Fund Formation and Joint Venture

Jennifer F. Kuzminski joins MomLifeTV for a webinar focused on navigating life's transitions. She provides insights on family law, estate planning and legacy to help you take control of life's changes.

The Annual "Big Easy Brawl" is returning! On March 12, 2024, the 2024 ABA-IPT Advanced State Income Tax Seminar will feature an exciting discussion between Jordan M. Goodman and Professor Richard D. Pomp. They'll be debating their positions on the latest state income tax controversies. Don't miss out!

Learn about the benefits of tax insurance with David A. Hughes at the 2024 ABA-IPT Advanced State Income Tax Seminar on 3/12. David and his co-speakers will provide an overview of tax insurance and explore case studies where it has been used in M&A transactions, state tax positions on returns and pending state tax litigation

Northmoor Education Foundation awarded $90,000 of college scholarships to 15 outstanding Northmoor employees. The Northmoor Education Foundation (NEF) was founded in 2018 to assist Northmoor Country Club employees, caddies and their children who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time or part-time study at accredited institutions of the student’s…

HMB is proud to congratulate Samantha K. Breslow on being named to Crain’s Chicago 2024 Notable Women in Law list! The notable list recognizes women in the legal profession for their professional accomplishments, leadership roles, dedication to mentoring activities and community involvement.

Join David A. Hughes, BDO USA and representatives from the Illinois State Treasurer's Office on March 7th for an informative webinar focusing on the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. The webinar will cover various topics like compliance requirements, voluntary disclosure, self-audit and audit practices, and best practices for escheatment.

Online pet pharmacy PetMeds has filed a petition before the Illinois tax tribunal, calling a state law unconstitutional for requiring retailers to base their sourcing methods on whether they are in-state or remote. Jordan M. Goodman shares his insights on Illinois' remote seller sourcing regime with Law360, raising crucial questions about fairness and complexity.

Loose definitions, cumbersome requirements and practical challenges of many marketplace facilitator laws create problems for both facilitators and sellers. In a Tax Notes article, David A. Hughes discusses these challenges and provides suggestions to make marketplace facilitator laws more taxpayer-friendly.

Congratulations to Jeralyn H. Baran, Nathan E. Delman, Jeffrey A. Zaluda and Payal J. Patel for being selected to the 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists! 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.

Congrats Rick S. Rein and Nathan E. Delman on securing a nondischargeability ruling in a Chapter 7 case on a $10 million claim after a two day trial in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada. The claim involved a loan that was obtained under false pretenses, resulting in a non-dischargeable debt in favor of the client.

Download the PDF here.  …

Kilpatrick and HMB Legal Counsel announced today that the two firms are joining forces to significantly increase the combined firm’s presence and corporate-focused practice in Chicago. With the addition of over 55 attorneys from HMB, the Kilpatrick Chicago office will now total more than 70 attorneys.

Huge win for HMB’s Litigation team at the Illinois Supreme Court! Congratulations Litigation Partners Hal J. Wood and Matthew R. Barrett on securing a unanimous decision in a contested will case. They successfully defended their hard-fought trial court win and appellate decision in favor of HMB’s client that allowed the client to retain control over the disposition of her late-husband’s company.

Connect with Jordan M. Goodman and Samantha K. Breslow at the 2024 Illinois CPA Society Corporate Finance Conference! They will provide an insightful presentation on ethics.

HMB is proud to sponsor and present at the NYU 42nd Institute on State and Local Taxation. On December 12, 2023, David A. Hughes will present on the most important SALT developments affecting taxpayers today. See below for more information on his presentation. “What’s Happening Everywhere Today?” 1:15 PM ET | Westin New York at Times Square, New York, NY…

Please join HMB's State and Local Team, Jordan M. Goodman, David A. Hughes and Kylan Memminger, at the Chicago Tax Club's Winter Meeting on December 9, 2023.

David A. Hughes will examine the state and local tax issues that arise in corporate transactions and tax-free reorganizations.

Jordan M. Goodman returns to TaxOps’ SALTovation podcast for a conversation about the rapid pace of developments in SALT and the challenges faced by businesses and taxpayers.

HMB achieves top recognition in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms®, with Tier 1 rankings for our Private Client, Trusts & Estates and State & Local Tax practices in Chicago!

MMN Infrastructure Services is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Michigan high court decision. Jordan Goodman shares insights on the case with Law360.

Join Samantha K. Breslow at the Chicago Tax Club’s Annual Fall Seminar on October 26, where she will be presenting on a hot topic in the world of tax: “The Evolution of Digital Services, Advertising and Data Mining Taxes.” During this program, Sam will explore the latest sales tax development in the area of digital products and consumer data collection.

HMB is proud to sponsor and present at COST’s Southeast Regional State Tax Seminar in Charlotte, NC, on November 9th. You don’t want to miss Jordan M. Goodman, David A. Hughes and Samantha K. Breslow discuss the latest state tax cases, issues and policy matters affecting Southeast states!

HMB would like to congratulate Swag Golf on raising $10 million in growth funding. This investment will bolster Swag Golf’s innovative product lines, increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific market and accelerate its production capabilities to meet growing demand.

Does your business need help navigating the ever-changing indirect tax requirements? Join HMB Legal Counsel, Alvara and KPMG for an in-person seminar on November 2nd focused on tips for managing indirect tax with automation. HMB’s David Hughes will provide an update on the City of Chicago’s indirect tax.

David A. Hughes is moderating and presenting at the Illinois Taxpayers' Federation State and Local Tax Conference on September 21, 2023.

Join David A. Hughes for The Chicago Tax Club's Annual Fall Seminar on October 26-27, 2023! David will speak on a variety of state and local tax topics including the top recent sales and use tax cases and gross receipts taxes.

Jordan M. Goodman presents, "Hot Topics in Multi-State Taxation Including PTE Issues" at the Alabama Federal and State Tax Institute.

Jordan M. Goodman will provide a Multistate Update and discuss the latest changes, developments and regulations in state and local tax.

Join Jordan Goodman at MICPA’s Tax Conference on November 2nd for an insightful presentation on alternative apportionment cases. Jordan will provide clarity on the impact of cross-tax relationships from economic nexus laws to the end of throwback apportionment rules.

Sometimes the best offense is a great defense. Join Jordan M. Goodman at the Paul J. Hartman SALT Forum on October 23rd for his presentation, “State Audits and Controversy: Where the Rubber Hits the Road” to learn about offensive and defensive approaches to state audits.

Join David A. Hughes for an engaging session at COST’s 54th Annual meeting on October 19th. David will discuss various methods to obtain information from revenue agencies such as interrogatories, requests to produce, depositions and FOIA requests.

Connect with Jordan M. Goodman at COST's 54th Annual Meeting on October 17-20! Jordan will explore the most significant sales tax cases this year and discuss rising audit issues you need to look out for.

Are you attending the IPT Sales Tax Symposium in Chicago? Be sure to connect with our SALT team David A. Hughes, Jordan M. Goodman and Samantha K. Breslow! They will be speaking on a variety of sales tax concepts, including retail issues, newer tax types & fees and all things SAAS.

Join David A. Hughes and COST on September 20th for an engaging live webinar that will cover significant unclaimed property issues across the nation. Don’t miss this insightful program!

HMB is pleased to announce that Jordan M. Goodman has been named to Law360’s 2023 Tax Authority State and Local Editorial Advisory Board.

HMB is proud to have 16 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Congratulations to our attorneys!

HMB would like to congratulate Craftable, the hospitality industry’s leading SaaS platform, on its partnership with Gauge Capital, a leading middle-market private equity firm based in Dallas, TX. This strategic investment further enhances Craftable’s position at the forefront of cutting-edge technology shaping the hospitality industry.

David Ruskin’s article “Counseling a Cannabis-Related Business” was featured as the cover story in Practical Law The Journal. This recently updated article is a must-read for anyone from entrepreneurs to veterans in the cannabis industry.

Connect with Samantha Breslow at the Council on State Taxation’s 2023 SALT Workshop for Technology Companies where she will discuss important tax issues related to technology companies, including taxation of accommodation services and video streaming.

Join Jordan Goodman for an insightful session on 8/16 at the Council on State Taxation’s 2023 SALT Workshop for Technology Companies. He’ll explore the top 10 transactional and corporate income tax cases relevant to technology companies and will identify emerging trends within state litigation of digital products and other technology-related issues.

HMB is pleased to announce its 2023-2024 Board of Directors.

HMB is excited to announce the appointment of David S. Ruskin to the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) Board of Directors. David was elected for his wealth of experience and exceptional accomplishments in cannabis law.

HMB is pleased to welcome Kylan Memminger as an Associate in its State and Local Tax Group.

Gain valuable insights and knowledge with Jordan M. Goodman at the Institute for Professionals in Taxation’s State Income Tax School in Atlanta, GA! Jordan will be instructing a variety of educational sessions, including formulary apportionment for state income taxes and ethical dilemmas state and local tax professionals face.

David A. Hughes presents, “Managing Tax Controversy: Audits, Appeals, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Settlements,” at the Vertex Leasing Special Interest Group Meeting in Cleveland, OH.

Connect with Jordan Goodman at the upcoming 2023 IPT Annual Conference in Grapevine, Texas! During the event, Jordan will participate in an exciting roundtable, discussing current sales issues and emerging trends with his co-speakers and the audience.

Are you attending the IPT Annual Conference? Be sure to connect with Samantha Breslow! Sam will be speaking on a variety of state and local tax concepts, including how to determine whether to classify a product as a sale of a tangible personal property or a sale of service.

HMB is proud to sponsor and participate in the 2023 State and Local Tax Symposium: “Projecting the Future of SALT,” sponsored by The Tax Lawyer and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law’s Tax Program. David Hughes will participate in an exciting panel and help moderate a breakout session about teaching SALT in law school.

Are you attending the Indiana Business Tax Conference? Join David Hughes on June 15th for his update on Illinois and other Midwest states.

On June 14, Jordan Goodman will provide an update on the national landscape of state and local tax litigation at the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA)’s MEGA Conference. He will discuss income tax, sales and use tax, franchise tax, unclaimed property and more.

HMB is excited to welcome Michael, Clara, Isabella and Marla into its 2023 Law Clerk Program! We also warmly welcome back Olivia, who joined the program in 2022. HMB’s Law Clerk Program offers professionals the opportunity to solve interesting problems, expand their professional connections and learn more about the practice areas they are interested in.

Join David Ruskin for the International Cannabis Bar Association’s CLI conference this week in Washington, DC! You won’t want to miss his presentation on the varying social equity initiatives initiatives and programs in legal cannabis license states around the country.

Since the South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, which upheld the state's sales tax law without requiring a physical presence, states and businesses have frequently referenced it in state tax cases. In some litigation, courts have recognized the case as an appropriate precedent, but other courts have been less accepting, particularly in non-sales and use tax matters. Jordan M. Goodman isn’t surprised by this and discusses the Wayfair decision with Law360.

On May 18, 2023, Jordan M. Goodman will provide a national update on the state and local tax industry for Carr Riggs and Ingram CPA’s and Advisors (CRI).

Congratulations Nathan E. Delman on being appointed as Vice Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Bankruptcy and Reorganization Committee! Nate was selected for his exceptional achievements and extensive experience in bankruptcy and reorganization law.

HMB would like to congratulate Myron on its successful sale to GIG Myron Holdings SPV, LLC, an affiliate of Go Global Retail. Founded in 1949, Myron is dedicated to helping customers elevate their promotional marketing campaigns. Myron, Inc. was represented by Brian H. Axelrad, Brett M. Winterstein, Ati P. Khatri, Elise Anderson, Geoffrey J. Curley and Kenneth A. Goldstein.

Minnesota may become the third state to adopt the Multistate Tax Commission's new guidance on P.L. 86-272, which outlines what is and what is not an in-state business activity. Many tax practitioners, including HMB’s Jordan M. Goodman, have raised general concerns with the MTC guidance, stating that it is overboard and would diminish P.L. 86-272’s protections without any changes to the federal law.

HMB congratulates The Variable on its acquisition of Data Crunch, a best-in-class applied AI and advanced analytics company. The Variable was represented by Brett M. Winterstein and Elise Anderson.

Join HMB and Crowe LLP on June 22, 2023, for an informative webinar on state updates and emerging trends in unclaimed property. Our experienced speakers will cover the latest trends in unclaimed property compliance, reporting and audit defense, providing practical insights and advice for navigating the complex world of unclaimed property. Don’t miss out on this insightful program!

During this session, Nate will discuss the latest bankruptcy and insolvency issues in the cannabis industry including recent cases, receiverships and traditional workout and restructuring options.

HMB would like to congratulate Bully Pulpit Interactive, a strategic communications and public affairs agency, on its investment from Broad Sky Partners. BPI is an outcomes agency at the intersection of business, politics and policy.

During this session, David and his co-speakers will explore oddities in the ownership and disposition of flow-through entities by corporations, other pass-through entities and individuals.

Do you have questions about the new Illinois employment laws? Join Jeri Baran and Marcy Brajkovic of Chatfield Global LLC at TMA’s Roundtable on May 4th as they discuss the new Paid Leave for All Workers Act, effective January 1, 2024, and the amended One Day of Rest in Seven Act.

A coalition is proposing that Congress modernize the Tax Injunction Act (TIA) out of increasing concern that challenges to state taxes involving questions of federal law or the U.S. Constitution are not reviewed by federal courts. But does anyone want more cases in the federal court system? Jordan M. Goodman shares his thoughts on expanding the TIA with Tax Notes here.

HMB would like to congratulate CodaPet on its expansion into Kansas City, MO, and its surrounding cities. The startup empowers a network of veterinarians who offer families the opportunity to say goodbye to their pets in the comfort of their own homes.

After nearly three decades of outstanding service, HMB Legal Counsel announces that Marilyn A. Wethekam is leaving the practice of law and joining the Council on State Taxation (COST) as Of Counsel. Marilyn is a foundational member of HMB’s State and Local Tax (SALT) Group and has played a prominent role in building its success. Since joining the firm in…

Join David Hughes at the Sales Tax Institute’s Advanced Sales & Use Tax Workshop from April 19-21! David will lead deep-dive sessions focused on trending sales and use tax topics. He will also provide an industry update for professional services, discussing the latest legislative developments and state-specific updates.

