2026 Articles

2025 Joint Midyear Meeting Photos February 2026 The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association proudly co-hosted the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on December 11–12 at the JW Marriott Chicago, bringing members of the legal community together for two days of connection and collaboration.

2026 Annual Meeting Photos July 2026 ISBA members and guests gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis on June 11–12, 2026, for the Annual Meeting, which featured outstanding CLE programming, networking, and business meetings. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the Annual Meeting a success!

Acquiring Battery and Energy Lease Expertise for Leasing and Real Estate Sales Agreements By Alan E. Stumpf March 2026 Energy storage contract offers related to real estate are becoming more common, whether in the contexts of wind energy leases, solar energy leases or specific negotiations to lease or purchase real estate for battery storage. We need to be thinking about contract responsibilities and technology related to energy storage on real estate.

Advance Your Practice at the 32nd Annual Agricultural Law Seminar By Ted M. Niemann January 2026 Illinois State Bar Association members are invited to attend the 32nd Annual Agricultural Law Seminar—a premier continuing legal education event designed for attorneys practicing in or interested in the dynamic field of agricultural law. This year’s seminar takes place on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, IL, running from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ag Law in the News By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker June 2026 Recent developments related to agricultural law include advancement of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the EPA continues to integrate pesticide oversight with the Endangered Species Act, federal regulators are pursuing enforcement actions aimed at data-sharing practices within agricultural markets, and more.

Ag Law in the News By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker April 2026 Earlier this year, the Trump Administration accelerated efforts to reshape federal pesticide regulation and liability standards; the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to attempt to define "waters of the United States"; Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Agriculture hosted the annual Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day last month; and more!

Ag Law in the News: July 2026 By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker July 2026 Developments relevant to agricultural law include federal legislation and regulatory developments, environmental law and land use, trade and market regulation, energy and rural development, and Illinois-specific law updates.

Ag Law Section Council Member Profile: Kyle M. Tompkins April 2026 Learn more about Kyle M. Tompkins, a practicing attorney with over 12 years of experience, a member of the Agricultural Law Section Council for over five years, and a central Illinois native who understands agriculture law's importance to everyday life.

CLE Chair Report By Andrew G. White June 2026 Enacted in 2025, IRC Section 1062 allows sellers or farmland to defer capital gains over four (4) equal amount installments rather than pay in the year of the sale. This became an off-camera conversation at the February 2026 Ag Law Seminar.

CLE Chair Report By Andrew G. White March 2026 A recap of the 32nd Annual Ag Law Seminar, held on February 6, 2026, in Bloomington, Illinois.

Custom ChatGPTs: Navigating Legal and Ethical Compliance for Public-Facing AI Tools By Carolyn Elefant April 2026 Custom versions of ChatGPT for public use can raise legal and ethical considerations, including applications of these tools, ethical AI disclosure, attorney-client relationship, confidentiality, the unauthorized practice of law, and attorney supervision. While it is necessary to consider these factors, there are practical solutions you can implement to ensure compliance and protect both users and legal practitioners.

EPA and Corps of Engineers Release a Proposed New Definition of “Waters of the United States,” Limiting Federal Jurisdiction By Karl R. Heisler, Peter Hsiao, Douglas A. Henderson, Zaheer H. Tajani, Sydney Weiss, & Brittany Shaar May 2026 In the continuing battle to define “waters of the United States,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a pre-publication Proposed Rule on November 17 redefining WOTUS.

FinCEN Update By Nicky Sonntag June 2026 FinCEN's Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule remains in limbo as a district court in Texas overturned it, which means that reporting persons are not currently required to file real estate reports with FinCEN under the new Rule.

FSA Information Corner By Nancy Metsker-Handegan July 2026 Don't miss relevant deadlines for crop planting reports, especially if crop insurance is involved.

FSA Information Corner By Nancy Metzker-Handegan April 2026 Limited liability companies can be utilized as an estate tool to reduce estate tax, centralize management of farmland, and prevent partitions; however, changes under the OBBBA could limit payments due to each member of the limited liability company or shareholder of a corporation. These changes may impact payments due and owing after October 1, 2026.

Illinois Farm Vehicles and Implements of Husbandry: What Farmers Should Know Before Driving on Public Roads By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker July 2026 During planting, spraying, harvest, and livestock work, farmers often need to move tractors, wagons, combines, nurse tanks, fertilizer equipment, and other machinery on public roads. The key question is usually not whether the vehicle is used by a farmer. The better question is whether the vehicle fits a specific Illinois Vehicle Code category and whether it is being operated in the way that the statute allows.

Improving Your Management Style and Ultimately Your Well-Being By Judith Conway May 2026 Five tips to help you improve your management skills, foster a smoother work life, and increase the efficiency of your employees.

Key Issues for Attorneys Reviewing Solar Leases in Illinois By Ean R. Albers March 2026 Rural practitioners, agricultural attorneys, and those practicing real estate law should be familiar with solar leases as part of sustained development advancements across Illinois. These leases can bind property for 30-50 years (or more), and be subject to various legal and economic considerations.

Lawyering on the Beach (Or on a Tractor): What I Learned by Attending LOTB Conference 2026 By Cari Brett Rincker July 2026 Lawyers on the Beach Retreat offers attorneys to view their practice in a way that supports the life he or she wants, wherever that may be. The 2026 Lawyers on the Beach Retreat stressed the prominence and importance of artificial intelligence, tools that can go with you to wherever your beach is.

Letter From the Chairperson By Nancy Metsker-Handegan July 2026 An introduction to the current Chair of the Agricultural Law Section Council and a look at the year ahead.

Member Appreciation & Recognition Reception Highlights June 2026 On May 14, 2026, ISBA members and colleagues gathered at the beautiful Morton Arboretum in Lisle to celebrate the 2025–26 ISBA Award Recipients, connect with fellow legal professionals, and enjoy an evening of meaningful conversation and camaraderie.

Multi-Factor Authentication Is No Longer Optional for Legal Professionals By Brandon P. Woudenberg January 2026 This 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.

The New Receivership Act: Claims Filing, Automatic Stays, and Receivership Sales of Real Estate By Paul Peterson January 2026 This 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.

Oil and Gas Law Ownership Rights and Surface Issues By David M. Foreman February 2026 Historically, an owner of real estate, in fee simple absolute, was thought to own a pie shaped cubit, extending from the center of the Earth, all the way up to the heavens. This traditional rule of ownership is a gross over simplification which, as we shall see, does not truly apply in the case of oil and gas.

Payments From a Deceased Producer By Nancy M. Handegan May 2026 A recent FSA newsletter discussed obtaining payments due to a deceased producer. When in doubt, the local and state FSA staff are able to help in dealing with payment issues.

Profile Highlight of Ag Law Section Council Member: Lynne R. Ostfeld May 2026 Learn more about Lynne R. Ostfeld, an attorney with 40 years of experience, a member of multiple committees and sections across the ISBA and Chicago Bar Association, bilingual in English and French, and of counsel to a law firm in Paris, France!

Profile of Ag Law Section Council Member: Cari Rincker By Sara Peska & Ean R. Albers February 2026 Get to know Cari Rincker, Agricultural Law Section Council Member and Editor of the Section Newsletter.

Profile of Ag Law Section Council Member: Garrett Thalgott By Cari Brett Rincker January 2026 This month's Agricultural Law Section Council highlight features Garrett Thalgott, an attorney with the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Report From the Chair By Garrett Thalgott June 2026 Parting remarks from the current Chair of the Agricultural Law Section Council, discussing the Right to Repair lawsuit against John Deere.

Report From the Chair By Garrett Thalgott March 2026 A note from the Chair of the Agricultural Law Section Council.