Privacy Policy – Ayres Law Firm

Our Commitment to Privacy

At the Ayres Law Firm, your privacy is not only of the utmost concern to you-it is an essential part of the trust that exists between an attorney and client. When you provide any sort of private personal or legal information to our attorneys and staff, you have a right to expect the highest standard of confidentiality and protection. Our Privacy Policy outlines in detail how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information as part of our representation, educational services, and client support. We believe in being transparent with our privacy practices so that you can have peace of mind knowing that your personal information is safely and appropriately handled by qualified professionals. No matter whether you are a current or prospective client, stakeholder, educational constituent, or simply looking for information on our practice area, we take our responsibility to earn your trust regarding the protection of your personal information very seriously.

Who We Are

Ayres Law Firm is a Los Angeles based law firm owned by attorney Sarah Ayres. Our attorneys bring over 15 years of extensive legal experience to our clients. We pride ourselves on providing personal legal advice and representation in the areas of family law, criminal defense, estate planning, and legal education. We believe in compassion, empowering clients, and the highest ethical standards in our approach.

The firm’s contact information is:

Address	1234 Wilshire Blvd Ste 25, Los Angeles CA 90017
Phone	(310) 549-3991
E-mail	[email protected]
Website	https://ayres-law-firm.com/

This Privacy Policy covers all information collected by Ayres Law Firm both online and offline in association with its business.

What This Privacy Policy Covers

This Privacy Policy governs all personal information collected, used, and maintained by Ayres Law Firm via our website, telephone and email communications, in-person meetings for consultations, during legal proceedings, and any other interactions with clients, prospective clients, and visitors to our website. This Privacy Policy includes, but is not limited to, the collection, use, and maintenance of information received when:

you engage in our law firm services regarding family law, criminal law, or estate planning;
you sign up for our newsletters, or for educational content offered by Ayres Law Firm;
you reach out to our team for a consultation or a question;
you visit or use our website (https://ayres-law-firm.com/)

If you are using our services or website you are indicating that you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our Privacy Policy practices, you should discontinue use of the website and our services.

What Information We Collect

We gather a variety of information in order to provide legal services and meet our responsibilities. The information that we collect on you may include:

Personally-identifying information, including but not limited to your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, birth date, and government issued identification;
Information about your legal matter, including but not limited to documents related to your family, financial, criminal or estate planning records, possible litigation and court records;
Information that is automatically logged through e-mail, phone conversation, letter, or an in-office or off-site meeting with an attorney or staff member;
Information collected through the use of cookies and web beacons through your web browser such as your IP address, web browser type, protocol version, browser language and your pages visited on the site;
Financial information such as your credit card number, bank account number, billing address, purchase information or transaction history used in processing a payment for one of our services;
Information collected through your subscribing – either through subscription or download – or participation in one of our educational programs.

We collect this information directly from you, from others with your permission, or through automated technologies or interactions that occur when you interact with our site.

How We Use Information

We collect and use your information for a number of important purposes related to the provision of our legal services and for your use of the Ayres Law Firm services. We may also use your information to:

Provide you with legal advice, counsel, and representation
Communicate with you about your matter(s), setting appointments, billing issues, providing changes in the law that affect your legal services
Process payments and maintain billing accounts
Maintain accurate and secure legal records in their professional settings
Send you newsletters, legal bulletins, and educational materials (if you have subscribed)
Respond to your requests and questions
Improve functionality and experience of our website
Comply with legal, regulatory, and/or ethical rules
Prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized use of client information and records

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling where it has any legal or similar significant effect.

Our Legal Bases for Processing Personal Information

Ayres Law Firm processes personal information only when permitted by applicable law. The bases for our processing of personal information include:

Performance of a Contract – This applies when it is necessary to provide the legal services you have requested or engaged us to provide.
Legal Obligation – This is relevant when compliance with a legal or regulatory obligation is necessary, such as rules and regulations applicable to attorneys and law firms regarding record-keeping and anti-money laundering.
Legitimate Interests – This applies when it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and the legal services we are engaged to provide do not override your fundamental rights.
Consent – This is applicable in situations where we have obtained your prior data protection consent to use your personal information, such as when you register to receive newsletters and other marketing communications. In such cases, you may withdraw your consent at any time thereafter.

How We Secure Information

Your personal information is critically important to us here at Ayres Law Firm. We maintain a set of organizational, technical, and physical security controls that are intended to safeguard your information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Some of those security controls include:

Locked physical offices with restricted access.
Secure electronic communications systems and storage.
Password-protected case management system.
Regular information security audits and staff confidentiality policies and training.
Document disposal and shredding procedures.
Limit our physical access to client files to attorneys and staff that are directly connected with the case.

