Michael Alkaraki, an attorney at Leahy & Hoste, LLC, discusses how to handle a mediation.

Don’t miss the ISBA’s annual Federal Tax Conference on Feb. 1, 2019, in Chicago or via live webcast. The conference features a wealth of information and updates for tax lawyers, business law attorneys, and trusts and estates practitioners. Attorneys with basic practice experience who attend this conference will obtain a better understanding of: the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including changes affecting 2018 tax returns; the updates in corporate tax and partnership tax, including new code Section 199A; the new developments affecting non-profit organizations and tax exempt entities; the cases and rulings influencing estate and gift tax planning; the ethical issues for Illinois tax attorneys; recent tax scams and frauds; and the tax issues that can arise with Bitcoin and virtual currencies.

A state’s legal standard for determining fault is a key factor in determining whether to file a motion to apply foreign law or a motion to dismiss under the doctrine of forum non conveniens. In December’s Illinois Bar Journal, Cameron Turner and Sean Phillips examine such choices regarding asbestos cases in Illinois. Illinois is a well-known epicenter of asbestos litigation, having earned a reputation for allowing cases unconnected to the state to proceed through its system. Onlookers and clients, particularly those new to asbestos litigation and unaware of its broader scope, often express disbelief and frustration at the legitimacy of such a system. Such reactions are fair, and related questions certainly are valid. Illinois does, after all, have statutes in place that allow for the transfer of cases to appropriate forums when any particular forum is improper or inconvenient. It also seems logical, on its face, to lessen the impact of sometimes-harsh Illinois law by looking to the law of a state with a stronger connection to the case when that state's law is more favorable. This rings true even if a defendant chooses to forgo pursuing a forum non conveniens argument.

Cook County and the Circuit Court of Cook County have finalized the scheduled closing of two Chicago branch court locations at 155 W. 51st St. and 2452 W. Belmont Ave.  The closures are slated to take effect after court concludes on Jan. 4, 2019. The two branch court closings, which were finalized as part of the budget litigation settlement between the county and the court, will help the county avoid $9.2 million in repairs, renovations, and maintenance that would be necessary to keep the two buildings safe, operational, and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.