Business Strategy

RSS Link

A lot of the businesses we work with are experimenting with AI tools – drafting content, summarizing data, even building internal workflows. And understandably so: these tools are accessible, affordable, and increasingly powerful.

But we’re also seeing a familiar pattern emerge. AI is easy to use, and just as easy to misuse.

If you’re a business owner or decision-maker navigating this terrain, here are a few questions worth considering. These aren’t meant to scare you off. Rather, they’re designed…
Continue Reading If You’re Using AI in Your Business, Start Here

Business people talking digital tablet at work, planning website and looking for creative ideas on internet together in modern office. Employees and team discussing plan on technology in meeting
Business people talking digital tablet at work, planning website and looking for creative ideas on internet together in modern office. Employees and team discussing plan on technology in meeting

If your startup began life as an LLC, you’re not alone. A lot of founders are told that starting as an LLC is “easier” or “cheaper.” That might be true on paper, but if you’re planning to raise venture capital (even eventually) it’s usually better to start as a C-Corporation.

Here’s one reason why: converting from an LLC to a C-Corp during a financing round can trigger a surprise tax bill if you’re not careful.

When a company converts…
Continue Reading From LLC to C-Corp Without a Tax Hangover

Too many high-earning professionals and business owners think of estate planning as something to do “someday”—after retirement, after the kids are grown, after things slow down. But life doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment. Whether you’re running a practice, growing a business, or building generational wealth, the decisions you make today will shape what happens if life takes an unexpected turn. Estate planning isn’t about preparing for the end—it’s about protecting what you’ve built while you’re still here…
Continue Reading Why Estate Planning Isn’t Just for Retirement – It’s for Right Now

On April 2, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order imposing the long-awaited “reciprocal” tariffs on all imported products into the U.S. from all countries.

This executive order implements a 10 percent baseline general duty rate that will go into effect on April 5, 2025, in addition to the previously paid baseline duty for the imported product, which was based on the harmonize tariff schedule of the U.S. (“HTSUS”) code of the product.

After April 9, 2025, that…
Continue Reading U.S. Imposes Reciprocal Tariffs: Key Takeaways for Businesses

https-www-wisbar-org-sitecollectionimages-wisbarnews-nafta-usmca-north-american-trade-rubix-cube-puzzle-550x300-jpg

Tariffs are increasingly becoming a critical issue for businesses large and small, driving up costs and creating new challenges across supply chains.

Although addressing these challenges requires a strategic approach, one simple solution is implementing a Foreign Trade Zone (“FTZ”) that provides tax savings and other benefits programs.
Benefits of FTZs
FTZs are secured areas under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) supervision that are generally considered outside U.S. Customs territory for purposes of customs duty payments. Therefore, goods…
Continue Reading How to Implement a Foreign Trade Zone to Mitigate Tariffs

As promised in his campaign for the presidency of the United States, on January 21, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14172 “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” (Emphasis added).

The President’s Executive Order states that illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) policies violate the text and spirit of federal civil-rights laws.

Accordingly, the President ordered all federal agencies to enforce civil rights laws and to “combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.” The President…
Continue Reading It’s the End of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Programs as We Know It?

Business Team at a Meeting

After a 4-week hiatus, I am back again with what are likely to be the final updates on the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for a while (famous last words). For those of you tuning back in, this post relates to our firm’s series about the Corporate Transparency Act and Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting. Please follow the link here to see all our firm’s posts on this topic.

When I last posted about the CTA, I mentioned that the 5th…
Continue Reading The Corporate Transparency Act is Here (Not Really). Now It’s Off (Mostly)?

Over the past year, numerous class actions have been filed against large employers claiming their health plan surcharge for tobacco use is not in compliance with HIPAA nondiscrimination rules. With yet another lawsuit filed on March 3, 2025 against LHC Group (a large home health care company), these cases show no signs of slowing down.

