Indiana Wage Law Update: Seventh Circuit Finds Vacation-Buy Program Is Not an Unlawful Wage AssignmentIndiana employers received favorable guidance from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on two common workplace benefits issues: voluntary “vacation buy” programs and the treatment of unused rollover paid time off. In a June 2026 decision of first impression under Indiana law, Clayton Creason v. Elanco US Inc., the court held that an employee’s election to accept reduced compensation in exchange…
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an Unlawful Wage Assignment

What is a trademark specimen?A specimen is an example of use of the trademark in commerce in connection with the goods or services identified in the trademark application. More simply, it shows what consumers encounter when they consider purchasing those goods or services. An acceptable specimen differs by whether you are offering goods or services under your trademark.For goods/products, a specimen shows your trademark the way it is being used with the goods you are providing in…
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On September 18, 2026, President Trump issued two related measures affecting the H-1B program—a Proclamation extending the $100,000 H-1B fee to certain H-1B workers and an Executive Order directing federal agencies to strengthen H-1B oversight, including by considering employers’ recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated U.S. workers.
The $100,000 fee, which applies to certain H-1B beneficiaries outside of the United States without a valid H-1B visa, was set to expire on September 21, 2026. The new Proclamation extends…
Continue Reading Increased H-1B Scrutiny: $100,000 Fee Extended and New Employer Layoff Considerations Announced

Hall Render is pleased to announce that Connor Reed has joined the Firm in its Milwaukee office.
Connor is a health care regulatory and transactions attorney who advises hospitals, health systems and physician organizations on the compliance and contracting issues that come up in their day-to-day operations. Prior to joining Hall Render, Connor worked as a consultant in Washington, D.C.
Connor is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and is a member of the American Health Law Association and the…
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Hall Render is pleased to announce that Taylor Moorer has joined the Firm in its Washington, D.C. office.
Taylor is a health care regulatory attorney who advises providers on compliance matters, with a particular focus on fraud and abuse laws. She helps clients interpret and apply complex federal and state health care regulations while navigating evolving compliance requirements. Drawing on her experience as a Health Law Fellow at MedStar Health, Taylor also brings practical insight into regulatory, transactional and operational…
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  • According to Revista, MOB cap rates remained stable at 6.7% through the first half of 2026, while average prices increased to $387 per square foot in 2Q26.
  • Phil and Penny Knight have pledged $1.1B over 10 years to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the Providence Heart Institute. The historic donation will fund the construction of Oregon’s first dedicated women’s hospital on the St. Vincent campus and support the expansion of advanced cardiovascular care and research.
  • A recent analysis

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    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: MOB Cap Rates Remain Stable | $1.1B Philanthropic Donation to Providence St. Vincent | KU Acquiring St. Francis in Topeka

    Understanding public records, court access, and privacy in Wisconsin family law cases.

    If you’re going through a divorce or custody matter, you might be wondering, “Can my ex or employer look up information about my case?” The short answer is: usually, yes. In Wisconsin, most family court cases are public record, but that does not mean every detail is public. There are specific protections you can obtain, but first you must know what they are and how you can…
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    The Eleventh Circuit recently rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the False Claims Act’s (“FCA”) qui tam provisions, holding that whistleblowers who bring FCA actions are not “Officers of the United States” subject to the Constitution’s Appointments Clause. United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, No. 24-13581, 2026 WL 2581886 (11th Cir. Sept. 1, 2026).
    Background
    The relator brought an FCA action alleging Medicare fraud. The defendants moved to dismiss, arguing that the FCA’s qui…
    Continue Reading Eleventh Circuit Rejects Constitutional Challenge to the False Claims Act’s Qui Tam Provision

    The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently issued a memorandum announcing the priorities of its newly established National Fraud Enforcement Division (the “Division”), identifying health care fraud as a key enforcement focus. The Division was created to combat fraud and will concentrate its efforts on public trust and financial integrity, health care, internal revenue, global trade and commerce and corporate misconduct.
    According to the DOJ, an estimated 3% to 10% of annual health care spending is lost to fraud.
    Continue Reading DOJ Announces Increased Focus on Health Care Fraud Enforcement

