Hannah Lamore Joins WATLBy Debra L. ThomasWomen and the Law, October 2025Get to know Hannah Lamore, a new member of WATL, and her thoughts about the upcoming bar year.
Health and Human Services Policy UpdateElder Law, July 2025Read updates from Health and Human Services, Illinois Supreme Court News, Older Americans Act, and more!
Here Comes the FloodBy Bob Floss, IIReal Estate Law, May 2025It has been 56 years since George Harrison first wrote “Here Comes The Sun.” Had he been a real estate attorney, the verse would read, “Here Comes the Flood.” It is an unfortunate reality that every real estate attorney must face at some point in their career: a client who recently purchased or sold a home, and there is water in the basement. Two appellate court cases have offered some clarity for practitioners counseling their clients on the possibility of litigation.
“Highest Wage Wins”: How HB 1189 Solves Conflicts Between State and Federal Labor LawBy Craig ColbrookLabor and Employment Law, September 2025The definition of "public works" has been changed under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act by HB 1189--this could have far-reaching impacts of which law prevails when there is a conflict between the PWA and the federal Davis Bacon Act.
Highlights from the 2025 Allerton ConferenceCivil Practice and Procedure, June 2025The ISBA Allerton Conference: Generative Artificial Intelligence—Fact or Fiction: Transforming the Legal Practice was held April 2-5, 2025, at the I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois.
HIPAA Settlements Continue Emphasis on Risk AnalysisBy Rick L. Hindmand & Emily JohnsonHealth Care Law, October 2025Learn more about the recommendations to mitigate or prevent cyber-threats promulgated by the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Historic Preservation Tax Credits for Real Estate Development–IllinoisBy R. Kymn HarpReal Estate Law, July 2025Efforts to preserve the historical heritage of the United States have been ongoing for more than 200 years. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which created the National Register of Historic Places (National Register), formalized a national policy of preserving historic properties. This article discusses tax credits that may be utilized in Illinois for historic preservation.
The History of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission: A Century of Evolving ProtectionsBy Alexis FerracutiWorkers’ Compensation Law, July 2025The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) stands as the administrative body that resolves disputes between injured workers and employers regarding job-related injuries and occupational diseases. Its origins reflect a broader national movement toward recognizing and protecting workers' rights in the industrial age. The development of the Commission over the past century illustrates the shifting economic, political, and legal landscapes that have shaped labor relations in Illinois.
Holiday Planning for FamiliesBy Erin Wilson & Juliana BrannanFamily Law, November 2025Get ahead of the holiday stress and be proactive with your clients regarding holiday schedules. Many families may be adjusting to a new normal this holiday season, and it is important that family law attorneys ensure this transition is as smooth as possible for clients.
Homeschooling in IllinoisBy Erin Wilson & Juliana BrannanFamily Law, June 2025Illinois public schools educate thousands of children each day. These schools are directly regulated and reviewed by the state, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). However, many homeschooled children's education slips through the cracks in Illinois. Most states have some type of regulations and monitoring in place, yet Illinois is in the minority with the fewest regulations and no monitoring regarding homeschooling.
Homicidal vs. Suicidal IntentBy Dan FultzCriminal Justice, May 2025Fultz's article uses the case, People v. Oelerich, to illustrate how suicidal intent does not exempt a defendant from a first-degree murder conviction. In Oelerich, the defendant deliberately crashed his car while under the influence, claiming he intended to die, not to harm others. The court upheld his first-degree murder conviction, ruling that the act still met the knowledge standard since he knowingly created a strong probability of harming others. Suicidal intent does not negate the knowledge required for first-degree murder if the conduct foreseeably endangers others.
How Bezos, Zuckerberg, Gates, and Musk Are Trying—Or Not Trying—to Make Meat SustainableBy Seth MillsteinFood Law, February 2025Our food systems are in serious need of an overhaul. Over the last 60 years, per-capita meat consumption has roughly doubled, and is now at unsustainable levels. During that same period of time, the number of billionaires in the world has increased dramatically as well. This confluence of trends raises an important question: what, if anything, are the world’s billionaires doing to fix our food systems, and help us transition into a more climate-friendly way of eating?
