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As businesses grow, owners may increasingly rely on key employees and Human Resources (HR) professionals to manage functions the owner does not directly oversee. Key employees and HR professionals are typically those employees who have access to important confidential business information. These individuals often gain access to confidential operational details, employee information, and other sensitive data. A common question that arises: When should employers use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)?

While NDAs are not required in every situation, they are one…
Continue Reading Nondisclosure Agreements (NDAs): A Practical Guide on How and When NDAs Should be Utilized

Amendments to the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (“WTA”) were introduced by HB 3638 and became effective on January 1, 2026. The amendments broaden the scope of protection for employees and impose additional restrictions on employers when drafting contract provisions in a variety of employment-related agreements, including severance, settlement and arbitration agreements. Going forward, Illinois employers will have less latitude to restrict employee speech and concerted activity as it relates to reporting or disclosing unlawful conduct in the workplace.
Broader…
Continue Reading What Illinois Employers Need to Know About Changes to the Workplace Transparency Act

Health care organizations planning major capital projects, such as hospital expansions, surgical centers and outpatient facilities, often face familiar frustrations: delays, cost overruns, redesign cycles and coordination breakdowns. Traditional delivery models like design‑bid‑build or construction manager‑at‑risk can unintentionally reinforce silos. Integrated Project Delivery Agreements (“IPDA”) offer a collaborative alternative designed to align incentives, reduce waste and improve project performance.
What Is an IPDA?
An IPDA is a single, multi‑party contract that binds the owner, architect, contractor and key consultants…
Continue Reading From Silos to Synergy: Integrated Project Delivery Agreements for Today’s Health Care Facilities

Vendors are going to use AI. In software work, it now sits inside everyday delivery: summarizing requirements, turning meeting notes into action items, accelerating early code scaffolding, generating test cases, even helping troubleshoot bugs. A services agreement works best when it assumes that reality and then asks a more practical question: where does the client’s information go, what rights attach to what comes back, and what stays true about ownership and confidentiality as tools evolve.

AI matters for IP…
Continue Reading AI in Vendor Workflows: Protecting IP Through Contract Design

We frequently get calls from hospital systems, health care providers and investors regarding negotiating on-campus ground leases. They are certainly unique. Here are 10 business points to consider when negotiating on-campus ground leases.

  • Premises – The land being leased can vary widely. We often see hospitals ground leasing only the footprint of the building. There are some instances, on larger campuses, where the hospital allows the developer to lease the land needed for the footprint of the building, plus

    • …
    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: 10 Tips for Negotiating On-Campus Ground Leases

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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?

    The American Institute of Architects (AIA) publishes a widely used family of template-based construction contract documents, including A201, the General Conditions of the Contract for Construction. Many Wisconsin municipalities adopt these forms assuming they are balanced, neutral, and suitable for public-sector use without significant revision.

    In practice, however, several provisions shift critical project risk away from contractors and toward municipal owners – particularly late in the project when system performance, commissioning, scheduling, and public expectations are most important.

    Scott Smith headshot

    Scott

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    Continue Reading Five Terms Wisconsin Municipalities Should Revise Before Signing Construction Contracts

    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

    Assembly Bill 281 (Senate Bill 287) would require certain Wisconsin employers to participate in the federal E-Verify program. The proposed mandate would apply to state agencies and local government units within Wisconsin. In addition, bidders on state contracts subject to the low-bid process would be required to enroll in E-Verify to qualify to bid.

    Insight from Ruder Ware Government & Public Affairs Team:

    Assembly Bill 281 was recently approved by the Assembly Committee on Commerce, and its…
    Continue Reading Wisconsin E-Verify Bill Poised to Pass Legislature

    Posted on October 22, 2025 in Family Law
    Reports that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were considering a prenuptial agreement before getting married spread as fast as Swift’s chart-topping hits. While most people will never live in that kind of spotlight, the reason for a prenup remains the same: Wealth changes the stakes of marriage.

    For high-net-worth individuals in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin, a prenuptial agreement (or “prenup”) is not a sign that two engaged people do not love…
    Continue Reading Ironclad Prenups Aren’t Just for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift

    If an employee is terminated or laid off, an employer may offer them a severance package (or separation agreement) in exchange for a waiver of claims.

    Severance agreements ask an employee to waive, or release claims they may have had against their employer up until the date of signing the agreement. In exchange the employer agrees to give the employee some sort of consideration, generally a payment, other than compensation that the employee is already entitled to.

    There is…
    Continue Reading How long do I have to consider my severance package?

    Preserving lien rights can be important in any type of economy, but is even more important when the economy is uncertain. Taking the following important steps can protect your lien rights on projects located in Wisconsin.

    Step 1 – Give Your Initial Lien Notice. On wholly residential projects involving up to four family living units, contractors who have a contract directly with the owner (i.e., prime contractors) who will contract with any subcontractors or suppliers for labor or materials…
    Continue Reading Contractors – Know Your Lien Rights

    Significant changes are coming to the NCAA’s transfer portal for the Division I FBS and FCS subdivisions. While the new transfer rules are expected to be finalized during the month of October, the NCAA Administrative Committee has eliminated the spring football transfer portal window. The current Division I FBS Oversight Committee proposal sets the single transfer portal window from January 2–16 each year.

    With shortened transfer portal windows, a shift in key recruiting dates, and changes to when…
    Continue Reading NCAA to Move to Single Transfer Portal for DI Football

    Resolving Vendor and Supplier Disputes Through Business Litigation
     Posted on September 19, 2025 in Commercial Litigation
    Every business, from the family-owned corner shop to the multi-state warehouse distributor, depends on vendors and suppliers. Suppliers provide the raw materials, finished goods, or essential services that keep operations running. When those relationships break down, the consequences are not merely inconvenient. They can threaten production schedules, strain cash flow, and damage client relationships on a long-term basis.

    Across Wisconsin, vendor and…
    Continue Reading Resolving Vendor and Supplier Disputes Through Business Litigation

    While the required use of disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) in federal and state contracting appears to be on thin ice in the current political environment, contractors should still be cautious about compliance with applicable legal requirements. As the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Kousisis v. U.S., 145 S.Ct. 1382 (2025) shows, the government retains powerful tools to prosecute procurement fraud cases related to the use of DBEs, even if the government accepts the work and the defendant did…
    Continue Reading U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Wire Fraud Conviction for DBE Fraud, Notwithstanding Lack of Economic Harm