What is the current status of noncompetes?
The FTC’s sweeping 2024 rule that would have banned nearly all noncompete agreements nationwide never took effect. Federal courts blocked it, and the FTC formally abandoned its appeal. There is currently no federal ban on noncompetes.
What about Illinois?
Most business owners assume lawsuits come from major failures.
They don’t.
They come from small, preventable breakdowns that escalate.
If your company is using AI without a policy, you are already behind
A year ago, AI policies were optional.
Today, they are quickly becoming expected.
If your business is using AI, you are already taking on legal risk
Most companies do not realize this yet.
They think AI is:
AI adoption is not happening at the top. It is happening in the shadows.
Most executives think AI adoption is a strategic decision.
It is not.
You do not have an AI adoption problem. You have a visibility problem.
Most business owners assume AI adoption is controlled.
It is not.
Most business owners believe forming an LLC is the finish line.
It’s not. It’s the starting point.
And in 2026, we are seeing a clear shift: personal liability is creeping back in, even for business owners who think they are protected.
An Operating Agreement is the single most important internal document for your LLC. Yet many business owners either skip it entirely or rely on generic templates that don’t reflect how their business actually operates.
Whether you’re forming a single-member LLC or building a multi-partner company in Illinois, your Operating Agreement defines ownership, decision-making, financial structure, and how conflicts are handled.
At Bellas & Wachowski, we’ve reviewed and drafted hundreds of Operating Agreements. The difference between a strong agreement and a weak one often determines whether a business avoids disputes or ends up in litigation.
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.
Chicago Business Attorney Blog