Lloyd Barbee at the Wisconsin Capitol in August 1964. Photograph courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHS Image 26539. By Amy Rabideau Silvers Three words—long used as the sign-off before his signature—sum up Lloyd Barbee’s goal throughout his life. Justice for All. Best known for his efforts to desegregate Milwaukee’s public schools, Barbee fought for justice on other fronts, too. He was an activist, attorney and state legislator, pushing for equal rights as human rights, arguing for fair housing and
Continue Reading Unsung hero: In pursuit of justice, the life and activism of Lloyd Barbee
Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: More Land Banking | Hartford Hospital Plans $950M Tower | CaroMont Invests $200M in Oncology Services
By Hall Render
Attorney Amy Ebeling Elected to Board of Directors of Meritas
April 30, 2026
Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Amy Ebeling has been elected to the board of directors of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms that serves the legal needs of companies across major jurisdictions and global markets. Ebeling was elected to the position from the more than 9,200 attorneys in the Meritas member network and will serve a three-year term with six other lawyers from around the world.
“Amy is a proven…
Continue Reading Attorney Amy Ebeling Elected to Board of Directors of Meritas
Hall Render Named to BTI Super Listener A-Team 2026 List
By Hall Render
Hall Render has been recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a member of the BTI Super Listener A-Team 2026, which honors law firms that clients identify as excelling in business development through exceptional listening skills.
The BTI Super Listener A-Team designation is based on independent research drawn from BTI’s ongoing Annual Survey of General Counsel. This survey includes feedback from top legal decision-makers at organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue, including Chief Legal Officers, Chief Legal Operating…
Continue Reading Hall Render Named to BTI Super Listener A-Team 2026 List
GLP‑1s, Direct‑to‑Consumer Pricing, and the HRA Opportunity Most Employers Are Missing
By Rebecca Bush
GLP‑1s, Direct‑to‑Consumer Pricing, and the HRA Opportunity Most Employers Are MissingWhy the Compliance Answer You’re Getting May Not Be the Answer You Need
If your company offers health benefits, someone has probably asked about GLP‑1 coverage in the last six months. The drugs work, employees want access, and the sticker price through traditional pharmacy channels can run north of $1,000 per month per employee.
Direct‑to‑consumer platforms like TrumpRx.gov, Hims, Lilly Direct, and NovoCare now offer the same medications…
Continue Reading GLP‑1s, Direct‑to‑Consumer Pricing, and the HRA Opportunity Most Employers
Are Missing
Can I Be Pardoned or Have My Sentence Commuted Under Governor Evers’ Executive Order?
Can I Be Pardoned or Have My Sentence Commuted Under Governor Evers’ Executive Order?
Posted on April 30, 2026 in AppealsIn April 2026, Governor Tony Evers signed two executive orders restoring Wisconsin’s commutation process. Combined with the pardon process Governor Evers reinstated when he first took office, under which he has now issued a record-breaking 2,000 pardons, these executive orders represent a genuine second chance for thousands of people who are either currently incarcerated or carrying…
Continue Reading Can I Be Pardoned or Have My Sentence Commuted Under Governor Evers’ Executive Order?
Evers' judges: David O. Hughes
”Evers’ judges” is our effort to present information about Gov. Tony Evers’ appointees to the bench. The information is taken from the appointees’ own judgeship applications. Italics indicate direct quotes from the application. Typos, including punctuation errors, come from the original application even though we have not inserted “(sic)” after each one. WJI has left them as is. Name: David O. Hughes Appointed to: Kenosha County Circuit Court Appointment date: Dec. 23, 2025, to term ending July 31, 2027 Education:…
Continue Reading Evers' judges: David O. Hughes
DOL Issues Proposed Rule on Joint Employer Status Under FLSA and FMLA
On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would set a single standard for joint employer status under the FLSA, FMLA, and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (“MSPA”). The proposed rule would offer clarity for employers around when multiple employers are jointly responsible for protecting employee wages and other rights.
