Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC

Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC is a business-focused law firm with deep roots in Chicago. Since 1946, we’ve consistently been true to our founding principle: long-lasting client relationships based on trust, communication and responsiveness, paired with exceptional legal counsel.

Our clients range from public corporations to entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on representing small to mid-sized businesses.

Latest from Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC - Page 2

In September 2020, SFNR will relocate its offices for the first time since the early 1970s. SFNR just entered into a new lease calling for the firm to move into “The 300,” a recently renovated downtown office tower at 300 S. Wacker Dr. in the hot southwest Loop.  The new space will take advantage of the latest technologies and enable the firm to do more with less, providing more offices in fewer rentable square feet.  Coverage in the local press of the move includes this piece:

Link to Law Firm Takes Full Floor at 300 S. Wacker Office Tower.

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Continue Reading Firm Move Announced for 2020

Allegedly concerned with “confusing” the public, certain states and the federal government have proposed or enacted legislation requiring meatless food manufacturers to avoid using meat-related terms on their labels. Just as demand for plant-based foods soars, driving supermarkets to stock burgers and poultry items not derived from cows or chicken, the meat industry is crying “fowl.”
Two members of Congress are apparently so convinced that shoppers will confuse a burger labeled “80% lean ground beef” with one marked “veggie burger” that they have recently introduced federal legislation to “ensure that consumers can make informed decisions.”
The Real Marketing Edible Artificials
Continue Reading Lawmakers target meat substitutes and labeling

Allegedly concerned with “confusing” the public, certain states and the federal government have proposed or enacted legislation requiring meatless food manufacturers to avoid using meat-related terms on their labels. Just as demand for plant-based foods soars, driving supermarkets to stock burgers and poultry items not derived from cows or chicken, the meat industry is crying “fowl.”

Two members of Congress are apparently so convinced that shoppers will confuse a burger labeled “80% lean ground beef” with one marked “veggie burger” that they have recently introduced federal legislation to “ensure that consumers can make informed decisions.”

The Real Marketing Edible Artificials
Continue Reading Lawmakers target meat substitutes and labeling

SFNR prevailed on a fraud claim in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. On behalf of a leading distributor of beauty products, SFNR asserted claims for common law fraud and fraudulent concealment against a longtime industry professional who had mispresented the provenance of a beauty line she was hired to market. In reliance on her statements, the Firm’s client purchased and resold goods from the line to a national retail outlet.

Despite receiving a notice of infringement from the manufacturer who held the trademark, the professional kept the information to herself, allowing the transaction to proceed.
Continue Reading SFNR Celebrates the “Beauty” of a Big Case Win

Question: I have funds in a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA and my employer’s 401(k) plan. Is there a way to avoid selling retirement account assets at a loss as I near the age where I must commence retirement plan distributions?
Answer: Generally speaking, taxpayers must commence distributions from their retirement accounts by their required beginning date, April 1 of the calendar year following the year in which they attain age 70 ½. There are strategies you can utilize to avoid selling depressed retirement account assets for required minimum distribution purposes. One strategy is to satisfy your minimum distribution requirements
Continue Reading Minimizing investment losses on required minimum distributions

Question: I have funds in a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA and my employer’s 401(k) plan. Is there a way to avoid selling retirement account assets at a loss as I near the age where I must commence retirement plan distributions?

Answer: Generally speaking, taxpayers must commence distributions from their retirement accounts by their required beginning date, April 1 of the calendar year following the year in which they attain age 70 ½. There are strategies you can utilize to avoid selling depressed retirement account assets for required minimum distribution purposes. One strategy is to satisfy your minimum distribution requirements
Continue Reading Minimizing investment losses on required minimum distributions

Usually, it happens well into a key deposition.
After hours of grueling questioning, the witness starts to wear down, his loss of confidence becoming palpable, but the interrogator doesn’t let up. Picture a rickety sailboat trying to navigate with a failing rudder as storm clouds settle in.
Each of the predicate questions was quickly answered with a “Yes.” Then, moving in for the kill, the attorney notices the vulnerable witness’ eyes nervously shift to the right in the direction of his lawyer. Subtly, but not subtly enough, she slowly shakes her head. Sure enough, the witness obediently stiffens up. “I’m
Continue Reading Coaching a testifying witness is, without a flinch, contemptuous

