Question:
I am a partner in a five lawyer firm in Columbus, Ohio. There are two partners in the firm and four associates. Our practice specializes in corporate business law and is one hundred percent transactional. We do not do any litigation work. Several of our associates started in BigLaw. All of our associates have been practicing for over ten years and some longer than that. None of our associates bring in – originate any client business. They are paid salaries and discretionary bonuses. While we have a billable hour requirement of 1600 hours none of our associates are even…
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Recruiting and Hiring Without Stepping on Legal Landmines

by: Michele Schechter, Financial Poise  – Business Owners & Executives

 Monday, February 2, 2026

Hiring a new employee should be exciting. It means growth, new ideas, and added capacity. But from a legal and financial perspective, hiring is also one of the riskiest things a business does. Every decision, from how a job is posted to what questions are asked in an interview, can have legal consequences if handled carelessly. The goal in any hiring process is not perfection, but smarter, more defensible hiring practices that protect the business while…
Continue Reading I’m Quoted in National Law Review Article

On January 20th, we reported on a number of bills introduced in the Illinois General Assembly this term that would, if approved, amend various provisions of FOIA. Since that post, the General Assembly has been quite busy and has introduced many more bills that propose to amend FOIA, many of which appear to be designed to address the recent proliferation of “mass” requests submitted by organizations that seek the same records from numerous numerous public bodies. HB 4597: If approved, this bill would amend FOIA to authorize a public body to impose a fee on a requester for staff…
Continue Reading More Bills Introduced in General Assembly to Amend FOIA

Ankin Law is proud to welcome a new workers’ compensation attorney to our roster in 2026. Isaiah Harlan is a first-generation lawyer and is the first of his Galesburg, Illinois family to graduate from college. He did so at Bradley University, majoring in both political science and organizational communication, and it was there he found a desire to pursue his professional career. Always interested in helping people, Isaiah decided to do so through the legal field, attending and graduating with a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University School of Law.  After starting in corporate law and corporate litigation, he made the…
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Driving without insurance in Illinois is a petty offense under 625 ILCS 5/3-707 (operation of uninsured motor vehicle). This law requires every Illinois driver to have the minimum vehicle liability insurance coverage needed to cover another driver’s license if you cause an accident.
Driving without insurance might not seem that serious, but the consequences can be. Fortunately, they’re usually manageable if you understand the process and act quickly.
We break down what driving without insurance actually means in Illinois, what penalties you can expect, and the steps you should take to protect your record in the long term.
What Happens …
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Birth injury settlement amounts in Illinois commonly range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to several million dollars, depending on the severity of the injury, lifetime medical needs, and whether medical negligence can be proven. Cases involving permanent conditions such as cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, or brain damage often result in settlements or verdicts exceeding $1 million, with some Illinois families recovering $3 million or more when the injury requires lifelong care, therapy, and assistance.

This guide explains how birth injury settlements work in Illinois, what factors affect compensation, how Chicago cases are handled, and what real results—such as…
Continue Reading Birth Injury Settlement Amounts: What Illinois Families Should Know

Whenever asked why my family and I live in Chicago, I always have the same simple answer: It’s world class city. That’s why it was no surprise when I read that the “State of the Loop” report from the Chicago Loop Alliance indicated downtown pedestrian traffic is back to pre-pandemic levels. The explaination the group provided is that people our drawn to Chicago’s city center for the arts (music, theater and museums), culture and food scenes.

The reported noted that in 2025 downtown foot traffic was at 116% of what is was in 2019.  The study showed that more people…
Continue Reading Pedestrian Traffic In Downtown Chicago Back To Pre-Pandemic Levels

In this blog we share, “Preserving the Farm Legacy℠: What Illinois Farmers Should Know Before Divorce,” a topic that resonates deeply with farm owners in Champaign, Shelbyville, and throughout Central Illinois. For many farming families, a divorce is not only a personal turning point but also a moment that can affect land ownership, operations, income, and future generations. Understanding how Illinois law treats farms in divorce is essential to preserving both the operation and the legacy behind it.
Early preparation and accurate information often make the difference between thoughtful planning and irreversible consequences.
Why Divorce Is Different for Farm Owners…
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In this blog we share, “Divorce and the Family Farm in Illinois: Preserving the Farm Legacy℠,” a concern that frequently arises for farming families in Champaign, Shelbyville, and throughout Central Illinois. When a divorce involves a family farm, the stakes often feel higher than in other cases because the outcome can affect not only the spouses but also children, extended family members, and future generations tied to the land.
Understanding how Illinois law approaches family farms in divorce helps farm owners make decisions grounded in clarity rather than fear.
Why Family Farms Are Treated Carefully in Divorce
Family farms are…
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The mantra that Rob Ehsan uses with his basketball program fits perfectly with the reputation of the city he coaches in.  “Be Legendary” is what the leader of the UIC Flames men’s basketball program has asked of himself and his players since he arrived at the school in 2024.  Ehsan is using this to carve out his place in one of America’s meccas for the sport, one he learned about watching Michael Jordan make history a generation ago.  But during his coast-to-coast journey in basketball, he’s learned that being a legend is more than the final tally on a scoreboard. …
Continue Reading Chicagoans You Should Know – Rob Ehsan

Retail patent litigation activity quieted a bit in November, although several frequent filers continued their campaigns against retailers and their supply chains. Notable activity included cases from Alpha Modus targeting major retail operations and VDPP’s continued assertion of 3D display technology patents.As usual, I prepared the report in partnership with and using Docket Navigator and its powerful database. Docket Navigator is a valuable resource, and the place to go if you want to keep track of new patent litigation filings or want to know what is happening in particular cases, how your judge has historically handled a particular type of…
Continue Reading NOVEMBER 2025 RETAIL PATENT LITIGATION REPORT

A motorcycle accident claim in Illinois can be worth anywhere from $10,000 to well over $1,000,000, depending on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, long-term impact, insurance coverage, and fault allocation under Illinois law. Minor injury cases often settle in the five-figure range, serious injury claims commonly reach six figures, and catastrophic or fatal crashes may result in seven-figure settlements or verdicts.

Motorcycle crashes often cause more serious harm than car accidents, and Illinois law allows injured riders to pursue compensation that reflects the full scope of their losses. Below is a complete, Illinois-focused guide explaining how motorcycle accident settlements…
Continue Reading What Is My Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth? Illinois Settlement Guide

Effective January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 464 (SB 464) has fundamentally transformed California’s annual pay data reporting framework for employers. The Civil Rights Department (CRD), California’s enforcement agency, now has the authority to levy mandatory fines without judicial discretion.
With the May 13, 2026, deadline for filing 2025 data approaching, it is critical for management to maintain an accurate and up-to-the-minute understanding of these obligations. A proactive approach is now essential to avoid costly compliance failures.
Continue Reading SB 464 Guide: California’s New Mandatory Pay Data Penalties for 2026

Divorce does not have to be defined by constant conflict, court battles, and overwhelming legal fees. Many couples in Illinois are choosing a more cooperative approach that focuses on resolution rather than confrontation. An amicable divorce is not about ignoring difficult issues or giving up important rights. It is about handling those issues in a structured, respectful way that reduces emotional strain and financial damage. When both spouses are willing to communicate and plan carefully, it is often possible to move through the divorce process with greater control and fewer surprises.
Illinois divorce law supports this type of approach in…
Continue Reading Amicable Divorce In Illinois: How To Keep Conflict (And Costs) Under Control