Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and Michael Best Strategies LLC (together “Michael Best”) respect your privacy rights. We have developed this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) to describe how we collect, use, share, and protect Personal Information. 

This Policy applies to data we collect in multiple ways, including when we provide professional services (“Services”), when you visit our offices, participate in our events, when you apply for a job, when you visit our websites: www.michaelbest.com, michaelbeststrategies.com, and venturebest.com (collectively, our “Sites”), or when you otherwise communicate with us. 

We are committed to processing your Personal Information in accordance with applicable data privacy and security laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (as amended, the “CCPA”).

This Policy outlines our general data protection practices, including how we process Personal Information in the course of our legal representation of clients. We balance our general data protection practices with our overarching responsibilities to our clients as described in our client agreements and communications, to protect the confidentiality of our clients and to meet our rules of professional responsibilities under applicable laws. 

Providing Personal Information to us, as set forth below, does not create an attorney-client relationship.  If you have questions or concerns about this Notice, please contact us.                           

IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, PLEASE SEE YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POLICY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT APPLIES TO YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS. 

1. WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION?

For purposes of this Policy, we define Personal Information as information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with you, your devices, or your household (“Personal Information” or “Personal Data”).  Personal Information excludes publicly available information or aggregated information that does not include personal data elements.

2. CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We may collect the following categories of Personal Information from or about you in connection with the operation of our organization:

3. SOURCES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect Personal Information in the following ways:

DIRECTLY FROM YOU: We collect Personal Information directly from you as described below:

• Legal and Other Professional Services. We collect Personal Information you give us when we provide you with legal or other professional services, or when we discuss the possibility of performing services for you.
• Communications. We collect Personal Information when you communicate with us, including by e-mail, mail, phone, or when you sign up for our newsletters or events.
• Service Providers. We collect Personal Information from certain service providers who do business with us or seek to do business with us.
• Feedback. We collect Personal Information you give us when you respond to or provide feedback in response to a survey or after a seminar.  Unless you are our client, we will not treat that Feedback as confidential, and we may use that Feedback for any purpose in our sole discretion, so long as it does not personally identify you.  Feedback will be used without attribution or compensation to you. 
• Site Visits. We collect Personal Information when you visit our Sites.
• Events. We collect Personal Information when you register for a webinar or in-person event.
• Job Applications and Inquiries. We collect your Personal Information when you submit job application materials to us directly, or when you are redirected from our Sites to our third-party business partner’s job application portal. 

USING TECHNOLOGY.

We collect Personal Information using technology. For instance, we use Cookies and other online tracking mechanisms on our Sites to automatically collect certain information from you when you visit our Sites. Please review the Cookie section of our Policy below for more information.

THIRD-PARTY SOURCES.  We may collect Personal Information from third-party sources as described below.

• Affiliates. We may collect Personal Information from our affiliates to refer clients that may have multiple business needs for our services or for marketing purposes.
• Service Providers. We may receive Personal Information about you from third parties that provide services to us through (“Service Providers”). For instance, we may receive Personal Information when you submit a resume and/or job application through our third-party job application portal. To submit a job application for an open position with us, you will be redirected to our online career portal, which is provided by Micron Systems. You will be required to create an account with Micron Systems if you wish to save and return to your application at a later time. Job applications submitted through that portal, including your resume and all other materials and information you provide in the course of submitting an application, will be submitted directly to Micron Systems and will then be shared with us.  We encourage you to review Micron Systems’ Privacy Policy.
• Third Parties. We may collect Personal Information from third party companies for our business and marketing purposes. For instance, we collect Personal Information from analytics providers and market research companies that help us understand the demographics and user preferences of visitors to our Sites and to evaluate the operation of the Sites. We also receive Personal Information from third parties that perform targeted advertising, including website analytics and targeted marketing advertisers.

4. WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT FOR THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES:

5. WITH WHOM WE SHARE OR DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION

In the chart below, we explain the types of Personal Information we share or disclose, with whom, and for what purposes.

