Amended Law Creates Additional Challenge for Employers
The new ban-the-box law has been in effect since March. Make sure that your company has procedures in place to be in compliance.
Client Spotlight – Wesley Willows
Having a long-term partner like WilliamsMcCarthy LLP that knows your history and has a depth of expertise is a key to success according to one of the region’s leading senior living communities.
Selling? Gauge Your Readiness
Exiting a business, whether the sale is to a family member or to a third party, is a tough decision to make. Guage your readiness.
In Spring and Summer, Real Estate is Top of Mind
Spring and summer represent the busiest time for real estate. Here are some issues with which the WilliamsMcCarthy LLP team can assist.
Client Spotlight – Cincinnati Tool Steel Company
When the unexpected happens, Rockford-based success story Cincinnati Tool Steel Company turned to WilliamsMcCarthy LLP to help navigate uncharted waters.
Client Spotlight – Helm Group
When Helm Group rebranded, it worked with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP attorneys for not only their trademark but also for additional support.
Unemployment Fraud and What You Can Do About It
The pandemic brought a host of negative consequences, including unemployment insurance fraud. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a victim.
COVID, Technology, and the Legal Profession
Attorneys, courts, and others were forced to adopt technological solutions during the pandemic. As a result, things may never be the same. Here’s why.
Client Spotlight – Card Ladder
As two entrepreneurs turned learning “the hobby” of sports-card collecting into a business, they relied on WilliamsMcCarthy LLP to give their startup business wings.
COVID Mitigations and Enforcement – Tips to Help Business Navigate Uncharted Waters
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the landscape ever-changing for businesses in 2020, it is challenging even for the most diligent company to keep up with constantly evolving government responses to COVID-19. Must a retailer intervene when a customer refuses to wear a mask? Should a restaurant refuse service when capacity has been reached? Is an employer responsible if a […]
WilliamsMcCarthy LLP – Knowledgeable Local Counsel
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Professional obligations for local counsel build meaningful relationships that ultimately add value. As a result of mitigating some of the uncertainty associated with litigating in an unfamiliar court, local counsel relationships often result in more favorable outcomes and reduced litigation costs for clients. As local counsel, the attorneys of WilliamsMcCarthy LLP provide assistance on matters […]
Client Spotlight – Fire Dept. Coffee
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] When a hobby-turned-business experienced some unexpected growing pains, a local entrepreneur needed legal help to protect his company’s trademarks, intellectual property, and more. Firefighter Luke Schneider’s passion for coffee started as a hobby. He enjoyed the process of roasting his own beans and playing with flavor profiles in his kitchen with his wife. […]
Employers, Employees and COVID-19
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]COVID-19 has presented many businesses with a host of new challenges, among which is the issue of keeping employees healthy by putting safeguards in place and meeting changing recommendations and mandates. With each state, city and industry grappling with a unique set of circumstances, here are some points to consider when setting policies and procedures […]
‘Generic.com’: What SCOTUS’ Recent Decision in Favor of Booking.com Means for Generic Trademarks
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Recently, the Supreme Court settled a long-standing debate over trademarking generic domain names (“generic.com”). In United States Patent and Trademark Office v. Booking.com, the Court ruled 8-1 in favor of Booking.com, the famous online hotel reservation service, finding that the combining of the generic terms ‘booking’ and ‘.com’ form a protectible mark because of Booking’s distinctiveness. […]
Buyer Beware When It Comes To Residential Real Estate Contract Inspection Provisions
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The residential real estate market in Northern Illinois continues to be a seller’s market despite the effects of the pandemic on the economy. The local inventory of homes for sale continues to be below optimum levels and for most price points there are more buyers than sellers. As a result, it is common for sellers […]
Legal Implications for Real Estate During COVID-19
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spring and summer are usually busy times for real estate. Buying or selling a home, acquiring land for a project or starting a business expansion is top of mind as we look to plans for the second half of any normal year. However, 2020 has been anything but a normal year. With COVID-19 laying its […]
In the Spotlight with Carl A. Ecklund
Traditionally, the spring is a very busy time for real estate transactions. We thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to spotlight Carl A. Ecklund, partner at WilliamsMcCarthy, who focuses on industrial, commercial, and residential real estate transactions. We recently interviewed Carl about his interest in real estate law, most memorable achievements, and what he […]
Emergency Amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Rules Regarding COVID-19
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission passed an emergency rule amending the Administrative Rules of Evidence, Section 9070.30 of Insurance Code, effective April 16, 2020 for a maximum of 150 days. The emergency rule creates the rebuttable presumption that an “injury or period of incapacity” resulting from exposure to the COVID-19 virus during the Gubernatorial Disaster […]
In the Spotlight with Carol N. Bailey
In honor of National Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting Carol N. Bailey, partner at WilliamsMcCarthy LLP. Did you know Carol was the first woman Assistant State’s Attorney in the 17th Circuit? Learn more about her experiences, the women who serve as her inspiration, and her advice to other women entering the law profession today in […]
WilliamsMcCarthy LLP’s COVID 19 Update
At WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, we take the safety and well-being of our clients, staff, and attorneys very seriously, and we recognize that the Coronavirus outbreak has made this a challenging time for all. On Friday, March 20, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued COVID-19 Executive Order No. 8, which requires all Illinois residents to stay at home through […]
What Illinois Employers Should Know About Cannabis in the Workplace
As of January 1, 2020, the Illinois’ Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“the Act”) legalized recreational cannabis for those age 21 or older. As employers were scrambling to prepare for the Act, there was a last-minute Amendment to the Act signed by Governor Pritzker on December 4, 2019. The purpose of this article is to […]
Planned Giving – Advice for Fundraisers
This article initially ran in the February 2020 issue of the Rockford Chamber VOICE. For many donors, charitable giving is a way of life. A variety of charitable groups, including social service organizations, colleges and universities, and faith-based bodies rely on the support of donors to further their missions. Competition for charitable dollars is increasing […]
End-of-Year Tips – Start 2020 With This Legal Advice
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we get ready to flip the calendar to a new year, we sat down with a few WilliamsMcCarthy LLP attorneys to discuss end-of-year advice for their business clients. Here are three quick tips any business owner can leverage to enter 2020 on more solid legal footing. Tip #1: Review Your Purchase Order (PO) Language […]
New Illinois Trust Code Takes Effect January 1, 2020. Are You Ready?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce VOICE. Amidst the business of the Holiday season, a sea change is approaching for Illinois estate plans, particularly those utilizing trusts. The Illinois Trust Code, passed on July 12, 2019, will become the law of the Land of Lincoln on […]
