Starting January 1, 2018, private-sector employers in California will be mandated to follow the so-called “ban the box” laws already in place in nine states, and for public-sector employers throughout the country. This law bars employers from requesting criminal conviction histories during the application process and before a conditional offer is made. An employer may run a background check after an offer has been made, and revoke the offer with appropriate evaluation of the conviction and open communication with the candidate about the reason the offer has been revoked. The goal is to provide an equal opportunity for those with a criminal record to be judged solely on their qualifications. Any company with employees or applicants in California should review their job application forms now, to remove any questions about criminal background.

In times when fingerprints and other biometric data are routinely used for menial tasks, e.g., to check text messages and tag friends in social media posts, it is hard to believe the use of biometric material may lead to a lawsuit. In response to growing concerns of identity theft, in 2008, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPO”). The BIPO restricts businesses’ collection, storage, and disclosure of personal biometric information. Biometric data includes retina and iris scans, fingerprints, voiceprints, handprints, and face geometry. Illinois employers must be hyper-diligent about BIPO compliance, as Illinois is the only state that allows a private cause of action and attorneys’ fees for violations.

Golan Christie Taglia welcomes Taylor J. Feldman to our firm. His practice will focus on corporate law and governance, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate. Mr. Feldman received a B.B.A. with a concentration in finance and marketing from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he also obtained his certificate in taxation law. While attending law school, he worked at Loyola’s Business Law Clinic, where he helped represent entrepreneurs and small business owners as well as individuals who sought legal assistance with not-for-profit organizations. Taylor is a native Coloradan who enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, fly fishing, and skiing. We are pleased to have him join our team, and look forward to watching him grow with us!

• How to safeguard your business against cyberattacks
• What to consider when sponsoring a retirement plan
• New California laws and managing biometric data
• Golan Christie Taglia welcomes a new attorney

When a child turns 18, under Illinois law he or she is considered to be legally an adult. As an adult, the child is given privacy protections that restrict a parent’s access to the child’s medical, financial, and educational information. If you have a child who has attained age 18 or will do so shortly, and the child is a dependent or primarily supported by you, you should consider having certain documents prepared that will enable you to receive information concerning your child’s health care, financial, and education matters that you otherwise would not be permitted to obtain.

In July 2017, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (also known as OSHA) issued a press release related to new deadlines for electronic submission of OSHA forms regarding workplace injuries. Generally, employers with twenty or more employees (in certain industries) are required to submit their completed Form 300A for 2016 by December 1, 2017. In 2018, all covered employers must submit their completed Form 300A, 300 and 301 for 2017 by July 1, 2018.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on July 17, 2017. Employers can use this revised version or continue using Form I-9 with a revision date of 11/14/16 N through Sept. 17, 2017. On Sept. 18, 2017, all employers must use the revised form with a revision date of 07/17/17 N. Employers must continue following existing storage and retention rules for any previously completed Form I-9.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent term ended with four significant Intellectual Property decisions. Each of these decisions will have long-term consequences for business owners and their legal counsel. However, the decisions did not address all of the relevant issues and concerns.

For almost forty-five years, the Illinois Paralegal Association (IPA) has been advancing the paralegal profession, and providing a channel for communication among members of the paralegal profession, the legal community, civic and professional organizations—and supporting the continuing education of paralegals.

• What happens to parents’ rights when a child turns 18?
• Get ready to comply with new Federal requirements
• How recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions may affect your business
• Our paralegal team shares expertise at annual event

If you haven't updated your sick leave or paid-time-off policy, now is the time!! Join us for an hour-long information session with our knowledgeable employment attorneys, followed by cocktails and snacks, to address some of the more complicated questions that have arisen as our clients try to integrate the new rules into their existing leave policies.

The practice of law, as a whole, is changing - and so are the roles of women within the legal sector. And while it’s no secret that the legal industry is traditionally known for its resistance to change, women are excelling at adapting to these shifts. By taking on far greater leadership roles and driving change within law firms and corporate legal departments, women are shaking up the status quo in today's competitive marketplace.

