A lot of Chicagoland businesses are subjected to allegations of wrongdoing levied at them by disgruntled employees who have been disciplined or let go. When those allegations involve workplace discrimination, the stakes can be especially high. After all, if you don’t properly defend yourself in one of these cases, then you could end up having to pay out significant compensation, and your businesses reputation can be tarnished. So, how do you effectively defend against allegations of workplace discrimination? Commonly utilized defenses to workplace discrimination To defeat a workplace discrimin ..read more

As a business owner, unless you have been involved in a lawsuit before, you likely are not an expert in lawsuits. And, if you are involved in a lawsuit, the entire process likely feels like a blackhole. In Illinois business litigation, the deposition process is pivotal to gather crucial information, assess witness credibility and strategize for trial. However, when you find out that depositions will begin, you will want to know who at your business needs to worry about being deposed. The deposition process Depositions entail out-of-court testimonies given under oath by individuals involved in ..read more

Alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, has grown in popularity in recent decades for many reasons. ADR refers to different legal processes that all have the aim of helping businesses and individuals resolve lawsuits or potential lawsuits before their cases proceed to a trial. Provided the other side agrees, businesses can try ADR while litigation is pending or even early on in a legal claim. Sometimes, a court’s rules or the provisions of a contract will require the parties to use ADR to resolve their dispute. In the world of commercial litigation, two common types of ADR are arbitration and ..read more

Entrepreneurs play a key role in the economy and employment landscape in Illinois. Immigrants who have an idea for a business or product need to know about the entrepreneur pathways for immigration. This could be a viable alternative to starting a business in the United States. Prospective entrepreneurs have options The entrepreneur pathways vary in what the prospective businessperson needs to do to enter the United States as an immigrant and start a business. For example, the person’s position in the new business  dictates which pathway is appropriate. If they are part owners of the pros ..read more

In Illinois, few topics generate as much attention as immigration. There are many layers to the debate. For businesses, it boils down to increasing their productivity and profit. In many instances, that means they need to hire immigrants who can perform certain duties based on their skills and education. Since the process is increasingly complex, it is important to remember specific points about hiring immigrants and know how to make it easier. Key factors in hiring immigrants To ensure people are working in the United States legally, they must receive an immigrant visa. Once they are a perman ..read more

Illinois businesses that are trying to advance and improve in a competitive environment will look everywhere for employees that can help them. That includes hiring well-qualified immigrants. Since Immigration is such a controversial topic in today’s atmosphere, it is imperative to understand the options with employment-based immigrant visas. The second preference category applies to businesses that want to hire people with an advanced degree that fits in with their structure. It also applies to those who are categorized as having “exceptional ability.” Known as Employee Second Preference (E2 ..read more

Many employees are fired from their companies for reasons that seem unjust. The employer may claim someone is not a “good fit” or give some other vague reason for the termination. In an at-will employment state like Illinois, employers are allowed to fire or layoff employees for any lawful reason. Therefore, while you may have been terminated for unfair reasons, or no reason at all, that does not mean that your employer did something illegal. For a termination to be considered unlawful under Illinois law, the termination must have been: Based on discriminatory reasons (e.g., employee was termi ..read more

The terms of service that you implement onto your website can play a key role in protecting your business. These terms serve as a contract between your business and its website’s end user, often restricting how those users can use the material that they access. This can be crucial if you end up in the midst of a lawsuit, as a user’s agreement to the terms of service often can serve as a basis to seek summary judgment, which could save you a significant amount of money and stress in the long run. Strong terms of service may also give you a platform for a lawsuit against a user who misappropriat ..read more

It can be exciting to start a new construction project, but unfortunately disputes can arise along the way. Fortunately, however, there are ways to resolve them and continue with the work. Common disputes One of the most common disputes involves payment. Sometimes, this is because there is a delay in payment. If one party is not satisfied with the work or if there is a dispute over the amount of the bill, that can also lead to a disagreement. It’s helpful to keep regular documentation of the project’s progress to support the expenses. There can also be disputes if there are delays. Sometimes ..read more

A partnership can be a great structure for your business, as it can maximize your income, reduce your tax liabilities, and help you retain control of business decisions. Yet, many partners in a business end up facing disagreements at one point or another. Often, these disputes are resolved with nothing more than open and honest conversations. Others, though, can lead to long, drawn out litigation. How can you avoid a partnership dispute? One of the best ways to avoid a partnership dispute is to be proactive in heading off any disagreements on the front end of your business’s creation. For exam ..read more