Several recognizable employers have faced similar class actions, including 7-Eleven, Inc. Walmart Inc., Target Corp., PepsiCo Inc., Tractor Supply Co., Whole Foods Market Inc.,…
Continue Reading Refusing to Quit: Class Actions on Tobacco Surcharges in Health PlansContinue

If you’ve followed me on LinkedIn, you’ve probably seen me mention this before—but it’s worth repeating. Ownership changes can trigger serious reporting obligations with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and missing a deadline here can cause real headaches.
What Should Be Done
For anyone listed on your federal permit—typically individuals with signature authority or at least a 10% ownership stake—any change to that person’s status should be reported to TTB within 30 days. This includes…
Continue Reading Ownership Changes & Change of Control: Report to TTB Within 30 Days

Skyscraper

The U.S. Department of the Treasury suspended enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies. On Sunday night, the Treasury announced that U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies will no longer face penalties or fines for failure to report under the CTA.

In its announcement, the Treasury stated it plans to issue a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the reporting requirements only to foreign reporting companies. The Treasury stated that the proposed…
Continue Reading Hello, Goodbye: CTA Enforcement Suspended

Congratulations on successful job interview!

The Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act is a federal law that requires parties to a future business sale transaction to disclose certain information to determine that the transaction does not violate antitrust laws and harm competition if consummated.

As part of the required disclosure, each party is required to prepare and submit an HSR Form for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a risk assessment prior to approval. The agencies recently released updated HSR Forms…
Continue Reading New Merger Review Process: How to Prepare for Your Next Filing

trademark
trademark

In today’s digital era, the world of intellectual property is evolving rapidly. With technology making the technical aspects of filing trademark applications more accessible than ever, it might seem like the process is becoming straightforward. And to a certain extent, it is. With user-friendly USPTO interfaces, AI-driven tools, and abundant resources, the barriers to entry are indeed lowering.

However, while the “how” of trademarking is becoming more accessible, the “why” and “what next” are where the true value of…
Continue Reading The Human Touch in Trademarking: Why Soft Skills Matter in a Digital Age

A recent appellate court opinion out of New Jersey, McGinty v. Zheng (Sept. 20, 2024), which addressed issues surrounding arbitration agreements in the context of personal injury claims, sparked my interest.

The McGinty case is a pivotal example of how courts are interpreting arbitration agreements in the digital age, and serves as a significant reminder for lawyers about the enforceability of arbitration clauses and the implications of user agreements in digital platforms.

Teresa Kobelt, U.W. 1988, is an…
Continue Reading A New Jersey Case and the Insidiousness of Arbitration Agreements

Business people having on presentation at office rendered by computer graphic 3D.

On Tuesday December 3, a Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act and its Reporting Rule.

This order temporarily suspends the requirement for a reporting company organized before January 1, 2024, to file a Beneficial Owner Information Report with FinCEN by January 1, 2025. It also pauses the 90-day reporting deadline for certain organizations formed between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, as…
Continue Reading Corporate Transparency Act Update

In April 2017, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, acting in response to a request of the Business Court Advisory Committee, established a pilot large claim commercial case docket for the assignment of commercial cases. The purposes of the pilot commercial court (which some refer to as the business court) were
to ensure that large claim cases involving Wisconsin employers or businesses, or which involve complicated disputes, are resolved expeditiously and with the least amount of cost so as to (a)…
Continue Reading Contracting for Dispute Resolution After the End of Wisconsin Commercial Courts

The recent Tax Court case Estate of Anne Milner Fields v. Commissioner underscores the risks involved when transferring assets to a family limited partnership or family limited liability company close to death. Approximately a month before Anne Milner Fields died, her great-nephew and agent under her durable power of attorney transferred $17 million of assets to an FLP with himself as the general partner. After her death, Anne’s estate discounted the FLP value on her estate tax return for…
Continue Reading IRS Invalidates Discounts Used in an FLP Formed Shortly Before Death