HMB is thrilled to sponsor The M&A Advisor’s 2023 Distressed and Investing Summit in Palm Beach, FL. As the Conference Chairperson, Aaron Hammer will welcome attendees at the opening reception, discuss turnaround experiences in a program session and participate in the Awards Gala. Aaron will also be honored with the Turnaround Award “Legal Advisor of the Year” at the Awards Gala.

Congratulations to Port X Logistics LLC, a leading transportation company, on its partnership with U.S. Multimodal Group, a premium provider of intermodal logistics!

State tax partnership law is seeing an increased focus on what happens when a nonresident owner of a partnership or LLC sells his or her ownership interest. David A. Hughes discusses this emerging topic with Law360 and shares his insights on investee apportionment.

Join Jordan M. Goodman and David A. Hughes for their National SALT Update on May 23, 2023 at the AGN North American Regional Meeting.

On May 16, 2023, Jordan M. Goodman and David A. Hughes will provide a National SALT Update for the Nebraska TEI Chapter. Join them as they share recent and noteworthy developments in the SALT world.

On May 5, 2023, David A. Hughes will discuss the limits of the attorney-client privilege rule from a tax perspective at ABA’s May Tax Meeting.

On March 8, 2023, Aaron L. Hammer and Rick S. Rein joined the Law Firm Alliance for their Bankruptcy Community Meeting.

Join Jordan M. Goodman on May 8, 2023, for “Situs: Who Can tax the Transaction” at COST’s Intermediate/Advanced Sales & Use Tax School. Jordan will discuss the importance of situsing sales for sales tax purposes.

Congratulations David Hughes for being elected a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel! David was selected for his extraordinary accomplishments and demonstration of a high standard of excellence and ethical performance in tax law.

On March 13, 2023, Jordan will participate in a Mock Audit at the UPPO Conference where he will be playing the role of legal advisor defending a client in the midst of an unclaimed property audit.

The Annual “Big Easy Brawl returns! You don’t want to miss Jordan M. Goodman and Professor Richard D. Pomp going head-to-head as they discuss their perspectives on current SALT issues and policies at the 2023 ABA-IPT Advanced Sales & Use Tax Seminar.

Advanced Tax Seminars next week? Be sure to check out one of David A. Hughes’ presentations!

Congratulations to Jeralyn H. Baran, Keith H. Berk, Aaron L.Hammer, Jeffrey H. Hechtman, James L. Jerue and Jeffrey A. Zaluda for being named 2023 Leading Lawyers! Only lawyers who are most often recommended by their peers and later approved by the Leading Lawyers Advisory Board are selected.

Jordan M. Goodman provides a nationwide State and Local Tax Update for the Houston TEI Tax School.

The ABA Tax Section’s SALT committee is pleased to welcome three judges from the Indiana, Oregon and Arizona Tax Courts who will share their insights and observations from the courtroom. David and the judges will touch on a variety of topics, including judicial philosophy, analytical frameworks, persuasion and the use of experts in SALT cases.

HMB is pleased to welcome Eric M. Hampton as an Associate in its Real Estate Group.

HMB would like to congratulate Sterling Douglass and the entire Chowly team on its acquisition of Koala, a guest experience platform that empowers restaurant brands to elevate their digital ordering experience across web, app and kiosk.

Congratulations Aaron L. Hammer on being named Legal Advisor of the Year by The M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards! Aaron was selected for outstanding track record of successful transactions and lifelong contributions to the turnaround industry.

New year, new employment laws! Join HMB’s Jeri H. Baran and Michael F. Hughes of Amundsen Davis at TMA’s HR Roundtable on February 9th as they discuss the new changes in federal, state and local employment laws.

Illinois has overhauled its unclaimed property statutes and regulations, including the recent law change requiring “negative reporting,” which requires all businesses to file an Illinois unclaimed property return even if there is nothing to report. Join David A. Hughes and BDO's Illinois unclaimed property team for a webinar on February 28th that will emphasize what businesses need to know about the state's unclaimed property compliance, risk mitigation and how to implement unclaimed property best practices.

HMB is proud to announce that Jeralyn H. Baran, Richard M. Horwood and Jeffrey A. Zaluda have been selected to the 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers list. Congratulations to our team!

HMB is pleased to welcome Eric J. Genin who joins the firm as Partner in its growing Real Estate Practice.

Samantha K. Breslow and David A. Hughes join the Chicago Tax Club for a webinar focused on recent sales tax developments in cloud computing.

Don’t get caught in a tax trap in this fast-moving SALT landscape. Join David as he discusses cloud computing, digital products and services, sourcing and compliance insights.

On January 25th, Rick Rein will join an esteemed panel of cross-border and international litigation professionals for a webinar hosted by ABI. They will share their experiences and insights on how to best approach cross-border disputes involving collection issues and venue considerations.

HMB Legal Counsel is excited to sponsor and present at the 2023 Midmarket Deal Makers Symposium in Miami, FL. This exclusive event seeks to facilitate authentic connections and relationships amongst leading dealmakers from a variety of industries.

North Carolina’s Supreme Court recently upheld a sales tax assessment on Wisconsin-based Quad Graphics’ sales into the state, finding that U.S. Supreme Court precedent would have required use tax to be levied instead was no longer valid. HMB's Jordan M. Goodman discusses the ruling with Law360 and said, “the state’s justices had all the leverage they needed to reverse the lower court.”

HMB Legal Counsel is pleased to announce three new partners across HMB’s State and Local Tax, Real Estate and Business and Finance Groups, effective January 1, 2023. Samantha K. Breslow has been elevated from Associate and Jamie L. Ross and Lisa A. Rothstein, having previously been Of Counsel at HMB, have joined the firm as Partners.

Don’t miss Jordan M. Goodman at Deloitte’s 19th Annual Multistate Tax Symposium on February 8-10!

In this article, Aaron L. Hammer, Rick S. Rein, Dan Wen and Claudia Suszczynska provide an overview of the decline in the cryptocurrency industry in 2022, otherwise known as a “crypto winter,” and the potential impacts of a surge in Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings by players in the space.

HMB’s litigation team, led by David S. Ruskin, and State and Local Tax attorney, David A. Hughes, began their representation of PACCAR in late 2019 when RN Acquisition, LLC filed a complaint alleging breach of contract and seeking a declaratory judgment arising from PACCAR’s alleged failure to pay the Chicago Lease Transaction Tax.

Jordan M. Goodman will provide a joint National SALT Update and Ethics presentation for the Chicago Tax Club's Winter Meeting.

HMB is excited to sponsor and present at NYU School of Professional Studies’ 41st Institute on State and Local Taxation. On December 13th, David A. Hughes will present, “What’s Happening Everywhere Today? Including Local Taxes” at the conference. Using a Today Show style interview format, David, his co-hosts and their guests will provide a rundown of what you need to know about the most important SALT developments affecting taxpayers across the country today, including issues with local taxes.

HMB would like to congratulate Golden Tech on a successful sale to The Purple Guys, a leading provider of managed IT services. Since 1996, Golden Tech has offered customized managed IT, cloud, security and consulting services to business owners in the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland market.

Remote working legal issues are not new, just exacerbated by COVID-19. During this session, Jordan will address state and local tax issues employers and employees face today.

David A. Hughes presents, “Mitigating Risk,” at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s 9th Annual Tax Conference: Helping You Succeed with Key Tax Strategies.

Have questions about charitable giving? Join HMB’s Jeffrey A. Zaluda and Scott Vender of Morgan Stanley for the Friends of ELNET’s upcoming seminar, “Creating Intelligent Philanthropic Legacies in any Economic Climate” on November 16th.

Jordan M. Goodman presents, "SALT Issues for Remote Workers" and "Pass-through Entity Taxation" at the CPAmerica 2022 Tax Conference.

HMB congratulates Svoboda Capital Partners on its investment exit in Clarion Healthcare, LLC, which has been acquired by Lumanity, a global leader in accelerating and optimizing patient access to medical advances. Svoboda Capital was represented by Jeffrey A. Hechtman, Brett M. Winterstein, Elise Anderson, Ryan T. Kelley and Kynat Akram.

David A. Hughes presents, “Tax Policy Implications of State and Local Taxes” at the Chicago Tax Club’s Fall Seminar.

We are pleased to announce that HMB earned top recognition by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in 2023.

Alyssa Karpinski is presenting at the National Business Institute’s upcoming course, “Illinois Probate Process: In 7 Simple Steps” on December 30th. She will address creditor claims, discuss resolving disputes and explore how to navigate probate litigation.

Join Jordan M. Goodman and David A. Hughes for the Council on State Taxation’s 53rd Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

David A. Hughes presents, “What’s Happening in the State Tax World of Leasing: Updates, Trends, Audits” at the VERTEX Exchange: Ahead of the Curve Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A Maryland Circuit Court judge recently struck down the state’s tax on digital advertising services. David A. Hughes told Tax Notes, “The judge, to her credit, took a more holistic view and said advertising is advertising, and if Maryland chooses not to tax traditional advertising, then the Internet Tax Freedom Act bars digital advertising.”

In this article, Rick S. Rein discusses how an equity receivership can be an effective tool to address financial fraud related to a business's mismanagement or improper use of assets.

HMB would like to congratulate MOXtech and its founder Joanna Mirov on the successful sale to Ntiva, a leading provider of managed IT and Security services. Founded in 2005, MXOtech helps clients achieve their business and organizational goals by providing the right mix of technology, strategy and expertise required to effectively implement and manage ever-changing tech offerings and business requirements.

HMB is pleased to announce that Jenna E. Stein has been elevated to Practice Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Group. She will oversee coaching, planning economic oversight, positioning and recruitment for the group.

HMB would like to congratulate Bridge Money and its founder Lalit Janak on the successful closing of their $5.8 million seed funding round. Founded in 2019, Bridge is a first-of-its-kind fintech company focused exclusively on boosting the asset side of the ledger for over 100 million low-to-middle income consumers.

Unethical conduct by lawyers of all varieties – private, government, in house, judicial - continues to make headlines. Violations affect not just the offending attorney, but families, colleagues, employers, clients and the legal profession at large.

You won’t want to miss Goodman v. Pomp live at the Paul J. Hartman SALT Forum on October 21st! Join Jordan M. Goodman and Professor Richard D. Pomp for a wide-ranging debate to determine who’s the heavyweight champion of all things SALT.

Don’t miss HMB’s SALT team at the 2022 IPT Sales Tax Symposium! Samantha K. Breslow will be presenting various topics related to current state and local tax trends.

David A. Hughes presents, “Successful Pursuit of Transactional Tax Refunds” at the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL) Annual Conference.

Jordan and his co-speakers will cover the basics of identifying your unclaimed property. They will also discuss how to report unclaimed property to the states and trends across the state in rewriting rules and adopting new ones.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue cannot pursue back taxes from certain third-party sellers that had inventory stored in the state as part of the fulfillment by Amazon program. Jordan M. Goodman discusses this recent decision with Law360 and says the ruling appears to be a significant decision “on the ‘new’ nexus standard measured and limited by the due process.”

HMB’s State and Local Tax group held a seminar at one of Chicago’s favorite social clubs, SPIN. Our team was delighted to see everyone in person again to discuss all things SALT! View a recoding of the seminar and request a copy of a presentation here.

During this webinar, Jordan M. Goodman will address ethics in a post-pandemic environment.

HMB is proud of the attorneys that have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

HMB is pleased to welcome Jennifer Kuzminski and Alyssa Karpinski to its Private Client, Trusts and Estates group.

After years of legal back-and-forth, Apple has settled its challenge against Chicago’s amusement tax. David A. Hughes discusses Apple’s settlement with Law360 and says businesses that had hoped this case would shed light on how the tax might apply to their services will be left with open questions.

In “Top 5 State & Local Tax Policies Of 2022” by Law360, Jordan M. Goodman shares his thoughts on the Multistate Tax Commission’s interpretation of P.L. 86-272. Jordan says, “I'm not an engineer, but it just seems to me that there's no difference between what was accepted with what you could do by phone call and what you can do by being online.”

You asked, we answered! Please join Aaron L. Hammer and our esteemed panel for a 30-minute encore, Q&A webinar hosted by S&P Global.

HMB Legal Counsel is pleased to welcome Jeralyn (“Jeri”) H. Baran who joins the firm as a Partner in its Business & Finance group. Jeri will lead HMB’s growing Employment Law practice.

HMB is pleased to announce that Jeffrey A. Zaluda and Timothy S. Rybicki were elected to its 2022 Board of Directors.

When it comes to managing unclaimed property, there are many nuances you need to be aware of. On July 14th, join David Hughes, Mark Heroux and Zeinat Zughayer for a webinar where they will discuss the basic principles of unclaimed property and address current updates with regard to managing it.

HMB is proud to welcome our 2022 Summer Law Clerks! Our program offers professional the opportunity to solve interesting problems, build their professional network and learn more about the practice that interests them.

Join David S. Ruskin and a panel of industry leaders at the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Annual Cannabis Law Institute! The conference takes place at George Washington University Law School on June 9-11.

With more states and countries legalizing cannabis in varying forms, the industry is likely to continue to expand. However, cannabis remains an illegal drug at the federal level, presenting numerous challenges for cannabis-related companies and their counsel. In his article for Practical Law, David S. Ruskin examines the top legal issues that practitioners must consider when counseling either a plant-touching cannabis company or a more indirect cannabis-related business.

Jordan M. Goodman discusses cookie nexus and the retroactive effect with Tax Notes.

On June 27th, Samantha K. Breslow will provide a refresher on the basics of state and local income taxation at the 2022 IPTAnnual Conference. During her presentation, she will also give an overview of how cities, countries and other local jurisdictions tax employees and employers based on their worksite or residence.

David A. Hughes and Jordan M. Goodman provided an update on recent development in the world of State and Local Tax.

On June 8th, Jordan M. Goodman will present a National Survey of the SALT Landscape at the FICPA MEGA Conference. You won’t want to miss this lively discussion about the latest state tax developments across the country!

HMB is the recipient of The M&A Advisor Turnaround Award for Out-of-Court Restructuring Deal of the Year. HMB was recognized for its representation of Europa Sports Products, LLC (“Europa”) in its successful sale to Europa Sports Partners, LLC (“ESP”). Congratulations to: Aaron L. Hammer, Keith Berk, Nathan E. Delman, Dan Wen, Casey E. Rivard and Elise Anderson.

