
This Web Site is Not Directed to Children
This Web site is not directed to children under thirteen (13) years of age, and Ballard Spahr does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from such children. If you are younger than 13, please do not provide any personally identifiable information while using this Web site.
Business Transfers
Ballard Spahr reserves the right to transfer any and all information that we collect from users, or that we otherwise collect in connection with the Web site, including, without limitation, to unaffiliated third parties or third parties (i.e., other legal entities of Ballard Spahr), in the event of a sale or transfer of assets or of any portion of our business.
Revisions to This Policy
We reserve the right to update and revise this Policy at any time. You can determine if this Policy has been revised since your last visit by referring to the "Effective Date of Current Policy" date at the bottom of this page. Your use of the Web site constitutes your acceptance of the terms of the Policy. You should review this Policy regularly to ensure that you are aware of future amendments.
Special Notification for Our Individual California Clients
We do not disclose our clients' personal information to unaffiliated third parties for purposes of their direct marketing. However, we may provide our clients' personal information to other legal entities of Ballard Spahr or partners with whom we jointly sponsor educational programs. This information may be used to send you legal updates, seminar invitations, and other information about the services offered by our other legal entities or partners. Because such entities or partners are considered "third parties" for purposes of California Civil Code Section 1798.83, we are providing the following information for individual California clients who have given us their personal information pursuant to an established legal services relationship that is primarily for personal, family, or household purposes ("Individual California Clients").
Individual California Clients may request information about our disclosures of certain categories of personally identifiable information to third parties (i.e., other legal entities of Ballard Spahr or partners) for their direct marketing purposes. Such requests must be submitted to us either by e-mail at websiteinfo@ballardspahr.com or by mail at the following address:
Attention: Marketing Department
Ballard Spahr
1735 Market Street
51st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7599
Within thirty (30) days of receiving such a request, we will provide a list of the categories of personal information disclosed to separate legal entities for their direct marketing purposes during the immediately preceding calendar year, along with the names and addresses of these entities. This request may be made no more than once per calendar year. We reserve our right not to respond to requests submitted other than to the e-mail or mailing address specified in this paragraph.
Your Consent to This Privacy Policy
By using the Web site, you consent to the collection and use of information by us as specified above or as we otherwise see fit unless you inform us otherwise by means of the procedure identified below. If we decide to change this Privacy Policy, we will make an effort to post those changes on this Web page so that you will always be able to understand what information we collect, how we use that information, and under what circumstances we may disclose that information to others. We may use comments, information, or feedback that you may submit in any manner that we may choose without notice or compensation to you.
Questions Regarding This Policy
If you have questions or comments regarding this Policy, or would like to opt out of receiving any communication from us, please contact:
Attention: Privacy Policy
Ballard Spahr
1735 Market Street
51 Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7599
Effective Date: February 22, 2010