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Another week, another resolution. This time, we’re addressing the AI elephant in the room. While the use cases for AI are myriad, the legal landscape is somewhat unknown and rapidly developing. But, for better or worse, employees are using AI. So, from trade secret risks to proposed legal oversight, employers need to address AI now.

  • Stop Wondering If It’s Happening and Start Managing It

    • The biggest mistake an employer can make is assuming their workforce isn’t using AI because…
    Continue Reading Employer New Year’s Resolution #3: Address Artificial Intelligence

    As we start the second full week of January, we bring employers a second employment law resolution: a comprehensive wage and hour audit. So, even if you’re sticking to your commitment to less screen time in 2026, this is worth a read.

    In addition to lawsuits brough by individuals, either on behalf of themselves or on behalf of a class of similarly situated employees, the Department of Labor remains focused on enforcement of the FLSA. In fiscal year 2025,…
    Continue Reading Employer New Year’s Resolution #2: Comprehensive Wage & Hour Audit

    Although Indiana adopted the Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) in 2023, on January 1, 2026, the CDPA rubber officially hit the road. This data privacy law regulating how businesses must handle the personal information of their Indiana customers should be at the top of your new year’s resolutions. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office has signaled that it will be actively enforcing the CDPA on behalf of Indiana residents, so it’s important for your business to review what the law

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    Continue Reading New Consumer Privacy Requirements Under the Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act Are Here

    Securing a federal trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is one of the most exciting and valuable steps a new business can take to protect its brand identity. The USPTO trademark application process is not always intuitive, especially when it comes to evaluating whether another business is already using a similar mark in commerce. It is important for prospective applicants to understand how the trademark application process works in order to prevent costly surprises down…
    Continue Reading Navigating the USPTO Trademark Application Process: Is It Worth the Risk?

    BASE jumping references aside, if you produce or sell intoxicating THC beverages, now is the time to plan your off ramp.

    Congress enacted changes that narrow what qualifies as federally lawful hemp starting November 12, 2026, including a 0.4 mg per container cap for final hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

    Let’s tear the band-aid off now: 0.4 mg is not a meaningful replacement for the 20 mg to 50 mg cans the market sells today. So for most producers, the real…
    Continue Reading The THC Beverage Cliff is Coming: You Are Jumping – Plan Now to Avoid a Cliff Strike

    • Did your company file its Annual Report?
    • Did you corporation select its board or directors and do its annual resolutions?
    • Did you come up with goals and a budget for next year?
    • Did you celebrate your wins?

    It’s that last one that comes hardest to many. Some people are born with confetti in their hands. Others celebrate by moving to the next thing on their To Do list. But this is the season for celebration, so let’s take a…
    Continue Reading Year End Yays!

    Under the federal Stark Law (the “Stark Law”), hospitals, physician groups, labs and other provider entities may provide non-monetary (i.e., non-cash or cash-equivalent) compensation to physicians up to an aggregate amount of $535 for calendar year 2026. The dollar limit for “medical staff incidental benefits” provided by a hospital to a member of its medical staff (e.g., meals, parking and other items or incidental services that are used on a hospital’s campus) is less than $46 per occurrence. Other…
    Continue Reading 2026 Non-Monetary Compensation to Physicians (and Chance to Review 2025)

    The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2026 optional standard mileage rates today for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.  The most notable change is the per mile increase for business use mileage.

    Effective January 1, 2026, the optional standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use.  This is an increase from the rate

    • …
    Continue Reading IRS Releases New Mileage Rates for 2026

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    When you own a business, it becomes more than a paycheck; it is your life’s work. The business can be immensely personal, and the sale of it can be life altering and emotional, even in the best situations. You may be asking yourself: “Do I really need to hire a lawyer to sell my business?” While you are the expert on your company, we are the experts on the legal ramifications, liabilities, and protections you and your family need…
    Continue Reading I Am Selling My Business – Now What?

    Choosing between an LLC and an S-Corporation isn’t just a tax decision — it’s a family protection decision. The business structure you choose affects liability, control, taxes, succession planning, and even whether your business ends up tangled in probate.
    If you’re a local small or mid-size business owner, understanding these differences can help you safeguard what you’ve built and protect the people you love.

    LLC vs. S-Corp: Quick Comparison Chart

    Feature
    LLC
    S-Corporation

    Liability Protection
    Strong limited liability for

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    Continue Reading LLC vs. S-Corp for Small Business Owners: Which Protects Your Family Better?

    Physicians spend years building a thriving practice—but many overlook the estate planning steps that protect their business, income, and family if something unexpected happens. The result? Court delays, tax headaches, operational chaos, and personal exposure.
    Here are the top 10 estate planning mistakes doctors commonly make—and how to avoid them.

    1. Not Having a Business Continuity Plan
    Without a continuity plan, your practice could shut down immediately if you become incapacitated or pass away. Patients, staff, and revenue would

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    Continue Reading Top 10 Estate Planning Mistakes Doctors Make

    Corporate executives in Wisconsin often receive a large portion of their compensation through restricted stock units (RSUs), stock grants, or employer equity awards. As your shares vest, they can quickly become a significant part of your net worth—and with that comes complex questions about taxes, transfer planning, and probate exposure.
    One of the most effective strategies to gain more control over how your vested shares are handled is transferring employer stock into a trust. For Wisconsin executives, a trust

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    Continue Reading Should Executives in Wisconsin Put Employer Stock Into a Trust?

    When negotiating any type of contract, it is important to give due attention to all terms, even topics that appear merely ministerial or administrative, as their interpretation may have serious implications in the performance of the contract. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently analyzed a right of first refusal agreement (“ROFR Agreement”) on the sale of a property after one party failed to comply with its notice provision. The decision underscores the importance of understanding and adhering to all…
    Continue Reading Importance of Complying With Contract Notice Provisions

    Closeup of Vote by Mail envelope
    Closeup of a Vote by Mail envelope, official balloting material - business reply mail, USPS first class mail.

    In August of this year, the US Post Office announced a new rule that included without much fanfare a MAJOR change in when letters are postmarked. Under this new rule, most letters will no longer be postmarked on the day the letter is received by a post office but instead postmarked a day later when the letter is processed at a regional mail processing facility.
    It is important that mailers understand the distinction between the date when the Postal…
    Continue Reading Postmark changes at the Post Office and late mail

    Ultimately, every business will close. All businesses fail eventually.

    In March 2025, the oldest business in North America filed bankruptcy. Hudson’s Bay Company, incorporated May 2, 1670, filed under the Canadian equivalent of Chapter 11. They quickly determined that it would not be able to put forth a viable restructuring plan and entered into liquidation. In June 2025, after 355 years, all its retail stores closed.

    General Motors was one of the largest industrial companies in the world.

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    Continue Reading Bankruptcy Isn’t the End: Tools Lawyers Can Use to Help Business Clients Rebuild

    As a business owner, it’s essential to protect your business from liability. Whether you own a gym, resort, recreational facility, daycare, dance studio, rent boats, kayaks, bikes, other outdoor activity equipment, or offer event space for weddings and other parties, there are many circumstances when you may want to use a liability waiver. Many insurance carriers require customer experience type businesses to utilize waivers. Some public libraries even require them for their Makerspace activities.

    But liability waivers present a…
    Continue Reading Does My Wisconsin Business Need a Liability Waiver?