Jordan M. Goodman is presenting, “Fundamentals of Formulary Apportionment” and “Ethics” at the IPT 2022 State Income Tax School. See below for details about his upcoming presentations. Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, Atlanta, GA Fundamentals of Formulary Apportionment 1:45 – 6:00 PM | July 19, 2022 Jordan will discuss the basic rules of formulary apportionment for state income taxes.…

Join Jordan M. Goodman, David Brunori, Richard Pomp, Christopher DeZinno and Maria Koklanaris for an upcoming webinar with Law360 Tax Authority on June 1st. You won’t want to miss this exciting discussion of hot topics in state and local tax!

Join Aaron L. Hammer for an upcoming webinar, “The Bankruptcy Outlook and a Trifecta of Factors: Global Risk, Inflation, Rising Rates,” with S&P Global on June 23rd where he and his co-presenters will dive deeper to refresh the bankruptcy outlook.

HMB would like to congratulate Lumaita, a healthcare-specific AI platform, on a successful sale to Somatus, the nation’s leading and largest value-based kidney care company. Lumiata is a predictive analytics company that specializes in tools for healthcare. Lumiata was represented by Brett M. Winterstein, Brian H. Axelrad and Ryan T. Kelley.

David A. Hughes and Jordan M. Goodman will provide a National SALT Update at the AGN North America Regional Meeting. They will cover recent and noteworthy SALT developments including nexus, remote workers, sourcing, digital goods, SAAS, cloud computing and more.

HMB’s Jordan M. Goodman has been named to Law360’s 2022 State and Local Tax Editorial Board. The editorial advisory board provides feedback on Tax Authority’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage. Congrats, Jordan!

Join Jordan M. Goodman for COST's 2022 Intermediate/Advanced Sales & Use Tax School. On May 16th, they will present, “Situs: Who Can Tax the Transaction” and examine the consistent and inconsistent ways states are trying to tax transactions while attempting to bolster sagging revenues.

Congratulations to Mark-It Express Logistics, a leading Midwest intermodal trucking and freight brokerage company, on its acquisition of Clean Car Connexion Trucking, a transportation company that specializes in intermodal, flatbed and overweight loads.

The Illinois Supreme Court recently ruled Cook County may not spend its transportation tax revenue on non-transportation-related purposes. David A. Hughes told Tax Notes the decision underscores that a home rule jurisdiction’s spending authority is not unlimited.

Bankruptcy fraud, which lessened during the pandemic, could increase this year according to HMB’s Rick S. Rein and Brad Sargent, Founder of The Sargent Consulting Group, LLC. In an article published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) FRAUD magazine, Rick and Brad provide an overview of bankruptcy fraud and constructive fraud.

HMB is proud to be a sponsor of the Council on State Taxation (“COST”) and the Chicago Tax Club (“CTC”) 2022 Mid-West Regional State Tax Seminar. Join David A. Hughes for his presentation on P.L. 86-272.

Aaron L. Hammer was recently featured on The Winning Momentum Podcast with Scott Sinclair. Aaron and Scott discuss entrepreneurship and Aaron shares his experience as both a corporate bankruptcy attorney and an entrepreneur.

One of the most relevant and complex issues in state tax today is how states should tax partnerships. In Law360’s “3 Things To Know About State Taxation Of Partnerships Now,” David A. Hughes discusses recent cases that are causing controversy in state tax partnership law.

How states obtain revenue has come under more intense scrutiny due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 26th, David A. Hughes will discuss the merits of different revenue sources, give state examples that have succeeded and failed and share the latest state policy proposals at the Sales Tax Institute's Advanced Sales and Use Tax Workshop.

Sam will dig into the tax implications for an array of technologies including software, SaaS, digital goods, streaming content, cloud computing, digital advertising and cryptocurrency.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently denied a petition from a multistate business that claimed New Jersey’s partnership filing fee was unconstitutional. According to David A. Hughes, there was little question that New Jersey’s fee fails the internal consistency test.

HMB would like to congratulate Hoosier Logistics (“Hoosier”), an Indianapolis-based logistics and supply chain provider, on its successful sale to Direct Connect Logistix (“DCL”), a third-party transportation and logistics service provider.

In “Texas Decision Stymies Tax Agency Attempt At Policy Change by Law360, Jordan M. Goodman discusses the Texas Supreme Court's decision to reverse a lower appellate court’s ruling. Jordan says, “The Texas Supreme Court, in overturning the lower court, simply conducted a plain reading of the statute as it was drafted.”

Join HMB's Rick Rein for a 45-minute Q&A session that gives attendees the opportunity to ask our international asset recovery expert specific questions.

HMB congratulates Svoboda Capital Partners, LLC (“SC”) on their partnership with Horwitz, LLC (“Horwitz”).

HMB’s Aaron L. Hammer predicts corporate bankruptcies will remain low this year in an S&P Global article.

Jordan M. Goodman will provide an All State Update for the Tax Executives Institute (“TEI”) Tax School.

David A. Hughes found the court’s ruling surprising, as Apple had previously amended its complaint and tax matters are rarely dismissed for failure to sufficiently state a claim.

On March 30, Jordan M. Goodman will participate in a Mock Trial at the Annual Unclaimed Property Professional Organization.

Jordan M. Goodman is presenting, “Sales Tax in a Post Wayfair Environment” for YPO’s Southern 7 Chapter.

David A. Hughes and Samantha K. Breslow will provide a state and local tax update at the Illinois CPA Society Corporate Finance Conference.

Samantha K. Breslow will provide a Chicago tax update for the Chicago Bar Association’s State and Local Tax Committee.

Jordan M. Goodman discusses trending SALT issues and policies with Professor Richard D. Pomp during the Annual “Big Easy Brawl” at the ABA/IPT Virtual 2022 Advanced Tax Seminars.

David A. Hughes moderates, “State Transfer Pricing: Challenges, Issues and Opportunities for Multistate Taxpayer” at the ABA/IPT Virtual 2022 Advanced Tax Seminars.

Jordan M. Goodman Discusses Priority Rules for Unclaimed Property Disputes with Law360.

Jordan M. Goodman is presenting, “Successful Pursuit of Transactional Tax Refunds – From Audit Through Appeals” at the 2022 COST Sales Tax Conference and Audit Session.

HMB congratulates Science on Call on the closing of its $1.6 million in pre-seed funding. The Chicago startup will use the new funding to keep restaurants up and running by helping with outages, glitches and other tech challenges.

In his article, David A. Hughes discusses how to approach unclaimed property self-audits and provides a brief history and overview of Illinois’s Unclaimed Property Act.

HMB would like to congratulate LandscapeHub on the successful closing of their $9 million Series A round of funding.

David A. Hughes and David Blum, Deputy Chair, Tax Practice Group at Akerman LLP, will discuss important sales, use and excise tax cases filed in 2021 that impact your business in this upcoming webinar.

Congratulations to Matthew Barrett and Marla Izbicky for being selected to the 2022 Illinois Rising Stars list.

Jordan M. Goodman presents, “Possibilities and Paths Forward in Multistate Taxation: Welcome Back,” at the 2022 National Multistate Tax Symposium on 2/10/22.

Aaron L. Hammer discusses corporate bankruptcy filings with S&P Market Intelligence.

In the second episode of SALTovation’s two-part series, Jordan M. Goodman continues his conversation with Rich Pomp.

Dunes Point Capital Announces the Sale of Specialty Products and Insulation.

Hy-Tek Holdings ("Hy-Tek"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC") has acquired Advanced Handling Systems, LLC ("AHS"). AHS, located in Erlanger, KY, is a material handling automation integrator offering a full suite of services with a focus on robotic solutions. Located in Columbus, OH, Hy-Tek Holdings is a material handling automation integrator serving clients in diverse end markets…

Jordan M. Goodman Discusses SALT Issues on the SALTovation Podcast.

HMB congratulates clients Aegon Asset Management and Avenue Capital Group which recently announced the closing of a $50 Million growth financing round in Intellihot to advance innovative green technologies.

HMB is pleased to announce that Matthew R. Barrett, Jenna E. Stein and Raymond J. Jacobi III have been elevated to Partner. “We are delighted to have Matt, Jenna and Ray as Partners at HMB,” said Jeff Hechtman, HMB's Managing Partner. “I am very proud of each of them and all they have accomplished, and know they will do great…

David S. Ruskin Presents, “Before the Application: Preparation, Team Building, Business Structure and Capitalization” at NCIA’s Cannabis Summit.

Jordan Goodman presents, "Notes from the Courtroom: An Update on State Corporate Income Tax Litigation Across the Country."

HMB Represents Long-time Client and Social Enterprise LuminAID in Sale to Leading Provider of Outdoor Recreation Products.

Jordan M. Goodman Interviewed by Law360: “7 Things Tax Pros Are Grateful For This Thanksgiving Season”.

HMB would like to congratulate Loft Growth Partners on its partnership with Back to the Roots.

HMB is pleased to welcome Dan Wen to its growing Bankruptcy, Reorganization & Creditors’ Rights practice.

Jeffrey A. Hechtman and Aaron L. Hammer Discuss Deal Making Insights at the Mid-Market Dealmaker Symposium.

Client Success: Svoboda Capital Partners LLC Announces Recapitalization of The Variable.

David A. Hughes and Samantha K. Breslow Discuss Chicago’s Cloud Tax and Audits with Bloomberg Law.

Aaron L. Hammer and Nathan E. Delman Present, “I Don’t Wanna Hear It! – All About the Equitable Mootness Doctrine” at the CBA Bankruptcy and Reorganization Committee Meeting.

HMB Named to U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® 2022 “Best Law Firms”.

David A. Hughes Moderated, the SALT Roundtable at the ABA Virtual Fall Tax Meeting.

David A. Hughes Moderated, “Income Tax Nexus: Implications of Wayfair” at the ABA Virtual Fall Tax Meeting.

David A. Hughes Presented, “State and Local Tax Issues for a Mobile Workforce” at the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors.

Dunes Point Capital, LP Announces Premium Label & Packaging Solutions LLC’s Acquisition of Luminer Converting Group, LLC.

David A. Hughes Presents, “State and Local Tax Issues in Corporate M&A” at the Practising Law Institute in Chicago.

David A. Hughes and Jordan M Goodman present at the AGN Annual Conference in Miami.

Jordan M. Goodman presents at the CPAmerica 2021 Tax Conference.

Jordan M. Goodman presents at the MICPA Michigan Tax Conference.

David A. Hughes will be moderating, and Samantha K. Breslow will be presenting a session at the Chicago Tax Club’s 67th Annual Fall Seminar.

Fred O. Marcus discusses the cannabis industry and how it continues to establish itself in California.

Client Success: HMB Represents Classic Journeys in Sale to Global Provider in Experiential Travel Offerings.

SPI, a portfolio company of DPC, has acquired Amerisafe.

Samantha K. Breslow present at the Annual National Association of State Bar Tax Sections (“NASBTS”) Conference.

HMB would like to congratulate Deck Commerce on the closing of their Series A funding led by Plymouth Growth.

Jordan M. Goodman will discuss Illinois and national ethics standards for both attorneys and accountants and how they come into play in the state and local tax world for the Taxpayer’s Federation of Illinois.

On July 26, 2021, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Something Sweet Acquisition, Inc. selected HMB Legal Counsel (“HMB”) as its counsel, with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approving HMB’s retention on September 23, 2021. Something Sweet Acquisition, Inc. and Something Sweet, Inc. (together “Something Sweet”) are industry leaders in the production and sale of…

HMB is thrilled to welcome Caitlyn and Emily into its Fall 2021 Law Clerk Program! Many HMB attorneys, including partners, started out in this program. Law Clerks are given the opportunity to explore the firm’s practice areas while collaborating with Associates and Partners. Only law students in the top 30% of their class with at least one year in law…

Jordan M. Goodman presents, "Goodman v. Pomp" at the Hartman SALT Forum.

Located in Neenah, WI, All-Lift is a provider of aftermarket services and parts for overhead cranes and other lifting equipment, including OSHA mandated inspections, safety-critical parts and repairs, and crane equipment. All-Lift has three facilities in Wisconsin and Michigan and employs approximately 100 people.

HMB would like to congratulate HAAS Alert on the closing of their equity financing round. The $5M in investment capital will support the nationwide expansion of Safety Cloud, the leading automotive digital alerting system that’s standard on emergency and roadway fleet vehicles. HAAS Alert’s platform enables real-time safety alerts between vehicles and connected infrastructure (V2X) to reduce the risk of…

Beyond Capital Ventures invests in next wave innovation addressing the growing needs of 1 billion+ consumers in India and East Africa. The firm first closed in Spring 2021 and will invest in conscious leaders building businesses to address growing needs in “need-to-have” sectors, primarily in healthcare, agriculture and financial inclusion. 

Jeffrey A. Hechtman, Richard M. Horwood, Rick S. Rein and Jeffrey A. Zaluda were named to Best Lawyers in America 2022 and Alicia A. Handy was named to the Best Lawyers 2022 Ones to Watch List.

HMB’s Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Creditors’ Rights Team including Aaron Hammer, Nathan Delman and the late John Guzzardo, representing FishDish, LLP, preferred shareholders holders of the bankrupt VeroBlue Farms USA, Inc. at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, successfully argued that the District Court prematurely dismissed FishDish’s appeal by improperly invoking the judicial doctrine known commonly known as “Equitable Mootness.”

Specialty Products and Insulation ("SPI"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC"), has acquired the assets of Thermaxx, LLC ("Thermaxx"). Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, SPI is a value added distributor and fabricator of mechanical insulation and complementary products for commercial and industrial applications. SPI's products help conserve energy, preserve worker safety and provide noise abatement. SPI currently operates 57…

Effective January 1, 2021 Kentucky eliminated its Bank Franchise Tax ("BFT")and instead subjected financial institutions and financial organizations to the state's existing Corporate Income Tax ("CIT") and Limited Liability Entity Tax ("LLET").

Ehrhardt Tool and Machine, LLC, dba Ehrhardt Automation Systems ("EAS"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC") acquires SAF Drives Inc ("SAF Drives"). DPC was represented by HMB’s Private Equity Team, including Corporate Associates Raymond J. Jacobi III and Payal J. Patel.

