Business Law

Buying a business may be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. If you are considering buying a business, you may have many questions and uncertainties to contend with. You may even question at times if you are making the right decision at all. Speaking with a knowledgeable business law attorney can be a tremendous help in this circumstance. A qualified business law professional can address your questions and help you find the best course of action for long-term success. As you ponder your options for buying a […]

Social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn have not only revolutionized the way we communicate with each other, but also the way businesses communicate with customers. Many businesses have Facebook pages with information about their product or service as well as ways for potential or existing customers to contact a company representative. Other businesses choose not to use social media quite so extensively. Whatever your engagement with social media, it is important for all business owners to make sure any social media they use is helping the business, not […]

If you are a small business owner, you probably already know that how you approach relationships with other businesses and entrepreneurs is a large part of running a successful business. Ideally, business professionals should always honor handshake agreements. Unfortunately, informal business agreements are not always respected by the other party. This is why it is so crucial that agreed-upon details of business decisions and transactions should be formalized in writing. In many circumstances, a formal non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, can be integral in protecting a company’s professional interests. What is […]

When you own and operate a business, it is up to you to set your own policies and rules. As we have discussed previously in various posts on this blog, it is important for your policies to be reasonable and in line with your company’s objectives. It is also important for you to be consistent in enforcing your policies and rules. Inconsistency on your part could damage your reputation, and in extreme cases, could lead to allegations of favoritism or discrimination. As a business law attorney, I was amused to […]

There are few things in business that are as competitive as bids for a large project are. Even larger and more prestigious projects are likely to attract the absolute best an industry has to offer. This was certainly the case for the terminal expansion project planned for Terminal 2 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. As a business attorney practicing in Northern Illinois, I was pleased to learn that the project’s selection committee chose a design firm headed by a Chicago-based architect. I am aware, however, of concerns that some have […]

As a business law attorney, my entire profession centers around the relationship between the business world and the law. There are countless laws that govern business and commerce in the United States, and it is my job to help business owners work within the law to achieve success. This week, however, an announcement by a particular New England company offered a unique perspective on the law—or at on least one of the recognizable names associated with the practice of law in the United States. Boston-based Samuel Adams announced that a […]

If I were to ask you to think about the security of your business, what would come to mind? For many business owners, the first answer would probably involve things like ID cards, video surveillance systems, and data backups. These types of security measures can absolutely be beneficial, especially if your business is a retail store or firm that deals with confidential and important information. But, what about the other, less tangible things pertaining to your company? A new ID card entry system may keep would-be thieves out, but it […]

Think about the last app you downloaded for your tablet or smartphone. When you installed the app, did your device tell you that the app needed certain permissions to run properly? It is not uncommon for mobile apps to ask for access to your device’s camera, microphone, call status, and more. While you might have looked at the permission request and approved it, logging into your new app probably prompted another question: “Do you agree to our terms and conditions?” Tapping “yes” allows you to proceed while tapping “no” renders […]

As a business law attorney, I am well aware that Illinois is an “at-will employment” state. This means that an employer-employee relationship can be terminated by either the employer or the employee at any time and for any reason—including no reason at all. However, there are some important limitations and exclusions that employers should know about before they terminate an employee. In recent posts on this blog, we looked at practical issues associated with firing an employee, but we did not talk much about how at-will employment could affect your […]