New Law Will Open Markets and Processing Options for Illinois FarmersBy Liz Moran StelkFood Law, October 2025House Bill 2196 removes unnecessary barriers that have held back poultry producers, including increases in the number of birds processed per year on-farm, selling directly at farmers markets, and removal of 30-day ownership rule for consumers to process poultry and livestock for personal, family, or cultural use.
New LegislationBy James NyesteInsurance Law, September 2025Effective January 1, 2026, life insurance companies issuing final expense policies will not be permitted to discriminate against potential insureds with felony convictions.
New Member Spotlight: Angela ReaneyBy Hannah R. LamoreWomen and the Law, October 2025Angela Reaney, another new member of WATL, describes her career path and provides advice to aspiring attorneys.
The New Multi-Board 8.0 Residential Real Estate ContractBy Philip J. VaccoReal Estate Law, January 2025While some technical issues with the 7.0 contract have been addressed, other issues have been created which will provide plenty of fodder for the legal profession to justify its continued involvement in residential real estate transactions. This article highlights some of these issues.
New Notary Law ProvisionsBy Patrick CollinsLocal Government Law, April 2025A little over a year ago, the Illinois Notary Public Act and the Illinois Administrative Code Notary Public Records were updated. In 2025, additional updates were made, which are discussed in this article.
New Rule: Service of Process in Cook CountyBy Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. & Robert G. MarkoffElder Law, January 2025A new law recently signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker now allows licensed private detectives and their employees to serve process in Cook County without court appointment. The new law became effective on January 1, 2025.
New Trial, New Judge?By Jeffrey A. ParnessCivil Practice and Procedure, October 2025A case summary of People v. Class, 2025 IL 129695, and the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling regarding an appellate court's sua sponte order in a postconviction proceeding to remand the matter to a new trial judge.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisBusiness Advice and Financial Planning, July 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.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisElder Law, June 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.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisCorporate Law Departments, 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.
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.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, April 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.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisYoung Lawyers Division, February 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.
New Year’s Resolution—Pro BonoBy Timothy J. HowardSenior Lawyers, February 2025For recently retired lawyers, Supreme Court Rule 756(k) authorizes attorneys on inactive or retirement status to provide pro bono legal services under certain conditions. Where do you start to determine how you will execute your New Year’s Resolution?
Ninth Circuit Upholds Mass Arbitration ConsolidationBy David M. Krueger, Meegan Brooks, & Carlo LipsonFederal Civil Practice, May 2025The Ninth Circuit's decision in Jones v. Starz Entertainment, LLC (2025) marks a significant development in managing mass arbitration. The court upheld the consolidation of over 7,200 individual claims into a single arbitration under JAMS rules, saving Starz over $12 million in fees. The court ruled that consolidation is a procedural matter for arbitration providers—not courts—and found that Starz did not refuse to arbitrate by supporting consolidation. The decision distinguishes consolidated arbitration from class arbitration and confirms that mass arbitration procedures are enforceable if the underlying agreement permits them. This ruling provides critical guidance for businesses to craft enforceable and cost-effective arbitration agreements amid the rise of mass arbitration strategies.
NLRB Bans Mandatory Captive Audience MeetingsBy Jeffrey A. RischLabor and Employment Law, January 2025The National Labor Relations Board, in Amazon.com Services LLC and Dana Joann Miller and Amazon Labor Union, November 13, 2024, outright banned mandatory meetings at which an employer expresses its views on unionization and educates workers on the good, bad, and ugly of union membership (“captive audience meeting”). The NLRB held that mandatory captive audience meetings constitute an automatic unfair labor practice that violates section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act.
No, Illinois Does Not Have a $4 Million Estate Tax Exemption!By Allison K. Pfeifle & Aisha E. FashaweTrusts and Estates, November 2025Contrary to what many clients and some practitioners may think, Illinois does not have a $4 million estate tax exemption. Instead, Illinois employs two different calculations, as explored in this article, and the lesser of the result is the applicable estate tax.
No More Backsliding: It Is Time to Push ForwardBy Junaid AfeefDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025The article explores why the U.S. legal profession remains predominantly white and male despite long-standing diversity efforts. It argues that historical exclusion and structural barriers—not lack of merit—explain the imbalance. It refutes claims that DEI undermines merit, showing that diversity can improve fairness and performance. The Illinois State Bar Association’s past work is highlighted as a basis for renewed commitment in the face of current backlash.
No “Second Bite at the Apple” Pursuant to People v. CousinsBy Anthony BrunoCriminal Justice, August 2025In People v. Cousins, 2025 IL 130866, the Illinois Supreme Court clarified the consequences when the State fails to meet its burden in seeking pretrial detention under the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1).
A Note by Any Other Name, or What Is a “Security”By Christopher C. KendallBusiness and Securities Law, February 2025An analysis of the 3rd District Appellate Court case, Stukel v. Rowe, where the plaintiff alleged that the promissory note was a “security” under the Illinois Securities Law and that the defendant had acted as a salesperson in connection with the sale. Plaintiff’s theory was that the promissory note was indeed a security because repayment of the loan was “contingent upon the completion of” a construction project for which the loan was provided.
A Note From the ChairBy Cheryl A. MorrisonReal Estate Law, August 2025A note from the chair of the Real Estate Law Section Council.
Note Is Unenforceable but the Lien on the Property Remains ValidBy Robert HandleyCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, September 2025A summary of Chicago Title Land Trust v. Sara Watkin, 2025 IL App (1st) 241354, and lessons learned about the validity of notes and liens on property.
NOTE!Real Estate Law, July 2025Do your clients use their properties for short-term rentals, like airbnb, etc.? Read this Note on upcoming taxes that will be taking effect under the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax.
Now Comes the SpringBy Hon. Michael J. ChmielCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, March 2025An introduction to the issue from the editor.