In this series by Sales Tax Institute, Three Years of South Dakota v. Wayfair: is discusses how the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision has changed the landscape for businesses over the past three years. The second wave of sales tax nexus legislation following the 2018 Wayfair decision was marketplace nexus or marketplace facilitator collection legislation. In simple terms, this type…

In this series by Sales Tax Institute, Three Years of South Dakota v. Wayfair discusses how the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision has changed the landscape for businesses over the past three years. On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court released its fateful decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair. The Wayfair decision upended decades of the physical presence standard for…

David Hughes via the Sales Tax Institute, presented classes "Construction Industry Update" and "Breaking Down Local Taxes: Compliance & Audit Challenges" as an instructor. David presented "Construction Industry Update" on 4/20/21 and "Breaking Down Local Taxes: Compliance & Audit Challenges" on 5/5/21. In "Construction Industry Update", David discusses legislative updates, administrative process and audit issues and more. In "Breaking Down…

David Hughes was named Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's State and Local Tax Committee. Founded in 1878, the ABA is committed to advancing the rule of law across the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, law school accreditation, model ethics codes and more. David advises Fortune 500 companies, privately-held companies, middle-market businesses and…

6/1/21 During this webinar for AGN, David Hughes and Jordan M. Goodman provide an update on recent developments in the world of State and Local Tax. The mission of AGN is to enable its members to globally support businesses and individuals with high standards, straight forward & practical business advice and local commercial know-how, wherever the need arises. AGN member’s…

5/10/21 Join David Hughes as he moderates the SALT Roundtable at the ABA Tax Conference. The SALT Committee will be discussing related issues in a virtual version of its traditional “Saturday Morning Roundtable.”  …

5/3/21 David Hughes discusses recent developments and trends in unclaimed property to the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors. The Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors is the trade association of major retail automobile lessors who share the belief that high ethical standards of conduct and vigorous competition are the best ways to foster the growth of and public confidence in consumer…

In the Sales Tax Institute's series, Women to Watch in Sales Tax, hosted by Diane Yetter, Samantha K. Breslow discusses tips for women navigating their careers in tax. Throughout this challenging last year, Sam has thrown herself into developing industry specific expertise in SaaS and cloud based computing. She recommends each individual professional learn how to get creative and market…

In Part IV of the Three Years of South Dakota v. Wayfair series by Sales Tax Institute, Jordan M. Goodman, with Diane Yetter for Sales Tax Institute takes a look at local tax issues following the Wayfair decision. Tune in to learn why local taxes have become such a huge headache, what could be improved and how states are trying…

HMB would like to congratulate Everywhere Wireless, a preeminent Internet service provider in Chicago, and CEO and Founder Keegan Bonebrake and the rest of the Everywhere Wireless team on a successful investment round with M/C Partners ("M/C"), a Boston-based communications and technology focused private equity firm. Everywhere Wireless, one of the largest private Internet Service Providers to multi-family and commercial…

HMB assisted its client, Central National Gottesman, Inc. d/b/a Lindenmeyr Munroe ("LM") in obtaining a judgment against J.S. Paluch, Inc. in the amount of $1,013,476.19 plus 5% prejudgment interest per annum. HMB initiated litigation on behalf of Lindenmenyr Munroe in late 2019 seeking judgment in its favor for unpaid invoices and breach of a promissory note. The complaint alleged two…

On October 23, 2018, Innvision Hospitality ("the defendant") obtained a judgment against Snowhite Textile ("Snowhite") for $250,000. The judgment became final on February 2, 2021. HMB's Litigation team, led by Rick S. Rein, was brought onto the case on March 30, 2021, because the defendant's company and assets were located in Illinois. The judgment was registered in state on April…

7/13/21 4:30PM - 6:00PM CT The Midwest Chapter is hosting an interactive and enlightening panel discussion on the role of rollover equity in M&A transactions including what you need to know as a seller or buyer to protect your interests in transactions involving rollover equity. Prior to the panel discussion Chapter Leaders and Staff will provide updates on local and…

In this second part of the series by Sales Tax Institute, Jordan M. Goodman, with other presenters, discusses how the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision has changed the landscape for businesses over the past three years. Part II takes a look at the cost of compliance on businesses following the decision with an emphasis on how it has impacted technology…

7/29/21 4:15PM The pandemic has been a driver of many changes to the world as we know it. The concept of the workplace has drastically changed and the global economy has been transformed. As state governments experienced substantial revenue shortfalls because of COVID-19, they scrambled to adapt to these transformations. In this session, Samantha K. Breslow will address state income…

7/27/2021 Join Jordan M. Goodman for this program that will take a look at the nexus standards in the three years from when Wayfair was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Jordan will examine the current nexus laws for not only sales tax, but income tax, occupation taxes and other taxes imposed by state and local governments. He will also…

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the untimely passing of our dear friend and colleague, Joshua Haberkorn. Josh passed away on June 24th at the age of 31 after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Josh was a talented attorney with an incredible work ethic and a contagious smile. Josh started at HMB as a…

Specialty Products and Insulation ("SPI"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC"), has acquired the assets of NewStar Solutions Inc. ("NewStar").

Read the full article by Law360 here (subscription required). In a year when states focused on shaking off the effects of the coronavirus crisis, some changed business tax regimes to build their coffers while others, flush with federal pandemic relief cash, advanced significant tax cuts. An Illinois budget bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker pauses the phaseout of…

HMB would like to congratulate PechaKucha, a social storytelling platform that has been used by millions of people across the globe, and CEO and Co-founder Sean Smyth and the rest of the PechaKucha team on a $2.7 million Seed funding round. PechaKucha, based in Chicago and Tokyo, is a fast-growing storytelling platform used by millions of people across the globe. Content creators, schools,…

Best in Class Technology Services ("BCTS"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC"), has acquired Thayer Corporation and Dyer Service. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, BCTS is a provider of commercial HVAC aftermarket services including maintenance, repair and project work. BCTS has 14 locations across seven states and employs over 500 people. For more information, please visit Vulcan Mechanic…

HMB would like to congratulate Parkonect, a cloud-born, mobile-first parking technology company delivering Parking Access and Revenue Control, and its CEO Harlan Karp and the Parkonect team on a successful sale to FLASH, a leader in flexible technology solutions for urban real estate. Parkonect helps properties by facilitating connectivity and mobility in parking assets via real-time intelligence and digital commerce…

Hy-Tek Holdings ("Hy-Tek"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC"), has acquired BP Controls Inc. and Nogol Electric LLC (collectively "BP Controls"). Located in Columbus, OH, Hy-Tek Holdings is a material handling automation integrator serving clients in diverse end markets and applications, including ecommerce, third party logistics and parcel. DPC was represented by HMB’s Private Equity Team. Tax Partner Kenneth…

HMB is proud to welcome Kynat, Leah and Joseph into its 2021 Summer Law Clerk Program! The program offers professionals who are motivated to solve interesting problems and driven to make a difference for clients the opportunity to learn more about which practice areas interest them while building their professional network. Working close with associates and senior partners, Kynat, Leah…

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the untimely passing of our dear friend and colleague, John Guzzardo. John passed away on Friday, June 4th at the age of 49 due to a car crash while on vacation with his family in California. John was a Partner at HMB, the Chair of the firm’s Litigation Group, a mentor to many and a friend to all.

7/28/21 Austin, TX Join Jordan M. Goodman for this session that will lay the groundwork for all that happened while you were socially distancing during the pandemic. It will examine the most relevant happenings in sales tax, property tax, income tax and credit/incentives disciplines that the SALT community has not been able to discuss in a public forum. IPT is…

In an article by Law360, Samantha K. Breslow discusses Illinois Lawmakers approving the budget with GILTI addback. Read the full article by Law360 here. Illinois would require an addback for certain global intangible low-taxed income deductions, halt a phaseout of its franchise tax and temporarily cap net operating loss deductions under a $42.3 billion fiscal year 2022 budget that lawmakers…

6/9/21 11:30AM - 12:45PM CT In this presentation for the Chicago Tax Club, David A. Hughes, with Korwin Roskos and Jacob Seitz from Andersen and Illinois Chamber Tax Institute Executive Director Keith Staats, will discuss the tax-related legislation passed – or not passed - by the Illinois General Assembly during the spring legislative session. This presentation qualifies for CPE and…

5/18/21 1:00PM - 2:00PM ET Employers and employees are facing a conundrum: work from home (WFH) or return to the office. Factoring in the lack of a commute, more family time and increased flexibility, many employees have requested the WFH arrangement become permanent. Many employers are seeking to comply to remain competitive for the best talent. However, once employees are…

HMB would like to congratulate DigIn Technologies, LLC d/b/a Spraoi, a leading provider of machine learning capabilities for the Group Life and Employee Benefits industry, and its Co-Founders Karan Mishra, Matthew O’Mara and Santoash Rajaram, on a successful sale to FINEOS Corporation, a global market leader in core systems for life, accident and health insurance. Spraoi is an insurance technology…

On September 4, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) enacted a nationwide eviction moratorium that bans landlords from evicting residential tenants who are unable to pay rent (“CDC Order”).  On May 5, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the CDC Order, holding…

6/9/21 10:05AM - 10:55AM, 11:00AM - 11:50AM This 2-part presentation presented by Jordan M. Goodman, will get the audience up to date on recent state and local tax cases and statutory changes that will affect their client's business. Examine when a state can impose its taxing jurisdiction on an out-of-state business and what taxpayers can do to protect themselves; Learn…

6/15/21 Cannabis cultivation is an industry with great economic promise, but the potential environmental cost of Illinois’ most recent economic boon needs to be acknowledged. Join David S. Ruskin and James M. Jennings (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency), Cary J. Shepherd (Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law) and Kaitlin Urso (Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment) for this in-depth look…

Illinois Craft Cannabis Association (“ICCA”) v. The State of Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and its director, Jerry Costello II, Case No. 2020 CH 06247 Since our last update on the ICCA’s lawsuit against the State of Illinois, much has happened, but unfortunately nothing has changed. The delays continue for the hundreds of Craft Grower, Infuser…

A year ago, during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed timely to explore force majeure provisions and legal theories that would permit a party to suspend its contractual obligations under certain circumstances.  At the time, it was unclear how courts would interpret force majeure provisions that did not expressly include a pandemic or epidemic within its list…

Svoboda Capital Partners ("SCP"), a private equity firm, announced its recapitalization of Marcus Thomas LLC ("MT"), a full-service marketing and advertising agency. HMB represented SCP in the recapitalization. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. SCP is a Chicago-based private equity firm that invests in leading middle market growth companies. Founded in 1998, the SCP team has more than…

HMB would like to congratulate Vetspire, an artificial intelligence veterinary medical record and practice management platform, and founder Sam Ginn on a successful sale to Pathway Vet Alliance ("Pathway"), an industry leading veterinary management group serving pets and their parents at more than 400 locations throughout the U.S. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Founded in 2017, Vetspire’s software…

4/21/21 1:45PM The TEI Dallas Chapter have asked Jordan M. Goodman to take a tour of the countries’ state tax decisions and explain their impact on multi-state business. They will also identify trends around the country in the SALT area and offer advice on how to address state audit positions.…

Law360 named Jordan M. Goodman as a part of the 2021 State & Local Tax editorial advisory board. The board provides feedback on Law360's coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage. On the board with Jordan is Alvan L. Bobrow of Barton LLP, John Fletcher of Jones Walker LLP, Richard Jones of Sullivan & Worcester LLP,…

HMB would like to congratulate Lightstream and its CEO and Co-founder Stu Grubbs, COO and Co-founder Aaron Hassell, CCO and Co-founder Ryan Forquer and Principal Engineer and Co-founder Dan Trocchio on a successful sale to Creative Solutions, a division of Vitec Group, a UK publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange. Lightstream is a US-based tech company that builds…

Premium Label & Packaging Solutions, LLC ("PLPS"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC"), has acquired Label Graphics Manufacturing, Inc. ("LGM"). Headquartered in Rye, NY, PLPS is a group holding company for specialty label converters producing custom pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves and related packaging products for the health, wellness, personal care, food and beverage and other markets. DPC…

5/4/21 1:00PM CT In this webinar for the Chicago Tax Club, Jordan M. Goodman and Dakota S. Newton review the state-level approaches to the NOL and PPP provisions of the CARES Act, discuss issues related to remote employees and provide an update on how these are affecting income and sales tax nexus. This webinar qualifies for CPE credit. Register for…

The Supreme Court’s decision effectively means that a company can utilize devices that automate calls and texts, as long as that device cannot use a random or sequential number generator to either store or produce the telephone number.