    By Margo KirchnerStatistics distributed at a “state of the court” presentation on Thursday show that Milwaukee County Circuit Court’s projected felony and criminal traffic case filing numbers for 2026 are noticeably higher than in recent years, while misdemeanor case filing numbers increased only slightly. Based on the number of filings through August 31, felony case filings in 2026 are projected at 6,255, almost 600 more than in 2025 and 1,000 more than in pre-pandemic 2019. Criminal traffic cases are projected…
    Continue Reading Milwaukee County Circuit Court numbers and news from chief's annual "State of the Court" address

    On September 10, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Decision Memorandum, finalizing significant updates to Medicare’s National Coverage Determination (“NCD”) for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (“TAVR”). The updated NCD makes sweeping changes as it expands coverage, reduces procedural restrictions and gives hospitals increased flexibility in organizing and delivering TAVR services.
    TAVR’s Background and Evolution
    TAVR is a minimally invasive alternative to Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for patients with aortic stenosis. During TAVR, a…
    Continue Reading CMS Modernizes Medicare Coverage for TAVR

    When Illinois expanded protections for genetic and biomarker information under the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA), effective January 1, 2027, observers assumed the law was aimed at genetic testing and medical privacy. However, a close reading of the amendments through SB2886 is forcing some Illinois employers to ask: Did Illinois inadvertently prohibit workplace drug testing?Probably not. The context of GIPA’s recent amendments strongly suggests workplace drug testing remains lawful in Illinois. The statute repeatedly links biomarker testing…
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    Oct. 1, 2026 — One returned home to Wisconsin after law school in the South. Another arrived after nearly two decades of military service and a 10-year journey toward admission. Another traded a corporate law career in Houston for teaching law students in Madison. On Sept. 22, 2026, their paths converged as they joined Wisconsin’s legal profession, most after passing the bar exam. In a ceremony before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, 35 attorneys took the Attorney’s Oath and signed…
    Continue Reading Homecomings, Career Changes, and New Beginnings: Meet Wisconsin's New Lawyers

    Hall Render mourns the loss of our friend, colleague and former Managing Partner, Jeffrey “Jeff” Peek.
    Jeff was among the early attorneys whose leadership, vision and dedication helped shape Hall Render’s growth and success for decades. Working alongside Terry Heath and Steve Lyman, Jeff played an instrumental role in building the Firm and establishing the culture of excellence, collaboration and client service that continues to define Hall Render today.
    Throughout his 43-year career, Jeff earned a reputation as a…
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    Final Issue of UW Law School Research Paper Series on SSRN: Federalism, Democracy, Human Rights, Family Regulation, Tax Misinformation, & Policing Reform

    September 30, 2026

    As you may know, SSRN is discontinuing its Research Paper Series, a platform through which UW Law School and many other academic institutions shared new faculty scholarship with readers.

    This is our final issue, and it’s a good one. It seems fitting to close with a selection of papers that captures so much…
    Continue Reading Final Issue of UW Law School Research Paper Series on SSRN: Federalism, Democracy, Human Rights, Family Regulation, Tax Misinformation, & Policing Reform

    Indiana has enacted House Enrolled Act 1277 (“HEA 1277”), a Medicaid reform law that significantly changes the state’s PathWays for Aging program and other long-term services and supports. While many provisions of this law took effect July 1, 2026, the transition of certain long-stay nursing facility residents from managed care to fee-for-service Medicaid will begin July 1, 2027.
    Long-Stay Nursing Facility Residents Will Transition to Fee-for-Service Medicaid
    Beginning July 1, 2027, an individual who has received nursing facility services…
    Continue Reading Indiana Post-Acute Update: Indiana Enacts Significant Medicaid Reforms Affecting Long-Term Care and HCBS Providers