Introduction
Welcome to H.W. Achala Law Privacy Policy. H.W. Achala Law recognizes the importance of maintaining your privacy. Our Privacy Policy provides detailed information on how we will collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, read our content, or sign up for our newsletter or updates. As a trusted legal resource platform, we observe a high standard of privacy and transparency. Please read this privacy policy to learn more about how we handle the personal information we receive from you and what rights you have regarding your personal information on our site.
About the Law Firm of H.W. Achala
H.W. Achala Law is a legal information and resource network established by Harvard Law School alumnus and 20-year practicing attorney Harold W. Achala. We aim to provide public-facing informational content and educational resources to the broader public, including individuals as well as students and professionals in and outside the United States. We do not offer representation or paid consulting services through this website; we only provide public education on legal matters. The site is open to visitors around the world interested in United States law topics. It is primarily a U.S. law-focused site.
Scope of this Privacy Statement
This Privacy Policy applies to all visitors and users of the H.W. Achala Law website (https://hwachaelaw.com/), subscribers to our newsletter, and individuals who contact us through one of our online forms, email, or by telephone. It also outlines how we use and protect this information, sets out your rights to your information, and how you can let us know if you have questions or concerns. By accessing our website and using our services, you consent and agree to the terms set forth in this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
We gather information to deliver better content and enhance your experience. The information we may collect includes the following:
- Registration & Other Personal Data: When you sign up for our newsletter or contact us, we may collect Personal Data you submit through the site, including your name and email address, and if you provide it, phone number and mailing address.
- Technical Information: If you visit any of our sites, we may collect certain technical information automatically via cookies, log files, and web beacons, including your computer’s Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser type and version, device type and operating system, referrer URL, number of clicks, and the IP addresses or URLs of sites that refer you to our site or take you from our site to another.
- Usage Data: We track how you and other users navigate our sites, click patterns, articles read/pages visited, and time spent on our sites to deliver better content and enhance your experience.
- Communications: When you contact us via email, telephone, or our sites’ contact forms, we may keep a record of your correspondence.
How We Use Your Information
H.W. Achala Law uses the information we collect from you for the following purposes:
- To operate and maintain our blog articles, resources, and newsletter content
- To send you updates regarding new content and legal developments
- To respond to your questions and feedback, troubleshoot technical issues, and assist you with other requests
- To determine whether we need to fix bugs, evaluate web performance, and improve our platform and content offerings
- To secure our website against, for example, malware attacks and various nefarious cyber threats
- To uphold our contractual rights or otherwise comply with applicable law
We do not use your personally identifiable information for advertising, profiling, or automated decision-making.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our site uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance the user experience, analyze traffic, and understand how visitors use our site. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer’s hard drive. Cookies help us remember you, keep track of your session, and provide us with analytical data about your use of the website without personally identifying individual users. You can refuse to accept and delete cookies by changing settings in your browser. Most browsers let you refuse or delete cookies, but this may have the consequence of disabling useful features on the website. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.
Newsletter Subscription
If you subscribe to H.W. Achala Law, we will only use your name and/or email address to send you managed legal content and updates. At any time, you can unsubscribe via the unsubscribe link contained in any of our newsletter or email communications or by emailing us at [email protected]. Because we respect the privacy of your inbox, we limit what we send to you.
Information We Share with Third Parties
We are dedicated to protecting your personal information. H.W. Achala Law will not sell, rent, or exchange your personal data with any third party. We may share your personal data in the following limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: We may employ reputable third-party companies and individuals to help us provide services (such as website hosting, email delivery, analytics, and general IT support). These service providers have access to your information only to perform specific tasks on our behalf and are obligated by us to protect your personal information.
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose your personal information when required to do so by law or in response to governmental requests (e.g., in response to a court or an inquiry from law enforcement officials), or to protect our rights, or those of the users of our services, or others, or for security purposes.
- Business Transfers: In the event that H.W. Achala Law is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your personal information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
Information Security
It is a priority of H.W. Achala Law to protect your information. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure of your personal information. Our security measures include encrypted transmission of data (HTTPS), secure storage of data, regular updates to our software, and limited permissions to access personal information.
While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect the information you submit to us, please remember that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Although we cannot guarantee the security of your information, we will respond promptly to any potential data breach.
Retention of Data
We only keep your personal information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes for which we collected it, to protect and promote our services, to ensure compliance with our legal obligations, and to resolve disputes and enforce our agreements. The personal information of newsletter subscribers is only kept until you unsubscribe. Technical and usage information may be retained for the purpose of analyzing trends in connection with your use of the services and to maintain the security and integrity of the platform. If we no longer need any data, we will securely delete or anonymize it.
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on what part of the world you are in, you may have rights to your personal data. These may include:
- The right to obtain from us confirmation as to whether we process personal data relating to you, and, where that is the case, access to such personal data
- The right to request correction, erasure, and/or restriction of processing your personal data
- The right to object to processing of your personal data
- The right to withdraw consent (if base of processing is consent)
- The right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, or machine-readable format (where technically feasible only)
If you wish to exercise your rights with regard to your personal data, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within 30 days, as required by law. In some cases, we may need to verify your identity before we can fulfill your request.
