June 2025

Baker Sterchi Member Bob Christie has been appointed chair of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee for the 2025–2026 term. In this role, he will oversee committee operations and lead its programming and initiatives.
Christie, based in the firm’s Seattle office, focuses his practice on the defense of professionals, businesses, governmental entities, law enforcement officers and individuals in high exposure matters. He is a member of several peer-selected organizations, including the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys and Lawyers for Civil Justice, where he serves on the board of directors. He is also a member…
Continue Reading Bob Christie Appointed Chair of IADC Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee

Baker Sterchi associate Alena Johnston’s article, “Fraud in Feeding Our Future: An Analysis of ‘The Largest Pandemic Relief Fraud Scheme Yet,’” appears in the Spring 2025 edition of Criminal Law Practitioner, a publication of American University Washington College of Law. The article examines a series of Minnesota cases involving a pandemic relief fraud scheme tied to a federally funded child nutrition program.
Based in the firm’s St. Louis office, Johnston focuses her practice on personal injury, commercial litigation, trucking and insurance coverage. She is an associate of The Theodore McMillian American Inn of Court and serves as social media…
Continue Reading Alena Johnston Article Published in Criminal Law Practitioner on COVID-Era Fraud Scheme

Wheaton, IL Spousal Maintenance LawyerWhen a relationship has lasted for years, it is not uncommon for partners to build financially intertwined lives – even without getting married. One person may stay home to raise children, while the other earns the household income. The couple may share a home, expenses, and long-term plans. But when the relationship ends and the couple was never married, the question becomes: what legal protections exist for the financially dependent partner?
In Illinois, spousal maintenance is designed to provide financial stability after a divorce, but it is strictly limited to legally married couples. This leaves many long-term, unmarried partners…
Continue Reading Can You Receive Spousal Maintenance Without Being Married?

“Your employee handbook probably won’t get you sued. But it won’t protect you either.”

Most handbooks are written to survive a courtroom—not to help managers manage. They’re packed with vague rules, legal disclaimers, and boilerplate language that might check a compliance box but don’t actually help anyone navigate the gray areas of real life at work.  Watch the video below and learn more about our  Workplace Law Ready package to fix this gap. It’s not just about compliance on paper. It’s about practical protection. We deliver legally sound policies written in plain English, live legal training for managers, and

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Continue Reading The Policy Illusion: Why Your Employee Handbook Isn’t Protecting You

Congratulations are in order for Disparti Law Group, Patrick Marketing, and Richter Studios for winning not one, but two Telly Awards for their 2025 St. Patrick’s Day commercial.
The St. Patrick’s Day commercial is the firm’s third production partnering with Steve and Colleen Patrick of Patrick Marketing and Jeremy Richter of Richter Studios. It’s also this “dream team’s” second award for their state-of-the-art productions after winning a Golden Trumpet Award in 2023.
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Keeping Chicagoans Safe on St. Patrick’s Day
“In Chicago, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!” This was the opening line to Disparti Law Group’s award-winning commercial promoting…
Continue Reading Disparti Law Group, Patrick Marketing, and Richter Studios Win ‘Telly Award’ for St. Patrick’s Commercial

At Rieff Schramm Kanter & Guttman, we take pride in our long-standing commitment to serving not-for-profit and religious organizations throughout Illinois. One of the most meaningful ways we support these organizations is by helping them obtain exemptions from real estate taxation—ensuring that critical resources are directed toward their missions rather than toward tax obligations. Our […]
Continue Reading Securing Property Tax Exemptions for Charitable and Religious Organizations

For another year, he took to the path around Chicago’s lakefront with family by his side on June 1 for a light stroll with others who’ve been through a similar struggle.

Of course, every journey is different, with each arriving at the Northwestern/Lurie Cancer Survivor’s Walk with their own story of perseverance through the illness.

Attorney Jeff Lust is among those, walking down the path with other survivors with his family by his side, remembering his battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2018 and 2019.

It’s one that happened when he was practicing law in New Orleans, the diagnosis being caught…
Continue Reading Humor and Hope: A Chicago lawyer’s cancer survivor story

As government scrutiny of workplace immigration practices continues, employers need to be up-to-date with the latest compliance requirements to avoid legal penalties and costly litigation. Our recent webcast emphasizes why it is essential for businesses to have a clear, proactive plan in place before government agents show up unexpectedly and outlines best practices.
Continue Reading Top Takeaways – Immigration Compliance Updates: Key Legal Insights for U.S.
Employers in 2025

Thanks to the Small Business Exchange for quoting me in their 5/27/25 article Hiring Your First Employee: A Guide for Entrepreneurs! Below is an excerpt and the full article.
Hiring Friends and Family
Many startups hire friends or family members to fill roles quickly. While this can work, it’s important to set clear boundaries.
“I see a lot of disputes and ruined relationships when small businesses hire friends and family without clear parameters like pay, benefits, schedule, and responsibilities,” Krugel warns. “Solopreneurs like to fly by the seat of their pants, but our regulatory environment doesn’t reward businesses that…
Continue Reading I’m Quoted in Small Business Exchange Article

Last March, we reported on two cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court addressing challenges to government officials’ deletion of comments and blocking of users from their personal social media pages. (Lindke v. Freed and Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliff). The U.S. Supreme Court adopted a new two-part test for when a government official’s social media activities on their personal accounts might tigger the First Amendment. The Court held that a government official can be liable under the First Amendment for actions taken on their personal social media accounts if (1) the official had the authority to speak on behalf…
Continue Reading School Board Member’s Blocking of Users on Social Media Violated First Amendment

When you inherit assets—whether cash, real estate, or family heirlooms—you expect those assets to remain yours alone. However, Illinois follows an equitable distribution model under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), 750 ILCS 5/503, which can place inherited assets at risk if they become commingled with marital property. We understand how important it is for you to preserve what was passed down to you, and we guide our clients in taking proactive steps to protect their inheritance. From the moment you receive an inheritance, every financial decision can impact whether those assets stay separate or become…
Continue Reading How To Shield Your Inherited Assets During Illinois Divorce

Why You Need a Glen Ellyn Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
If you or someone in your family has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Glen Ellyn, the effects can reach every part of your life. Medical bills, changes in mood or memory, and the need for ongoing care can put a strain on everyone involved. Having a lawyer who understands these injuries and Illinois law can make a big difference in how your case is handled and the amount of compensation you receive.
A local TBI lawyer knows what evidence is needed to prove your case and can work

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