Defending against drug manufacturing charges in Illinois often involves focusing on how police obtained their evidence, what you knew, and whether your actions count as manufacturing under Illinois law. Even if police find drugs or equipment, prosecutors still have to prove that you were involved in making or preparing the drugs. If you are facing charges in 2026, our DuPage County drug manufacturing defense lawyers can review the evidence and help you build a defense.
What Must Prosecutors Prove in an Illinois Drug Manufacturing Case?
To convict you of drug manufacturing under 720 ILCS 570/401, prosecutors must prove beyond…
Continue Reading Possible Defenses for a Drug Manufacturing Charge in Illinois

Same jar. Same batch. Same licensed supply chain. A patient buys some. Another adult buys some.
Since April 28, 2026, federal law puts marijuana “subject to a state medical marijuana license” in Schedule III. So what puts the adult’s half of that jar back in Schedule I? The cash register? If the answer is “nothing,” Schedule III medical license coverage follows the batch, and a dual-licensed dispensary may be out from under § 280E, the tax rule that bars deductions for rent and payroll.
We broke it down on Cannabis Legalization News. Watch it, then read on for what’s…
Continue Reading The Schedule III Medical License Loophole: Does 280E Still Apply?

The need for Chicagoans to be safer on the crosswalks and roads in early November was a key part of Attorney Howard Ankin’s latest television appearance. 

The founder of Ankin Law was a guest on WGN-TV’s “Spotlight Chicago” on November 5 discussing safety tips as Daylight Saving Time has arrived in the area.

Howard was interviewed by hosts Sarah Jindra and Amy Rutledge about a recent study from the firm that showed an increased risk for commuters after the earlier loss of light after November 1. 

According to the Ankin Law report, pedestrian injuries in crashes doubled the first two …
Continue Reading Howard Ankin Talks Daylight Saving Safety on WGN-TV

One of the national holidays that celebrates attorneys in America provides Ankin Law the chance to salute our clients. 

That’s how the Chicago law firm is using its platform to salute National Love Your Lawyer Day on November 6. It’s a day established by the American Lawyers Public Image Association in 2001 to recognize the hard work of legal professionals who often face criticism.

Instead of putting the focus directly on our talented lawyers, Ankin Law has decided to focus on those people who help us. Many times after a case is completed, the clients will meet with the…
Continue Reading How Ankin Law Celebrates ‘Love Your Lawyer Day’

Thirty-three years selling a brewery’s beer. Fifty-one cases repackaged to conceal their age. One terminated distributorship. That’s the setup for this week’s Throwback Friday: BeerMart, Inc. v. Stroh Brewery Co., 804 F.2d 409 (7th Cir. 1986).

For brewers and wholesalers, the useful question goes beyond whether selling old (expired? past the sell by date? not fresh?) beer can support termination. Who set the freshness rules? What actually happened? Who supplied the beer? And did the contract give anyone a workable way to pay for pulling it?

Read the Seventh Circuit opinion PDF (published reporter copy, pages 409–413). The…
Continue Reading Throwback Friday: Thirty-Three Years of Distribution. Fifty-One Cases of Bad Judgment.

A safety milestone at an Illinois manufacturing facility recently made industry news, and it offers a good opportunity to talk about a term that shows up constantly in workplace safety discussions but rarely gets explained in plain language: the lost-time injury.
What Happened at AGI’s Marshall Facility
According to World Grain, Ag Growth International’s facility in Marshall, Illinois, reached five consecutive years without a lost-time injury, earning the company’s internal Safety Standout Award. The plant, which manufactures liquid and dry fertilizer blending and handling equipment, credited the achievement to consistent safety procedures, employee accountability, and a culture where workers speak…
Continue Reading What Lost-Time Injury Data Means for Workers

Kogut & Wilson is proud to share that the firm has been ranked by Best Lawyers® in the 2027 edition of Best Law Firms®. The firm earned Chicago Metropolitan Tier 1 rankings in both Family Law and Family Law Mediation, improving its Family Law Mediation ranking from Tier 2 last year.
The ranking follows the recognition of seven Kogut & Wilson attorneys in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, including Eva M. Kogut, who was named a Best Lawyers® 2027 Chicago “Lawyer of the Year” in Collaborative…
Continue Reading Kogut & Wilson Earns Chicago Tier 1 Rankings in 2027 Best Law Firms® List

The advantages of divorce mediation in Illinois can go beyond saving money. For many spouses, mediation offers an opportunity to make thoughtful decisions about their children, finances, and future without turning every disagreement into a courtroom battle. You may not agree about why the marriage ended, but you may still be able to agree on how to move forward.
Divorce mediation gives spouses a structured setting to discuss disputed issues with the help of a neutral mediator. It does not guarantee a settlement, and it is not appropriate for every situation. However, when both people can participate safely and…
Continue Reading Advantages of Divorce Mediation in Illinois: A Practical Path Forward

For the second time this fall, Ankin Law has joined WGN-TV to honor an outstanding educator in the Chicagoland area.

