New Amendments to the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act Will Provide Greater Protection to EmployeesBy Michelle T. Olson & Ellie M HemmingerCorporate Law Departments, November 2025On August 15, 2025, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3638 into law, amending the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (the “IWTA” or the “Act”) to provide enhanced protection for Illinois employees who enter into employment, termination or settlement agreements with their employers. Learn more about how this impacts employers.
New and Upcoming Illinois Employment Law DevelopmentsBy Ariel M. Kelly & Michael D. ConsidineLabor and Employment Law, September 2025An overview of amendments to Illinois state laws and Chicago municipal laws that impact the practice of employment law, including broadened definition of "business," military leave to allow participation in funeral honors, AI and civil rights violations, and more.
New Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act & CCS Project UpdateBy Laura HarmonEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2025On July 18, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed SB1289 creating the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration, which addresses environmental and safety regulations, prohibition of the injection of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery, ownership of pore space, integration and unitization of pore space for CO2 sequestration before the IDNR.
The New Face of Forfeiture: Innocence Now MattersBy Frank P. AndreanoTraffic Laws and Courts, July 2025Recent changes to Illinois Forfeiture Law means what previously qualified as “probable cause” to warrant seizure is no longer enough.
New Federal Reporting Requirement for Your Law Firm This YearBy Annette FernholzElder Law, January 2025A new rule under the Corporate Transparency Act now requires many businesses in the United States, including small law firms, to report information about who ultimately owns or controls them to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
New Help Stop Hate HotlineBy Cindy G. BuysDiversity Leadership Council, June 2025Help Stop Hate is a confidential service that provides support and resources to people and communities affected by hate.
New Help Stop Hate HotlineBy Cindy G. BuysHuman and Civil Rights, January 2025Help Stop Hate is a confidential service that provides support and resources to people and communities affected by hate.
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.
The New Receivership Act: Claims Filing, Automatic Stays, and Receivership Sales of Real EstateBy Paul PetersonConstruction Law, December 2025This article higlights some of the key sections of the Receivership Act that a real estate practitioner or mechanics lien claimant should consider, including purpose, scope, notice, status of receiver as lien creditor, sale of real estate, contracts, injunctions, claims bar date, and discharge of the receiver.
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?
