Artificial intelligence is entering litigation faster than courts can formally regulate it. Judges are not responding with panic. They are responding with discipline. The first sanctions issued for AI misuse in legal filings reveal how courts are approaching this new reality. The issue is not the technology itself. The issue…
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how information is created. Now it is beginning to change how evidence appears in court. Emails that were never written. Audio recordings that were never spoken. Reports that resemble expert analysis but were produced by a machine. Courts across the United States are confronting a…
What Is a Business Divorce? A business divorce refers to the breakdown of a working relationship between business partners or co-owners that makes continued collaboration impossible. Unlike personal divorces, business divorces involve disputes over control of the company, financial transparency, ownership rights, and fiduciary responsibilities. These conflicts often arise in closely held…
Non-compete agreements continue to be one of the most misunderstood areas of employment law for business owners. Recent headlines about federal regulation led many employers to believe non-competes were banned nationwide. In reality, the situation is more nuanced. While federal regulators have attempted sweeping changes, Illinois law still primarily governs when…
Many business owners heard headlines saying the Federal Trade Commission “banned non-competes” and assumed restrictive covenants were essentially over. That is not what ultimately happened. While the FTC attempted to implement a sweeping nationwide ban, that rule never took effect. Courts blocked it, the appeals process ended, and the agency…
Illinois business owners have been closely following developments under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), particularly given the uncertainty created by conflicting court decisions and shifting enforcement positions. A recent federal appellate ruling provides important legal clarity, although practical compliance obligations for Illinois entities remain limited for now. Federal Appellate Court…
Bellas and Wachowski attorneys chicago illinois suburbs to help you with your business compliance Illinois and the City of Chicago continue to take a firm stance on workplace harassment prevention. For business owners, this means that annual sexual-harassment training is mandatory, and Chicago employers face additional, more extensive requirements each…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tried to ban non-compete agreements across the country. That sweeping ban is now effectively dead. A federal judge struck it down, and the FTC recently gave up its appeals. But that doesn’t mean employers are free to use non-competes however they like. The FTC has…
Several new employment laws go into effect in September and will affect employers in every state. Independent Contractors rules: The US Department of Labor adopted a six-factor test in January for classifying independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This replaces the previous two-factor approach. The result is more…
A New Era of Tax Policy for Business Owners On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law, ushering in sweeping changes to the federal tax code. While the law has drawn national attention for its b roader political implications, it contains several key…