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING OUR PRIVACY PRACTICES

USE AND DISCLOSURE OF DE-IDENTIFIED OR AGGREGATED INFORMATION

We may de-identify or aggregate Personal Information to create an anonymous data set.  We will maintain this data in a de-identified form and will not attempt to re-identify such data. When we enter into agreements with Service Providers, or third parties, where we share de-identified or aggregated data, we will implement contractual data protection restrictions to prevent Service Providers or third parties from attempting to re-identify the de-identified data.

CHILDREN

The Sites are not directed at, nor do we knowingly collect information from, individuals under the age of legal age of majority. If a parent or legal guardian learns that their child provided us with Personal Information without his or her consent, please contact us and we will delete such Personal Information.

For clarity, we do not knowingly sell or share the Personal Information of anyone under the age of majority without affirmative authorization.

SOCIAL MEDIA

We are active on social media, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn (“Social Media”). Anything you post on Social Media is public information and will not be treated confidentially.  We may post (or re-post) on the Sites and our Social Media pages any comments or content that you post on our Social Media pages. Your use of Social Media is governed by the privacy policies and terms of the third parties that own and operate those websites and not by this Policy. We encourage you to review those policies and terms.

YouTube.  We use the YouTube application programming interface (API) Services to allow you to access YouTube content from our Sites.  Your use of YouTube is governed by YouTube’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and not by our Terms of Use or Privacy Policy.  We encourage you to read the YouTube Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which are available on its websites at https://www.youtube.com/t/terms.

Automated Decision Making Technology

We do not currently use automated decision-making technology that makes or influences significant decisions about consumers or job applicants. Should this change, we will update our Privacy Policy accordingly.

Data Minimization

We are committed to collecting, processing, and retaining only the data necessary to provide or maintain the products and services you request.

• Personal Information
  We limit collection and use of personal data to what is adequate, relevant, and reasonably necessary (or proportionate) for the specific purposes we disclose.
• Sensitive Personal Information (SPI)
  As required by laws in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, and Massachusetts, we collect sensitive information (e.g., health data, precise geolocation, race, ethnicity, etc.) only when strictly necessary to deliver a specific product or service you request or with your consent.

6. HOW WE SECURE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

We use commercially reasonable physical, technical, and organizational measures to help secure Personal Information against unauthorized access to, acquisition of, loss, misuse, or alteration.  If we learn of an unauthorized access to or acquisition of your Personal Information, we will notify you of the incident as required under applicable law.

7. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

The Sites may link to, or be linked to, websites not maintained or controlled by Michael Best, including YouTube. Michael Best is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of any third parties or any third-party websites.  This Policy does not apply to any third-party websites, or to any personal or other information that you may provide to third parties.  We encourage you to read the privacy policy for each website that you visit.

8. USE OF COOKIES AND YOUR CONSUMER DATA CHOICES

We use Cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies (collectively “Cookies”) when you use our Sites. A Cookie is a small text file that our Sites save onto your computer or device when you use the Sites. The Cookies allow the Sites to remember your actions and preferences and recognize you or your browser. Web beacons are small graphics on a webpage that monitors your activity when viewing a webpage.

Most browsers automatically accept Cookies. You can disable this function by changing your browser settings, but disabling Cookies may impact your use and enjoyment of the Sites. You cannot disable all Cookies, such as Cookies that are essential to the functioning of the Sites. You can manually delete persistent Cookies, or Cookies that track your activity across websites, through your browser settings.

We describe below some of the tools we use on our Sites to collect information, including Personal Information, for Targeted Advertising and Analytics and how you can opt-out, customize ad preferences, or limit collection of use of Personal Information for those purposes.

TARGETED ADVERTISING AND ANALYTICS

We use Cookies to serve targeted advertising to you, using Google Double Click. 

We use Google Analytics and other analytics and advertising tools to serve targeted advertising to you, to learn more about how our Sites are used and to improve our Sites.

• Google Analytics and Google Advertising Features. We use Google Analytics, a third-party data analytics service, to collect and process information about how you use the Sites.  Google Analytics will set Cookies on your browser or device and then your web browser will automatically send information toGoogle Analytics.  Google Analytics uses this information to provide us with reports that we use to better understand and measure how users interact with the Sites.

We have enabled and implemented the following Google Analytics Advertising Features: Remarketing with Google Analytics, and Google Beacons. To opt out of remarketing advertising provided through Google, to customize your ad preferences, or to limit Google’s collection or use this information, visit Google’s Safety Center and Google’s Ad Settings and follow Google’s personalized ad opt-out instructions.  Opting out will not affect your use of the Sites.