HMB congratulates Skubana in their strategic sale to 3PL Central ("3PL"), expanding their supply chain technology and filling an important gap in the ecommerce and omnichannel ecosystem. The combination of Skubana's intelligent order orchestration with 3PL Central's extensive network of warehouses offering ecommerce fulfillment and retail replenishment is expected to open a new chapter in software, allowing companies to have…

CHAPTER 11 FILINGS IN 2020 AND BEYOND Unless your January 2020 payroll included Nostradamus, the forthcoming global pandemic and resulting mass quarantines were largely unforeseeable. Last year’s unpredictability did, however, lead to the rather predictable material increase in Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. Epiq Companies recently reported to the American Bankruptcy Institute that commercial Chapter 11 filings increased 29% in 2020.…

HMB would like to congratulate WorkChew and its co-founders, Maisha Burt and Allyson McDougal on a successful funding round. WorkChew, a startup that turns hotels and restaurants into on-demand flexible workspaces, raised $2.5 million. With WorkChew, company employees can access workspaces wherever they are: whether in an urban corridor or a suburb outside of a major city. Membership is often…

Aaron L. Hammer was featured on the cover of Turnaround Management Association Chicago's Newsletter of Corporate Renewal celebrating its 30 year anniversary. The newsletter celebrates the TMA's focus on growing networks, identifying business opportunities, adding to its members' knowledge base, providing leadership and having fun with great people. As Aaron said, "TMA is -- and always will be -- family.…

In this article by State Tax Notes, Jordan M. Goodman discusses Chicago's guidance and economic nexus safe harbor. Download the full article here. Speaking during the Virtual 2021 American Bar Association/Institute for Professionals in Taxation Advanced Sales and Use Tax Seminar on March 15, Jordan applauded the city for issuing the guidance. The city “actually did something that I have…

3/30/21 9:15AM - 10:15AM Jordan M. Goodman will present a mock trial with the UPPO Conference. This mock experience will utilize recent unclaimed property cases as the backdrop. Register for the event here. Request a copy of the presentation here.…

Specialty Products and Insulation ("SPI"), a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, LP ("DPC"), has acquired Rocky Mountain Construction Wholesale, LLC ("RMCW"). Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, SPI is a value added distributor and fabricator of mechanical and building insulation products and complementary products for commercial and industrial applications. The Company currently operates 56 distribution branches and 13 co-located fabrication facilities…

HMB congratulates Aeropay, a Chicago-based digital payments platform powering bank transfer payments for businesses, and CEO and Founder Daniel Muller on announcing the closing of a $5+ million venture round. AeroPay is a next-generation payments company, reimagining the way money is moved in exchange for goods and services. Since its founding, AeroPay has operated with the goal of simplifying payments…

3/17/21 Chicago, IL The lively duo of Nathan E. Delman and Michael Miller from the Semrad Law Firm will get you caught up on the latest and greatest in both commercial and consumer bankruptcy law developments from the Seventh Circuit and the Supreme Court. Register for the event here.     …

3/15/21 11:15AM - 12:45PM ET The Annual “Big Easy Brawl” is back! A test of ideas and perspectives on current and trending SALT issues and policies - and a bit of controversy - with Jordan M. Goodman and Professor Rick Pomp of the UCONN School of Law. The two SALT Sages bring years of experience to share insights and discuss…

3/4/21 1:30PM ET Join David S. Ruskin as he presents a webinar with Christopher Pippett of Fox Rothschild LLP for the Seminar Group. This presentation will cover the challenges of banking in the cannabis industry, as part of a bigger seminar on Illinois and Michigan. This seminar will cover topics directly related to medical and adult use cannabis laws and regulations under…

HMB congratulates David A. Hughes on being elected to the Chicago Tax Club Board of Directors. David is a partner in HMB’s State and Local Tax (SALT) Group and is a member of HMB's Board of Directors. He helps clients limit their state and local tax exposure through sensible planning and, when necessary, vigorous litigation strategies. David advises Fortune 500…

3/17/21 David A. Hughes will be presenting and moderating at the ABA-IPT conference for a webinar titled, “What to do with Public Law 86-272?” Public Law 86-272 is now 60 years old. While P.L. 86-272 made sense in the pre-internet, the manufacturing-oriented economy of 1959, many commentators have called into question the law’s continuing relevance in a digital and ser­vices…

Beginning on May 1, 2021, Chicago will end its decades-long ban on the construction and conversion of certain accessory dwelling units when the Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance (“Ordinance”) goes into effect. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The goal of the Ordinance is to establish new residential units that are sustainable and cost-effective while maintaining neighborhood character The Ordinance aims…

In this article by Law360, Jordan M. Goodman discusses the Tax Injunction Act and state tax issues being filed into federal court. Read the full article by Law360 here. The complaint by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Internet Association, NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association, filed Feb. 18, had been widely expected, but it contained a procedural twist. It…

In this article by Law360, David A. Hughes discusses Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget plan that would reverse several tax laws that the governor signed just two years ago, including a phaseout of the state's franchise tax. Read the full article by Law360 here (subscription required). Illinois' governor proposed temporarily capping net operating losses, reducing state deductions for global intangible…

4/19 - 5/18 Join David A. Hughes and Jordan M. Goodman for ten virtual sessions at the Sales Tax Institute’s 2021 Advanced Sales and Use Tax Workshop. They’ll be discussing many niches of sales tax from the impact of remote employees and local taxes to healthcare and construction. The ten sessions will start at 11:00AM and end at 1:15PM ET…

Ashling Partners, LLC ("Ashling"), a professional services and technology firm, announced the closing of a growth capital investment by funds managed by Thomas H. Lee Partners ("THL"). Joshua Bresler, THL Managing Director, and Kearney Shanahan, THL Director, will join the Ashling board of directors as part of the transaction. “The investment and partnership with THL not only enables our global…

3/11/21 12:00PM - 1:00PM CT In this presentation, HMB’s Chris Lutz and Jordan Goodman will square off in the Zoom arena to determine who is the heavy-weight champion of all things SALT! Join us for a wide-ranging debate covering all corners of the state and local tax landscape including: Nexus for all taxes; Taxability of software; Developments in apportionment; and…

HMB congratulates FingerprintJS and its founders, Dan Pinto and Valentin Vasilyev, on closing an $8M Series A financing round. The company, a new kind of toolkit offering a browser fingerprinting service, is based on an open-source project that already has 10 million downloads and 8,000 websites using the service. Fingerprint JS plans to use the capital to expand its fraud prevention…

2/25/21 12:10-1:15PM In this webinar hosted by COST, join Jordan M. Goodman as he discusses how tax issues are not isolated to state tax administration. This session will cover states with local sales tax administration such as Alabama, Alaska, Colorado and Louisiana. In addition, other troublesome local taxes such as those in Chicago and other cities will be addressed. Register…

4/22/21 6 credit hours for CLE, CPE and CFP offered. The Northern Trust Institute’s inaugural Wealth Planning Symposium will examine key themes transforming wealth planning from leading industry thought leaders. This two-day virtual conference will provide unique perspectives and actionable insights on how to embrace this moment and advise clients with a more collaborative, data-driven and purposeful approach. "ESG: No…

In this ABI Journal article, Aaron L. Hammer discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry and managing Red South Beach through the crisis. Download the full article here. The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created unprecedented distress in many industries. Arguably, the hardest hit to date is the restaurant industry. Getting through a workout during COVID-19 has…

In this article by Law360, Aaron L. Hammer discusses GenCanna filing an adversary proceeding seeking $1.2 million back that the company paid to law firm, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP ("Pillsbury"). Read the full article by Law360 here (paid subscription required). GenCanna, now known as OGGUSA Inc. after the company sold its assets as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy, paid…

In this article by Bloomberg Law Tax, David A. Hughes discusses Chicago's "Netflix Tax". Read the full article here. Chicago will inject an economic presence standard and a safe harbor for smaller streaming and cloud services into its administration of the city’s “Netflix tax,” beginning July 1. Chicago’s Department of Finance issued a bulletin late Thursday outlining its enforcement of the amusement…

HMB congratulates the management team of client Surgical Directions, a national consulting, leadership and analytics partner to hospital systems and medical groups who seek to improve their perioperative and anesthesia services, for acquiring the company from Mednax Services, Inc. ("Mednax"), a national health solutions partner. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We are incredibly excited about how this will…

2/11/21 12:15PM - 1:30PM CT CPE credit (pending) Are you familiar with the concept of unclaimed property? Are you on a state’s audit radar? Has the Delaware Secretary of State issued you  a notice related to their voluntary disclosure program? Did you receive an audit notice from a third-party audit firm? Or, are you tasked with determining whether there is…

1/21/21 This webinar addresses the SALT issues faced by businesses whose employees have chosen to work in a different (out-of-state) location. David A. Hughes will discuss topics including nexus, withholding, sourcing, unemployment insurance and reciprocal agreements.…

1/20/21 David A. Hughes will explore income tax issues faced by individual taxpayers with a primary focus on residency. Other issues will include credits for tax paid to other states, taxation of nonresident individuals, and determining domicile for businesses.…

Illinois legislation impacting sourcing rules for marketplace facilitators, sellers, and remote sellers- the “Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act”- is now in effect for 2021 and Illinois Retailers’ Occupation Tax (the “ROT”) returns will be due soon.  The Illinois Department of Revenue has made a resource page available for affected retailers and marketplaces. As we discussed in June…

HMB congratulates client Dina Care, an AI-powered care-at-home platform and network, for successfully closing a $7 million Series A funding round led by Philadelphia-based Osage Venture Partners. Existing investors, strategic partners and Wheaton, Ill.-based First Trust Capital Partners LLC, also participated in the round. Funding will be used to accelerate Dina Care’s development of its industry-leading care coordination platform and…

2/2/21 12:45PM - 1:45PM & 2:00PM - 3:00PM ET With various sectors being impacted by the downturn, multistate tax professionals must recognize and proactively address state tax issues and execute state tax planning arising from mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations. This session will focus on tax attribute planning, including the interaction between state versus federal rules and utilizing net operating loss…

1/12/21 David A. Hughes and Jordan M. Goodman presented a webinar on current SALT developments with an emphasis on income tax apportionment, CARES Act related issues, and the impact of COVID on multistate businesses.…

Illinois-based CaptionAccess is a deaf-owned and managed company providing communication access services to the government, corporate and education sectors. CaptionAccess is strongly positioned in the education sector, providing a broad and complementary expansion of Ai-Media’s enterprise customer base in the region.

HMB welcomes Sean D. Auton, Christin A. Handa, Jeffrey A. Hechtman, David A. Hughes and Kate Kanabay to its 2021 Board of Directors.

Aaron L. Hammer, John W. Guzzardo and Nathan E. Delman of HMB Legal Counsel have been retained as counsel for the wind-down trustee in In re OGGUSA, Inc. (f/k/a GenCanna Global USA, Inc.). Earlier this year, CBD giant GenCanna made national headlines when its creditors forced the company into a Kentucky bankruptcy court After a high stakes court battle which…

Chicago, IL December 18, 2020 HMB Legal Counsel, a preeminent provider of legal services in Business and Finance, State and Local Tax, Trusts and Estates, Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Creditors' Rights, Real Estate and Litigation announced that Robert J. Schaul was elevated to partner. Robert is a partner in HMB’s Business and Finance Group. He focuses his practice on general corporate…

Before we say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021, HMB is celebrating some of our favorite moments from the past year with our Week of Holiday Cheer. Over the next week, we'll remember a few moments and accomplishments that we are most proud of. You can follow our Week of Holiday Cheer on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Celebrating 2020 and…

12/18/20 Samantha K. Breslow will discuss the Internet Tax Freedom Act for the Chicago Bar Association YLS Business Law Transactions Committee. The intent of the Internet Tax Freedom Act was to protect electronic commerce from the taxman, but has it succeeded? This webinar will focus on recent pending cases (Labell v. City of Chicago and Apple, Inc. v. City of…

HMB is proud to announce that John W. Guzzardo has been appointed by the United State Trustee of Region 11 to the Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. John is Chair of HMB’s Litigation Group and a partner in HMB’s Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Creditors’ Rights practice. "Over the past eleven years of my…

12/8/20 10:00AM - 11:30AM CT David W. Machemer and Samantha K. Breslow will present a City of Chicago and Cook County update for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Tax Institute. Chicagoland revenue departments have become increasingly more aggressive with respect to the enforcement and collection of local taxes. This presentation will explore recent developments to local taxes that have seen…

HMB congratulates TruQua, a Chicago-based IT Consulting company, for its sale to IBM. TruQua will enable IBM to broaden its consulting expertise and capabilities to help clients implement SAP solutions that will improve and automate financial management workflows, enhance operational efficiency and, ultimately, drive an enterprise-wide transformation through the adoption of SAP S/4HANA, the latest generation of SAP's ERP business…

HMB congratulates Svoboda Capital Partners LLC ("SC") on their partnership with Clarion Healthcare ("Clarion"). Founded in 1998, SC is a Chicago-based private equity firm that identifies, invests in and helps build excellent businesses in its targeted business niches: value-added distribution, business services and consumer products. “Clarion is a very impressive organization, delivering high value to clients by bridging the intersection…

Local jurisdictions should clarify the nexus standards for their taxes, Jordan M. Goodman said, noting that the Wayfair decision has raised questions of how nexus at the state level applies to local nexus considerations. For local taxes that have a state equivalent, states and localities should "link up" and inform taxpayers of whether nexus with the state means a taxpayer…

We are pleased to announce that HMB earned top recognition in the 2021 edition of  U.S. News & World - 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…

11/19/20 4:00PM - 5:00PM Join Jordan M. Goodman and Professor Richard Pomp and Jordan Goodman as they recap the nation’s top state tax cases, state and local legislation, policy developments and controversies over the last year with an informative and hopefully engaging presentation designed to keep practitioners current on non-New England developments. This year’s presentation is sure to include the…

David A. Hughes participated in the Simply Tax Podcast hosted by BKD’s Damien Martin to discuss the Illinois Fair Tax amendment and potential residency ramifications. David discussed what all the fuss is about over the Fair Tax amendment and what Illinois taxpayers need to consider if they want to change their state of residency if the amendment passes. The episode…

HMB’s Insurance Advisory Practice is continuing to monitor developments on hundreds of cases filed nationwide by business owners against insurers over denials of business interruption COVID-19 and government shutdown order related claims. HMB is tracking how courts are deciding these novel claims and reporting on these observations. This update contains some highlights of recent favorable decisions of potential significance for…

In less than a decade, Illinois went from treating cannabis as a criminal issue to developing a heavily-regulated legal medical and adult use cannabis industry. Illinois law uses cannabis as a blanket term covering regulated products, including cannabis-infused products, such as edibles. Medical cannabis is a term that covers the same types of product as cannabis, but refers to products…

11/4/20 4:15PM - 5:10PM ET The economic impact of COVID-19 is already beginning to take shape with the most obvious impact being the rising number of distressed businesses. This presentation will determine the factors of consideration for buying and selling a distressed business, tax liabilities of all kinds, equity, COVID-19-related SALT issues and cancellation of debt income among others. Jordan…

11/11/20 1:15PM CT Be sure to join the next TMA Town Hall where a robust discussion, featuring former TMA Chicago/Midwest President and restaurant owner Aaron L. Hammer (TMA Chicago/Midwest), along with other industry heavyweights, will leave you with plenty of food for thought as they look ahead toward 2021. Whet your appetite for this session by reading Global Pandemic Is…

Read the full article by ABA here. Pursuing legal relief against foreign parties and assets is a complex task that requires a well-developed plan to achieve a cross-border recovery. Globalization has created new challenges for parties threatened by, or involved in, cross-border disputes. Internet communication has made electronic transactions seamless and easy to operate anywhere in the world. Tax havens…