We strive to use commercially reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality of your information using all means available; however, while we have occasional multi-factor authentication with regard to access to certain systems, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. The Firm employs best practices for safeguarding your information and will monitor and update its protocols when necessary.

Confidentiality and the Attorney-Client Privilege

Your privacy is very important to us. Attorney-client privilege and the strict professional confidentiality rules form the basis of our privacy obligations at Ayres Law Firm. Everything you disclose to us in the course of seeking or receiving legal advice is subject to the most stringent rules of confidentiality and privacy under California statutory law and the Rules of Professional Conduct of the California State Bar. We will not disclose your attorney-client privileged information to any third party without your express, written permission, except to:

Represent you in a legal proceeding, dispute, or negotiation with your consent
Disclose information required by court order, applicable law, or our ethical responsibility
Prevent imminent harm or fraud

Our attorneys and staff take care to immediately identify and mark privileged communications as such.

Sharing and Disclosure of Information

Ayres Law Firm does not sell, rent or trade your personal information to unaffiliated third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following situations:

With Your Consent. When you consent to the sharing of information with another party (i.e. family member, expert witness, banker, etc.).

Service Providers. Trusted vendors who help us run our business (i.e. IT support, court filing service provider, payment processor) under strict contractual confidentiality agreements.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance. If so required by law, court order, or other government code.

Protection of Rights. To protect the rights, property or safety of Ayres Law Firm, our clients, and others, including enforcement of any contract or legal agreement and/or policies.

All of these third parties must hold your information in confidence and agree not to use the information for any uses unrelated to ours.

How We Gather Information

We gather personal information through the following means, depending on how you interact with Ayres Law Firm:

Directly from you: When provided by you in connection with forms or documents that we might ask you to complete, during consultations, or in communications with us, whether in person, over the phone, or by email.
Through our website: Online forms; newsletter subscriptions; through the use of cookies and web analytics; and other technology that provides data about your online activity or usage behavior.
From third parties: Courts, other government entities, opposing parties and their counsel, from others who have a connection with your legal matter, but only when it is authorized by you and/or you otherwise consent.
From publicly available records: Where usable information is publicly accessible under applicable law, we may seek out public reports and records, media sources, or other published data, if it is deemed necessary for effective representation and therefore permitted by law.

Cookies and our Website Analytics

Our website https://ayres-law-firm.com/ uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your user experience, analyze website traffic, and improve our overall website service. Cookies are text files that are placed on your web browser or hard disk of your computer. These cookies enable us to recognize and remember you, as well as your preferences, and help us personalize or customize your experience with our website. The following Cookies are utilized on our site:

Required Cookies – These are necessary for the site’s basic functionality
Performance Cookies – These collect anonymous information about how you use the site in order to help us analyze data for optimal site functionality
Functionality Cookies – Remember your choices (such as language or country) to personalize your experience

You can control or delete cookies by adjusting your browser settings. Please be mindful that disabling the collection of “cookies” will limit functionality of our site. We also use several third-party analytics services such as Google Analytics who deliver aggregated information about how visitors use our site. These analytic services do not identify you personally.

For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.

Your Rights and Choices Regarding Privacy

Ayres Law Firm acknowledges that you have rights in relation to your information. Depending on law applicable in your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

Access: to obtain a copy of personal information that we hold about you
Correction: to request that we correct any inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information we hold about you
Deletion: request for deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and other professional requirements
Restriction: request to restrict our use of your information
Object: object on grounds related to your particular situation
Data portability: to request a copy of your personal information in a portable format.

Where permitted under law applicable in your jurisdiction, in order to exercise these rights please contact [email protected] or (310) 549-3991 and we will respond in accordance with the law and our professional obligations.

Data Retention and Storage

We may retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, provide legal services to you, and as required by applicable law, regulation, or ethics requirements. Factors that affect how long we retain certain data include:

The type of legal matter and continuing client relationship

Legal retention obligations under California and federal law

Statutes of limitations and law firm record-keeping requirements

Requirements to resolve disputes or enforce agreements

Once we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or destroy your information as described in our internal data retention policies, using industry-standard practices to prevent its unauthorized reproduction or use. If you have any questions about our data retention policy, please contact us.

Children’s Privacy

Ayres Law Firm values the privacy of minors. Our services and website are not designed for children under the age of 18. The services at the Ayres Law Firm do not knowingly accept or collect personal information from any person under the age of 18 without verified consent from a parent or guardian. If we discover that we have personal information of a child under the age of 18 without verified consent, we will take steps to delete such information from our files. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided such information, you can contact us at [email protected] to resolve the matter.