Many will recall that during the first Trump administration, the DOL issued a similar final rule on this very…
Continue Reading DOL Issues Proposed Rule on Joint Employer Status Under FLSA and FMLA
From Transaction to Transformation: Leveraging M&A to Optimize Health Care Supply Chains
By Hall Render
The U.S. health care industry continues to experience consolidation, with steady merger and acquisition activity (“M&A”) aimed at improving quality, expanding patient access and reducing costs by leveraging economies of scale. These transactions present a unique opportunity to undergo a strategic analysis of an often overlooked, but vitally important area: the supply chain.
Integrating two previously independent supply chains can be challenging from multiple perspectives, particularly given differing processes, levels of integration, existing vendor relationships and operational philosophies. These…
Continue Reading From Transaction to Transformation: Leveraging M&A to Optimize Health Care Supply Chains
The SCOW docket: Court splits on whether interrogation of student violated Miranda, but either way the student loses in the end
Note: We are crunching Supreme Court of Wisconsin decisions down to size. The rule for this is that no justice gets more than 10 paragraphs as written in the actual decision. The “upshot” and “background” sections do not count as part of the 10 paragraphs because of their summary and necessary nature. We’ve also removed headings, citations and footnotes from the opinion for ease of reading but have linked to important cases cited or information about them. Italics indicate …
Continue Reading The SCOW docket: Court splits on whether interrogation of student violated Miranda, but either way the student loses in the end
Family Court Doesn’t Favor Mothers – Here’s What They Actually Care About
Many individuals walk into family court believing the odds are stacked against them due to their gender. Some men believe women are favored in family cases, especially those involving children. At the same time, some women feel they have to go to extreme lengths to have their concerns taken seriously in court.
While implicit bias can play a role in any court decision, the belief that one’s gender alone determines the outcome of their case is highly unlikely.
The …
Continue Reading Family Court Doesn’t Favor Mothers – Here’s What They Actually Care About
OSHA Revises Heat Enforcement Program for Construction Jobsites, Signaling Continued Enforcement Instead of a Federal Heat Rule
ArticleAmundsen Davis Construction AlertApril 27, 2026The U.S. Department of Labor has revised OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) on outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, signaling that construction employers should expect continued heat inspections rather than the rollout of a new federal heat standard.
The updated NEP, which takes effect immediately and continues through April 10, 2031, refines how OSHA targets employers, including construction jobsites, for heat-related inspections when the heat index is expected to be 80 degrees or…
Continue Reading OSHA Revises Heat Enforcement Program for Construction Jobsites, Signaling
Continued Enforcement Instead of a Federal Heat Rule
OSHA Revises Heat Enforcement Program, Signaling Continued Enforcement Instead of a Federal Heat Rule
OSHA Revises Heat Enforcement Program, Signaling Continued Enforcement Instead of a Federal Heat RuleThe U.S. Department of Labor has revised OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) on outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, signaling that OSHA will continue enforcing heat safety through inspections rather than the rollout of a new federal heat standard.
The updated NEP, which takes effect immediately and continues through April 10, 2031, refines how OSHA targets employers for heat-related inspections when the heat index is expected to…
Continue Reading OSHA Revises Heat Enforcement Program, Signaling Continued Enforcement
Instead of a Federal Heat Rule
Seventh Circuit Ruling Curbs BIPA Damages for Illinois Businesses
In a major win for businesses facing Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held that the 2024 amendment limiting damages applies retroactively to cases pending at the time of enactment.
This decision significantly reduces potential exposure by limiting plaintiffs who allege multiple, biometric data collections or disclosures to a single recovery, rather than per-scan statutory damages, even for actions that predate the amendment. The ruling also undercuts…
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Ruling Curbs BIPA Damages for Illinois Businesses
That S Corp Election May Not Be Valid: A Common Oversight in LLC Operating Agreements
S corporations (S corps) serve a purpose that is very attractive to clients, especially in Wisconsin where there are so many closely held family businesses. But what many clients fail to realize is just how delicate S corps can be. The rules and requirements for S corps are incredibly rigid, and they are extremely easy to run afoul of them. Oftentimes, I find that the client is so focused on the benefits that they do not internalize the restrictions…
Continue Reading That S Corp Election May Not Be Valid: A Common Oversight in LLC Operating Agreements
Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: Bruno Mars Donates $1M Towards Children’s Hospital Project | Florida Makes Headlines with New Hospital Projects
By Hall Render