Millions of mobile phone, bank and investment customers now use fingerprint readers, eye scans, and voice recognition technologies as security and privacy enhancing technologies.  Biometric information can provide more security than a password, however, once biometric data is compromised, a person cannot change fingerprints or voice tones like they could a password. The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, 740 ILCS 14/1 (2008), regulates the collection, use, safeguarding and storage of biometric identifiers and information by private businesses.  The Illinois law imposes the strictest protections and limits on the use of this information in the United States. The Illinois Supreme Court…

Welcome to our new website. It provides easier access to our attorneys, practice areas, recent successes and our ongoing law blog that contains insights on current legal, business and personal issues that we think can be valuable to our clients and friends.  We have also updated our firm Facebook and LinkedIn pages to provide easier access to our firm and attorneys, and to continue to provide timely and valuable information and insights.  Our monthly Business Brief and timely Business Bulletins will not only be published on our website but sent in an electronic form that is more easily shared with your…

No matter how many employees, agents, partners or others that have authority to bind your business to purchase or sale contracts, you can still take steps to protect your business by ensuring that all contracts are subject to the same standard terms and conditions approved by you.  But, once your standard terms and conditions are approved, you need to ensure that all purchase orders, invoices and other contract documents incorporate them.  Standard terms and conditions can be printed on the back of invoices and purchase orders; attached to proposals, estimates, offers and acceptances; referenced in other contract documents.  You may…

Eric Wilen spoke at the National Business Institute full day seminar entitled “Step by Step Guide to Drafting Will and Trusts” on Friday, February 9, 2019.  Because of Eric’s expertise in tax, he presented to attorneys, accountants, enrolled agents, trust officers and other professional advisors on the Basic Tax Concerns when drafting wills and trusts. For questions regarding tax and estate planning, please call Eric at (630) 355-2101 or email him at ewilen@NapervilleLaw.com.…

While the best business litigation strategy is to avoid litigation or resolve disputes outside of court, including negotiation, mediation or arbitration, once litigation is initiated there are many steps a business can take in conjunction with its lawyer to minimize the delay, cost and collateral damage caused by litigation, regardless of the ultimate outcome.  Some of the ways to make business litigation more efficient and less expensive include: Accelerate the process.  Generally, the quicker you can move the dispute resolution the less it costs.  Proceeding on a fast track forces the parties to be more efficient in preparing for trial,…

Increasingly rapid changes in our economic life emphasizes the need to work with your lawyer and other professionals to create financial plans that protect your assets, maximize their potential and provide for efficient transfers.  This is no longer merely drafting a will, but planning for your business, asset protection, marriage, elder care, special needs and business succession. Business Planning and Succession.  Evaluating the way you organize and operate your business to maximize efficiency,  minimize risk and liabilities, and facilitate its succession or sale. Asset Protection Planning.  Evaluating methods and strategies of ownership to insulate your assets and avoid their loss…

While personal identity theft has garnered a lot of attention, there has been little attention about business identity theft, yet the harm can be substantial. Identity thieves pray on small businesses that may not adequately protect their business and financial information, attempting to open accounts, secure credit or make purchases using the business’ identity.  The identity fraud protections you may have on your personal credit cards are generally not applicable to business purchases.  Therefore, you should consider taking at least the following actions: Frequently monitor your credit, checking and other accounts for suspicious transactions or delayed deposits. Periodically order and…