Our Cookie Policy: Introduction
At the firm of Joseph V. Sherman, P.C., our commitment to client privacy and transparency regarding the use of client data is fundamental. Our Cookie Policy details our use of cookies and other technologies on the Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. website, how we gather information, how that information is used, and how you can exercise control over those cookies. Whether you are a property owner looking for advice regarding eminent domain in Virginia or a corporation seeking to determine its rights in a real estate dispute, we want you to feel comfortable accessing our site. Please take the time to read this policy to learn about how cookies work for you online and how you can exercise control over your data.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device by the websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the website owner. Cookies enable us to identify your preferred site settings and preferences, facilitate your navigation from page to page on our site, remember your preferences for future visits to our site, and otherwise improve our legal services and the content on our site. On this website, cookies help us personalize the site and prevent any activities related to viruses or spam.
Different Types of Cookies We Use
We use several different types of cookies on our website to help it work and determine what information is most useful to you:
- Strictly Necessary Cookies – We need these cookies, which are critical to make this site work properly, in order to process the basic functions of your visit. If these cookies are turned off or if you clear cookies and come back, parts of the site won’t work.
- Performance Cookies – These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are most frequently visited and whether you experience any errors. This information helps us identify ways in which we can improve the functionality of the website as well as how we can better serve our property owner, business, and other clients who seek guidance from trusted legal advisors.
- Functionality Cookies – These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make, such as language choice or region, and provide enhanced, more personal features.
- Analytics or “Web Log Data” – We use trusted third-party analytic solutions to collect this data on how visitors use our website. This information helps us understand how people use our website so that we can provide better service for visitors.
- Targeting Cookies (or Advertising Cookies) – While our site does not show third-party ads, we will sometimes track how legal services campaigns perform using cookies. We may also serve relevant information to returning visitors.
How We Use Cookies
The cookies we use on the website of Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. have the following purposes in mind:
- Performance: Cookies help us understand how our visitors interact with the site, so that we can focus on areas where our legal materials can be improved in terms of navigation and search ease.
- Customization: By storing information about your preferences for you, cookies help make multiple visits as easy as possible.
- Security: Some cookies are used to help us identify areas of improper activity and protect your identity as you maneuver through our website.
- Analytics: Information received via cookies help us track traffic patterns, determine which content is most popular, and generally help us better identify the needs of property owners, business clientele, and others.
- Compliance: Some cookies are used to assist us with compliance issues, including privacy and client confidentiality.
Cookies Placed by Third-Party Websites
In addition to cookies placed by the Law Firm of Joseph V. Sherman, P.C., trusted third party service providers may place cookies on your computer when you use our website. Such providers may include:
- Analytics Providers (e.g., Google Analytics): These services help us to analyze the use of our website to determine traffic patterns and site usage so that we can improve our online presence. Aggregated information only is collected, and you will not be identified personally by this information.
- Social Media Services: If you engage in activities on this website that interface with social media services (such as posting a blog article to LinkedIn), the social media service’s providers may set cookies for that purpose under their own privacy policies.
Trusted third party service providers with whom we share website information are carefully vetted, and we require them to abide by standards of privacy and data protection comparable to ours.
Your Options: Controlling Your Cookie Preferences
We want you to have control over your online experience. You may have noticed a cookie consent banner when first visiting our website which provides you with the ability to accept all cookies or customize your cookie settings. You can revert your cookie settings at any time through the cookie settings link available in the footer of our website.
In addition, many web browsers have built-in capabilities to manage cookies, including to block or delete cookies altogether. Please be aware that turning off certain cookies may affect the performance and capabilities of our website, or your experience of it, such as accessing secure areas of the website or submitting a request via our contact forms. For instructions on how to manage cookies in popular browsers you can use these links:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions
How to Withdraw Your Cookie Consent
If you have previously granted consent to our use of cookies but you wish to change or remove your consent, at any time you can change your preferences either at the cookie settings link within our website or at the cookie preferences in your web browser, as set out above.
