Archives: News

Taxpayers often experience “sticker shock” after opening their new property tax assessment notices. There’s a good reason why – higher assessments usually mean higher tax bills. One recent study found average U.S. home prices soared by 6.6% in the first quarter of 2024 and that Illinois ranked #8 among the states in home price growth […]

To Our Clients and Friends:On December 26, 2024, a different panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an order vacating the Court’s December 23, 2024 order, which granted a stay of the preliminary injunction. Accordingly, as of December 26, 2024, reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership […]

Independent contractor status can seem financially advantageous to some businesses—no employment taxes, no benefits required—but it can and often does result in excessive liability for companies. How can you tell if an individual is really an employee?  The rule is: if the individual provides services (a) at your place of business (b) that are essential […]

On December 23, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the enforceability of the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”). Reporting companies are once again required to file beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reports. The case is still being litigated; however, at this time, the requirement for businesses to file BOI reports is in effect. As […]

Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois employers using E-Verify have new requirements under the Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (the “Act”) (Public Act 95-138). Amendments (Public Act 103-879) to the Act impose new obligations for employers, even beyond certain federal E-Verify requirements. As set forth in the Illinois Department of Labor’s (“IDOL”) guidance […]

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) and its reporting requirements. See Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., Case No. 4:24-cv-478 (E.D. Tex.). This ruling temporarily blocks the deadlines for […]

A Commercial Lease Agreement is one of the most common contracts that a business will enter into, but far too often, a business will sign off on a lease after a cursory review.  As you can imagine, that can often lead to serious problems down the road.  Below is our top ten list of things […]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pervasive force across industries, affecting everything from data processing and decision-making to creative arts and public discourse. As AI systems grow more sophisticated and autonomous, questions about their role in society have shifted from the technical to the philosophical and legal. One of the core issues at stake is […]

When it comes to supply, manufacturing, or other product or service transactions and arrangements (purchase orders, service agreements, sale terms and conditions), it is surprising how many companies rely on the “handshake” approach and either do not have any terms to govern the transaction or blindly accept the other party’s terms. Without any written terms, […]