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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Over the past month, the Trump administration has announced several changes impacting F-1 visa programs. F-1 visa interviews have been paused, visas have been purportedly cancelled, and some program certifications have been revoked. Lawsuits have been filed to stymie these changes and conditions continue to evolve. These developments may affect an employer’s plans for CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT employment of foreign nationals.

Employers—current or prospective—concerned about how these changes may impact their staffing or immigration strategies are encouraged…
Continue Reading F-1 Visa Changes Create Uncertainty for Employers and Students

For developers, adeptly navigating the intricate web of zoning laws and regulations is paramount to ensuring that projects not only comply with local ordinances but also align with community standards.

Understanding Zoning Regulations

Zoning laws are essential for urban planning, dictating how land can be used. They help maintain order and prevent conflicts between different land uses, like residential and industrial areas.  Developers must possess a thorough understanding of these laws to avoid legal disputes and project delays. Interpreting…
Continue Reading Zoning and Legal Compliance: Key to Successful Downtown Development

On May 1, 2025, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2026.  With respect to contribution limits, the limits are slightly higher than the ones for 2025 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 2026.

HSA/HDHP Requirement
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP

2025 – $4,300

2026 – $4,400

Limit on HSA Contributions – Family HDHP

2025 –…
Continue Reading 2026 HSA Limits Are Announced

On March 12th, the Department of Homeland Security published an Interim Final Rule (“IFR”) partially implementing section 7 of Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025) (the “Executive Order”). Section 7 of the Executive Order directed the Secretary of Homeland Security, and others, to ensure that all previously unregistered noncitizens in the United States comply with the registration provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the “INA”). The INA generally requires that all noncitizens…
Continue Reading Noncitizens Should Review their Compliance with Registration and Change of Address Notification Requirements

On April 2nd, USCIS announced they had made available a revised Form I-9 for employment eligibility verification. The new form, available at the USCIS website, has an edition date of 01/20/25 and an expiration date of 05/31/27. USCIS will also continue to accept the following previous versions of the form:

  • Form I-9 (08/01/2023 edition) with expiration date of 05/31/27.
  • Form I-9 (08/01/2023 edition) with expiration date of 07/31/26.

Employers with questions about the new I-9 form, their employment…
Continue Reading USCIS Announces Revised Form I-9

On March 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice terminating the categorical parole program for certain aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (“CHNV”) and their immediate family members. The program is set to end on April 24, 2025.

Individuals currently in the United States under the CHNV parole program who wish to remain in the United States should immediately seek a lawful immigration status or other basis allowing them to stay.

Employers concerned about…
Continue Reading DHS Announces Termination of CHNV Parole Program

On March 21, 2025, FinCEN announced an end to Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting requirements for U.S. citizens and domestic companies.

In line with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s announcement earlier this month, FinCEN has issued an interim final rule narrowing the scope of beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting under the CTA.

Under the interim final rule, reporting companies are now limited to “those entities that are formed under the law of a foreign country and that have registered…
Continue Reading Bye Bye Bye: FinCEN Issues CTA Update

We’re excited to welcome Attorney Fletcher Koch to Ruder Ware’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team. Fletcher excels at negotiating favorable outcomes by mastering the facts, identifying each party’s strengths and weaknesses, drafting persuasive briefs, and effectively advocating for our clients. Join us in celebrating his addition to the team! Learn more about Fletcher.
Continue Reading Welcome R. Fletcher Koch

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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

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The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its reporting requirements are back in effect. This afternoon, a federal district court in Texas granted the U.S. government’s motion to stay (i.e., pause) the nationwide CTA injunction.

Based on FinCEN’s most recent alert, FinCEN intends to extend the reporting deadline for all reporting companies to 30 days from today (March 20, 2025), but FinCEN has not announced an official deadline. FinCEN also stated that it intends to “assess its options to…
Continue Reading Yo-Yo-Yo: CTA is Back

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) remains on hold due to a nationwide injunction granted by a federal District Court in Texas in Smith v. U.S. Department of the Treasury. However, given pending legal battles and legislative movements under the new administration, the status of the CTA could be facing imminent change.

While there are several pending legal proceedings with respect to the CTA, the two most prominent are summarized below.

(1) Smith, et al. v. U.S. Department of Treasury,…
Continue Reading It’s Tricky! Tracking the CTA

For employers seeking to sponsor foreign national professionals, awareness of the H-1B cap registration deadline is critical. Registration for the FY 2026 H-1B Cap lottery will start at 12 p.m. Eastern Time on March 7 and end at 12 p.m. Eastern Time on March 24. This year, the registration fee has been increased to $215.

The FY 2026 H-1B Cap lottery will use the same beneficiary-centric selection process as was used in FY 2025. Employers will again be required…
Continue Reading USCIS Unveils Key Dates and Fee Increase for FY 2026 H-1B Cap Registration

By and February 7, 2025

For many years, employers have been operating within the confines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), and the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (“WFEA”) when a pregnant employee needs time off or an accommodation. Now employers have a new law to consider, and one that is arguably more favorable to the employee: the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”).
The PWFA went into…
Continue Reading What to Expect When Your Employee is Expecting Under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

January 28, 2025

Our Employment & Benefits Team is excited to invite you to one of our most popular, long-standing conferences. The event is tailored to HR professionals and offers practical, actionable insights to empower HR teams in making informed decisions. Join us in either Eau Claire or Green Bay; light breakfast items and refreshments included.
Cost:
$30 (PDF materials provided)


Full Agenda
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
8:05 – 8:45 a.m.Where is the Paper Trail?:…
Continue Reading You’re Invited: Ruder Ware Employment & Benefits Conference