RED South Beach and its turnaround professionals have been awarded the Small Business Turnaround of the Year Award from the TMA’s Chicago/Midwest Chapter. HMB attorneys Aaron L. Hammer, John W. Guzzardo and Nathan E. Delman served as legal counsel to RED South Beach in its turnaround. Although this year’s celebration will be virtual, the Chapter’s Awards Committee and Board will…

Join Jordan M. Goodman at his various webinars for CPAmerica. The topics will range from State legislative agendas around the country, Wayfair and current SALT cases and issues. Register for the event(s) here (membership required).  11/10/20 Update in the SALT World - Do We Need a Hug? - 1:05PM - 1:55PM CT This presentation will cover the recent trends in…

10/22/20 David S. Ruskin will moderate a panel discussion for the Cannabis Law Institute as a part of the INCBA month-long program on cannabis legalization topics. The panel will include Dr. Chanda Macias of Ilera Holistic, Scheril Murray Powell of Scheril Murray Powell P.A., Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish of Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish PLLC and Dina Rollman of GTI. In…

10/22/20 12:00PM CT The COVID pandemic has dominated the 2020 headlines. Congress responded to the pandemic by adopting the CARES Act, a federal law that also has significant SALT ramifications. States responded by modifying their nexus and withholding rules for employees working from home. Join David A. Hughes and Samantha K. Breslow for this session where they will explore those…

The Illinois Craft Cannabis Association ("ICCA") filed suit against the State of Illinois and Illinois Department of Agriculture on Monday, October 12 to compel the defendants to issue overdue licenses and provide injunctive relief to the cannabis craft grower, infuser and transporter applicants that were expecting licenses to be issued on July 1, under the law, but are now racking…

HMB congratulates FingerprintJS and its founders, Dan Pinto and Valentin Vasilyev, on closing a $4M financing round. The company, a new kind of toolkit offering a browser fingerprinting service, is based on an open-source project that already has 5 million downloads and 8,000 websites using the service. “We have a unique opportunity to disrupt the fraud technology market by enabling our…

10/30/20 12:30PM - 1:45PM CT The Chicago Tax Club’s Fall Learning Series continues with a 75 minute webinar on Outrageous Cases, an in depth and entertaining discussion of recent state and local tax cases that defy logic and make you scratch your head.  Join David A. Hughes with Ted Bots and Drew Hemmings from Baker McKenzie and Keith Staats from…

Over the past twelve months, HMB Legal Counsel (“HMB”) helped navigate a smooth landing for distressed aircraft manufacturer Thrush Aircraft, Inc. (“Debtor”), culminating in a successful sale of substantially all its assets and the subsequent confirmation of a joint plan of liquidation in August 2020. In September 2019, HMB was appointed as counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors…

HMB congratulates AM Money, also known as Chicago Student Loans, and CEO & Founder Daniel Rogers, on closing a financing round. AM Money fights to give low-income students across the city, state and country every opportunity to graduate from college, find quality employment and build wealth. Google for Startups is one of AM Money's many supporters and has provided additional funding through…

Client calls are coming in droves regarding the need to engage in estate planning if Joe Biden wins the White House and the Democrats have a majority in the Senate.  And for good reason. There is every reason to think that the currently high estate tax exemptions will be substantially reduced as part of a tax overhaul relatively early in…

11/4/20 4:10 PM CT The economic impact of COVID-19 is already beginning to take shape with the most obvious impact being the rising number of distressed businesses. Join Jordan for this webinar where he will determine the factors of consideration for buying and selling a distressed business, tax liabilities of all kinds, equity, COVID-19-related SALT issues and cancellation of debt…

2021 Illinois Super Lawyers John W. Guzzardo Richard M. Horwood Fred O. Marcus Jeffrey A. Zaluda 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Matthew R. Barrett 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,…

HMB congratulates AeroPay, a Chicago-based alternative payments platform, and CEO & Founder Daniel Muller, on closing a seed round to accelerate its growth led by Continental Investors. The AeroPay platform eliminates traditional payment processing burdens and enables seamless bank-to-bank digital payments between businesses and their customers. The platform is built to work in any environment, both in-person or online. With…

10/8/20 1:05PM - 1:45PM ET David A. Hughes will be leading a discussion regarding lease tax law updates and trends in 2020 on 10/8/20. Learn more about Vertex Exchange here. …

11/19/20 2:00PM - 3:00PM CT Join Jordan M. Goodman with Professor Richard Pomp for their discussion about national SALT updates. CLE/CPE credits will be made available for attendees via the New England State and Local Tax Forum. Register for the event here.…

David S. Ruskin presented a webinar for the Medical Cannabis Community about the Federal Court hearing regarding the lawsuit filed by multiple Illinois companies to contest the highly flawed cannabis dispensary license scoring process implemented by the state and their vendor, KPMG. Register here to watch the webinar on demand.…

Richard M. Horwood, Rick S. Rein and Jeffrey A. Zaluda were named to Best Lawyers in America 2021. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.…

The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the landscape of taking and defending depositions.  Due to social distancing guidelines and travel restrictions, almost every deposition is taken remotely, and will be for the foreseeable future.  Below are a few considerations and suggestions for preparing for and taking your deposition in this new era: You cannot see non-participants in the room.  Depending on…

9/22/20 Join Fred O. Marcus and Doug Lindholm of COST for a nationwide state and local tax update at the Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois Fall Webinar Conference Series. Learn more about the TFI's events here. Request a copy of the webinar here.…

In the Illinois Practitioner Series, HMB's SALT team discusses various topics covering Illinois Procedures, Corporate Income Tax, Retailers' Occupation Tax (Sales Tax) and Use Tax and Local Taxes. Questions? Reach out to the state and local tax team here.  …

10/7/20 IPT will hold its 2020 Sales Tax Symposium, virtually, through a series of Webinars over a three-week period beginning the week of September 21, 2020. Jordan M. Goodman will present his webinar on October 7, 2020. This webinar series has been designed as a complete package offering attendees an opportunity to take advantage of a discounted fee of $495…

Cohesion, a Chicago-based startup which makes a SaaS platform for building managers, announced that it raised $6.5 million in a funding round led by HPA, with participation from Frasers Property Group, investment firm CMT and a host of individual angel investors. HMB represented Hyde Park Angels (HPA) in their lead investment and congratulates HPA on the closing. HPA's people-first approach…

9/22/20 12:30PM - 1:30PM CT Illinois CLE and CPE Pending In this webinar for Chicago Tax Club, Jordan M. Goodman, along with Maggie Young of Crowe and moderator Joe Carr of BDO will examine the case law that has shaped the unclaimed property industry. They will look at prior cases and how these of past decisions have driven the world…

HMB congratulates client, Red Flag Mania, a game-based investigative experience, and founders Roni Jackson and Kelly Richmond Pope, on their recent partnership with WGU Labs, Inc. ("WGU"). Under the agreement, WGU will make both a service and capital investment in Red Flag Mania, that's innovative e-learning solution combines film, theory and "whodunit" fun to empower learners to use data to…

It’s hard to believe that HMB first opened its doors this week, 45 years ago. This milestone celebrates decades of our collective determination to deliver better results to our clients. HMB was founded by Dick Horwood in 1975, focusing on tax matters. “When I started HMB I wanted to create a firm built around a culture of mutual respect and…

8/26/2020 Residency and Other State Income Tax Issues for Individuals - David A. Hughes and Dakota S. Newton 10:50AM - 11:40AM CT With the increase in flow-through entities, individual income tax issues are becoming more complex to navigate. Explore critical issues including credits for tax paid to other states, taxation of nonresident individuals, and income tax on the sale of…

8/26/20 Join Jordan M. Goodman for a look around the country on the relevant cases that affect taxpayers in the income tax, sales tax and franchise tax arenas. This webinar will be held for the Dallas TEI community. Learn more about the Dallas Chapter of Tax Executives Institute here.…

8/25/20 3:00PM - 5:15PM ET CPE/CLE Credit Join Jordan M. Goodman for a discussion about TCJA hosted by COST. This webinar is open to industry tax professionals from COST member companies and industry tax professionals from non-COST member companies. Practitioners are not eligible to attend this seminar (except for those sponsoring or speaking). This webinar will be hosted on Zoom.…

On July 22, 2020 the Chicago City Council passed the “Fair Notice” ordinance (the “Ordinance”) which requires longer notice periods for landlords who seek to terminate, not renew or increase rental rates for residential leases. Under the new Ordinance, a landlord must provide a tenant with prior written notification of its intent to terminate, not to renew, or increase rent…

Mark-It Express Logistics LLC ("Mark-It"), a leading Midwest intermodal trucking and freight brokerage company, acquired Sava Transportation ("Sava"), a Maywood, Illinois-based intermodal freight hauling company. HMB represented Mark-It in the acquisition. Mark-It, founded in 2009 and recently named to Crain Chicago's Fast 50 for the second time and INC. 5000 for the fourth time, offers a full array of third-party…

Chicago, IL July 21, 2020 HMB Legal Counsel, a preeminent provider of legal services announced Brett M. Winterstein as the Practice Chair for the Business and Finance Group. As a practice group leader, Brett will oversee coaching, planning, economic oversight, positioning and recruitment for his group. Practice group leadership transitions are part of HMB's planning and leadership strategy, designed to…

9/2/20 1:00PM-2:30PM ET Join Rick, with a panel of experts, for this CLE webinar that will discuss how to locate and seize offshore assets with which to satisfy a US obligation or judgment. The panel will also address tools to prevent the removal of assets to other countries. The panelists will address issues such as: What countries are the hardest…

We know most of our clients and friends have seen significant changes to their daily lives. HMB's SALT team has been working around the clock to provide excellent service to our clients and we're really excited to offer a new series of "Work From Home" webinars. Please join us every Wednesday at 12:30PM Central Time. Below is a list of…

7/15/2020 12:30PM - 1:30PM CT CPE And CLE Credit Chicagoland revenue departments have become increasingly more aggressive with respect to the enforcement and collection of local taxes. This presentation will explore local taxes that have recently seen increased audit activity, including the Lease Transaction, Amusement, Tobacco and Motor Fuel taxes. They will discuss audit best practices and provide an overview…

HMB litigators Rick S. Rein and Karl E. Analo secured a complete victory in a recent breach of guaranty dispute.  The team obtained summary judgment in their client’s favor on all counts resulting in a total judgment of over $4,600,000 as well as attorneys’ fees. HMB’s client leased certain equipment to a hospital pursuant to a commercial equipment lease.  The…

7/22/20 12:30PM-1:30PM CT CPE and CLE Credit Jordan and Dakota examine Wayfair’s continuing impact on direct and indirect tax nexus standards and analyze the inconsistent patchwork of marketplace facilitator rules around the country. They also discuss emerging income tax issues related to eroding P.L. 86-272 protections and the throwback and throwout rules. This webinar will be presented via Zoom. Register…

Each year, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs honors an individual with the Rabbi Robert J. Marx Social Justice Award, recognizing their commitment to JCUA’s mission of fighting racism and poverty in partnership with Chicago’s diverse communities. This year on July 20, the award will be presented to Jeff Zaluda for his lifelong dedication to pursuing social justice and a…

John R. Wiktor filed claims on behalf of a non-profit Congregation to enforce two oral pledges made by one of its prominent and beloved members, who died suddenly before fulfilling his pledges. The Congregation filed claims in the probate proceedings in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois asserting that its member made a $1 million dollar oral pledge towards…

***This article has been updated from the version posted on May 29th, 2020*** Actions Taken by the Circuit Court of Cook County In General Effective July 6, 2020, the Circuit Court of Cook County will begin hearing all matters in all Districts and Divisions with the exception of jury trials.  Unless otherwise ordered, all attorneys and self-represented litigants shall be…

In an article by Daniel Tay and published by Law360, David A. Hughes discusses how Illinois nonresident employees have received a 30-day safe harbor against state income tax to carry out a 2019 law intended to prevent double taxation. Illinois' 30-day threshold is longer than the periods seen in other states David told Law360. He also noted that the Illinois…

On June 17, 2020, the Chicago City Council passed the “COVID-19 Eviction Protection Ordinance” (Ordinance O2020-3501), enacting a provisional moratorium on evictions based upon the failure to pay rent if the tenant has suffered any loss, reduction or delay in receipt of income or employment attributable to COVID-19 (a “COVID-19 Impact”).  Under the terms of the moratorium, a landlord pursuing…

On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (“PPPFA”) was enacted, amending key provisions of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The changes provide relief to borrowers of PPP loans in the form of expanded forgiveness and increased flexibility in the use of loan proceeds. Businesses…

6/22/20 10:00AM - 3:30PM Basics of Sales and Use Tax is an interactive live online training course designed for individuals working in financial or accounting corporate and consulting environments. This course is best for those who currently handle (or will soon handle) sales and use tax for their company, themselves or their clients. Basics helps you learn all the sales…

5/27/20 David and Jordan will present a webinar to AGN North America to discuss recent SALT developments relating to Pass-through Entities. The webinar will cover: Nexus and doing business Credit for tax paid in other jurisdictions SALT Cap Deduction workarounds California issues New Partnership Audit rules…

In an opinion for our troubled times, Northern District of Illinois Bankruptcy Judge Donald Cassling granted debtor Hitz Restaurant Group (“Hitz”) some reprieve from § 365(d)(3)’s strict requirements due to a combination of COVID-19 shutdown orders and a favorably-worded force majeure clause. Hitz’s landlord, Kass Management Services, Inc. (“Kass”) moved to lift the automatic stay after Hitz stop making its…

As Illinois and other states have begun to roll-back stay at home orders, employers need to be prepared for employee COVID-19 claims. Join YPO Gold Chicago Member and HMB Partner, Keith H. Berk for a discussion on how to prepare your business in managing COVID-19 in the workplace. This YPO Chicagoland Chapter-exclusive discussion will include guidance on: What to do…

In this second of a three-part series, Breslow discusses the Internet Tax Freedom Act and whether the digital world has really been protected from the tax man. Adoption and Intent of the ITFA Initially adopted in 1998 under the Clinton administration with the mantra “no new internet taxes,” the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) was made permanent on February 24,…

