Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Joseph C. Russo, P.A., Attorney at Law ("Firm," "we," "us," or "our") may collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect information when you visit or interact with josephcrussolaw.com or otherwise communicate with the Firm through the website.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through this website and related online interactions. It does not replace any written engagement agreement, attorney-client communication policy, confidentiality obligation, legal notice, or other agreement that may apply if you become a client of the Firm.

1. Important Notice About Attorney-Client Confidentiality

Visiting this website, submitting a contact form, sending an email, calling the Firm, leaving a voicemail, scheduling a consultation, or otherwise communicating with the Firm does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.

Do not submit confidential, privileged, sensitive, proprietary, trade secret, personal, financial, or time-sensitive information through this website unless and until the Firm has agreed in writing to represent you.

An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the Firm has reviewed the matter, determined that no conflict of interest or other professional issue prevents representation, agreed in writing to represent you, and entered into a written engagement agreement with you.

Information you submit before an attorney-client relationship is formed may not be treated as confidential or privileged. If you have a legal deadline, pending transaction, litigation issue, contract deadline, closing deadline, regulatory issue, or other urgent matter, do not rely on website communication as a substitute for timely legal action.

2. Information We May Collect

The Firm may collect information that you voluntarily provide, information collected automatically through website technologies, and information received from third parties in connection with your inquiry or matter.

Information You Voluntarily Provide

You may provide information when you:

• Submit a contact form;
• Send an email;
• Call the Firm;
• Leave a voicemail;
• Request a consultation;
• Provide documents or matter details;
• Communicate with the Firm about legal services;
• Use any scheduling, intake, payment, or communication tool made available through the website.

This information may include:

• Name;
• Business name;
• Job title or role;
• Email address;
• Phone number;
• Mailing address;
• Company address;
• Matter type;
• Opposing party or transaction party names;
• Contract, transaction, entity, real estate, employment, finance, insurance, intellectual property, litigation, or business-related details;
• Documents or files you choose to provide;
• Payment-related information if online payment options are used;
• Any other information you choose to submit.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

• IP address;
• Browser type;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Referring website;
• Pages visited;
• Date and time of visit;
• Approximate location derived from IP address;
• Website interactions;
• Form interaction data;
• Session information;
• Cookie and similar technology data;
• Error logs, security logs, and server logs.

This information may be used to operate, protect, maintain, troubleshoot, measure, and improve the website.

Information From Third Parties

The Firm may receive information from third parties when relevant to your inquiry, legal matter, business transaction, or relationship with the Firm. These third parties may include:

• Referral sources;
• Existing clients;
• Business contacts;
• Co-counsel;
• Opposing parties or transaction parties;
• Title companies;
• Lenders;
• Accountants;
• Insurance professionals;
• Real estate professionals;
• Government agencies;
• Public records;
• Corporate records;
• Court records;
• Online directories;
• Payment processors;
• Website service providers.

3. How We May Use Information

The Firm may use collected information for purposes including:

• Responding to inquiries;
• Evaluating whether the Firm may be able to assist you;
• Conducting conflict checks;
• Scheduling consultations;
• Communicating with you;
• Providing legal services after an attorney-client relationship is established;
• Reviewing documents or matter details you provide;
• Managing client relationships;
• Maintaining business and legal records;
• Processing payments;
• Operating and securing the website;
• Detecting spam, fraud, abuse, or unauthorized activity;
• Improving website performance and usability;
• Understanding how visitors use the website;
• Complying with legal, ethical, regulatory, professional, insurance, and accounting obligations;
• Protecting the Firm's rights, clients, systems, and property.

4. Legal Services and Client Information

If you become a client of the Firm, information related to your representation may be governed by attorney-client privilege, attorney work-product protections, professional confidentiality rules, written engagement terms, court rules, procedural rules, legal ethics requirements, and applicable law.

This Privacy Policy does not limit or replace the Firm's professional obligations to clients. If there is a conflict between this Privacy Policy and a written engagement agreement or applicable professional obligation, the written engagement agreement or applicable professional obligation controls.

5. Conflict Checks

When you contact the Firm about a potential matter, the Firm may use information you provide to perform a conflict check. This may include your name, company name, related parties, opposing parties, transaction parties, affiliated entities, lenders, buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, employees, contractors, insurers, or other relevant parties.

Providing information for a conflict check does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not mean the Firm has agreed to represent you.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The website may use cookies, pixels, tags, scripts, local storage, session storage, analytics tools, spam-prevention tools, security tools, embedded content, or similar technologies.

These technologies may be used to:

• Keep the website functioning;
• Improve website performance;
• Remember basic preferences;
• Protect forms from spam or abuse;
• Measure website traffic;
• Understand how visitors find and use the website;
• Identify technical issues;
• Support website security;
• Improve user experience.

You may be able to limit cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect how some website features function.

On this website, non-essential cookies and third-party embeds load only after you affirmatively opt in. Manage your choices anytime: Cookie Settings.

7. Analytics and Website Measurement

The website may use analytics tools to understand general website activity, such as page views, traffic sources, device types, browser types, geographic regions, form interactions, and visitor behavior.

Analytics information is generally used in aggregate or technical form to evaluate website performance and improve the website. Analytics tools may collect information through cookies, scripts, pixels, or similar technologies.

The Firm does not use analytics data to provide legal advice, determine the merits of a matter, or create an attorney-client relationship.

8. Contact Forms, Email, and Online Communications

If you contact the Firm through a website form, email, phone, voicemail, or other electronic method, the Firm may use the information you provide to respond to your inquiry.

Electronic communications are not guaranteed to be secure, confidential, timely, or error-free. Messages may be delayed, misdirected, blocked, filtered, intercepted, or accessed by unauthorized parties.