Golan Christie Taglia is proud to announce that Beverly A. Berneman, a partner in our Intellectual Property and Reorganization and Bankruptcy Services Group, has been selected as the sole Editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Technology and Intellectual Property Newsletter.

Starting a business can be one of the most exciting times in an entrepreneur’s life – and it should be! However, a young business should not be swept away in the honeymoon stage. It is imperative for business owners to think ahead and prepare for the good, the bad and the ugly at the very beginning of their business’s life (or even before they open their doors).

As the end of the school year approaches, many students look for opportunities to make connections and gain valuable work experience. During summer break, a number of businesses offer unpaid internships. If your company is considering such a program, make sure you are aware of the rules and regulations that apply. For example, in order to be permissible under the U.S. Department of Labor’s rules, an unpaid intern must not be an employee of the company and must not receive any compensation or benefits of any kind. The intern must also acknowledge that he or she has not been promised or guaranteed employment of any kind after the conclusion of the internship.

In 2016, the City of Chicago and Cook County passed separate, although nearly identical, earned sick leave ordinances. Both laws go into effect starting on July 1, 2017. Below are some of the most important parts of the ordinances:

Websites invite users to post content for many reasons. It allows customers and clients to feel connected to the website. It provides a forum for user comments and discussion. The problem with providing an interactive environment arises when a user posts someone else’s copyrighted content. It could be a portion of a creative work, a drawing or a photograph. It could even be a link to material appearing elsewhere on the Internet. The post then becomes the basis for a copyright infringement claim against the owner of the website as well as the person who posted the content without authorization.

We owe a huge thank-you to all of the firm’s clients, friends and referral sources for helping us to continue to receive accolades in our profession, year after year.

The practice of law, as a whole, is changing – and so are the roles of women within the legal sector. And while it’s no secret that the legal industry is traditionally known for its resistance to change, women are excelling at adapting to these shifts. By taking on far greater leadership roles and driving change within law firms and corporate legal departments, women are shaking up the status quo in today's competitive marketplace.

The federal tax code is more than 2,500 pages long, and it doesn’t even cover state and local taxes that a business must deal with. Suffice it to say, this webinar will not make you an expert tax attorney. It is, rather, designed to provide you with a tour of the landscape. Topics include: the basic differences, from a tax perspective, between S-corps, C-corps, and limited liability companies (LLCs); basic tax issues when buying/selling a business; the basics of sales and use taxes; the basics of employment taxes; “estimated taxes” (which is an issue for the sole proprietor, partner, S corporation shareholder, and/or a self-employed individual); tax incentives; and the basic tax issues involved in closing a business.

Dr. David Dao, the United Airlines passenger who was removed from an airplane seat on United Airlines Sunday, is undergoing treatment in a Chicago hospital for his injuries.

• From Our Managing Partner
• A guide for all new business owners
• Ensure compliance with labor laws – old and new
• How to avoid copyright infringement
• Leading Lawyers list names twenty GCT attorneys

Unclaimed property refers to accounts and other intangible property held by corporations, financial institutions, and other entities (“holders”) that have gone dormant for a period of time. The unclaimed property laws are intended to protect the owners of the property. Common types of unclaimed property include bank accounts, uncashed dividend checks, customer deposits, accounts payable, credit balances, refund checks, and gift cards.

The firm is excited to welcome our newest associate, Neil P. Johnson. Neil began his legal career with Golan Christie Taglia as a law clerk, while still a student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He returned to the firm after graduation and was just recently admitted as a member of the Illinois bar. Neil earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Indiana University and was the Associate Editor of the Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property during law school. His practice at the firm will focus on business litigation and intellectual property

Golan Christie Taglia partner Barbara Yong was presented with The Turnaround Management Association’s (TMA) Chicago/Midwest Chapter’s prestigious Outstanding Service Award at their annual Executive Speaker’s Forum on November 21st at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The annual event, which draws high profile speakers every year, featured correspondent Lara Logan and former Speaker of the House John Boehner. Over 600 TMA members and guests – including some of Golan Christie Taglia’s other partners – attended the event. Congratulations, Barb!