Creating and Managing Your Firm’s Budget

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

In the Illinois Bar Journal’s May cover story, “Creating and Managing Your Firm’s Budget,” Jeffrey Krause, attorney and senior consultant with Affinity Consulting Group, says “too many firms—too many households for that matter—they create a budget as this thing that they want to do, and then never follow through on it. They don’t actually make it a working document that they have to use in their business. You have to refer to it all the time—and stick to it. If you’re not looking at it to see whether you’re on track, you’re probably off track. It sounds so common sense, but if you don’t look at it until next year, that doesn’t accomplish anything.”

ARDC Releases 2022 Annual Report

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), the administrative agency that regulates licensed Illinois lawyers, has filed its year 2022 Annual Report with the Supreme Court of Illinois. The report will be released to the public on May 1 when a copy is posted on the ARDC website. 

A summary of the Annual Report entitled Highlights of the 2022 Annual Reportis also available. 

Disaster Avoidance and Recovery Planning

ISBA’s Practice Toolbox Series
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: February 14, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­May 15, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Losing client data can cripple your firm and lead to malpractice claims, among other unpleasant things. This webinar will describe the elements your disaster avoidance and recovery plan requires and lay out the options for satisfying them. From creating backup rules to establishing responsibilities in your office, learn all the steps and technology you need to build a rock-solid system that will keep you up and running or permit a quick recovery from worst-case scenarios.


Program Speaker:
Jeff Krause, Affinity Consulting Group
About the Speaker: Jeff is part of Affinity’s document management team. He specializes in corporate legal department deployments and workflow design and efficiency. Jeff practiced law for two years after finishing law school in 1996, but decided technology was a better path for him. He began working for a pioneering legal technology consultancy called MicroLaw in 1998. In 2003, Jeff started his own legal technology consultancy, which he ran until 2016, when he joined Affinity. Jeff’s superpower is patience, and his favorite part of his job is the satisfaction of helping someone solve one of their business problems.

Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $30 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Civil Appeal Basics: The First 30 Days After Judgment

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

The first 30 days after the trial court enters an unfavorable judgment to your client are critical. During this period, you will have to walk your client through several important and complex decisions that could mean the difference between success and failure on appeal. Join us for this informative program that provides a step-by-step guide for using this timeframe to give your client a head start toward winning on appeal.

Drafting Subleases & Assignments in Commercial Real Estate, Part 2 - A National Perspective

Presented by the ISBA


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: March 30, 2022
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­May 9, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Subleasing and assignments are essential instruments for tenants to reduce the size and cost of their space as their needs change. Landlords (and their lenders) often disfavor subleases and assignments because they might lose control of who occupies the space. Subleases come in a variety of forms, all of which need to conform to the provisions of the master lease. Because of this, subleases can quickly become wildly complex, and have the potential to give rise to multiple levels of friction and possibly litigation. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the types of subleases and assignments, key issues for landlords, tenants, and subtenants, and drafting tips.


Day 2 – March 30, 2022:

  • Space recapture, profit sharing, and other landlord remedies
  • Restrictions on use in subleases and subtenant risks
  • Non-disturbance agreements with landlord and lender
  • Subtenant remedies when tenant defaults on master lease
  • Most important provisions of lease assignments


Speakers:

Michael P. Williams is a partner in the Denver, Colorado office of Senn Visciano Canges, P.C., where he has extensive experience in commercial leasing and tenant relations, acquisition and disposition of office, industrial, retail and multi-family properties, representing real estate professionals in disputes before their boards or in litigation, and advising homeowner associations. He also assists lenders in pre-foreclosure workouts, foreclosures, loan modifications and servicing REO property needs. He is a member of the banking law subcommittee of the ABA’s Business Law Section. Mr. Williams received his B.A. from Colorado State University and his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law.