Changing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing prior to your withdrawal and it will not prevent processing on strictly necessary cookies which are necessary for the proper operation of our site.
Securing Your Cookie Information
Your privacy is very important to us at Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. All data collected through cookies is managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and of the United States. Secure servers, encryption protocols, and access controls are employed to protect all information.
We do not sell, rent or trade cookie-derived personal information to third parties. No information is given to third party analytics providers, except anonymized data that is used only for internal purposes, such as improving our website and legal services.
Cookies and Your Personally Identifiable Information
Cookies may be used to store information that can identify you (independently or when combined with other data), such as when you submit a contact us form or log into a client portal. We’ll handle any such data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, and only use it for the purpose of the legitimate business requirements of answering your queries, arranging consultations, or providing legal services.
You can ask us at any time for access to or to delete information about you that we hold, subject to specific legal exceptions.
Other Cookies Used in this Site: List of Cookies We Use
Below is a nonexhaustive list of cookies that we may use on the Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. website:
- sessionid – Used to persist secure sessions if you’re interacting with a secure webpage or submitting a form; expires upon the browser session’s end.
- csrftoken – Used to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks; expires after one year.
- _ga and _gid – Used by Google Analytics to differentiate users and analyze traffic and traffic sources; each expires after two years.
- _gat – Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rates; expires after one year.
- cookieconsent_status – Used to store the choice made in our cookie consent form; expires after one year.
Please be aware that the cookies we use may change over time as we upgrade or improve the features on the website.
Legal Basis for Our Use of Cookies
The lawfulness of our use of cookies is subject to applicable data protection laws, such as the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) and other applicable privacy laws. Some cookies are non-essential, and your consent will be sought for their use. However, we do not ask for your consent in the case of cookies that the website does require for it to function. We will be fully transparent in respect of the cookies used by us and other cookies you consent to.
Children’s Information Related to Cookies
The Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. website is directed to an adult audience seeking law firm representation and legal guidance for property rights, eminent domain and real estate related issues. We do not knowingly set cookies or otherwise collect information from children under the age of 16. However, if we learn that a child has provided us with personal information through a cookie or otherwise, we will take steps to delete such information.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may revise this Cookie Policy periodically to account for changes in technology, law or our business practices. We bring changes to your attention by changing the effective date at the top of this policy, and giving you notice as appropriate on our website. We recommend that you check back from time to time to review this policy to see what cookies we are using and how we protect information we have collected.
Contact Us About Our Cookies or Privacy
If you have questions, comments or concerns about our use of cookies, your personal information, or this Cookie Policy, please write to Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. at:
324 W. Freemason Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Telephone: (757) 350-8308
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM
Your privacy is important to us. Your inquiries will be addressed in a timely and forthright manner.
Your Rights and Other Final Notices
As a customer or visitor to the website of Joseph V. Sherman, P.C., you have the following rights to exercise in order to control use of your personal information and cookies:
- Access to information about Cookies we use
- The ability to change or withdraw your Cookie consent
- The right to request deletion from or access to your personal data (subject to legal limitations)
For further information about individual rights and how we protect your privacy, you can view our Privacy Policy or contact us directly.
Why Cookie Transparency Is Important to Our Clients
Joseph V. Sherman, P.C., a law firm devoted to the protection of property owners’ rights throughout Virginia, believes that transparency and trust between us and you is vital in every aspect of our law practice-including how we collect information about you online. Of course, clarity extends to our Cookie Policy as well, which means your data is reviewed in a way that is fully convenient for you and protects your comfort level and individual privacy interests.
If you are interested in litigation or require counsel on property rights, eminent domain, and real estate or related concerns, we invite you to contact our office and schedule an initial free consult. Call (757) 350-8308 and speak to one of our attorneys who will always place your needs first, and treat you with respect and honesty.
Thank you for selecting Joseph V. Sherman, P.C. to defend your property ownership rights-and protect your privacy.