Join Us at the ISBA & IJA Midyear Meeting—a Taste of What’s AheadBy Ted M. NiemannEmployee Benefits, November 2025The Joint Midyear Meeting, hosted by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association, is a can't-miss event, offering CLE programs on democracy preservation and the ethical use of AI; a Member Appreciation Reception featuring Glow Bingo and prizes; the Illinois Bar Foundation for the Champions Breakfast; the IJA/ISBA Joint Midyear Meeting Luncheon; and a Holiday Reception honoring the Supreme Court of Illinois. Register today!
Responding To Work-From-Home Accommodation Requests in a Post-Covid EnvironmentBy Josh HeidelmanCivil Practice and Procedure, October 2025In the wake of the pandemic, it may be more difficult for employers to argue remote work is not a reasonable accommodation. Learn more about developing case law on the topic and steps employers can take to strengthen their positions in court.
Pros and Cons of Becoming an Employee Benefits AttorneyBy Aldridge MaurerEmployee Benefits, September 2025Experience is invaluable, but it's impossible for young attorneys to gain requisite experience without being given the chance to do so. Especially in the more niche field of employee benefits, it's important for young attorneys to connect with more experienced attorneys to gain necessary knowledge and insight into the field.
Responding To Work-From-Home Accommodation Requests in a Post-Covid EnvironmentBy Josh HeidelmanEmployee Benefits, September 2025In the wake of the pandemic, it may be more difficult for employers to argue remote work is not a reasonable accommodation. Learn more about developing case law on the topic and steps employers can take to strengthen their positions in court.
7th Circuit Stops Providers Suing Illinois Medicaid for Untimely MCO PaymentsBy Lawrence A. MansonEmployee Benefits, August 2025The Seventh Circuit ruled that Illinois health care providers cannot sue the state under § 1983 to enforce timely Medicaid payments from managed care organizations. This decision may worsen delayed payments, threaten provider participation, and reduce access to care—especially for smaller hospitals like Saint Anthony, which brought the case. The dissent warned of serious risks to the Medicaid system and patients.
One Big Beautiful Bill ActBy Aaron D. EvansEmployee Benefits, August 2025This article discusses the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including tax cuts, increased basic exclusion amount, SALT limitations, tax-deferred investment accounts, 529 plans, limitations on charitable deductions, and Pease limitations.
Social Security Fairness Act of 2023Employee Benefits, August 2025The Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, signed in early 2025, eliminates WEP and GPO, which had reduced Social Security benefits for many public workers. The SSA is now issuing retroactive payments (back to January 2024) and increasing monthly benefits. No action is needed if your contact info is up to date. Those previously denied benefits due to WEP/GPO can now apply.
24 Legal Practice TipsBy Colleen L. SahlasEmployee Benefits, July 2025Tips learned from 24 years in legal practice.
Enforceability of Non-Compete Agreements in IllinoisBy Ariana Thao & Lawrence StarkEmployee Benefits, June 2025Non-compete agreements between employers and employees are enforceable in Illinois under the Illinois Freedom to Work Act (IFWA), but only under specific conditions. As of January 1, 2022, such agreements are restricted based on employee salary (minimum $75,000/year), employment conditions (e.g., not enforceable against those laid off due to COVID-19-like events unless certain payments are made), and employee categories (e.g., union members or most construction workers are excluded).
Supreme Court Eases the Burden for Proving Reverse Discrimination ClaimsBy Rachel E. Bossard & Christine EduardoEmployee Benefits, June 2025On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that reverse discrimination claims under Title VII are held to the same standard as other discrimination claims. The Court found that plaintiffs like Marlean Ames, a heterosexual woman, don’t need to show special “background circumstances” to prove bias. This decision clarifies that Title VII protects all individuals equally, regardless of majority or minority status.
ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Offers Valuable Q&A Series for Attorneys New to T&EBy Melissa A. GrisoniEmployee Benefits, May 2025Since November 2024, the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section's Subcommittee on Lawyers Who Are New to Estate Planning has successfully hosted a monthly Zoom meeting, "T&E Q&A: The Basics and Beyond." These sessions are held on the third Thursday of each month. Designed as an informal forum, the Q&A meetings provide an invaluable opportunity for attorneys new to the practice of estate planning to pose questions to experienced colleagues. ISBA members can submit questions in advance or via the chat function during the live meeting, with a panel of three to four seasoned practitioners offering their insights. The subcommittee has received overwhelmingly positive feedback and intends to continue these popular sessions, with a brief recess planned for the summer months.
Meeting the Special Responsibilities of a Noble ProfessionBy Michael CortinaEmployee Benefits, May 2025The practice of law is a business. It matters not if a lawyer is on the bench, works in the public interest sector, is an in-house attorney, or is engaged in private practice. All of us make our living in the practice of law, and that means, by default, all of us are also engaged in the business of law. We sometimes need reminding, however, of the other obligations that we have to society.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisEmployee Benefits, May 2025Illinois has passed several new laws and made significant amendments to its key statutes governing employment that have gone into effect as of January 1, 2025. These modifications largely provide employees with broader protections and the ability to access documents concerning their employment as well as place more transparency requirements on employers.
Multi-Factor Authentication is No Longer Optional for Legal ProfessionalsBy Brandon P. WoudenbergEmployee Benefits, April 2025This article emphasizes that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for legal professionals, not just a 'best practice.' It highlights the increasing cyber threats in the legal industry and the need for attorneys to protect clients' data. It offers simple MFA options and discusses the risks of not using this security feature. Ultimately, the minor inconvenience of setting up MFA is worthwhile for the protection it provides against data breaches, reputational damage, malpractice claims, and disciplinary issues.
New Regs Implement SECURE Changes to Plan Distributions (Part 1)By Kathryn J. KennedyEmployee Benefits, November 2024Dive into the new IRS regulations affecting retirement plan participants and beneficiaries with Kathryn J. Kennedy, former professor of law at the University of Illinois, for this first part of a two-part article series.
New Regs Implement SECURE Changes to Plan Distributions (Part 2)By Kathryn J. KennedyEmployee Benefits, November 2024Dive into the new IRS regulations affecting retirement plan participants and beneficiaries with Kathryn J. Kennedy, former professor of law at the University of Illinois, for this second part of a two-part article series.
Federal Trade Commission: Non-Compete RuleBy Bernard G. PeterEmployee Benefits, October 2024On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a Final Rule banning Non-Compete Clauses in employee agreements nationwide with an exception for “senior executives” who have a Non-Compete which is in place prior to the effective date of the Rule.
A Note From the Co-EditorsBy Bernard G. Peter & Aldridge Asa MauerEmployee Benefits, October 2024A note from the co-editors.
Municipal Pension Fund Attorney Entitled to a PensionBy Nemura PencylaEmployee Benefits, May 2024The appellate court recently reversed the Retirement Board of the Municipal Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago's decision to deny an application for a widow's annuity in Heiss v. Retirement Board of the Municipal Employees' Annuity & Benefit Fund.
Village Violates Litigation and Bargaining Exceptions to Open Meetings ActBy Nemura PencylaEmployee Benefits, May 2024The appellate court recently reiterated important issues and rules public bodies must follow when conducting public meetings in light of the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.
HHS’s CARES Act Final Rule Better Aligns Part 2 Substance Use Disorder Patient Records Confidentiality Regulations With HIPAABy Jennifer S. Geetter, Daniel F. Gottlieb, Alya Sulaiman, Li Wang, Edward G. Zacharias, & Kyle E. HafkeyEmployee Benefits, April 2024On February 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration jointly issued a final rule to amend the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulations under 42 C.F.R. Part 2.