View the PDF from Turnaround Management Association's Journal of Corporate Renewal here. John W. Guzzardo and Nathan E. Delman, with John B. Pidcock of Oxford Restructuring Advisors LLP, discuss how Red South Beach responded to the COVID-19 crisis by quickly taking a number of actions designed not only to survive but to emerge financially stronger once the crisis is over.…

Actions Taken by the District Court On Tuesday, May 26, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois updated, for the fourth time, its General Order 20-0012 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The District Court’s original General Order extended all deadlines, whether set by the court or otherwise, by 21 days. On March 30, an Amended…

Actions Taken by the Bankruptcy Court The COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois remains open for business, although not business as usual. Recognizing the need to maintain social distancing, the Court has made several significant changes to its daily operations. After two months of hearing routine motions telephonically, the Court has implemented…

6/2/20 David will be speaking on two panels for the International Cannabis Bar Association. Register here for the day-long virtual event.  Ethics Rule 1.2: Complying With the Novel "Also Advise" Clause Since the permitted scope of legal representation begins with this threshold requirement, hear from the panel about what "also advise" means in practice, including what federal laws are considered…

6/24/20 12:30PM - 1:30PM CT CPE Credit Join Fred O. Marcus, David A. Hughes and Samantha K. Breslow for a webinar discussing how determining the applicability of state taxes to PTEs (and their partners or members) can often be unnecessarily complex. They will bring clarity by exploring recent developments relating to nexus/“doing business”, credits for taxes paid in other jurisdictions,…

Omnitracs, LLC ("Omnitracs"), a global pioneer of fleet management solutions to transportation and logistics companies, announced its acquisition of VisTracks, a leading provider of device-agnostic, SaaS-based compliance solutions to the transportation and logistics industry. HMB represented VisTracks' founder, Stephen G. Eick, in the transaction. The VisTracks architecture provides a lightweight, mobile device-based and cloud-enabled solution, which will allow Omnitracs to…

Project Management Advisors ("PMA"), a real estate and development consultancy company, announced its partnership with American Realty Project Management ("ARPM"), a full-range construction oversight and project management company. HMB represented PMA. This partnership will expand the Austin offices and broaden both PMA and ARPM client and industry sector involvement in the Austin market and neighboring area. The alliance will continue…

Chicago Anti-Retaliation Ordinance On May 20, 2020, effective immediately, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance that prohibits employers from terminating or demoting an employee because the employee stayed home from work in compliance with a health order or to care for a person subject to a health order.  Employees who are terminated or demoted will now be able to…

Hadley Capital ("Hadley"), a small-business investor, announced its acquisition of Equustock, a manufacturer of animal bedding and litter products, predominantly horse-related products sold under their Guardian Horse Bedding brand. HMB represented Hadley in the transaction. Founded in 1998 bu Scott Dickes, Hadley plans to build on the Guardian Horse Bedding brand's excellent reputation and to expand Equustock's production capacity and…

6/10/20 1:00PM - 2:30PM ET The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting businesses in many different ways: furloughs and job losses, variant priorities, and virtual working environments. These disruptions can make monitoring policies and accounting practices more difficult, making the maintenance of proper escheat reporting and records of utmost importance. As states move to close budget gaps due to lost tax dollars…

5/28/20 11:00AM - 12:00PM CT Please join John Wiktor, with President and CEO of JourneyCare, Kimberly Hobson and Greg Hummel of BCLP, LLP, for a virtual town hall to discuss legal issues and changes in the time of COVID-19. This is your opportunity to learn from industry leaders about estate planning tools and changes, tax law updates, and new employee/employer mandates…

As Illinois and other states begin to roll back stay-at-home orders, employers need to be prepared for employee COVID-19 claims. YPO Chicago Gold Chapter member, Keith H. Berk, will be joined by COVID-19 task force members Shelley H. Koren and Alicia A. Handy to discuss how to prepare your business to manage COVID-19 in the workplace. This YPO Chicago Gold…

6/10/10 12:30PM - 1:30PM CT CPE Available As economic growth slows, companies will often look to their tax departments to ensure they are on top of all cost saving measures available. Jordan will discuss state income tax net operating loss carrybacks, credits, and other available tax assets that can often be complicated or uncommon. They will also discuss navigating refund…

May 12, 2020 As COVID-19 presses state and local governments to continue their shutdown orders, some businesses are incurring extensive expenses and losses. Whether the business is open with limited capacity, allowing employees to work from home, or closed until the orders are lifted,  businesses are asking if and how insurance can provide relief. This article provides information on the…

While the world continues to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current interest rate environment creates excellent opportunities for advanced estate, income and creditor protection planning.  The following are eight tips/opportunities that should currently be considered in the current market environment: 1. Review Your Plan Before getting into advanced estate plan strategies, for clients with existing estate plans, now is…

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-30 issued on April 23, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic offers relief to commercial tenants throughout the state by placing restrictions on evictions of commercial tenants. Following in the footsteps of New York and California, Gov. Pritzker banned state agencies from enforcing evictions of all non-residential premises unless “the tenant has been…

Out-Of-Court Distressed Asset Purchases, a Primer The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses and commercial relationships worldwide, cutting wide swaths of through entire sectors of the economy.  The current government regime of subsidizing whole industries and individual businesses is still evolving.  Commercial lenders have been incentivized to forbear and defer defaults – but the piper must eventually be paid.  Enterprises that…

The Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) was enacted in February 2020 with no one anticipating the global pandemic. Today, the financial consequences have hit small businesses hard. The SBRA, commonly known as Subchapter V, may provide much-needed relief to small businesses as they struggle through the crisis. With the Subchapter V election likely to surge during and after the pandemic,…

As Illinois and other states begin to rollback stay-at-home orders, employers need to be prepared for employee COVID-19 claims. Please join us for a 45 minute discussion on how to prepare your business to manage COVID-19 in the workplace. The discussion will include guidance on: What to do when an employee notifies you that they have COVID-19 What to do…

Many current businesses own cyber insurance policies that actually may not cover incidents or claims that are the result of an employee using his/her own personal device(s) for Work From Home (“WFH”) purposes for their employer. This is an easy mistake for employees as WFH is the current norm. As with all insurance contracts, whether there is coverage or not…

While the Illinois dispensing organization conditional licenses have not been awarded yet, we are hopeful they are coming soon. That being said, here are the two questions I get asked most about the current Illinois dispensing license applications: Will COVID-19 cause the IDFPR to delay granting licenses on the scheduled date of May 1, 2020; and If I do not…

Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Updates After initially voting 9-0-1 to approve a new emergency rule that created a rebuttable presumption that the workplace is the cause of an employee contracting COVID-19 to the extent such employee works for an essential business, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (the “Commission”) met yesterday, April 27, to formally withdraw the rule.  The Illinois Manufacturers’…

An article published by Bloomberg Law Tax discusses the possible reemergence of Gross Receipts Taxes in states due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gross receipts taxes are becoming attractive because they rely on calculations of total commercial activity rather than profitability, said Jordan M. Goodman. Jordan continued to say that, "During the COVID-19 recession you are going to see a lot…

Congratulations goes to Fred for his nomination for the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Adjunct Professor of the Year Award. Northwestern University is a member of the Top 14, a group of law schools that have received national recognition. Read more about Fred here. …

5/20/20 12:30PM CST CPE Pending Recent state cases like Ex Parte Russell County Community Hospital and Citrix Systems are just the tip of the iceberg as states audit taxpayers in a digital economy. Chris and Samantha will provide an update on recent cases and legislation in this area and, more importantly, will describe their experiences with taxpayers as they attempt…

5/6/2020 12:30PM CST CPE Pending Despite the closing of state courts around the country, SALT keeps moving forward. This presentation will get you caught up with what is happening in state courts from coast to coast. Jordan will present this webinar via Zoom. Register for the event here. We know most of our clients and friends have seen significant changes…

4/29/2020 12:30PM CST CPE Pending The intent of the Internet Tax Freedom Act was to protect electronic commerce from the taxman, but has it succeeded? This webinar will focus on recent pending cases (Labell v. City of Chicago and Apple, Inc. v. City of Chicago) involving ITFA claims and proposed legislation (Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax) that potentially implicates ITFA.…

In Treasury Department Notice2020-23 (released April 9, 2020) and Internal Revenue Service update to Notice2020-18, the IRS provided additional relief for taxpayers amid the COVID-19 crisis by extending key deadlines for Like-Kind (Section 1031) Exchanges.  Specifically, the Notices extended some of the due dates related to the identification and final exchange periods.  These time periods are generally 45 days and 180…

Congratulations to MOCA-Modern Cannabis for being awarded an adult-use dispensary license to operate at 216 W Ohio St in the River North neighborhood. MOCA’s original dispensary continues to operate in Logan Square at 2847 W. Fullerton as a medical and adult-use dispensary. The IDFPR final approval was granted to MOCA on April 3, following city inspection. HMB congratulates MOCA for…

Families First Coronavirus Response Act On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued temporary regulations (the “Rule”) to implement the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), providing additional guidance to employers and employees on how to provide and take expanded family and medical leave or paid sick leave (collectively, “Leave”) under the FFCRA.  A copy of the…

The Coronavirus crisis has arrived. This global pandemic has placed a hard stop on economic activity across the board, sending markets into freefall and skyrocketing unemployment claims to unprecedented heights. Chapter 11 filings are anticipated to surge, forcing bankruptcy courts to clean up large swaths of the crisis’ aftermath. But for now, it is anyone’s guess when the uptick in…

Engineered Plastic Systems ("EPS"), an engineer and manufacturer of high-density polyethylene ("HDPE"), announced its acquisition by CMI Limited Co. ("CMI"), a Georgia-based manufacturing portfolio company of Capital Partners. HMB represented EPS in the transaction. EPS is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois and manufactures HDPE for decking, railing and park products among others. Founded in 2000, EPS markets its products under Lumberock,…

The Small Business Administration has released the application for the Paycheck Protection Program and loans available pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The Treasury Department has released an information sheet for borrowers, which can be found here. Additional information can be found at the Treasury Department’s website, found here. The Treasury Department has encouraged…

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FCCRA”) was signed into law on March 18, 2020.  Since then, questions as to scope and applicability have been raised by employers and employees alike.  The U.S. Department of Labor has and continues to provide guidance as to how employers and employees should interrupt the FFCRA.  A summary of the FCCRA can be…

4/8/2020 12:00pm CST Sean D. Auton, Aaron L. Hammer and Matthew R. Barrett will discuss COVID-19 and its impact on Contract Rights and Insurance Claims. This webinar for the Chicagoland Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization will address questions such as: Contract Rights under COVID-19 I can’t perform under my contract or leases - what remedies do I have? What…

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) is Congress’s initial economic stimulus plan in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Additional economic stimulus packages are expected. The CARES Act was signed into law by the President today. The $2 trillion package provides relief to businesses, individuals, families, the healthcare system, states, and more. We are continuing to review…

As we hunker down during COVID-19, here are seven tips to make sure your estate plan is in good health: 1. Make Sure Your Basics Are Covered At a minimum, every adult should have a Will, Power of Attorney for Health Care, Power of Attorney for Property and HIPAA Designation. Parents of minor children should be certain their Wills include…

An article published by State Tax Notes discusses the Illinois Supreme Court's refusal to review an appellate court decision that Chicago's amusement tax as applied to online streaming services does not violate the state constitution or the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA). The court denied the petition for leave to appeal in Labell v. City of Chicago, letting stand the…

On Monday March 23, the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) confirmed that cannabis businesses are ineligible for disaster relief loans to assist with the detrimental effects of the Coronavirus outbreak. In the recent Twitter post, the SBA stated, “With the exception of businesses that produce or sell hemp and hemp-derived products [that were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill],…

On March 18, 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”).  Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor provided sample posters for private and public employers to post prior to April 1, 2020. Here is a link to the DOL poster for private employers. Also, the DOL provided guidance regarding the manner of providing notice to employees…

The economic uncertainty caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses and commercial relationships worldwide.  As COVID-19 continues to spread, businesses may experience disruptions that make it difficult or impossible to fulfill their contractual obligations.  Under certain circumstances, those disruptions may justify non-performance.  One such escape hatch is a force majeure clause, which is a provision contained…

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses and commercial relationships worldwide. As commercial operations continue to be shuttered and revenues cut off, principals of companies will likely find themselves questioning where their obligations and responsibilities lie when the entity’s solvency is questionable.  When a corporation is solvent, the fiduciary duties of the corporation's board of directors run to…

Covid-19 is disrupting businesses, their supply chains and their customers and causing major losses. Governors of Illinois, California, New York and Pennsylvania have issued “stay at home” and similar orders impacting employees and many businesses. Are any of these losses covered by insurance? The answer is maybe. The type of insurance a business carries and the specific insurance policy language are critical to determine…

This afternoon, Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order in response to COVID-19 (No. 8).  The Order is effective as of Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. through Tuesday, April 7, 2020.  Here is a link to the Order. The Order provides that: All individuals in Illinois are to stay at home or at their place of residence, except as…

On March 19, 2020, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot announced that the City of Chicago will extend the due date for “small businesses” to pay the following Chicago taxes to April 30, 2020: Bottled Water Tax, Checkout Bag Tax, Amusement Tax, Hotel Accommodations Tax, Restaurant Tax, and the Parking Tax. The City requires that taxpayers pay these taxes on or before the…

On March 18, 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”).  Below is a summary of the employer requirements under the Act: Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act Covered Employers Employers with fewer than 500 employees and covered public sector employers must provide up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave for a qualifying need related to…

****Due to the COVID-19 virus, this event has been cancelled. HMB will update this page once a new date, location, or other important piece of information has been shared by the event organizers.**** 4/16/20-4/17/20 Chicago, IL David Ruskin, with other practitioners and policymakers, will discuss topics directly related to Illinois' Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. The seminar will cover: A…

UCC-1 Financing Statements are an integral tool in a secured creditor’s toolbox. They perfect a lender’s interest and broadcast notice of this perfected lien to all present or future creditors, putting out the warning that a security interest against the debtor’s collateral exists. An effective financing statement has three requirements: (1) the debtor’s name; (2) the creditor’s name; and (3)…

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading across the globe and we wanted to assist you in considering all risk assessment and mitigation tools available.  We recommend assembling a management team to determine best next steps and implement an emergency plan.  Plan considerations should include cash flow concerns, remote working possibilities, IT considerations, quarantine possibility and company specific concerns. Businesses should…