Links or References to Other Websites

Our site may include links to other third-party sites for your convenience or informational purposes only. Please be aware that Ayres Law Firm is not responsible for the privacy practices, policies or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of such external sites. Your use of those sites is subject only to their privacy policies, in no way dictated by this Privacy Policy.

International Clients and Data Transfers

Ayres Law Firm provides legal services primarily to clients located within the United States. However, some clients may have a personal or business presence outside of our country. Where your personal information is transferred, stored or otherwise processed outside your home country, we ensure that it remains protected in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy and applicable law in the relevant United States jurisdiction. We will not knowingly transfer client information to a jurisdiction having insufficient privacy protections unless that information relates to your matter and you consent to the disclosure.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

Ayres Law Firm may revise or update this Privacy Policy from time to time based on changes in our practices, legal requirements, or services, by posting such changes to our website at https://ayres-law-firm.com/ and updating the effective date at the bottom of this policy. You are encouraged to review the Privacy Policy periodically to remain informed about how we safeguard your privacy. Your continued use of our services following any such changes means that you accept the revised Privacy Policy.

How to Get in Touch With Us

If you have questions, concerns, requests or other communications relating to this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please let us know. We believe in full and timely disclosure of questions and concerns about information we provide you. You can reach us at:

Phone	(310) 549-3991
E-mail	[email protected]
Mail	Ayres Law Firm, 1234 Wilshire Blvd Ste 25, Los Angeles CA 90017

For your protection we may need to validate your identity before responding to certain privacy requests.

Your Consent

All site information is securely stored. By requesting that we provide legal services or by otherwise using the Ayres Law Firm, PC website, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to all terms and conditions in our Privacy Policy, you must contact us to discuss your concerns prior to retaining us.

Your Privacy Rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

As a resident of California you may have further rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

The right to know what categories of personal information are being collected and used
The right to request disclosure of specific pieces of personal information that we have collected about you
The right to request deletion of your personal information subject to certain exceptions in the law
The right to opt-out of sale of your personal information (note that Ayres Law Firm does NOT sell your information)
The right not to be discriminated against for exercising any privacy rights under this law

If you would like to exercise your CCPA rights, please contact us at [email protected] or (310) 549-3991. We will verify your identity before processing a request.

Professional and Ethical Duties

As licensed legal professionals, the attorneys at Ayres Law Firm are subject to ethical requirements and other rules of professional conduct, such as the California State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct, and our privacy policies are intended to comply and be consistent with that and other laws that govern attorneys. Our operations and policies go beyond legal requirements and provide you with the highest level of confidentiality, security, and respect for any information you share with us. We regularly review and update our procedures to ensure compliance with changing requirements.

Client Endorsements and Testimonials

Ayres Law Firm may, from time to time, feature client testimonials or case studies (in a redacted or anonymized form) to communicate our experience and the level of service we provide to our clients. We only do so with your express written permission and take care to remove or mask any identifying names or otherwise sensitive information regarding you as the client. If you would like us to feature any information about your experience, or have questions regarding our policies or terms of use about testimonials, please contact us.

How to Request to Opt-Out or Withdraw Consent

If you are subscribed to our newsletters, bulletins or updates, we respect your ability to unsubscribe at any time. Each email contains instructions on how to unsubscribe, or you can email us at [email protected] or call us at (310) 549-3991 to change your preferences, or request to be removed from our lists. Please be advised that we will continue to send you other information as it relates to the legal matters we are representing you on.

How to Submit a Privacy Complaint

If you feel that your privacy rights have been infringed upon by Ayres Law Firm, you should contact us immediately at [email protected] or (310) 549-3991. We take all privacy matters very seriously and will investigate the concern promptly and thoroughly. Please note that you may also have the right to file a complaint with the California State Bar or other governing agency if you are not happy with how we addressed the above concern.

Effective Date and Updates

This Privacy Policy is effective June 1, 2023, superseding any previous versions. This policy may be updated or revised at any time. Material changes will be communicated on our website or directly to clients as appropriate. In order to ensure you are always up-to-date on the collection and safeguarding of your information, please check this policy periodically.

Our Continuing Commitment to Privacy

Client Privacy Statement

At Ayres Law Firm, the protection of your personal information is an important part of the trust you extend to us as advisors. We employ and adhere to the strictest levels of privacy, confidentiality and security in all client interactions. We not only commit to the ethical standards prescribed by applicable laws, we also incorporate those values thoroughly in the client care culture at our firm. Please contact us at [email protected] or (310) 549-3991 if you have any questions relating to this Privacy Policy or how we treat your information.

Thank you for trusting Ayres Law Firm to be your legal services provider.