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 decisions. Join us in Green Bay at The Hilton Garden Inn (map and directions) on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
8:05 – 8:55 a.m.
Immigration Law Update for HR Professionals: Keeping Pace With a Changing Immigration Landscape
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Eau Claire Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026
Ruder Ware and the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering to present the Annual Employment & Benefits Conference at The Florian Gardens Conference Center (map and directions) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
8:05 – 8:55 a.m.
Immigration Law Update for HR Professionals: Keeping Pace With a Changing Immigration Landscape
Presenter: Attorney Sam Moheban
Immigration Attorney Sam Moheban will present on current issues facing HR professionals as they navigate
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Attorney Shanna Fink Elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
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
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USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery
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
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Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO
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.
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IRS Releases New Mileage Rates for 2026
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:
No Tax on Overtime
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
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Kristi Parker Earns CTFA
We’re proud to announce our Fiduciary Services Administrator, Kristi Parker, recently earned her Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation from the American Bankers Association. This accomplishment highlights Kristi’s role within Ruder Ware’s Fiduciary Services team, which provides independent, objective support for trustees, executors, and families navigating estate and trust matters.The post Kristi Parker Earns CTFA first appeared on Wisconsin Business Attorneys.
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Handing Down the Harvest: Succession Planning for Cranberry Growers
For generations, Wisconsin cranberry farms, like potato farms, have been more than businesses—they’ve been legacies. Passed down through families, these farms are rooted in tradition, hard work, and deep community ties. But as the industry evolves and families grow, succession planning becomes not just a smart strategy, it’s essential.
Unlike many other sectors, retirement is rare among cranberry growers, as it is with potato and vegetable growers. Running a cranberry, potato, or vegetable farm is often a lifelong commitment,
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2026 Qualified Plan Cost of Living Increases, 2026 Social Security Taxable Wage Base
On November 13, 2025 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
2025 – $23,500
2026 – $24,500
$200,000 compensation limit
2025 – $350,000
2026 – $360,000
$160,000 defined benefit limit
2025 – $280,000
2026 – $290,000
$40,000 defined contribution limit
2025 – $70,000
2026 – $72,000
$80,000 definition
Continue Reading 2026 Qualified Plan Cost of Living Increases, 2026 Social Security Taxable Wage Base
Attorney Shanna Fink Joins ACTEC as a Fellow
After a rigorous vetting process, Attorney Shanna Fink was elected to join the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) as a fellow. Shanna’s contributions to estate planning are extensive, from leading educational seminars and publishing articles to serving on key committees, including her current role on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Real Property and Probate Section Board. Learn more about Shanna.
Ruder Ware is honored to count three of Wisconsin’s 30 ACTEC Fellows among our team.
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Wisconsin E-Verify Bill Poised to Pass Legislature
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
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Attorney Amy Ebeling Joins Meritas’ U.S. Leadership Committee
Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Amy Ebeling has been appointed to the U.S. Leadership Committee for Meritas, the leading alliance of independent law firms that serves the legal needs of companies doing business across markets worldwide. Ebeling will serve a three-year term, building relationships throughout the organization on behalf of the U.S. membership, furthering the mission of the organization, and participating in strategic planning, member recruitment, retention, and development for the region.
“Members, such as
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Congratulations, Ryan Gallagher, Ruder Ware Innovator
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USCIS Issues New Guidance on $100,000 H-1B Fee Proclamation
On October 20, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issued new guidance clarifying how the recent $100,000 H-1B fee proclamation would be implemented, notably:
- The $100,000 fee does not apply to petitions filed before September 21, 2025.
- The $100,000 fee does not apply to petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, requesting a change of status, amendment, or extension of stay (beneficiary should not depart while petition is pending to ensure fee does not apply).
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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sues Trump Administration Over $100,000 H-1B Fee Proclamation
On October 16, 2025, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that President Trump’s recent proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions is unlawful, and an injunction preventing the agencies from implementing the fee.
This marks the second legal challenge to the $100,000 H-1B fee proclamation. Earlier this
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