For more information on how Google uses this data, visit Google’s Privacy Policy and Google’s page on How Google uses data when you use our partners’ Sites or apps.  To prevent this data from being used by Google Analytics, follow the instructions to download and install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on for each web browser you use.  Using the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on will not prevent the Company from using other analytics tools and will not prevent Personal Information from being sent to the Sites or to Google.

9. YOUR CONSUMER PRIVACY OPTIONS

You have a number of options with regard to limiting the use of your Personal Information.

FOR OPT-OUT OF USE OF COOKIES.  

You may reduce the number of advertisements by changing your preferences online.  To change your preferences with respect to certain online ads and to obtain more information about third-party ad networks and online behavioral advertising, visit the National Advertising Initiative Consumer opt-out page Opt Out - NAI: Network Advertising Initiative (thenai.org) or the Digital Advertising Alliance Self-Regulatory Program. YourAdChoices.com | Consumer Assistance | WebChoices, AppChoices and YourAdChoices. Changing your settings with individual browsers or ad networks will not necessarily carry over to other browsers or ad networks.  As a result, depending on the opt-outs you request, you may still see our ads.

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS – OPT-OUT.  

If you Opt-In to receive marketing communications from us, we will collect your name, email, mailing address, and phone number. We use this information to send you promotional and other electronic and hardcopy communications.  We may use third-party providers to deliver communications to you. You may Opt-Out of such emails by using the unsubscribe link in the email or contacting us at Privacy@michaelbest.com with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. To Opt-Out of other communications (e.g. postal marketing), please contact us by phone, e-mail or mail using the contact information below. Opting-Out of marketing communications does not opt you out of communications about your account or transactions.

10. CONTACT US

If you have any questions, you may contact us as set forth below:

• By e-mail to: Privacy@michaelbest.com
• By phone: (262) 956-6560
• By mail, address your letter to:

Privacy Department, Two Riverwood Place, N19 W24133 Riverwood Drive, Suite 200, Waukesha, WI 53188

11. ACCESS FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

If you access the Sites from outside the United States, please be aware that Personal Information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States.  Certain governmental authorities may not consider the level of protection of Personal Information in the United States to be equivalent to that required by that of other jurisdictions.

12. UPDATES

We may update this Policy at any time. All changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Sites. We will notify you of such updates by posting a notice at the top of the Policy or the Sites or communicating to you in another manner.

13. TERMS APPLICABLE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY, INCLUDING YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), California residents have additional rights with regard to their Personal Information. We provide a summary of those rights below. In the event of a conflict between this Section and the remainder of this Policy, this Section shall take precedence for California residents. Certain capitalized terms not defined in this Policy have the meanings set forth in the CCPA.

CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION SOLD OR SHARED

In the last 12 months, we have not sold Personal Information within the meaning of the California Consumer Privacy Act. In the last 12 months, we have shared the following categories of Personal Information with certain third parties for targeted advertising and analytics.  See the section above titled “Categories of Personal Information We Collect” for more detail on the type of Personal Information in each category.

• Internet Activity
• Geolocation

CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION DISCLOSED FOR A BUSINESS PURPOSE

In the last 12 months, we have disclosed the following categories of Personal Information to our service providers for business purposes.  See the section above titled “Categories of Personal Information We Collect” for more detail on the type of Personal Information in each category.

• Identifiers
• Commercial Activity
• Client Records
• Internet Activity
• Audio, Electronic, and Video
• Geolocation
• Protected Class Information
• Educational Records
• Employment Records

YOUR CONSUMER PRIVACY RIGHTS

Subject to certain limitations such as (a) exceptions permitted by applicable law and (b) verification of your identity, California residents may exercise the following privacy rights with regard to your Personal Information:

Right to know or access your Personal Information

California residents have a right to access any of the following which occurred on or after January 1, of 2022:

• The specific pieces of Personal Information that we collected from you;
• The categories of Personal Information that we collected from you;
• The categories of sources from which the Personal Information was collected;
• The categories of third parties to whom we have disclosed your Personal Information;
• The categories of Personal Information that we Sold or Shared for a Business Purpose and the categories of third parties to whom it was disclosed for a Business Purpose; and
• The Business or Commercial Purpose for collecting, sharing, or selling your Personal Information.

