Skip to content

News & Media

Newsfeed

Illinois Bans Salary History Inquiry in Amendments to State’s Equal Pay Act

Illinois is poised to join over a dozen states in banning employers from inquiring as to applicants’ salary history. A recently-signed set of amendments to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 (IEPA), which will become effective on September 29, 2019, will prohibit employers from inquiring about and considering an applicant’s salary history when…

An Employer’s Guide to the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act

In January 2015, Illinois became the first state to fully enact legislation requiring that private-sector employers offer their workers retirement benefits. Now as employer registration deadlines for mid-sized and small companies approach, local businesses are on notice to take appropriate action steps to ensure they comply with the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act to avoid per-employee…

Special Salute to Special Olympics Illinois

Congratulations to the Special Olympics Illinois on its record-setting 2019 Inspire Greatness Gala and the more than $1.3MM in fundraising achieved. As a proud sponsor of the event, Lawrence Kamin salutes this year’s Athlete Honoree, Patrick McCarthy, and all of the Special Olympics athletes for their perseverance and commitment to always do their best….

Elizabeth C. Lyons Named Emerging Lawyer™ for Second Year

Our esteemed colleague and Associate Attorney, Elizabeth “Liz” C. Lyons, was recently recognized as an Emerging Lawyer™ in Commercial Litigation by Law Bulletin Media’s Leading Lawyers division. With this distinction, Liz joins the top two percent of all attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois who are recognized for having proven…

Recent Enforcement Orders Remind FCMs: Train Your Brokers on Post- Execution Allocation Rules.

On May 29, 2018, the CFTC and NFA1, respectively, issued enforcement decisions against Chicago-based Xchange Financial Access, LLC (“XFA”) that should serve as a cautionary tale for Futures Commission Merchants, and other registrants, about the importance of training, updating supervisory procedures, and appropriately maintaining records. According to the regulators, XFA failed to supervise…

Illinois Distributor’s Statute: Navigating the Litigation “Off Ramp” for Non-Manufacturer Defendants After Cassidy v. China Vitamins LLC

In Cassidy v. China Vitamins LLC, 2017 IL App (1st) 160933 (“China Vitamins”), the First District Appellate Court made it a lot harder for non-manufacturers to free themselves from litigation through the Illinois Distributor’s statute (sometimes referred to as the “innocent seller’s statute” or “seller’s exception”). Under China Vitamins’ new interpretation of the…

Equity Indexed and Variable Annuities: What are the Limitations of a State Securities Regulator’s Authority Over Their Sales Practices? (The ABA Blue Sky Bugle Newsletter, March 2018)

Two Illinois cases, Van Dyke v. Jesse White, 2016 IL App (4th) 141109 (currently pending before the Illinois Supreme Court as Docket No. 121452) and Thrivent Investment Management v. Illinois Securities Department, Circuit Court of Cook County Case No. 2016-CH-16406 (currently pending before the First District Appellate…

Supreme Court Confirms that Assets Held in an Inherited Individual Retirement Account Are Not Exempt From a Debtor’s Bankruptcy Estate

On June 12, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that inherited IRAs, unlike traditional IRAs, do not receive protection in bankruptcy. Depending on the size of the IRA and the age of the intended beneficiary(ies) and estate planning considerations, IRA holders may wish to consider creating a trust for each intended beneficiary, and designating…

SEC Amends Financial Responsibility Rules, Customer Asset Protection, the Early Notification Rule and the Books & Records Rules for Broker-Dealers

During the last five years, the securities and futures industry has been rocked by highly publicized insolvencies of several major broker-dealers and futures commission merchants. These events have highlighted deficiencies in the customer asset protection schemes of both the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). On July…

Outside Business Activity*, Practical Compliance and Risk Management for the Securities Industry

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)1 has adopted and proposed important changes to the current regulatory scheme and obligations relating to notice and supervision of outside business activities and private securities transactions. For a number of years, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) rules 3030, 3040 and 3050 were the principal…

Lawrence Kamin maintains this website to provide general information about its services and legal expertise. While we try to keep the information timely and accurate, we make no guarantees. We make every effort to correct errors brought to our attention. Full Disclaimer
† Select attorneys have received this recognition
Website developed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.