This time, the law firm and television station traveled to Tinley Park to honor Mrs. Jan O’Neil of Kirby School District 140’s Grissom Middle School with the “Teacher of the Month Award” for October 2026.

O’Neil has been at the school for the past 26 years as a physical education teacher and was nominated by Karen Allen, a parent of one of her students. She was presented with a check for $1,000 by Ankin Law attorney and partner Chris Garrett…
Continue Reading Meet the October 2026 Ankin Law & WGN ‘Teacher of the Month’

Photo credit: iStock.com
Law students have always had to make strong first impressions when interviewing for summer positions. Now, with many law firms moving up the timeline for hiring 2L summer associates, those first impressions become even more crucial earlier in students’ law school careers.
We asked three Illinois law school professionals for advice for law students on navigating professional attire for interviews and about affordable ways that students can build their closet.
What to wear to an interview
“For interviews, a suit should be the standard uniform,” said Katie Liss, Assistant Dean & Director of the DePaul University College…
Continue Reading What Is Professional Attire for the Legal Profession? A Guide for Law Students

Although the person who committed the assault may face criminal charges, the business that owns or operates the property could also bear civil liability for injuries. In Illinois, businesses have legal responsibilities toward people who lawfully enter their premises, and those responsibilities may include taking reasonable precautions against foreseeable criminal activity.

Key Takeaways

  • A business may be responsible for an assault in a parking lot if it owed you a duty of care and failed to take reasonable security precautions.
  • Prior criminal activity, inadequate lighting, broken security equipment, and ignored safety complaints may help establish negligence.
  • Illinois law does not

…
Continue Reading Can a Business Be Held Responsible for an Assault in a Parking Lot?

A pizza oven that couldn’t cook a pizza still managed to earn Bogle Vineyards a ten-day license suspension. It sat among cases of wine in a Raley’s display, missing the regulator parts needed to operate. California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control nevertheless treated it as an unlawful benefit to the retailer.

The Department had ideas. Someone could buy the missing parts. Someone could ask for them. A little imagination, a trip to the hardware store, and the wine display starts looking like a kitchen.

The Third Appellate District required evidence and reversed the Department’s decision (upholding an intermediary tribunal’s…
Continue Reading The Pizza Oven Didn’t Work. California’s Tied-House Case Didn’t Either.

Chicago, IL – November 5, 2026 – Smith LaCien LLP has earned national and metropolitan rankings in the 2027 edition of Best Law Firms®, placing the firm among a select group representing approximately 2–4% of law firms nationwide recognized for practice group excellence.

In an increasingly crowded legal marketplace, Best Law Firms rankings distinguish practices that demonstrate exceptional professional excellence, depth of experience, and consistent client trust. The firm’s recognition across national and regional practice areas reflects both the strength of its legal talent and its sustained reputation within the profession

“This year’s recognition reflects the relentless dedication our attorneys…
Continue Reading Smith LaCien LLP Ranked Among Top Firms in 2027 Best Law Firms®

Settlement is generally a good thing in divorce and family law cases. Most people would prefer to resolve their differences…
The post Sometimes, the best way to resolve a family law case is to try it first appeared on Family Law Headquarters by Stange Law Firm.
The post Sometimes, the best way to resolve a family law case is to try it appeared first on Family Law Headquarters by Stange Law Firm.
Continue Reading Sometimes, the best way to resolve a family law case is to try it

Birth injury claims can be complicated, as patients need to prove that they suffered due to a medical provider’s improper care. Illinois sets a high bar to succeed in these claims, which means that families often need to seek outside help from a medical expert. If you are considering filing a birth injury claim, reach out to a Chicago, IL birth injury attorney who can help you build a case.
At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., we regularly work with medical experts in birth injury claims, using their insights to support our clients’ claims. Our thorough approach has resulted in…
Continue Reading How Are Medical Experts Used in Birth Injury Lawsuits?

Buying a business’s equipment, inventory, or other assets can help you avoid many of its debts. However, you can still be responsible for some debts, even if you buy only the assets. Unpaid taxes and liens can create problems after closing. If you plan to buy a business in 2026, an Uptown, Chicago corporate law attorney can help you review those risks before signing.
What Is the Difference Between an Asset Purchase and a Stock Purchase in Illinois?
In an asset purchase, you buy selected property. For example, this might include equipment, inventory, customer lists, or intellectual property. The seller…
Continue Reading Can You Buy a Business in Illinois Without Taking on Its Existing Debts?