Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Lopez, Dietzel & Perkins, P.C. ("we," "us," "our," or the "Firm") is a law firm located at 1311 North Grant Street, Silver City, NM 88061. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you visit our website at www.ldplawfirm.com (the "Website"), use our online services, or contact us through any of our communication channels.

By accessing or using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this policy, please do not use this Website.

This policy complies with applicable federal and state privacy laws, including but not limited to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (for visitors from the European Economic Area), the New Mexico Consumer Information Privacy Act, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) where applicable.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Fill out our contact or consultation request forms
• Call, email, or fax our office
• Visit our office in person
• Submit a legal inquiry or request for services
• Respond to surveys or feedback requests
• Subscribe to any newsletters or updates (if offered)

This may include:

• Identifiers: Full name, mailing address, phone number, email address, fax number
• Case-related information: Nature of your legal matter, facts of your case, dates, parties involved
• Financial information: Payment information, billing details (collected only after an attorney-client relationship is established through a signed engagement letter)
• Government-issued identifiers: Driver's license number, Social Security number (only when legally required for a specific matter)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Website, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain non-identifying and device information, including:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version, operating system
• Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet) and screen resolution
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring URL (the website you came from)
• Search terms used (if you use on-site search)
• Clickstream data and interaction events
• Unique device identifiers (where applicable)

2.3 Information from Third Parties

In limited circumstances, we may receive information about you from third parties, such as:

• Referring attorneys or legal professionals
• Public records and court filings
• Background check or identity verification services (for client onboarding)
• Payment processors (transaction confirmations only)

2.4 Sensitive Personal Information

3. How We Collect Information

• Directly from you: Through contact forms, phone calls, emails, in-person meetings, and signed engagement agreements.
• Automatically: Through cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar technologies when you browse our Website (see Section 7).
• From third parties: As described in Section 2.3, for legitimate business and legal purposes.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing legal services: To evaluate your legal matter, provide legal advice, represent you in court or before administrative agencies, and manage your case.
• Communication: To respond to your inquiries, send case updates, schedule appointments, and provide billing information.
• Website operation: To operate, maintain, and improve our Website, analyze traffic patterns, and enhance user experience.
• Administrative purposes: To process payments, maintain client records, and comply with our record-keeping obligations under the New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, subpoenas, and professional conduct rules.
• Security: To detect, prevent, and address security incidents, fraud, and technical issues.
• Marketing (with consent): To send you information about our services if you have opted in to receive communications. You may opt out at any time.
• Dispute resolution: To enforce our terms of use, resolve disputes, and protect our legal rights.

We will not use your personal information for any purpose not disclosed in this policy or for which we have not obtained your consent.

5. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

For visitors from the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, we process personal data based on the following legal grounds under Article 6 of the GDPR:

• Consent (Article 6(1)(a)): Where you have given explicit consent for a specific purpose, such as marketing communications or cookie usage.
• Contract (Article 6(1)(b)): Where processing is necessary to perform a contract with you (e.g., providing legal services under an engagement letter).
• Legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c)): Where we are required by law to process your data (e.g., anti-money laundering checks, tax reporting, court orders).
• Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f)): Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., website analytics, fraud prevention, network security) and does not override your rights and freedoms.

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

6. Information Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may disclose your information in the following limited circumstances:

6.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Website and business, including:

• Web hosting providers
• Analytics providers (using aggregated or de-identified data where possible)
• Payment processing services
• Email and communication platforms
• Cloud storage and backup services
• Legal practice management software

These providers are contractually bound to use your information only for the purposes we specify and to protect its security. They are not permitted to use your data for their own purposes.

6.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose personal information when required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, including:

• Subpoenas, court orders, or discovery requests
• Law enforcement inquiries
• Regulatory or bar association requirements
• Tax and financial reporting obligations
• National security or law enforcement requirements

6.3 Legal Proceedings

We may disclose information in connection with actual or anticipated legal proceedings, including to defend against legal claims, enforce our rights, or protect the safety of our clients, employees, or the public.

