Firm Privacy Policy

We understand your concerns for privacy regarding any information you provide to us in connection with the rendering of legal services.  Attorneys are bound by strict professional standards of confidentiality and we take seriously our obligation to protect your right to privacy.  We employ appropriate safeguards to insure that your nonpublic personal information is not improperly disclosed, and any information which we receive or collect about you will not be disclosed by us to anyone, except as permitted by you or required by law.

We retain records relating to the professional services we provide so that we are better able to assist you with your professional needs and to comply with professional guidelines or requirements of law.

We generally use electronic mail (“email”) in connection with our representation of clients.  As with any electronic form of communication, there is a risk that the confidentiality of email may be breached.  Accordingly, clients are afforded the option to notify us in writing in the event they do not want us to use email in connection with our representation, or if there is any particular information or data which should not be relayed via email.

Special Notice Regarding Joint Representation of Husband and Wife

We frequently represent married couples in the planning of their estates, and it is our ethical obligation to advise the client of the potential conflicts and other ethical considerations involved in such “dual” representation.  Spouses can have differing, and sometimes conflicting, interests and objectives regarding their estate planning.  For example, they may have different views on how property should pass after death.  In some situations, we may recommend that holdings be structured to take advantage of available tax benefits, which may involve transfers of property from one spouse to the other.  These are just a few examples as to how a husband’s and wife’s interests may conflict when planning their estates.  In addition, we are not permitted to keep information which a husband or wife provides to us relating to the estate planning from the other spouse.

In such circumstances, our representation is designed to assist both spouses in a coordinated overall plan and to encourage the resolution of any differing interests in an equitable manner, and in the best interest of the marriage and the family.  If, however, it reaches the point where the husband and wife are unable to agree on a material aspect of the work, we may be required to suspend further representation until the conflict can be resolved, or recommend that one of the spouses consult with independent legal counsel.

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.