Phillip J. Zisook

of counsel
Phil Zisook, a Chicago defamation attorney for more than thirty years, concentrates his practice in defamation, libel, slander, privacy, and First Amendment, and commercial litigation cases. Phil is recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer in media and advertising law (which includes defamation, libel, slander, and privacy cases), and as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in media and advertising law and commercial litigation. Less than 5% of licensed attorneys in the State are selected as Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers. Phil was also recognized by Leading Lawyers as one of the Top Ten Media Lawyers in Illinois.
Continue Reading Phillip J. Zisook

Usually, it happens well into a key deposition.

After hours of grueling questioning, the witness starts to wear down, his loss of confidence becoming palpable, but the interrogator doesn’t let up. Picture a rickety sailboat trying to navigate with a failing rudder as storm clouds settle in.

Each of the predicate questions was quickly answered with a “Yes.” Then, moving in for the kill, the attorney notices the vulnerable witness’ eyes nervously shift to the right in the direction of his lawyer. Subtly, but not subtly enough, she slowly shakes her head. Sure enough, the witness obediently stiffens up. “I’m
Continue Reading Coaching a testifying witness is, without a flinch, contemptuous

Matthew P. Tyrrell

associate
Matt Tyrrell concentrates his practice in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters. He has years of experience handling all aspects of the litigation process in both state and federal courts, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, injunctive relief, written discovery, depositions and settlement negotiations.  In 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Matt was recognized as an Emerging Lawyer in the area of employment law by the Leading Lawyers Network in the state of Illinois. He has been selected to the Rising Stars list by Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Continue Reading Matthew P. Tyrrell

Joel A. Stein

of counsel
Joel Stein protects his clients’ interests in a wide variety of transactions, from aviation and maritime to real estate and moving inventory. Clients rely on Joel to guide them in enforcing their rights or protecting and preserving their interests through the negotiation and documentation of work out arrangements.
 Joel has also provided course instruction on navigating federal tax liens His admission to the bars of five states and the District of Columbia enables him to effectively handle legal matters with contacts in multiple jurisdictions.

joel.stein@sfnr.com

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AREA OF LEGAL CONCENTRATION
Joel Stein spent four
Continue Reading Joel A. Stein

Ordinarily, this column explores legal avenues available to protect the interests of independent sales reps, the willingness of courts to travel down such avenues, or both. Sometimes, however, developing an appropriate legal theory and filing a lawsuit (or arbitration demand) can prove the easy part.
As experienced litigants know, it is in the discovery process — the obtaining of written or electronic information and witness testimony — where cases are usually won or lost.
So rather than focus on the commission recovery theories, this edition of “Legally Speaking” examines a very recent and not atypical judicial look at certain litigation
Continue Reading Discovery maneuvering is often aimed at wearing down reps in commission actions

Question: I loaned a sizeable sum to my daughter to enable her to purchase a residence.  While I expect to be repaid, there is no specific time for repayment and no interest will be paid on the loan.  What are the tax consequences of this arrangement?
Answer: Persons who make non-interest bearing loans face various tax consequences.  The borrower of a non-interest bearing loan is treated as having made interest payments to the lender computed based on IRS-prescribed interest rates in effect from time to time, the Applicable Federal Rate.  The lender, in turn, is treated as having retransferred the
Continue Reading Non-interest bearing parent/child loans

Four trademark infringement scenarios. Spot the real one:

  • Late one winter night, an old pickup gives out and the driver is forced to pull off onto the shoulder of a desolate country road. Fortunately, he belongs to the Automobile Association of America. Pulling out his cellphone, the cold, tired driver accidentally dials the “other” AAA, the American Arbitration Association. He later reports his confusion to the driving group, leading one AAA to file suit against the other.
  • So excited are a newly engaged couple with their honeymoon plans that they mistakenly try booking their flights to Rome on the Alcoholics

  • Continue Reading 'Absurd' trademark infringement claims