How To Deal With Difficult Personalities as a GALBy Erin Wilson, Juliana Brannan, & Emily RuweFamily Law, July 2025When a Guardian ad Litem ("GAL") is appointed on a case, they must interact with many individuals to conduct a thorough investigation. This can involve having difficult conversations with individuals who are experiencing significant emotional distress, conflict, or just general challenges.
How to Maintain the Ethical Use of AI in Personal Injury MattersBy Michael McCreadyArtificial Intelligence & the Practice of Law, Standing Committee on, March 2025Ethical concerns are rightly of primary concern for attorneys using AI tools in their practice. Key among them are data privacy, algorithmic bias, and client confidentiality. Best practices are essential to navigating these challenges.
How To Stop This $475,000 Email Scam From Happening to Your Law FirmBy Mark C. PalmerLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, October 2025Heed the warning of Thomas v. Corbyn Restaurant Dev. Corp. and ensure that your firm is handling client funds through strict protocol and stringent judgment with 4 tips to protect your practice.
How to Successfully Manage a Remote Law PracticeBy Marie SarantakisGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2025Tips for attorneys who want to run a profitable practice that operates as a virtual, remote office.
Hyman’s Holdings: Knowing When To Stand FirmBy Justice Michael B. HymanCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, November 2025In his new column, Hyman's Holdings, featured in the Civil Practice & Procedure Newsletter, Justice Hyman explores various topics related to the legal profession.
Hyman’s Holdings: Knowing When To Stand FirmBy Justice Michael B. HymanCivil Practice and Procedure, October 2025In his new column, Hyman's Holdings, featured in the Civil Practice & Procedure Newsletter, Justice Hyman explores various topics related to the legal profession.
Hypothetically It Will Not Be Necessary To Learn Chinese To Be in ChinaBy Ralph E. GuderianInternational and Immigration Law, October 2025In China the basic language of course is Chinese. Then why are there are around 400 million estimated Chinese people being taught and learning English in China, larger than the entire population of the U.S.? A look at China's history and the current status of American-Chinese relations.
I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In: T&E Monthly Q&ABy Melissa A. GrisoniTrusts and Estates, May 2025The ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Subcommittee on Lawyers Who Are New to Trusts & Estates held its monthly "T&E Q&A: The Basics and Beyond" Zoom meeting on May 15, 2025. This month’s insightful meeting tackled a challenge every attorney inevitably faces: the "toxic client." Moderated by the knowledgeable Mary Vanek of Matlin Law in Northbrook, co-chair of the subcommittee and a 37-year veteran of T&E law, the session provided invaluable guidance from a panel of experienced practitioners.
ICE Raids Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, NebraskaBy Andy HanacekFood Law, July 2025U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and federal law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant and raided an Omaha, Neb., meat-processing plant the morning of June 10, according to numerous news reports.
Illinois and Federal Program UpdatesElder Law, August 2025A brief overview of changes to the Court-Based Rental Assistance Program, Illinois Multi-Sector Plan for Aging, and the Social Security Compassionate Allowances List.
Illinois Appellate Court Affirms Tax Tribunal Decision Holding That Subsidiary Was Improperly Excluded from Parent Company’s Illinois Unitary Group as Subsidiary Was Not an 80/20 CompanyBy David J. Kupiec, JD,CPA & Natalie Martin, JDState and Local Taxation, April 2025On March 19, 2025, the Illinois Appellate Court issued an order in Pepsico, Inc. and Affiliates v. The Illinois Department of Revenue and The Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal, 2025 IL App (1st) 230913-U, Third Division (March 19, 2025), holding that The Independent Tax Tribunal, properly entered a judgment in favor of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The Court agreed with the Department’s determination that a subsidiary’s income was improperly excluded from the parent corporation’s income tax returns. In addition, the Appellate Court held that the Tax Tribunal properly declined to abate tax penalties imposed against the parent corporation.
