Bass, Berry & Sims values the privacy of its clients and website and blog viewers. This Privacy Policy describes how Bass, Berry & Sims (“Bass, Berry & Sims,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, protects, maintains and discloses personal information we receive from visitors to our websites (“Sites”). This Privacy Policy only applies to information we collect through the use of the Sites and not to information collected offline or through any other websites (even if there is a link to a third party website on a Site). This Privacy Policy also describes your choices about the collection and use of your information. Information obtained directly from clients is subject to any engagement letter or other agreement between the client and Bass, Berry & Sims.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully before you use our Sites. By using our Sites or permitting disclosure of information through them, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

When you use our Sites, we may collect and use information we receive from you, which may include personal information.  “Personal information” means any information that identifies or relates to an individual, and any other information we associate with it.  We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide (e.g., when filling out a form on a Site) or that is collected passively (e.g., from cookies).

Information You Voluntarily Provide to Bass, Berry & Sims

Personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you use our Sites may include:

  • First and last name
  • Company, home, postal or other physical address or location
  • Other contact information, for example, telephone number, fax number, email address, and other similar information
  • Title or position in a company or an organization
  • Occupation
  • Industry
  • Personal interests
  • Any other information needed to provide a service you requested
  • Any other information you provide in open fields on the Sites
  • Any information you provide in communications with us through the Sites, such as via our online information card.

Examples of scenarios where our visitors provide their personal information include, but may not be limited to:

  • Posting a question or comment through the Sites
  • Requesting literature or additional information
  • Registering to attend a seminar or any event
  • Participating in an online survey
  • Requesting inclusion in an email or other mailing list
  • Submitting an entry for a contest or other promotions
  • Logging in to a Site, thus requiring a user name and/or a password.

Usually, if collecting personal information through the Sites, we will inform you of the purpose for the collection. We do not generally transfer your personal information to third parties without your consent except under the limited conditions described under the discussion entitled “Information Sharing and Disclosure” below. If you choose to provide us with your personal information, we may transfer that information within the law firm or to a third party service provider in order for the service provider to provide services to you or to Bass, Berry & Sims.

Domain Information

Bass, Berry & Sims may collect domain information when you use the Sites, such as by our web servers and third party analytics tools, to enable us to analyze how our visitors use the Sites. This data enables us to become more familiar with which people visit our Sites, how often they visit, and what parts of the Sites they visit most often. We use this information to improve our web-based offerings. This information is collected automatically and requires no action on your part.

As part of the domain information, our system may record certain information about visitors to our Sites, including such information as your browser type, your Internet Protocol (IP) address, mobile device identifiers, browser information, interaction with the Sites, pages viewed, and similar information.  We also may collect information from emails you receive from us that can help us track which emails are opened and which links are clicked by recipients. We may, from time to time, retain third parties to help us collect and aggregate personal information from users of the Sites.

Use of Cookies and Tracking User Traffic

Some pages on this site may use “cookies”—small files that the site places on your hard drive for identification purposes. A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID to track the pages visited, but the only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. These files are used for site registration and customization the next time you visit us.

Some parts of the site may also use cookies to track user traffic patterns. Bass, Berry & Sims does this in order to determine the usefulness of our Web site information to our users and to see how effective our navigational structure is in helping users reach that information. Please note that cookies cannot read data off of your hard drive. Your Web browser may allow you to be notified when you are receiving a cookie, giving you the choice to accept it or not. If you prefer not to receive cookies while browsing our Web site, you can set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies and refuse the cookie when your browser alerts you to its presence. You can also refuse all cookies by turning them off in your browser. By not accepting cookies, some pages may not fully function and you may not be able to access certain information on this site.

Information Sharing and Disclosure

Your personal information is never shared outside the firm without your permission, except under conditions listed below:

  • Consenting to share your information to a third party service provider working on our behalf to serve you.
  • Requiring us to provide you with a product or service.

Bass, Berry & Sims will also disclose your personal information, if required to do so by law, or in urgent circumstances, to protect personal safety, the public or our sites.

Internet Security

Bass, Berry & Sims strives to protect your personal information and uses commercially reasonable means to do so. No method of transmission over the Internet, or method for storing data, is 100% secure, however, and we cannot guarantee or warrant that our security measures will prevent unauthorized access to your data. Any transmission of your information is at your own risk. By using the Sites, you acknowledge and accept these risks.

State-specific rights

Residents of certain countries and states within the United States may have certain rights with respect to personal information. Bass, Berry & Sims does not have offices in any of those locations and is not currently subject to those laws. We do, however, comply with applicable ethical rules regarding the practice of law as they relate to confidential information received from clients. If you would like to make a request regarding your personal information, please contact us through the “Contact” tab on the Sites.

Geographic Limitation

The Sites are controlled, operated and administered entirely within the United States. Your information, including personal information, may be transferred to, and maintained on, computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction. The Sites are intended only for residents of the United States. If you are located outside the United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Information, to the United States for processing.

Sensitive Personal Information

When you use, access, or otherwise interact with the Sites, we ask that you not send us, and you not disclose, any sensitive personal information (for example, Social Security numbers, information related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion or other beliefs, health, biometrics or genetic characteristics, criminal background, trade union membership, precise geolocation or information regarding minors). If you nonetheless choose to send or disclose any sensitive personal information to us, you consent to our processing and use of such sensitive personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to our processing and use of such sensitive personal information, you must not submit such content through the Sites.

Protecting the Privacy of Children

Children under 13 years old are not the target audience for our Sites. To protect their privacy, the firm prohibits the solicitation of personal information from children. The Sites do not knowingly solicit or collect personally identifiable information online from minors (“Children” or “Child”) without prior verifiable parental consent. By using the Sites, you represent that you are at least 18. If you do not meet this age requirement, please do not access or use the Sites. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Child has provided us with personal information, please contact us through the “Contact” tab on the Sites. If we learn that a Child has submitted personal information through a Site without verification of parental consent, we will take all reasonable measures to delete such information from our servers.

For more information about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), which applies to websites that direct their services to children under the age of 13, please visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions.

Links to Third Party Sites

This site may contain links to other sites. Bass, Berry & Sims does not share your personal information with those Web sites and is not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to learn about the privacy policies of those companies.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

Bass, Berry & Sims reserves the right to change, modify or update this policy at any time without notice. Any substantial changes in the way we use your personal information will be posted on this site. You should periodically check for notices and updates to our Privacy Policy because your use of the Sites after any such updates have been made constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy, whether or not you have reviewed the updates. We will use, share, maintain and disclose personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy as it existed at the time the information was collected unless otherwise required by law or if we have obtained your consent.

If you have questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy, please email us at the contact information on the Sites.