Privacy Policy

Machat & Associates, PC (“Machat & Associates,” the “Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit or interact with our website, www.machatlaw.com (the “Website”).

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through the Website and related communications. Information collected in connection with an established attorney-client relationship may also be subject to additional confidentiality obligations, professional rules, agreements, and applicable law.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you communicate with us or submit information through the Website, including through contact or consultation forms.

Depending on how you interact with the Website, this information may include:

• Your name;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Business or company name, if provided;
• Information concerning the nature of your inquiry;
• Comments, questions, or other information you choose to provide; and
• Other information you voluntarily submit through the Website.

Please avoid submitting highly sensitive, confidential, or time-sensitive information through the Website unless specifically requested by an attorney at the Firm.

Submitting information through the Website does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship. Any duties regarding information received from a prospective client are governed by applicable law and rules of professional conduct.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Website, our website hosting and service providers may automatically process certain technical information associated with your visit, which may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address;
• Browser and device information;
• Operating system information;
• Pages or resources requested;
• Referring website or source;
• Date and time of requests;
• General or approximate geographic information derived from network information; and
• Information relating to Website performance, security, and errors.

We use this information primarily to operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Website.

2. Website Hosting and Netlify Forms

The Website is hosted using services provided by Netlify, Inc. (“Netlify”).

We also use Netlify Forms to process information submitted through certain forms on the Website. When you submit a form, the information you provide may be transmitted to and stored using Netlify's systems and infrastructure.

Netlify may process technical information and form-submission information on our behalf as necessary to provide website hosting, form processing, security, spam prevention, and related services.

We may access, review, export, retain, or delete form submissions as reasonably necessary for business, legal, ethical, security, and administrative purposes.

3. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information collected through the Website to:

• Respond to questions, inquiries, and consultation requests;
• Communicate with you regarding legal services;
• Evaluate whether the Firm may be able to assist you with a legal matter;
• Conduct conflicts checks or other preliminary evaluations where appropriate;
• Provide information that you request;
• Schedule or coordinate communications;
• Operate, maintain, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the Website;
• Detect or prevent spam, fraud, misuse, security incidents, or other potentially harmful activity;
• Maintain appropriate business and professional records;
• Comply with applicable laws, court orders, professional obligations, or legal processes;
• Establish, exercise, or defend legal rights; and
• Send information regarding Firm services, legal developments, or other matters where permitted by law.

We do not use information submitted through the Website for purposes materially unrelated to those described in this Privacy Policy unless permitted or required by applicable law.

4. How We Disclose Personal Information

We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration.

We may disclose personal information in the circumstances described below.

Service Providers

We may provide personal information to companies that perform services on our behalf, including website hosting, form processing, information technology, cybersecurity, spam prevention, communications, and related services.

For example, Netlify processes certain information in connection with hosting the Website and handling Website form submissions.

Legal and Professional Obligations

We may disclose information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable law, regulation, subpoena, court order, or legal process;
• Respond to lawful requests from governmental or regulatory authorities;
• Comply with applicable professional or ethical obligations;
• Protect the rights, property, security, or interests of the Firm, our clients, Website visitors, or others; or
• Detect, prevent, investigate, or address fraud, misuse, security incidents, or unlawful activity.

Professional Advisers and Business Operations

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to professional advisers, consultants, insurers, accountants, technology providers, or similar persons assisting the Firm, subject to appropriate confidentiality or professional obligations where applicable.

We may also disclose information in connection with a merger, reorganization, transfer of assets, or similar business transaction, subject to applicable legal and professional obligations.

5. Cookies, Analytics, and Tracking Technologies

The Website does not currently use third-party advertising pixels or behavioral advertising technologies to track visitors across unaffiliated websites for targeted advertising purposes.

Our website hosting provider may process server and network information necessary to deliver, secure, monitor, and maintain the Website.

If Netlify Web Analytics is enabled for the Website, website traffic may be analyzed using server-side information derived from Netlify's network infrastructure. Netlify's native Web Analytics does not rely on client-side tracking cookies.

Certain Website functionality or security features may use cookies or similar technologies if such features are enabled.

We may update this Privacy Policy if our use of cookies, analytics, advertising, or tracking technologies materially changes.

6. Do Not Track and Cross-Site Tracking

Some web browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (“DNT”) setting or similar privacy signals.

Because the Website does not currently use technologies designed to track visitors across unaffiliated websites for behavioral advertising, the Website does not currently take separate action in response to traditional browser DNT signals.

We do not knowingly permit third parties to collect personally identifiable information through the Website regarding a visitor's online activities over time and across different unaffiliated websites for targeted advertising purposes.

If our practices change, we will update this Privacy Policy as appropriate.

7. Sale or Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell personal information obtained through the Website.

We do not currently use personal information collected through the Website for cross-context behavioral advertising or knowingly share personal information with third parties for that purpose.

We may disclose personal information to service providers that process information on our behalf as described in this Privacy Policy.

8. Your Privacy Choices and Requests

You may contact us to:

• Ask questions regarding personal information we have collected from you through the Website;
• Request correction of inaccurate information you have provided;
• Request deletion of information you have submitted, subject to applicable legal, ethical, professional, recordkeeping, security, and other obligations; or
• Request that we stop sending non-essential marketing communications.

To make a request, contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section below.

We may need to verify your identity before acting on certain requests.

Nothing in this section requires us to delete or alter information that we are required or permitted to retain under applicable law or professional obligations.

9. California Privacy Information

If you are a California resident, California law may provide additional rights concerning personal information depending on the circumstances and the applicability of particular privacy laws.

California law requires certain website operators to disclose the categories of personally identifiable information collected through their websites, the categories of third parties with whom such information may be shared, procedures for requesting changes where such procedures are maintained, how material changes to a privacy policy are communicated, and certain information concerning online tracking practices. These matters are addressed throughout this Privacy Policy.

Certain businesses meeting applicable statutory requirements may be subject to additional obligations under the California Consumer Privacy Act and related California privacy laws. To the extent such laws apply to the Firm, we will provide and honor the rights and disclosures required by applicable law.

California residents with questions regarding our privacy practices may contact us using the information below.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and for legitimate legal, business, security, and professional purposes.

The length of time information is retained may depend on:

• The nature of the information;
• The purpose for which it was collected;
• Whether the information relates to a legal inquiry or prospective representation;
• Applicable statutes of limitation;
• Conflicts-check and professional responsibility considerations;
• Legal or regulatory requirements; and
• Security, fraud-prevention, and recordkeeping needs.

Information submitted through Website forms may be stored through Netlify until it is deleted or otherwise removed in accordance with our retention practices.

11. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, electronic transmission, or information storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You should therefore use appropriate caution when submitting personal or sensitive information through the Internet.

For confidential or sensitive legal communications, you may contact the Firm to determine an appropriate method of communication.

12. Children's Privacy

The Website is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13 years of age.

We do not knowingly collect personal information through the Website from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information from a child under 13 without appropriate authorization, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

13. Third-Party Websites

The Website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.

We are not responsible for the privacy, security, content, or practices of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party websites before providing personal information to them.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, services, legal requirements, or other circumstances.

When we update this Privacy Policy, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

If we make material changes to our privacy practices, we may provide additional notice on the Website or by other appropriate means where required by applicable law.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

15. Contact Us

Questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices may be directed to: