Privacy Policy

1Introduction & Scope

Atlanta Dispute Resolution ("ADR," "we," "our," or "us") is a professional mediation and arbitration firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who use our services, visit our website at www.atlantadispute.com, or participate in any ADR-administered proceeding.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the rights you have with respect to your data. It applies to:

• Parties, attorneys, and representatives who participate in mediations or arbitrations administered by Atlanta Dispute Resolution
• Visitors to our website and online payment portal
• Individuals who contact us by email, phone, or inquiry form
• Participants in virtual (remote) ADR sessions

2Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you contact Atlanta Dispute Resolution, schedule a session, submit an inquiry form, or make a payment, we may collect:

• Identity Information: Full name, title, and professional credentials
• Contact Information: Email address, telephone number, mailing address, and firm or company name
• Case Information: Matter name, invoice number, nature of dispute, and involved parties (as voluntarily provided)
• Payment Information: Credit or debit card details, billing address, and transaction amounts — processed securely through Stripe. Atlanta Dispute Resolution does not store raw card numbers on our servers.
• Communications: The content of emails, messages, and inquiry form submissions you send to us

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our site automatically collects certain technical data when you visit, including:

• Log Files: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and timestamps of visits
• Device Information: Screen resolution, device type (desktop, mobile, tablet), and language preferences
• Cookies & Similar Technologies: Session cookies necessary for website function, and optional analytics cookies (see Section 5)

This automatically collected data is non-personally identifiable in isolation and is used solely to maintain website security, diagnose technical issues, and understand aggregate usage patterns. It is not linked to your identity without your knowledge.

2.3 Information from Virtual Sessions

For remote mediations and arbitrations conducted via videoconference platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams), additional data may be processed by those third-party platforms subject to their own privacy policies. Atlanta Dispute Resolution does not record virtual sessions without the express written consent of all participants.

3How We Use Your Information

Atlanta Dispute Resolution uses collected information for the following lawful purposes:

• Service Delivery: Scheduling and administering mediation and arbitration proceedings
• Communications: Responding to inquiries, confirming appointments, and issuing invoices
• Payment Processing: Facilitating secure payment of invoices through our Stripe-integrated payment portal
• Legal Compliance: Fulfilling obligations under Georgia law, GODR ethical standards, and applicable court rules
• Record-Keeping: Maintaining administrative case records in accordance with our data retention policy (see Section 8)
• Website Improvement: Analyzing aggregate traffic patterns to improve site functionality and user experience

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We do not use personal information collected in the context of a mediation or arbitration proceeding for any purpose unrelated to that proceeding.

4Mediation Confidentiality & Data Handling

4.1 Indefinite Confidentiality Obligation

All communications made during a mediation session administered by Atlanta Dispute Resolution are confidential and privileged. This obligation does not expire at the conclusion of the session — it binds the mediator, all parties, attorneys, and any other session participants indefinitely.

4.2 Exceptions to Confidentiality

Consistent with Georgia law and GODR ethical standards, confidentiality may be waived or overridden only in limited circumstances, including:

• A credible threat of imminent physical harm to any person
• Disclosure of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• A court finding that "the need for evidence substantially outweighs the interest in protecting confidentiality" in a felony proceeding
• Mutual written agreement of all parties to disclose specific information

4.3 Mediator Notes

Consistent with advisory opinions from the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution (GODR Advisory Opinion 7), our mediators destroy personal handwritten notes upon conclusion of each mediation session. This practice preserves the integrity of the process and ensures that no record of confidential communications is retained beyond what is strictly necessary for administrative purposes.

5Cookies & Website Analytics

Our website uses a limited set of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website and payment portal to function correctly. These cannot be disabled without affecting core functionality.
• Analytics Cookies: Optional cookies (e.g., Google Analytics) that collect anonymous, aggregate information about how visitors use our site — such as which pages are most visited and how long users stay. No personally identifiable information is collected through these cookies.

You may disable non-essential cookies through your browser settings at any time. Disabling analytics cookies does not affect your ability to use any feature of our website.

6Do Not Track Signals

Some web browsers transmit "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals to websites. Atlanta Dispute Resolution acknowledges DNT signals and does not engage in cross-site behavioral tracking of website visitors. Because no industry-wide standard for responding to DNT signals has been adopted, our website's response to DNT signals may vary. We do not alter our data collection practices based on whether a DNT signal is received, but we do not sell browsing data to advertisers under any circumstances.

7Data Sharing & Third Parties

Atlanta Dispute Resolution shares personal information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted vendors who assist with payment processing (Stripe, Inc.), website hosting (GoDaddy), and email services — all bound by confidentiality obligations and prohibited from using your data for any purpose other than providing services to us
• Legal Requirements: When required by applicable law, court order, or government authority
• Professional Obligations: To report threats of imminent violence or child abuse as required by Georgia law
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, with prior notice to affected individuals

We never share mediation or arbitration case content, party communications, or settlement terms with any third party outside of the exceptions listed in Section 4.2.

8Data Retention

Atlanta Dispute Resolution retains personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, subject to the following guidelines:

• Administrative Case Files: 5–7 years after case closure, consistent with Georgia legal standards and professional liability considerations
• Payment Records: 7 years, consistent with IRS and Georgia state tax record-keeping requirements
• Inquiry & Contact Records: 2 years after last communication, unless a proceeding is initiated
• Website Log Files: 12 months on a rolling basis
• Mediator Personal Notes: Destroyed upon conclusion of each session (see Section 4.3)

Upon expiration of the applicable retention period, personal data is securely deleted or anonymized so that it can no longer be associated with an identified individual.

9Security Measures

Atlanta Dispute Resolution implements industry-standard technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction, including:

• 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted through our website and payment portal
• PCI DSS-compliant payment processing through Stripe — card numbers are never stored on our servers
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only
• Secure physical and digital storage of case files
• Regular security assessments of our website and systems

10Virtual & Remote Session Privacy

Atlanta Dispute Resolution offers virtual mediation and arbitration sessions conducted via secure videoconference platforms. The following privacy measures apply to all remote proceedings:

• No Recording Without Consent: Sessions are not recorded without the express written consent of all parties. Any recording consented to is subject to the same confidentiality protections as in-person proceedings.
• Secure Platform Selection: We use videoconference platforms with end-to-end encryption and waiting room controls to prevent unauthorized access.
• Screen Sharing Protocols: Documents shared during virtual sessions are managed to minimize inadvertent disclosure of confidential information to unintended parties.
• Separate Virtual Caucus Rooms: Breakout rooms with separate access controls are used to replicate the privacy of in-person private caucus rooms.
• Third-Party Platform Terms: Participants should review the privacy policies of any videoconference platform used, as those platforms process their own data independently of Atlanta Dispute Resolution.

11Your Rights & Choices

Subject to applicable law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information held by Atlanta Dispute Resolution:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right of Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right of Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and professional retention obligations
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your information in certain circumstances
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your personal information in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your information for purposes other than those for which it was originally collected
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days. Please note that certain rights may be limited where the information is subject to legal privilege, professional confidentiality obligations, or statutory retention requirements.

12CCPA / GDPR Compliance

California Residents (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what categories of personal information we collect, the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (Atlanta Dispute Resolution does not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights.

EU / UK Residents (GDPR)

For individuals located in the European Union or United Kingdom, we process personal information only where we have a lawful basis to do so, including: performance of a contract, compliance with a legal obligation, our legitimate interests (where not overridden by your rights), or your explicit consent. Our lawful basis for processing information related to mediation or arbitration proceedings is primarily performance of our professional services agreement with you or the parties who engaged us.

13Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Family mediation proceedings involving children are conducted solely through adult legal representatives or parents/guardians, and information about minors is handled with heightened confidentiality consistent with Georgia family law and GODR ethical standards.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

14Changes to This Policy

Atlanta Dispute Resolution reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, applicable law, or regulatory requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

15Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Atlanta Dispute Resolution:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.atlantadispute.com
• LinkedIn: Atlanta Dispute Resolution
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET