Chicago Business Attorney Blog
You do not have an AI adoption problem. You have a visibility problem.
Most business owners assume AI adoption is controlled.
It is not.
Your Employees Are Using AI More Than You Think. Here’s the Legal Risk That Comes With It
Articles Posted in Small Business
Personal Liability Is Back: Why Your LLC Might Not Protect You Anymore
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.
What to Include in Your Operating Agreement: 5 Clauses Every Illinois LLC Needs
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 Guide for Business Owners
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.
Is Your Business Compliant? New Sexual Harassment Training Laws in Illinois and Chicago
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 year.
Many companies remain unaware of how these obligations overlap, and the consequences for noncompliance can be expensive. Here is a straightforward reminder of what you must provide and where to find free, compliant training materials.
What Illinois Business Owners Need to Know About Non-Compete Agreements in 2025
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 made clear that it will still go after what it sees as “anticompetitive” non-competes on a case-by-case basis. And here in Illinois, state law continues to strictly regulate how and when non-competes can be used.
For business owners, the message is simple: non-competes are not gone, but they’re under a microscope.
Employment Law Changes Coming Into Effect September 1st 2025
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 workers will be classified as
What Illinois Business Owners Should Know About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)
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 provisions that Illinois business owners should take seriously. These changes affect everything from depreciation schedules and pass-through deductions to employer tax credits and employee compensation planning.
Big News for Small Businesses: QSBS Rules Get a Major Upgrade
Small business owners and startup founders now have a powerful reason to take another look at Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). A new federal law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed on July 4, 2025, makes QSBS more valuable than ever for growing companies and their stakeholders.
These changes give business owners, employees, and early investors more flexibility and larger tax breaks when selling shares. Whether you’re raising capital, attracting top talent, or planning an exit, this law could have a direct impact on your bottom line.
What Changed And Why It Matters
Major Federal Tax Changes Affect Tipped and Hourly Wage Employment
A new federal law, officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has introduced significant tax changes that directly impact employers in service-based industries. The legislation, signed into law on July 4, 2025, offers new income tax deductions for employees who earn tips and overtime pay, while also expanding tax credits for certain
employers. Businesses that rely on tipped or hourly labor should take a close look at how these changes affect their operations.
Tip Deductions for Employees, But Reporting Still Matters