As the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) ushers in the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, it’s crucial for professionals and business owners to understand the comprehensive changes that are now in play. This new legislation, effective January 1, 2024, mandates sweeping disclosure requirements for both new and existing business entities, marking a significant shift in the government’s approach to combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit financial activities. For more informatio ..read more

Business contract breaches are on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic and our firm is seeing a rise in contract disputes leading to business litigation.  Unfortunately, as the coronavirus continues to disrupt business, more and more companies and individuals will struggle to perform their contractual obligations.  The applicability of force majeure clauses—and whether or not COVID-19 will excuse parties from their contractual obligations—is becoming a critical legal issue.  Whether or not coronavirus related contract breaches will fall under force majeure depends on the specif ..read more

Registering trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is essential for Naperville, Illinois-based businesses, entrepreneurs, and online sellers who want to protect their goods and services from unfair competition and infringement from other competitors in the marketplace. A trademark registration issued by the USPTO grants the trademark owner exclusive rights to use, license, and enforce the registered trademark, allowing them to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The following list identifies a few of the trademark benefits that may be granted to ..read more

Registering trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is essential for Illinois-based businesses, entrepreneurs, and online sellers who want to protect their goods and services from unfair competition and infringement from other competitors in the marketplace. A trademark registration issued by the USPTO grants the trademark owner exclusive rights to use, license, and enforce the registered trademark, allowing them to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The following list identifies a few of the trademark benefits that may be granted to a Chicago bu ..read more

We quickly learned that not every trademark we desired to use was available in our competitive industry. We had difficulties landing on a unique, strong trademark that would be remembered by our consumers and competitors alike. After receiving some simple, straightforward guidance regarding trademark selection, we were able to create and register several trademarks that will have significance in our industry for years to come. Jennifer H. – Water Products (Atlanta, GA) The post Simple, Straightforward Advice appeared first on Frame Zeller Chicago ..read more

Our organization has been working with Kelly and his team over the last few years in connection with our trademark portfolio. Kelly is expeditious in response, clear in communication and provides excellent advice on the trademark processes.  Kelly is hands down among the top attorneys we have used building out our million dollar project. We look forward to our continued relationship as our digital products and services offerings expand into new markets. Brooke B. – Finance (Crystal Lake, IL) The post Very Responsive! appeared first on Frame Zeller Chicago ..read more

Kelly has represented our company with the registration and maintenance of a portfolio of trademarks in the apparel industry. Our leadership and designers always have a direct line of communication to his law firm which makes for very efficient communication without delays. I have referred Kelly to several other retail and service businesses in the local community with trademark needs and will not think twice about doing so in the future. Matt A. – Apparel (Charleston, SC) The post Eased the Trademark Process appeared first on Frame Zeller Chicago ..read more

A limited liability company can function as an extremely powerful and flexible Illinois business organizationstructure.  The LLC, if structured properly by a Chicago business lawyer, can shield members (aka LLC business owners) from the legal obligations and debts of the LLC. In limited liability companies which are solely owned, small or family owned, business assets and business liabilities may often overlap and intertwine with a members personal asset and liabilities (aka commingling), which can result in veil piercing. This can sometimes stem from ambiguous contrac ..read more

The short answer is, yes.  Even if a business owner intends to use their trademark solely within the State of Illinois (intrastate), it is still advisable to conduct both federal and state trademark searches for several reasons: Future Expansion: The business may expand to other states beyond Illinois in the future, and conducting a thorough search beforehand can help identify potential conflicts and reduce the risk of infringement issues as the business grows. Preventing Infringement Claims: Even if the trademark is only used in Illinois, there may be a federally registered trademark ..read more

Our Chicago business law firm advises clients across multiple industries, market sectors, and various stages in the supply chain regarding numerous Coronavirus-related issues.  Companies need to understand where the law, the virus, and their businesses intersect.  Whether in retail, entertainment, transportation, or manufacturing, as factory production slows in line with the reduction of workforces, clients should be aware of the impact the virus may have on their business supply chains.  Our Chicago business attorneys give clients legal advice based on the with the market reali ..read more