Confidentiality
Notice,
Privacy Policy & Disclaimer
The
content of this Web site is for informational purposes
only
and is not intended and should not be construed as solicitation
of business or the offering of legal advice. This information
is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute,
a lawyer-client relationship. Internet subscribers and
online
readers should not send information until they speak with
me and get authorization to send that information to me.
Clients
should use caution when sending confidential information
via
e-mail. While e-mail programs do offer a measure of security,
they are not fool-proof. Any client having any doubts
or reservations
about sending confidential or sensitive information via the
Internet should first contact me to discuss the matter
or
send the information in another manner.
The
Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (the "Act")
- also called the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act - requires financial
institutions to provide notice of its privacy policies to
any individual with whom they have a "customer relationship".
The Act was Congress's response to the repeal of the
Glass-Steagall
Act, and was primarily aimed at financial institutions. By
virtue of its broad language, however, the Act may also
be applicable
to attorneys who perform real estate, estate- and tax-planning
services. The Act requires the disclosing entity to
tell its
customers how and to whom it shares nonpublic personal information.
"Personal information" includes: information about
you, about the matters upon which I am working for you and
about your transactions or matters with third parties.
I
present this information regardless of my obligation under
the Act in order to affirm my commitment to you that your
personal information, and anything you tell me in the
context
of my representation of you, is always held in strictest
confidence and is not revealed to third parties without
your prior knowledge
and consent.
My
policy flows from my duties under Connecticut's Rules
of Professional
Conduct, to which all Connecticut attorneys are subject.
Rule 1.6 of the Rules states:
"(a)
A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to representation
of a client unless the client consents after consultation,
except for disclosures that are impliedly authorized
in
order to carry out the representation..."¹
Of
course, unless in the context of the matters on which
I am
working, I do not identify the nature of work I perform for
you, nor do I disclose your name or any personal information
to third parties having no connection to your matter. I retain
records relating to professional services that I provide
so
that I am better able to assist you with your professional
needs and in, some cases, to comply with professional
guidelines.
I do not and will not sell or exchange my client list to
marketers. That said, if at any time you have questions
regarding the
confidentiality of our communications or the information
which you provide me, I invite you to contact me.
¹There
are exceptions to this Rule that relate to an attorney's
obligation
to reveal facts (a) to prevent a client from committing an
act likely to result in (i) death or serious bodily
harm or
(ii)substantial injury to the financial interest or property
of another ; or (b) to establish a defense in a controversy
between the lawyer and a client.
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