Privacy Policy — Biladi Cross-Border Consultants

Read this first

Biladi is not a law firm, and information you send us is generally not protected by attorney–client privilege. Please do not send us confidential case documents or sensitive personal records until we have a signed engagement agreement in place and have told you which secure channel to use. See our Disclaimer for more.

1. Who this policy covers

This Privacy Policy describes how Biladi Cross-Border Consultants (“Biladi,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information when you visit biladibiladi.com, contact us, book a consultation, or engage us for services.

Biladi is based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. By using this website or submitting information to us, you agree to this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the site or send us information.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us directly

Contact details — your name, email address, telephone number, and country or city of residence.
The contents of any message you send through our contact form, by email, or by telephone.
Scheduling information when you book a consultation through our third-party booking provider.
Any documents, records, or details you choose to send us about your matter.

Information collected automatically

Technical data logged by our hosting and security provider — IP address, browser type, device type, referring page, and the pages you view.
Your language preference, stored in your own browser so the site remembers it on your next visit.

Information we do not collect

We do not collect, capture, store, or use biometric identifiers or biometric information — including fingerprints, voiceprints, retina or iris scans, or scans of hand or face geometry — as those terms are defined by the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (740 ILCS 14). We do not sell personal information, and we do not use your information for third-party advertising.

3. Sensitive matter information

Because of the nature of our work, the information you share may include unusually sensitive material — identity and travel documents, property deeds and land records, inheritance and family details, court filings, and financial information.

We treat this material as confidential and limit access to the people who need it to work on your matter. However, confidentiality is not the same as legal privilege. Because Biladi is a management and coordination company rather than a law firm, communications with us are generally not protected by attorney–client privilege and could, in some circumstances, be compelled in legal proceedings. Communications with a licensed attorney directly may be privileged under the law of that attorney's jurisdiction.

4. How we use your information

To respond to your enquiry and arrange a consultation.
To assess whether we can assist with your matter, and to open and manage a file if we do.
To coordinate with licensed attorneys and other professionals in the relevant country on your behalf.
To keep you updated on the progress of your matter.
To operate, secure, and improve this website.
To comply with our legal, regulatory, sanctions-screening, and record-keeping obligations.

We do not use your information for automated decision-making that produces legal effects, and we do not sell or rent it to anyone.

5. Your information will leave the United States

This is central to what we do, so we want it stated plainly. To carry out your instructions, we transmit your personal information to our execution teams and to independent licensed professionals located in Palestine, Jordan, and Syria, and potentially to government registries, courts, and administrative bodies in those jurisdictions.

The data-protection laws of those countries are different from, and may be less protective than, the laws of Illinois and the United States. Government authorities there may have rights of access that would not apply in the United States. By instructing us to act on a matter abroad, you consent to these transfers. If you are not comfortable with this, tell us before sending any documents — we cannot perform the service without them.

6. When we share information

We share personal information only in these situations:

Professionals working on your matter — licensed attorneys, agents, and specialists in the relevant country, who are independent of Biladi and bound by their own professional obligations.
Service providers — our website host and security provider, our consultation-booking provider, and our email provider. These providers process data on our behalf.
Authorities and registries — where filing or submission is necessary to complete the service you asked for.
Legal compliance — where required by law, subpoena, court order, or to comply with US sanctions and anti-money-laundering rules.
With your consent — including to family members or representatives you authorise in writing.

7. Cookies and third-party content

This site does not use advertising or tracking cookies. It stores one item in your browser's local storage to remember your chosen language. You can clear it at any time through your browser settings.

Some pages embed content from third parties, which allows those parties to see your IP address and set their own cookies under their own privacy policies:

Calendly — the booking calendar on our contact page.
Google Fonts — the Arabic typeface loaded when you view the site in Arabic.
Cloudflare — our hosting, content delivery, and security provider.

8. How we protect information

This website is served over encrypted HTTPS connections. We restrict access to matter files to the personnel handling them, and we require the professionals we work with to maintain confidentiality.

No system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. In particular, ordinary email is not a secure channel. Please do not email passports, deeds, financial statements, or other sensitive documents unless we have agreed on a secure method.

If a breach of your personal information occurs, we will notify you as required by the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (815 ILCS 530) and any other applicable law.

9. How long we keep information

We keep enquiry information for up to two years, and matter files for at least seven years after a matter closes, in order to meet record-keeping, tax, and professional obligations, and to defend against potential claims. Some records held by attorneys or registries abroad are subject to that jurisdiction's retention rules and are outside our control. When a retention period ends, we securely delete or anonymise the information.

10. Your choices and rights

Wherever you live, you may ask us to:

Confirm what personal information we hold about you, and give you a copy.
Correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete.
Delete information, where we are not required to keep it.
Stop sending you marketing or newsletter messages.
Withdraw your consent to a cross-border transfer, understanding that this may mean we can no longer act for you.

To make a request, email us using the address at the end of this page. We will respond within 45 days. We may need to verify your identity first, and we will never charge you for a reasonable request or treat you differently for making one.

11. Illinois disclosures

Biometric information (740 ILCS 14). We do not collect or possess biometric identifiers or biometric information, and we therefore do not sell, lease, trade, or otherwise profit from them.

Breach notification (815 ILCS 530). We will notify affected Illinois residents of a breach of unencrypted personal information in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay.

Right of publicity (765 ILCS 1075). We will not use your name, likeness, image, or voice for commercial purposes — including testimonials or marketing — without your prior written consent.

Governing law. This policy is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute arising from it shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois.

12. Residents of other states

If you live in California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Texas, or another state with a comprehensive privacy law, you may have additional rights, including the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information and the right to appeal a refused request. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined in those laws. We extend the rights listed in Section 10 to all users regardless of where they live, and you may exercise them using the contact details below.

13. Children

This website is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. Where a matter concerns a minor — for example an inheritance claim — we collect that information from the parent, guardian, or authorised representative. If you believe a child has provided us information directly, contact us and we will delete it.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our services or the law change. The effective date at the top of this page shows the current version. If we make a material change, we will post a notice on this page. Your continued use of the site after a change takes effect means you accept the updated policy.

15. How to contact us

For any question about this policy, or to exercise any of the rights described above, contact us at:

Biladi Cross-Border Consultants

[STREET ADDRESS], Chicago, Illinois [ZIP], United States

Email: bahaziadsabri@gmail.com

Telephone: [TELEPHONE NUMBER]

This policy is provided in English and Arabic. If there is any discrepancy between the two versions, the English version governs.