Children’s Online Privacy
H.W. Achala Law respects the privacy of children. Our services and website are not designed to be used by individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect or solicit Personal Information (as defined in our Privacy Policy) from anyone under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under the age of 13, we will delete such information as soon as practicable. If you have reason to believe that a child under 13 has provided us Personal Information, please contact us at [email protected].
Third Party Website(s) and Content
Our site may contain links to other third-party sites, resources, and general information for the convenience and reference of our visitors. H.W. Achala Law does not monitor or control these other sites, and makes no representations about any information, resources, services, or products found on these third-party sites. If you visit other sites from links on our site, we encourage you to check their respective privacy policies before submitting any personally identifiable information on these sites.
International Site Visitors
While H.W. Achala Law is designed to be used by users in the United States, the site is accessible by people around the world. If you are accessing the H.W. Achala Law site outside of the United States, information you provide us may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where laws regarding the storage of your personal information may be different than those in your country. By using the H.W. Achala Law site and the service, you consent to such transfer in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
California Privacy Rights
If you are a California consumer, you may have additional rights with respect to your information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other state laws, including the following:
- Right to know the personal information we collect, use, and disclose
- Right to delete your information
- Right to opt-out (note: we do not sell your data)
To exercise your California privacy rights, please reach out to us at [email protected] or (510) 480-1997. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
GDPR Notice to European Visitors
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the rights to access, correct, or erase your personal data, and to object to or restrict certain processing. Although our services are provided under US Law, we acknowledge the right of any user to exercise their privacy rights. To exercise your individual privacy rights under GDPR, please contact us at [email protected]. We will act upon your request in accordance with applicable EU data protection laws.
Do Not Track (“DNT”) Signals
Certain browsers have a “Do Not Track” or DNT feature that allows you to communicate your preference not to have online activity tracked. At this time, there is no universally adopted standard for how companies should recognize and respond to signals from browsers expressing this preference. H.W. Achala Law does not change its data collection and use practices when we receive a Do Not Track request from your browser. You can manage your browser cookie preferences and tracking settings in the browser settings on your device.
Web Hosting, Data Storage and Security
H.W. Achala Law uses secure servers located within the United States. All data collected through this website is stored in secure, access-controlled environments. We review our data storage practices periodically to ensure that we are in compliance with applicable law and industry best practices. Our hosting vendors are vetted for their security and privacy practices.
How We Protect Your Information
We employ a mix of physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to protect your information. These safeguards include the use of encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS), periodic security audits, access controls, staff training, and data back-up processes. We update our security practices at regular intervals to keep up with new threats. In the event of a security breach, affected users, the media, and law enforcement will be notified according to applicable law.
Policy Updates and Changes
H.W. Achala Law may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time as we change our practices, technology, or legal requirements, or for other operational purposes. We will provide a prominent notice on our website and update the effective date at the top of the Privacy Policy whenever we make material changes. You can periodically review this page to remain current with our practice regarding privacy.
How To Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please reach out to us at the following:
| H.W. Achala Law |
| By Mail: H.W. Achala Law, 1300 Clay St Ste 29, Oakland CA 94612 |
| By Phone: (510) 480-1997 |
| By E-mail: [email protected] |
| Online: https://hwachaelaw.com/ |
We genuinely welcome your feedback and, short of an immediate resolution to your privacy concern, we promise to address the matter in a timely and candid way. You may also use our Contact H.W. Achala Law page for further inquiries.
Your Consent
Use of the H.W. Achala Law website and the services provided constitutes acceptance of the collection, use, and disclosure of information we collect as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our collection, use, and disclosure practices as described in this Privacy Policy, you should stop using our website. Your continued use of our site after we change our Privacy Policy in any manner will signify your acceptance of the revised policy.
Legal Disclaimer
The materials on H.W. Achala Law are for general informational and educational purposes. While we hope that our information is helpful, it should not be taken as legal advice or as a substitute for professional advice. We highly recommend that you consult with an attorney for particular and specific questions. Use of our website materials does not create an attorney-client relationship with H.W. Achala Law or any contributor.
Commitment to Accessibility
H.W. Achala Law strives to provide a website that is accessible to all users. We are continually working to provide a user-friendly experience and make content available to as many consumers as possible. If you find any accessibility issues, please contact us at [email protected] so we can assist you and ultimately improve our service.
Your Responsibilities
Although we take all reasonable precautions to safeguard your privacy, we urge you to take steps of your own to help protect your information. Do not communicate personal information through non-encrypted websites or via unsecured methods located in public areas of our site. Be especially cautious about following links from our site that direct you to another website. If you suspect any problems with your information, or with any security concern, we urge you to contact us immediately.
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy and any dispute that may arise out of or relate to this policy, H.W. Achala Law, the website, or any related service will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, and applicable federal law of the United States. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Oakland, California for any dispute relating in any way to this policy or to your use of the H.W. Achala Law’s website.
Effective Date
This Privacy Policy is effective as of June 1, 2024. Any changes to this policy will be posted on this page. It is recommended that you check back with this policy periodically.
Summary and Acknowledgement
At the Law Firm of H.W. Achala, the privacy and trust of our website visitors is important to us. We are committed to upholding the highest standards in data stewardship and privacy, transparency, and stellar customer service in our efforts to educate and empower our customers. By accessing the H.W. Achala website and subscribing to our newsletters, you are acknowledging that you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy. Thank you for trusting the Law Firm of H.W. Achala.