6.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets (all or substantially all), personal information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will notify you if any such changes affect your privacy rights.

6.5 With Your Consent

We may share information with third parties when you have given us explicit permission to do so.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

7.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by your web browser when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide reporting information.

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential / Strictly Necessary: Required for the Website to function (e.g., security, network management, accessibility). These cannot be disabled.
• Performance / Analytics: Help us understand how visitors interact with our Website (e.g., Google Analytics). Used in aggregated, de-identified form to improve site performance.
• Functional: Remember your preferences (e.g., language, region) to enhance your experience.

7.3 Third-Party Cookies

Our Website may contain third-party cookies from services such as Google Analytics. These third parties may set cookies to recognize your browser. We do not control third-party cookies and encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services referenced on our Website.

7.4 Managing Cookies

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, though this may affect your ability to use certain parts of our Website. For more information about cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

7.5 Web Beacons & Pixel Tags

We may use web beacons (also known as tracking pixels or clear GIFs) in our emails or on our Website to determine whether emails were opened and which links were clicked. These are small graphics that record engagement data.

8. Data Security

The security of your personal information is of the highest importance to us. Consistent with our professional obligations under ABA Model Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality) and New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.6, we implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

8.1 Security Measures Include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted over the internet (HTTPS)
• Encrypted storage of sensitive client files and records
• Role-based access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for staff access to client systems
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Firewall protection and intrusion detection systems
• Regular software and system updates
• Secure disposal of physical and electronic records per our retention policy
• Staff training on data protection and security protocols
• Physical security measures at our office location

8.2 No Absolute Security

8.3 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a confirmed data breach affecting your personal information, we will take all steps required by applicable law, including:

• Notifying affected individuals without undue delay
• Notifying relevant regulatory authorities as required
• Providing information about the nature of the breach and steps you can take to protect yourself
• Implementing remedial measures to prevent recurrence

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, comply with our legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specific retention periods include:

• Client files: Retained for a minimum of 7 years after the conclusion of a matter, in accordance with New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct and applicable law.
• Website analytics data: Retained for up to 26 months in aggregated, de-identified form.
• Marketing communications: Retained until you opt out, then deleted within 30 days.
• Contact form submissions: Retained for up to 2 years unless a client relationship is established.

When personal information is no longer required for the purposes stated in this policy and is not subject to a legal retention requirement, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

10. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Right to Deletion / Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Right to Restriction: Request restriction on the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability: Request your personal information in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be treated discriminatorily for exercising any of your privacy rights.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 20. We will verify your identity before fulfilling your request and respond within the timeframes required by applicable law (generally 45 days for CCPA/CPRA requests, 30 days for GDPR requests).

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA), provides you with additional rights:

11.1 Categories of Personal Information Collected (Past 12 Months)

• Identifiers: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Internet activity: IP address, browser type, pages viewed, referring URLs, device information
• Commercial information: Nature of legal inquiry, services requested
• Geolocation data: Approximate location derived from IP address

11.2 Sources of Personal Information

• Directly from you (contact forms, phone, email, in-person)
• Automated collection (cookies, analytics, server logs)
• Third-party service providers

11.3 Business or Commercial Purposes

• To provide legal services and respond to inquiries
• To operate and improve our Website
• To comply with legal and professional obligations
• To process payments (after engagement)
• To maintain security and prevent fraud

11.4 Third-Party Disclosure

We disclose personal information to service providers for business purposes as described in Section 6.1. We do not "sell" or "share" (as defined under CCPA/CPRA) your personal information to third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising or any other purpose.

11.5 Your CCPA/CPRA Rights

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., legal retention requirements).
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not sell or share your personal information. This right is not applicable.
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive PI: We do not collect or use sensitive personal information for purposes that require this limitation.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not deny goods or services, charge different prices, or provide a different level of quality because you exercised your privacy rights.

11.6 How to Submit a CCPA Request

To submit a verifiable consumer request, contact us at:

• Phone: 575-538-2925 or 866-356-2925 (Toll Free)
• Email: Sandy@ldplawfirm.com
• Mail: Lopez, Dietzel & Perkins, P.C., 1311 North Grant Street, Silver City, NM 88061

We will respond to verified requests within 45 days. If we cannot fulfill your request, we will explain the reason. You may authorize an agent to submit a request on your behalf.

12. New Mexico Consumer Rights

Residents of New Mexico are protected under the New Mexico Consumer Information Privacy Act (NMSA 1978, § 57-12C-1 et seq.), which provides rights similar to the CCPA, including:

• The right to know what personal information is collected, used, and shared
• The right to opt out of the sale of personal information
• The right to request access, correction, and deletion of personal information
• The right to designate an authorized agent to exercise these rights

To exercise your rights under New Mexico law, contact us using any method listed in Section 20. We will respond within 45 days of receiving a verifiable request.

13. GDPR / International Visitor Rights

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, the GDPR provides you with the following rights:

• Right of access (Article 15)
• Right to rectification (Article 16)
• Right to erasure / "right to be forgotten" (Article 17)
• Right to restriction of processing (Article 18)
• Right to data portability (Article 20)
• Right to object (Article 21)
• Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling (Article 22)
• Right to withdraw consent (Article 7(3))
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (Article 77)

Data Controller: Lopez, Dietzel & Perkins, P.C., 1311 North Grant Street, Silver City, NM 88061, United States.

Data Protection Contact: Sandy@ldplawfirm.com or 575-538-2925.

You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority if you believe our processing of your data violates the GDPR.

13.1 International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, a country that may not have data protection laws as comprehensive as those in your country. Where such transfers occur, we implement appropriate safeguards, including:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
• Contractual obligations on recipients to protect your data
• Supplementary technical and organizational measures

14. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

Our Website is not directed to individuals under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information through this Website without your consent, please contact us immediately at privacy@ldplawfirm.com and we will promptly delete such information.

If you are between the ages of 13 and 17 and wish to use our Website, you must obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian before submitting any personal information.

15. Third-Party Links & Services

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources (e.g., court websites, legal research tools, social media profiles). We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or policies of any third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

The inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement by the Firm. Once you navigate away from our Website, you are subject to the privacy policy of the website you are visiting.

16. Do Not Track Signals

Our Website does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals transmitted by web browsers. This is because DNT is not a standardized protocol and does not have a universally accepted technical specification. However, we respect your privacy and encourage you to review our Cookie section to learn how to manage your tracking preferences through your browser settings.

17. We Do Not Sell Your Data

If you are a California or New Mexico resident and wish to confirm that we do not sell or share your personal information, you may submit a request via any contact method in Section 20.

18. Attorney-Client Privilege & Confidentiality

Once an attorney-client relationship is formally established through a signed engagement letter, all communications and information are protected by the attorney-client privilege and the duty of confidentiality under:

• ABA Model Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality)
• New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.6
• Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 501
• Applicable federal and state law

We are committed to maintaining the strictest standards of confidentiality for all client information, both online and offline. Our privacy practices for client data go beyond what is required by law and reflect our professional and ethical obligations to every client we serve.

19. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
• Post the revised policy on this page
• For material changes, provide notice via email (if we have your email) or a prominent notice on our Website

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of our Website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Last Reviewed: August 31, 2026
Next Scheduled Review: August 31, 2027 (or sooner if material changes occur)

20. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days (or 45 days for CCPA/CPRA and New Mexico statutory requests). If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with:

• California: California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) — cppa.ca.gov
• New Mexico: New Mexico Office of the Attorney General — www.nmag.gov
• EU/UK: Your local data protection supervisory authority
• U.S. (General): Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — www.ftc.gov