Right to Request Deletion

You have a right to request that we delete the Personal Information we collect from or about you.

Right to Correct Your Information

You have a right to request that we correct your inaccurate Personal Information.  If you request that we correct inaccurate Personal Information about you, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to correct it. If necessary, we may ask that you provide documentation showing that the information we retained is inaccurate.

Right to Data Portability

You may request a copy of the Personal Information you previously provided to us in a portable form and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable format.

Right to Non-Discrimination

You have a right to not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising any of your rights under the CCPA. 

Universal Opt-Out Signals

If you are a California resident, our website automatically honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) or other browser-based “universal opt‑out preference” signals as legally valid consumer requests. This means:

• When your browser or privacy tool sends a GPC or similar signal, we treat it as an instruction to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information under California law.
• We honor this signal for at least 12 months, unless you revoke it or reauthorize data sharing.
• This is in addition to the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” and “Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information” links available on our site.

HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

If you are a California resident, you may exercise your privacy rights described in this Policy by summiting your request to us:

• By e-mail to: Privacy@michaelbest.com
• By phone: (262) 956-6560
• By mail by addressing your letter to: 
  Privacy Department, Two Riverwood Place, N19 W24133 Riverwood Drive, Suite 200, Waukesha, WI 53188

Who May Exercise Your Rights. You may only make a request to exercise your rights on behalf of yourself. A parent or legal guardian may make a request on behalf of their child.  If you are a California resident, a person that you authorize to act on your behalf may make a request related to your Personal Information. See the section titled "Authorized Agents" below for more information.

Verifiable Consumer Request. In order to verify your request, you must provide sufficient information that allows us to reasonably verify you are the person about whom we collected Personal Information, and you must describe your request with sufficient detail that allows us to properly understand, evaluate, and respond to it. To verify your identity, we may ask you to provide additional information. Any information you provide will only be used to verify your request. When seeking additional information from you, we may contact you through your account or the contact phone number or email address you provided in your request. If we cannot verify your identity, we may deny your request.

Authorized Agents. You may designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf to exercise your rights under the CCPA by doing the following: (1) provide the authorized agent written permission to do so; and (2) verify your own identity (per the process stated above), as well as the identity of the authorized agent directly (when authorizing the agent to exercise the right to delete, correct, know, or to port your data).  We may deny a request from an authorized agent if we do not have proof that they are authorized by you to act on your behalf.

When We Will Respond. We will try to respond to your request within 45 days.  If we require additional time, we will inform you of the reason and extension period.  Any disclosures we provide to California residents will only cover the 12-month period preceding our receipt of your request.

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OPT-OUT OF SALE OR SHARING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

California residents may direct us not to Sell or Share their Personal Information at any time (this is your right to “opt-out”).

You may submit your opt-out request by:

• E-mail to: Privacy@michaelbest.com
• Phone: (262) 956-6560
• Mail by addressing your letter to: 
  Privacy Department, Two Riverwood Place, N19 W24133 Riverwood Drive, Suite 200, Waukesha, WI 53188

You may also submit a request through our Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information page[ET1] .

Opt-Out Preference Signal. California residents may opt out of the sale or sharing of their Personal Information by broadcasting an Opt-Out Preference Signal, such as the Global Privacy Control (GPC) (on the browsers and/or browser extensions that support such a signal). To download and use a browser supporting the GPC browser signal, click here: https://globalprivacycontrol.org/orgs. If you choose to use the GPC signal, you will need to turn it on for each supported browser or browser extension you use.

If you are a California resident using an authorized agent to exercise your right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of Personal Information, please see the section entitled “Authorized Agents” above for the proof required when you use an authorized agent.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS

Shine the Light. Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1798.83, if you are a California resident you have the right to obtain: (a) a list of all third parties to whom we may have disclosed your Personal Information within the past year for direct marketing purposes, and (b) a description of the categories of Personal Information disclosed, by contacting us per the “Contact Us” section above.

 [ET1]Insert hyperlink to Do Not Sell/Share My Information page when it is live.