2026 Articles

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.

Strategy and Goal Planning for Trump Accounts and 529 Plans By Alan E. Stumpf September 2026 Added to the tool box of taxation strategies is the blend of gifts and investments to be used for Trump Accounts and 529 plans. Building our knowledge about these strategies is assisted by the August 17, 2026, Tax School Blog article, Trump Accounts and § 529 Plans: Planning Considerations for Families, explaining the advantages of a blend of the new Trump Accounts and older 529 plans as part of clients’ taxation strategy. It provides an outline of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of account that will assist in establishing immediate and long-term income tax planning goals.

Top 5 Email Management/Organization Tips for Outlook By Kimberly A. Hilton February 2026 Managing email can be overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling multiple tasks or handling a high volume of messages. Fortunately, Microsoft Outlook offers several powerful features to help streamline your workflow, improve productivity, and ensure you never miss an important task or email. Here are my top five email management tips for Outlook to help you stay organized and efficient.

Turn On Your Video! By Judge James A. Shapiro & Thomas DeMouy June 2026 Few things are more annoying to a judge than when we can't see the litigant or lawyer we are addressing (or who is addressing us). During the height of the pandemic, there were judges who were not turning on their video as well. Without naming names, my former presiding judge once had to remind everyone in the division to turn on their videos. For judges, attorneys, and litigants, the lesson is clear: Zoom court requires the same decorum as a physical courtroom.

Unique Statutory Liens in Agriculture for Uncertain Times By Kyle Tompkins March 2026 In Illinois, the law provides for several unique protections for agricultural stakeholders during difficult times through agricultural liens, including Landlord Lien, Agister's Lien, Thresherman's Lien, and Warehouseman's Lien.

Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI for Lawyers: Red Flags and Best Practices By Carolyn Elefant February 2026 Seven common issues experienced when using Generative AI, and seven best practices for incorporating Generative AI into your legal practice.

An Update on FinCEN’s Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule: What Illinois Agricultural Law Practitioners Need to Know By Sam Ellis, Kendal A. Schoepfer, & Cari Brett Rincker September 2026 FinCEN’s Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule is currently halted following the Eastern District of Texas’ decision in Flowers Title Companies, LLC v. Bessent. Accordingly, Illinois agricultural law practitioners should not treat the vacated rule as an active filing obligation.

What Is the Remote Practice of Law? By Stephen B. Cohen April 2026 In this article, the author emphasizes and describes how a major event affecting all aspects of society has changed many traditional aspects of the practice of law.