Do not submit sensitive or confidential information through website forms or email unless and until the Firm has formally agreed in writing to represent you.

9. Payment Information

If the Firm offers online payment options, payment information may be collected and processed by a third-party payment processor. The Firm may receive limited payment-related information, such as payment confirmation, transaction amount, payment date, client or invoice reference, billing contact information, and transaction status.

The Firm does not control the privacy or security practices of third-party payment processors. Use of a payment processor may be governed by that processor's own terms and privacy policy.

Making a payment does not create an attorney-client relationship unless the Firm has entered into a written engagement agreement with you.

10. Third-Party Service Providers

The Firm may share information with trusted third-party service providers that help operate the Firm's business, website, communications, security, technology, billing, records, or legal practice.

These providers may include:

• Website hosting providers;
• Email providers;
• IT support providers;
• Cybersecurity providers;
• Form and intake providers;
• Scheduling providers;
• Payment processors;
• Cloud storage providers;
• Document management providers;
• Practice management providers;
• Analytics providers;
• Spam prevention providers;
• Professional advisors;
• Accountants;
• Insurance providers;
• Other vendors reasonably necessary to operate the Firm or provide legal services.

The Firm may provide these service providers with information as reasonably necessary for them to perform services for the Firm.

11. Third-Party Websites and Links

The website may link to third-party websites, directories, maps, social media pages, payment platforms, scheduling tools, embedded content, articles, or external resources.

The Firm does not control and is not responsible for the privacy practices, security practices, content, accuracy, availability, accessibility, terms, or policies of third-party websites or services.

If you visit a third-party website, you should review that third party's own privacy policy and terms.

12. When We May Disclose Information

The Firm may disclose information when:

• You authorize disclosure;
• Disclosure is necessary to respond to your inquiry;
• Disclosure is necessary to evaluate or provide legal services;
• Disclosure is necessary to conduct conflict checks;
• Disclosure is necessary to communicate with third-party service providers;
• Disclosure is necessary for billing, payment, accounting, insurance, or business administration;
• Disclosure is required or permitted by law, court order, subpoena, regulation, professional rule, or legal process;
• Disclosure is necessary to protect the Firm's rights, clients, systems, property, or safety;
• Disclosure is necessary to prevent fraud, abuse, unauthorized access, or security incidents;
• Disclosure is necessary in connection with a business transition, succession, merger, restructuring, or transfer of Firm records, subject to applicable legal and ethical obligations.

If you are a client, disclosures relating to your representation are also subject to applicable attorney-client confidentiality rules, privilege rules, professional obligations, and engagement terms.

13. No Sale of Personal Information

The Firm does not sell personal information in the ordinary meaning of selling a person's information for money.

The website may use analytics, cookies, or third-party tools that could be considered data sharing under certain privacy laws depending on configuration, visitor location, and applicable law. Where required, the Firm will provide reasonable options to limit or opt out of nonessential tracking.

If you use the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in your browser, we treat it as a request to limit non-essential cookies and third-party embeds.

14. Marketing Communications

The Firm may use contact information to respond to inquiries, maintain professional relationships, provide updates, or communicate with clients and business contacts.

The Firm does not intend to send unlawful spam or improper legal solicitations. Any attorney advertising or marketing communication is intended to comply with applicable professional rules.

You may request that the Firm stop sending nonessential marketing communications by contacting the Firm using the information listed in this Privacy Policy.

15. Data Security

The Firm takes reasonable measures designed to protect information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, server, email system, cloud system, form tool, payment system, or electronic communication method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You submit information through the website and electronic communications at your own risk.

16. Data Retention

The Firm may retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:

• Responding to inquiries;
• Conducting conflict checks;
• Maintaining business records;
• Maintaining legal and professional records;
• Providing legal services;
• Complying with legal, ethical, accounting, tax, insurance, and regulatory obligations;
• Resolving disputes;
• Enforcing agreements;
• Protecting the Firm's rights.

Client records may be retained according to the Firm's file retention practices, engagement agreements, professional obligations, and applicable law.

Information submitted by prospective clients may be retained for conflict-check, administrative, legal, or professional responsibility purposes even if the Firm does not represent the person or business submitting the information.

17. Children's Privacy

This website is intended for adults and business users. It is not directed to children under the age of 13.

The Firm does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website. If you believe a child has submitted information through the website, please contact the Firm so the information can be reviewed and deleted where appropriate.

18. Visitors Outside Florida or the United States

The Firm is located in Tampa, Florida, and the website is intended primarily for individuals and businesses seeking information about legal services in Florida.

If you access the website from outside Florida or outside the United States, you understand that information may be processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your location.

The availability of this website outside Florida does not mean the Firm is offering legal services in every jurisdiction.

19. Privacy Rights and Requests

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding personal information, such as the right to request access, correction, deletion, limitation, or information about how your data is used.

To submit a privacy request, contact:

The Firm may need to verify your identity before responding to a request. The Firm may deny or limit a request where permitted or required by law, professional obligations, attorney-client privilege, work-product protection, litigation holds, record retention duties, conflict-check obligations, or other legal requirements.

20. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer "Do Not Track" or similar signals. Because there is not a uniform industry standard for responding to such signals, the website may not respond to all browser-based Do Not Track signals.

You may use browser settings, cookie controls, or other available tools to manage cookies and tracking technologies.

21. Changes to This Privacy Policy

The Firm may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When changes are made, the updated Privacy Policy will be posted on this page with a new effective date.

Your continued use of the website after changes are posted means you accept the updated Privacy Policy.

22. Contact Information

Questions about this Privacy Policy may be directed to: