Disclaimer and Terms of Use

Please read the following Dislcaimer and Terms of Use carefully before viewing or using the Gould & Ratner LLP website.  By accessing or using this website, you signify that you have read, understand and agree to be bound by this Disclaimer and Terms of Use.  Gould & Ratner LLP reserves the right to modify this Disclaimer and Terms of Use at any time, and your continued use of this website thereafter will constitute agreement with such modifications.  If you do not agree to this Disclaimer and Terms of Use, please navigate away from and do not use this website.

These materials have been prepared by Gould & Ratner LLP for informational purposes only and are not 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 act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Do not send us information until you speak with one of our lawyers and get authorization to send that information to us.

Results mentioned on this site are illustrative and therefore do not include all results obtained by Gould & Ratner LLP. Results obtained for any particular client with respect to any matter or case may not be obtainable for other clients in similar matters or cases as results depend on the unique factual and legal circumstances of each client’s matter or case.

Although the information contained in the site is based upon current information, and while Gould & Ratner LLP makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that all material on this site is correct, accuracy cannot be guaranteed and Gould & Ratner LLP makes no warranties or representations as to its accuracy.

Sites listed as hyperlinks are not under the control of Gould & Ratner LLP. Gould & Ratner LLP makes no representation concerning the content of these sites nor can the fact that Gould & Ratner LLP has included these links serve as an endorsement by Gould & Ratner LLP of these sites. Gould & Ratner LLP assumes no risk related to the use of the links to gain access to the third-party sites.

Please note that although the individual bios of certain of our lawyers on this website may indicate that a lawyer has been named a “Super Lawyer,” “Leading Lawyer” or “Expert” by an independent organization in a particular area of law or otherwise, the Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and such recognition, certificate or award is not a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Statement in compliance with Texas Rules of Professional Conduct. Unless otherwise indicated in individual attorney biographies, lawyers resident in the Firm’s offices are Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Office location & responsible attorney.  To the extent that any applicable ethical rules or laws require us to designate a principal office and/or a single attorney responsible for this website, Gould & Ratner LLP designates its principal office location to be at 222 North LaSalle Street, Suite 300, Chicago, Illinois, United States, telephone (312) 236-3003 and Paul W. Carroll (pcarroll@gouldratner.com) as the responsible attorney.

All content not otherwise indicated is ©Copyright 2024 by Gould & Ratner LLP.  All rights reserved. Gould & Ratner LLP claims a copyright in all proprietary and copyrightable text, graphics and computer code on this website, the overall design of this website, and the selection, arrangement and presentation of all materials on this website, including information in the public domain.  You agree not to copy, reproduce, republish, transmit, modify, or distribute any of the materials contained on the website, except for your personal, noncommercial use, absent the written approval of Gould & Ratner LLP.

Limitation of liability/subject to revision.  The information on this website, including this Disclaimer and Terms of Use, is subject to change at any time and for any reason without notice.  We recommend periodically reviewing the Disclaimer and Terms of Use set forth on this page.  Your use of this website is at your own risk. The materials presented on this website may not reflect the most current legal developments, verdicts or settlements. In no event shall Gould & Ratner LLP or its partners, employees, affiliates or contributors to this website, be liable for any loss or injury, or any damages, whether direct, special, indirect, punitive, incidental, exemplary, consequential, or otherwise, whether based on breach of contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, resulting from your access or use of this site. You hereby waive any and all such claims against Gould & Ratner LLP, its partners, employees, affiliates and contributors.  You agree that the limitations set forth above are fundamental elements of this agreement, and that this website and its materials would not be provided to you absent such limitations.  Some state statutes may restrict this limitation of liability.

Privacy policy.  Gould & Ratner LLP is committed to ensuring that it acts in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy laws when it collects and uses information provided to it or information about visitors to this website.  This Privacy Policy applies to your use of any of Gould & Ratner LLP’s services, its website, or as a result of your relationship with one or more of its clients, or to any information collected from third parties.  When you visit Gould & Ratner’s website, it may collect information you provide by completing forms on its website or by collecting it via other means such as email, and it may also record details of visits made to the website (e.g. your IP address and the resources accessed during your visit) or by using cookies (see Cookie Policy below).

You may have to the right to ask us to access and amend the personal information we hold about you. Please contact us for further information.  Gould & Ratner LLP uses your information in order to improve its services and website, and to provide you with information and services that you request from it or which it feels may interest you. We will not share your information with third parties without your consent, except:

• Where we are required to by virtue of a legal, regulatory or professional obligation;
• With third parties who perform services on our behalf. For example, we share information with vendors. We may also authorize them to collect information on our behalf.  Some vendors may be located outside of the United States.
• In accordance with our engagement terms, where you are a client of Gould & Ratner LLP; or
• Where disclosed below in the Cookie Policy.

This website is operated in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that any information you provide to us may be transferred to the United States. Please also be aware that by using this website and giving us your information, you consent to such transfer. You also understand that the United States may not provide the same level of protections as the laws of your country.  You accept that the transmission of personal information and other data via the internet is not completely secure. Gould & Ratner cannot guarantee the security of your information when it is in the process of being transmitted to and from its website.  Any questions regarding Gould & Ratner LLP’s privacy policy should be directed to lsears@gouldratner.com

Cookie policy.  Cookies are small files that are stored on your PC or internet-enabled portable device by the websites you visit. They are used to make websites work and to improve their efficiency, as well as to provide website usage information to the website owner.  By using Gould & Ratner LLP’s website, you confirm that you accept the cookies described below being set and stored on your computer or internet-enabled portable device, in accordance with this Disclaimer and Terms of Use.  Gould & Ratner LLP’s website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of the website, in order to help us improve your experience when you browse them. Some cookies are strictly necessary to enable you to move around this website and to allow the features of the website to work correctly.  Other cookies, such as those associated with Google Analytics, may collect information about how you use this website, e.g. to show which pages are viewed by visitors most frequently. Such information is collected to improve how this website works or to provide analytics on the readership of this website.  However, in accordance with our Privacy Policy, we will not share any personally identifiable information about you with third parties except as otherwise noted above.

Governing law and forum.  This Disclaimer and Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, United States, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law.  By using this website you agree that the state or federal courts in Chicago, Illinois, United States, shall have exclusive jurisdiction and venue to hear any dispute arising out the content or use of this website, and agree not to bring any action or proceeding in any other venue.