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As the Impact Investor in Residence through the Rustandy Center for Social Service Innovation at the Chicago Booth School of Business, Brian Axelrad works with, counsels and mentors students focused on impact investment and careers in the field. As part of these efforts, Brian coached teams of Booth MBA students who participated in two international, multi-business school competitions: the "Invest…

PRESS RELEASE Contact: Jason Klika Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered 312.281.1102 CHICAGO, IL (May 7, 2018) -  The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Zero Energy Systems, LLC selected Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered (""HMB"") as its legal counsel, with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa approving HMB's retention on May 2, 2018.  Zero Energy Systems…

An article published by State Tax Notes discusses the Illinois Appeals Court Ruling a DOR audit does not bar a qui tam suit against Best Buy Stores LP. State and Local Tax Attorney, David Hughes, stated, "This is a frustrating and unfortunate decision for both [IFCA] defendants and the Department of Revenue." He went on to say, "For defendants, the decision…

CHICAGO, IL (April 5, 2018) - Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered ("HMB"), a preeminent provider of legal services in business and finance, litigation, trusts and estates, real estate, state and local taxes and bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors' rights announced that attorney John W. Guzzardo joined the firm as a partner in it's growing bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors' rights practice. John represents…

An article published by State Tax Notes covers a panel discussion regarding whether or not the U.S. solicitor general is correct that Quill Corp. v. North Dakota should be applied only to traditional mail-order retailers. University of Connecticut law professor Richard Pomp applauded the solicitor general's amicus brief in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., in which the solicitor argued that…

Congratulations to Keith Berk who was named the 2017 Distinguished President of The Year by Board Room Magazine. For 22 years, Board Room Magazine has been the official publication for the Association of Private Club Directors and this year, Keith Berk was recognized for providing Northmoor Country Club with exceptional, responsible and transparent leadership.…

CHICAGO, IL (March 16, 2018) - The M&A Advisor announced the winners of the 12th Annual Turnaround Awards on Thursday, December 21st.  Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered ("HMB") was named a winner of the Section 363 Transaction of the Year ($10MM - $25MM) for Aaron L. Hammer's representation of Central Iowa Healthcare ("CIH") in its successful chapter 11 sale before…

By: Fred O. Marcus, Jordan M. Goodman and Christopher T. Lutz In 2013, Fred O. Marcus, Jordan M. Goodman and Christopher T. Lutz wrote an article urging states to reject the applications of False Claims Acts to state and local taxes. The article was published in the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives, Thomson Reuters/WG&L. Volume 22, Number 9. January…

Article by: Michael J. Bologna Read more from BNA Daily Tax Report. A group of custom tailoring companies hopes to dismiss 17 lawsuits filed by a prolific tax whistleblower who alleges the defendants engaged in frauds designed to avoid sales and use tax obligations payable to Illinois. The defendant tailors Feb. 28 filed motions in Cook County Circuit Court to…

PRESS RELEASE Contact: Jason Klika Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered 312.281.1102 CHICAGO, IL (March 6, 2018) - Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered ("HMB"), a preeminent provider of legal services in business and finance, litigation, trusts and estates, real estate and state and local taxes, announced that accomplished corporate reorganization, bankruptcy and creditor's rights attorney Aaron L. Hammer joined the firm…

"Notorious Whistleblower Takes Custom Tailors to Court" Excerpt From BNA Daily Tax Report: State, January 30, 2018 By: Michael J. Bologna "An Illinois court has unsealed another 23 lawsuits filed by a veteran whistleblower who is targeting dozens of foreign and domestic bespoke tailors for alleged tax frauds under the Illinois False Claims Act... David S. Ruskin, a partner in the Chicago office…

2018 Illinois Super Lawyers John W. Guzzardo Richard M. Horwood Fred O. Marcus Jeffrey A. Zaluda Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Law Bulletin Publishing Company's…

PRESS RELEASE Contact: Jason Klika Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered 312.281.1102 CHICAGO, IL (January 17, 2018) - Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered, a preeminent provider of legal services in business and finance, litigation, trusts and estates, real estate and state and local taxes, announced that two associate attorneys were elevated to partner. Brett M. Winterstein. Brett is a member of…

We are pleased to announce that HMB earned top recognition in the 2018 edition of  U.S. News - Best Lawyers? "Best Law Firms." Additionally, HMB was named a Tier 1 law firm in Chicago for Trusts & Estates. Richard M. Horwood and Jeffrey A. Zaluda were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Trusts…

Below is an excerpt of the article written by Jonathan Berr and published on 11/17/17. Click here to read the full article.  A high-stakes legal battle is heating up over whether Amazon is shirking its legal obligations to collect sale taxes on merchandise sold by independent sellers on its site. Sellers and their allies say Amazon is far better equipped to…

Below is an excerpt from the original post by Allyson Versprille. Permanent estate tax repeal would allow private art collectors to hold onto their artwork longer, giving them more time to reap its full value, attorneys told Bloomberg BNA. Today, some private collectors may choose to bequeath their art to charities, museums, or universities at death because they can get an…

After its establishment in 2002, the Tax Program at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law has been recognized as a leader in the field, ranking fourth in U.S. News and World Report since 2005. Their comprehensive curriculum, outstanding faculty, and small, collaborative community provides students with a solid understanding of the complexities of tax law and specialized skills needed to practice federal, state,…

On 6/27/17, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, on behalf of Cook County retailers, filed a temporary restraining order and is seeking a preliminary injunction in the Cook County Circuit Court challenging the sweetened beverage tax saying it violates the uniformity clause of the Illinois Constitution and is impermissibly vague. Below are select news articles following the case. 8/15/17 - "Law…

Sales Tax Institute is a training provider offering specialized sales and use tax education. David discussed the future of sales tax and what advice he would give to professionals getting started in sales tax. Read the full interview here.…

Jordan Goodman was on a panel that analyzed the proposed changes to the federal tax system and the impact on the states. Mr. Goodman was quoted as stating "Change is good. Why? The base will be getting larger and the [proposed lower] rate doesn't affect them. This will give the states a windfall if the proposal hold up." Click here…

An Illinois court September 3 dismissed a suit against out-of-state wine sellers and held that a state liquor law did not require the sellers to collect local sales and use taxes. In Stephen B. Diamond PC v. 1-800-Flowers.com, an Illinois attorney filed a qui tam complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County on behalf of the state alleging that a group…

The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, under the direction of the Fund's president Joel Friedman, has made a gift of $1,000,000 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This gift will endow the Baum Professor in Environmental Change and Sustainability. The University has made plans to conduct a national search for this Professor, who will act as the Director of the newly…

CHICAGO, September 13, 2011 - Four highly-experienced partners have joined the Chicago business law firm of Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered (HMB), expanding the firm's service offerings in the areas of banking, finance, securities, restructuring and bankruptcy, as well as commercial litigation. The four most recently practiced in the Chicago office of a large Detroit-based law firm and prior to that the…