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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Latest from Ruder Ware

July 23, 2026

When applying for Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care programs, financial eligibility is only part of the process. Individuals must also demonstrate that they meet the required level of care through what is known as the functional screen test.

The functional screen is a standardized assessment used in Wisconsin to determine whether an individual qualifies for Medicaid-funded long-term care services. Rather than focusing on finances, the screening evaluates a person’s ability to safely care for themselves and function

…
Continue Reading Understanding the Functional Screen Test

July 17, 2026

Due to the sustained increase in the price of fuel, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has increased the optional standard mileage rates mid-year for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses.

Effective July 1, 2026, the optional standard mileage rates are 76 cents per mile for business transportation, and 23.5 cents per mile for travel relating to medical and moving transportation expenses.

These increased mileage rates apply only…
Continue Reading On the Move: IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rates Mid-Year

By | Elder Law
July 8, 2026

One of the most common concerns families face when discussing long-term care is cost. Whether care is provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home, long-term care expenses can become significant very quickly.

In Wisconsin, nursing home care can cost thousands of dollars each month, and even part-time in-home assistance may create substantial financial strain over time. Because Medicare coverage for long-term care is…
Continue Reading How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost and How Do I Pay for It?

When a loved one begins to need help with daily activities, families often face difficult decisions about care. Long-term care is not limited to nursing homes—it includes a wide range of services that help individuals manage daily living when age, illness, disability, or cognitive decline makes independent living difficult.

Long-term care may include help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, toileting, medication management, meal preparation, and supervision for individuals with memory loss or cognitive impairment. 

For many families, staying at…
Continue Reading What is Long Term Care?

On May 29, 2026, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2027.  With respect to contribution limits, and reflecting the inflationary environment, the limits are higher than the ones for 2026 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 2027.

HSA/HDHP Requirement
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP

2026 – $4,400

2027 – $4,500

Limit on HSA Contributions –…
Continue Reading 2027 HSA Limits Are Announced

On May 14, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) submitted a proposal to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (“OIRA”) seeking to rescind EEO-1 reporting requirements for all eligible employers, along with EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4, and EEO-5 data collection, and reporting requirements under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

EEO-1 reporting requirements obligate private employers with more than 100…
Continue Reading Proposed EEOC Rule Signals Shift in Reporting Requirements

April 30, 2026

Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Amy Ebeling has been elected to the board of directors of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms that serves the legal needs of companies across major jurisdictions and global markets. Ebeling was elected to the position from the more than 9,200 attorneys in the Meritas member network and will serve a three-year term with six other lawyers from around the world.
“Amy is a proven…
Continue Reading Attorney Amy Ebeling Elected to Board of Directors of Meritas

Date and Time: April 16, 2026 7:30 am
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Green Bay1015 Lombardi AvenueGreen Bay, WI 54304

Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Samuel J. S. Moheban, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl, Morgan H. Sweeney
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Our Employment & Benefits Team is excited to invite you to one of our most popular, long-standing conferences. Designed for HR professionals, this event offers practical, actionable insights to help HR teams make informed…
Continue Reading Green Bay Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026

Date and Time: April 7, 2026 8:00 am
Location: The Florian Gardens2340 Lorch AvenueEau Claire, WI 54701 United States

Event will be held in the Silverleaf Ballroom – located on the right side of the building if you enter through the front doors.

Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Samuel J. S. Moheban, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl, Morgan H. Sweeney
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Ruder Ware and the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering…
Continue Reading Eau Claire Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026

Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Shanna Fink, has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Membership is limited to just one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by their peers and selected by the ABF Board.
The ABF Fellows is a global honorary society that recognizes attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles…
Continue Reading Attorney Shanna Fink Elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap lottery will open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4 and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 19. The registration fee for this year is $215 per registration.
New Weighted Selection Process
This year marks the first use of USCIS’s new weighted H-1B selection process. If the number of registrations exceeds the annual cap and a…
Continue Reading USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery

Join us in congratulating Felicia Krueger on her promotion to COO. For more than ten years, Felicia has guided our accounting team with a focus on practical solutions and knowledge sharing, driving continuous improvement across the firm. She succeeds Jamie Schaefer, who recently retired from the COO role. Learn more about Felicia.The post Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO first appeared on Wisconsin Business Attorneys.
Continue Reading Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO

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

    President Trump signed H.R. 1 (commonly known as, the One Big Beautiful Bill) into law on July 4, 2025, which includes a no tax on overtime provision effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.

    Under H.R. 1, employees can take an above the line deduction for “Qualified Overtime.”  The deduction is subject to annual caps and phaseouts based on adjusted gross income.

    What do employers need to know?

    1. “Qualified Overtime.”  Only overtime pay required by Section 7…
    Continue Reading No Tax on Overtime