Ruder Ware

In today's complex business world, legal issues affect almost every business decision. Ruder Ware is a reliable single source of valuable legal expertise that helps business owners, managers, and individuals maximize and protect their corporate and personal financial assets.

With over 40 attorneys and 100 years of experience in serving business owners and individuals, Ruder Ware has established itself as one of Wisconsin's largest and most successful law firms. Through our offices in Wausau, Eau Claire, and Green Bay we guide our clients through intricate legal issues around the world.

At Ruder Ware, we work diligently to earn your trust by providing sound, responsible counsel to proactively manage and minimize legal matters so you can focus on your profit goals.

Website: https://www.ruderware.com/
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The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the November issue of the Capitol Connection.

Inside this issue

Legislature Stands Adjourned Until Mid-January

On Tuesday, both the Assembly and Senate concluded the legislature’s business until after the holidays. Three major proposals will now move on to Governor Evers’ desk for a signature or veto.

TOP THREE ISSUES OF INTEREST

1. American Family Field

The Senate amended…
Continue Reading Capitol Connection, November 2023

On November 1, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits.  Almost all of the limits shown below have increased from last year.
 

Qualified Plan Limit
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit

2023 – $22,500

2024 – $23,000

$200,000 compensation limit

2023 – $330,000

2024 – $345,000

$160,000 defined benefit limit

2023 – $265,000

2024 – $275,000

$40,000 defined contribution limit

2023 – $66,000

2024 – $69,000

$80,000 definition…
Continue Reading 2024 Qualified Plan Cost of Living Increases, 2024 Social Security Taxable Wage Base

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By October 23, 2023

When your days are consumed with running a business, it can be hard to look ahead towards tomorrow’s to-do list, much less towards a to-do list for something far in the future, like estate planning. If you’ve pushed off putting in writing what will happen to your business once you’re gone, it’s time to tackle that to-do list. Here are four items to consider when doing so:
1. The Importance of Having…
Continue Reading Estate Planning Considerations for Business Owners

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By October 23, 2023

As a collection and banking attorney, I am often asked whether (or when) I think collections will restart now that we are somewhat “beyond” COVID-19, although not fully. In my own practice I have seen an increase in demand letters to businesses and consumers for past due accounts or debts. Banks and businesses need to start collecting past due accounts and my sense is a slew of consumer and commercial collections are…
Continue Reading Collections in a Post-COVID-19 World

Wisconsin State Capitol Building - Madison, WI
Wisconsin State Capitol Building on a sunny spring day

October 18, 2023
In this issue:

WELCOME TO THE RUDER WARE CAPITOL CONNECTION

The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison.

As such, our public affairs team monitors state government activities to identify legislative proposals and executive regulations that may be of interest to the firm’s clients.

To find out more about a specific legislative proposal or how Ruder Ware can create a custom monitoring plan to fit…
Continue Reading Capitol Connection, October 2023

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Location: Hilton Garden Inn151401 Cty Rd NN, Wausau, Wisconsin

Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl
<!–Nicole L. Stangl–>

Presentation

Ruder Ware’s Annual Employment & Benefits Law Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn (map and directions) on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
7:30 a.m.    Registration
8:00 a.m.   Welcome & Introductions
8:15 – 9:00 a.m.Anatomy of the Deal:  Handling Due Diligence Like a ProPresenter:  Attorney Mary Ellen Schill
Due diligence. Data rooms. Human resources and…
Continue Reading Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2023

In today’s interconnected world, how to protect vital business assets such as key employees and confidential information is top of mind for businesses. Tools such as non-solicitation, non-compete and non-disclosure agreements are utilized as a method of protection for businesses. However, the changing legal landscape related to non-compete provisions has made it essential to be diligent about what tools you use and how you use them to properly protect your business.

What is a Non-Compete Provision?

Non-compete provisions are…
Continue Reading Evaluate the Risks When Using Non-Competes

Wisconsin State Capitol
The Wisconsin state capitol dome in Madison, Wisconsin.

September 15, 2023
In this issue:

WELCOME TO THE RUDER WARE CAPITOL SNAPSHOT

The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to Ruder Ware’s Capitol Connection. Director of Public Affairs John Jacobson will provide nonpartisan news and analysis from Madison regarding workforce development, changes in tax and regulation, and other general topics that may impact you or your business.

NOTE FROM PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR JOHN JACOBSON

After…
Continue Reading Capitol Connection: September 2023 Issue

The New Form:

On July 21, 2023 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new Form I-9. The new Form I-9 became available for employers to use on August 1, 2023. The old Form I-9 can continue to be used through October 31, 2023, but all employers must be using the new Form I-9 by November 1, 2023.

A copy of the new Form I-9 can be found here.

Notably, some of the changes include:

  • Making

…
Continue Reading Changes to I-9 Forms – Make Sure You Are In Compliance

It just became very easy for an employee to sue their employer for failure to accommodate religious beliefs.  Today, in its Groff v. DeJoy opinion,  the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that an employer must make such an accommodation unless it would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its business.  Before this ruling, an employer could easily reject such accommodation requests so long as it could establish a minimal burden on its…
Continue Reading New Standard for Religious Accommodation Claims!

Last week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s General Counsel publicly announced her position that most non-compete agreements violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by chilling employees’ ability to exercise their rights to engage in protected activity.  Remember, the NLRA applies to all private sector employees that are in non-supervisory positions. This means those employees may now be able to bring a claim that their non-compete is in violation of the NLRA.  It will be important for all…
Continue Reading Spring Brings Showers, Flowers, and Breaking Non-compete News

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By May 17, 2023

On May 16, 2023, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2024.  With respect to contribution limits, the limits are higher than the ones for 2023 and the required deductible and out-of-pocket maximums have increased as well.  As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2024

HSA/HDHP Requirement
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP
2023 – $3,850
2024 – $4,150

Limit on HSA…
Continue Reading 2024 HSA Limits Are Announced

Many clients wonder who is responsible for planning their funeral, selecting burial or cremation, and making other arrangements after their death.  Some clients ask what happens if family members disagree about these matters.

In Wisconsin, there is a default law that dictates who has the authority to make these decisions after your death.  The default law provides that the following individuals, in order of priority, have the authority so long as the individual is at least age 18 and…
Continue Reading Who Plans My Funeral?

Last week in Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt, the Supreme Court affirmed employees must be paid a fixed salary of $684.00 per week to be considered “exempt” under the popular administrative, executive, and professional exemptions. The case involved Michael Hewitt, an oil rig worker who was paid a daily rate. His paycheck, issued every two weeks, amounted to his daily rate times the number of days he had worked in the pay period, which resulted in variable…
Continue Reading The Supremes Confirm Weekly Fixed Salary is Critical for FLSA Exempt Status

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There is no one right answer; each family’s farm succession plan will look different. But most successful farm succession plans have a common theme—transparency. From the time children leave the farm, to the time that one or more children begin managing the operation, open conversations can help. Discussing the expectations of each individual—mom, dad, on-farm siblings, off-farm siblings and others involved in the farm—and the rationale behind those expectations helps ease the ultimate transition.
Not all individuals may agree…
Continue Reading Sibling Rivalry: Splitting the Farm Between Multiple Children