The ongoing issues related to the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have had and will continue to have significant impact on individuals, families, businesses and markets.  We know that many of you are affected and share our concerns regarding the safety and well-being of our friends and our staff and we hope you and your families are healthy and safe.…

****Due to the COVID-19 virus, this event has been cancelled. HMB will update this page once a new date, location, or other important piece of information has been shared by the event organizers.**** 3/31/20 JW Marriott Starr Pass Tuscon, AZ Jordan will participate in a mock trail as the attorney for a business that is being audited in an unclaimed…

3/17/20 Royal Sonesta New Orleans New Orleans, LA The Annual "Big Easy Brawl" is back! Jordan, with Professor Rick Pomp, will bring years of experience to share insights and discuss divergent positions to complicated SALT controversies. This session will be a test of ideas and perspectives on current and trending SALT issues and policies. Read more about Jordan here.…

Jordan was invited to speak on The Unique CPA podcast at Twin Flames Studios. During the podcast, Jordan discusses various topics including: What it is like practicing international tax yet all statutes are in English Wonderful opportunities for lawyers to argue about constitutional issues The ability to help clients on a national basis Listen to the podcast here.  Read more…

****Due to the COVID-19 virus, this event has been cancelled. HMB will update this page once a new date, location, or other important piece of information has been shared by the event organizers.**** Fred O. Marcus and David A. Hughes will present various topics at two upcoming TEI Regional Conferences. 3/18/2020 Buffalo, NY Fred and David will present an update…

3/16/20 New Orleans, LA Public Law 86-272 is now 60 years old. While P.L. 86-272 made sense in the pre-internet, manufacturing oriented economy of 1958, many commentators have called into question the law's continuing relevance in a digital and services based world. David will explore what P.L. 86-272 means in 2020 and how states, taxpayers and Congress will help determine…

HMB litigators Hal J. Wood and Matthew R. Barrett secured a complete victory in a recent highly contested post-transaction dispute. The team obtained summary judgment in their clients’ favor on all counts, including an award of 100% of the clients’ attorneys’ fees, resulting in a total judgment of over $9,000,000 in favor of HMB’s clients. HMB’s clients were the sellers…

The Cook County Assessor’s Office has recently begun mailing invitation letters to solicit participation in its Real Property Income and Expense (“RPIE”) system. The goal of the system is to collect extensive data to assess commercial properties in Cook County. It utilizes both an online portal and mailed forms for data collection. The Assessor will target properties used for the…

3/3/2020 HMB's Office 500 W Madison Suite 3700 Chicago, IL Rick will discuss, with other industry panelists, the following emerging topics in litigation finance: The best candidates for litigation finance Litigation funding in bankruptcy How a party secures financing How attorneys and claimholders can engage with funders The latest developments in litigation finance in 2020 This seminar is hosted at…

2/25/20 Chicago, IL David A. Hughes moderated "Staying Close to Home: An Update on Recent Illinois, Chicago and Cook County Developments". 2019 was a busy year at both the state and local level in Illinois. During this session, the presenters will review several pieces of significant new legislation including new rules for sales and use tax collection by remote sellers…

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, NV 2/26/20 Jordan presents "Top 30 Issues/Cases in 2020". In this session, Jordan will discuss the major issues that will be evolving in the coming year. Click here to register for the event.…

2/25/2020 Hyatt Regency Houston Houston, TX Jordan will discuss recent SALT developments and trends at the TEI-Houston Tax School Session. Attendees will learn about topics including: U.S. Supreme Court Jurisdictions to Tax Combined Reporting Tax Base Issues Apportionment Issues Procedural Traps Click here for a copy of the presentation. Contact Jordan here.…

Two thirds of all states and the District of Columbia have, to varying degrees, legalized cannabis. With the recent addition of Illinois, eleven states now allow adult recreational use. But cannabis entrepreneurs’ rush of excitement and dreams of cashing in is met with fierce competition and economic risks that makes the dreams, which look so dank at first, end up…

3/5/20 Miami, FL Rick Rein, with a panel of experts comprised of professionals both foreign and domestic, will discuss new developments in statutory and case-law that impacts US receivers as they deal with actions and assets abroad. The session will focus on important new developments in the field around the world including topics concerning Brexit, China and more. Other challenges…

Svoboda Capital Partners ("SCP"), a private equity firm, announced its partnership and recapitalization with Kenway Consulting ("Kenway"), a management and technology consulting firm. HMB represented SCP in the recapitalization. Under terms of the agreement, SCP has purchased a majority interest in Kenway. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. SCP is a Chicago-based private equity firm that invests in…

Foxtrot, a modern convenience store offering in-store and delivery options, announced that it raised $17 million in a funding round co-led by Imaginary Ventures and Wittington Ventures and joined by previous investors Fifth Wall, Lerer Hippeau, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, M3 Ventures, The University of Chicago, Collaborative VC and Wasson Enterprises as well as new investors Bluestein…

2/21/2020 Chicago, IL David will give a practical overview of the cannabis and hemp market, litigation and regulatory issues, the application process, banking and finance challenges, implications for employers and more. Other topics covered at the seminar include: Steams of Commerce Federal Law, Enforcement and Implications Hemp and CBD Illinois: Medical to Adult Use and Hemp Challenges - Banking, Insurance,…

2020 Illinois Super Lawyers John W. Guzzardo Richard M. Horwood Fred O. Marcus Jeffrey A. Zaluda 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Matthew R. Barrett Nathan E. Delman Brett M. Winterstein 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…

One attorney from HMB's Litigation Group has been named as a 2020 Illinois Super Lawyer. Additionally, three attorneys were named to the 2020 Illinois Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding attorneys from over seventy practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The following HMB attorney was selected for…

2/6/2020 Deerfield Public Library Deerfield, IL David Ruskin, with a panel of experts, will discuss what you need to know about legalized cannabis in Illinois. The panel will address topics such as purchasing and using cannabis lawfully, the types of products available, safe use, potential therapeutic benefits and more. The program is geared toward older adults but is open to…

1/31/20 Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista, FL Jordan Goodman will explore "classic" ongoing multistate tax issues at the 2020 National Multistate Tax Symposium. Attendees will learn how their business may cope and prepare to defend state audits or assessments arising from this mixed bag of multistate tax issues. Topics covered in this session include: Tax issues…

Mark-It Express Logistics LLC ("Mark-It"), a leading Midwest intermodal trucking and freight brokerage company, acquired Spirit Trucking Company ("Spirit"), a Chicago-based trucking company. HMB represented Mark-It in the acquisition of operating assets. Mark-It, founded in 2009 and recently named to Crain Chicago's Fast 50 for the second time and INC. 5000 for the fourth time, offers a full array of third-party…

The ongoing issues related to the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have had and will continue to have a significant impact on individuals, families, businesses and markets. To better address the multifaceted and fluid effects of this pandemic, HMB has formed a COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Team. This multi-disciplinary team of attorneys will address key issues related to business and…

1/16/20 David presented "Unusual and Challenging SALT Issues Faced by Taxpayers" at the Illinois CPA Society's Annual SALT Conference. Founded in 1903, the Illinois CPA Society is one of the largest state CPA societies in the nation with more than 23,200 members. It provides convenient and customized education, timely and relevant information, influential advocacy, and countless opportunities to make powerful…

Illinois seeks to establish a 30-day safe harbor against state income tax for nonresident employees under a recently proposed regulation that specifies how workers should calculate their number of days worked in the state. In an article by Law360, David Hughes explains how different this proposed rule is when compared to previous regulations, noting that previous regulations on taxing nonresident…

NextLevel Health Innovations, Inc. ("NextLevel"), a managed care health plan for Cook County residents with Medicaid known for its community involvement, has signed a Merger Agreement with Molina Healthcare, Inc. ("Molina"), a FORTUNE 500 company. HMB represented NextLevel in the negotiation and signing of the Merger Agreement. As part of the transaction, Molina will assume the right to serve approximately…

Jim and Katie were recommended by their peers and approved by the Leading Lawyers Advisory Board to be 2020 Leading Lawyers. The list of Leading Lawyers is the result of contact with thousands of lawyers within their respective region and/or area(s) of law. Only those lawyers who are most often recommended, and later approved by the Advisory Board, are selected.…

Chicago, IL December 12, 2019 HMB Legal Counsel, a preeminent provider of legal services in Business and Finance, State and Local Tax, Trusts and Estates, Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Creditors' Rights, Real Estate and Litigation announced that three associate attorneys were elevated to partner. David W. Machemer David is a member of the firm's State and Local Tax (SALT) Group.  He…

Chicago, IL January 8, 2020 HMB Legal Counsel, a preeminent provider of legal services in Business and Finance, State and Local Tax, Trusts and Estates, Bankruptcy, Reorganization and Creditors' Rights, Real Estate and Litigation announced the 2020 Practice Chairs. John W. Guzzardo will lead the firm's Litigation Group, taking over for Rick S. Rein. As a practice group leader, John…

Slumberkins, makers of tools for early emotional learning, has secured $2.8 million in its Series Seed funding round led by Listen Ventures and SeaChange Fund. HMB represented Listen Ventures in their investment. Listen Ventures, a consumer-only venture capital firm focused on backing and building the brands of tomorrow, invests in ambitious entrepreneurs who challenge traditional thinking. This capital injection comes…

Chicago's previously hidden tax ruling exempted Moxie Software Inc. from tax collection duties under the "Cloud Tax". In an article by Bloomberg Tax, Samantha Breslow explains the discrepancy between the Cloud Tax and Chicago's stance on nexus. Because the city didn't address the question of nexus in 2015 when modifications to its Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax were made, the…

In an article published by Bloomberg Tax, Samantha Breslow delves into the challenges presented to taxpayers after Chicago's previously hidden Private Letter Rulings ("PLRs") come to light. "Historically, it has been very difficult to gain access to Chicago GILS ["General Information Letters"] or PLRs, which results in a lack of transparency for taxpayers trying to comply with city ordinances," said…

Changes to Federal and Illinois laws will likely require you to update your employment practices and policies. Below is a summary of new acts and amendments affecting Illinois employers. Federal Updates The Fair Labor Standards Act Overtime Rules (effective January 1, 2020) Raises the “standard salary level” for executive, administrative and professional exemptions from $455 per week to $684 per…

New Beneficiary Notice Requirements For Trusts that Become Irrevocable After December 31, 2019 Effective January 1, 2020, the Illinois Trust Code (“ITC”) will replace the Illinois Trust and Trustees Act as the law governing Illinois trusts. With the adoption of the ITC, Illinois becomes the 34th state to adopt a form of the Uniform Trust Code. Most of the new…

Before we ring in the new year, HMB is celebrating some of our favorite moments of 2019, in our first Week of Holiday Cheer. Over the next week, we'll remember a few moments and accomplishments that we are most proud of. You can follow our Week of Holiday Cheer on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Celebrating 2019 and the HMB Family It’s…

For her articles focusing on Illinois and Cook County Tax Law, including those on Chicago and Cook County Amusement Tax and Applying the Chicago Lease Transaction Tax to "Cloud" Software Products, Sam is named a 2019 National Law Review Go-To Thought Leader. 75 authors from a pool of over 100,000 legal news articles published by the National Law Review in…

Ordinance Prohibits Initial Inquiry of Tenant Criminal History On April 25, 2019, Cook County Commissioners approved an amendment to the Cook County Code, known as the “Just Housing Ordinance," that prohibits the denial of a tenant’s application or continuing occupancy of residential real property based on criminal convictions. Specifically, landlords may no longer inquire about, consider, or require disclosure of…

Read the full article on Tax Notes here (subscription required). Samantha Breslow discusses how the sluggishness of legislation does not often adjust itself to the speed and terminology of technology. However, there are a few states that are adapting to overcome the discrepancies. Download a PDF of the full article here. Debugging the (State Tax) Code: Outdated Sales Tax Terminology…

12/06/19 Clayton State University Morrow, Georgia Jordan will answer the question: Are all businesses subject to all taxes in all states after Wayfair? This presentation at Clayton State University will review the various jurisdictional standards and what is left to protect businesses in 2020 and beyond.…

Leaf Trade, a technology company whose wholesale ordering platform connects licensed cannabis vendors and dispensaries, announced that it raised $4.5 million in a funding round led by HPA and Duke Software Investments. HMB represented Hyde Park Angels (HPA) in their investment. HPA's people-first approach provides unique value to entrepreneurs and investors. HPA will be actively involved in Leaf Trade at…

Hal Wood was named to the Law Firm Alliance's Board of Directors. The LFA is an international network of mid-sized law firms where members collaborate to share knowledge, experience and jurisdictional expertise to benefit their clients. The LFA provides a wealth of trusted resources for our clients and virtually expands our attorney network worldwide.…

12/16/19-12/17/19 New York City, NY Jordan will advise practitioners and in-house employees on what they can ethically do with respect to SALT work at the NYU School of Professional Studies. Jordan will discuss tax returns to negotiation or settlement, and everything else in between. Click here to register for the event. Click here to request a copy of the presentation…

1/16/20 Chicago, IL David joins a panel of experts to discuss important issues related to Cannabis Law and how it impacts the Jewish Community at the Chicago Loop Synagogue. Attendees will learn more about: The impact of marijuana legalization How it will work within the context of the state What Rabbinic authorities have to say on the issue How it…

HMB represented Colony Display LLC in its sale to Kinzie Capital Partners LLC, a Chicago-based private equity firm. Colony Display is a leader in highly customized fixtures and displays servicing the home improvement, retail and hospitality industries. Kinzie's acquisition of Colony Display will see the company into the next phase of growth and provide resources to advance company strategy and…

From Houston to Memphis and Minneapolis to Chicago, HMB's SALT Group gave insightful tax presentations throughout the year as a part of the 2019 Brewery Series. Hosted in breweries instead of boardrooms, the 2019 series was a refreshing way for businesses to stay in the know about state and local tax. Pictured above: (L-R) Chris Lutz and David Machemer The…

DataCubes is the first underwriting decisioning platform for commercial property and casualty insurance. Leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence software, DataCubes provides commercial carriers of all sizes the ability to make real-time underwriting decisions. The intelligence gathered provides efficient, accurate, and productive steps forward for DataCubes' clients. The company was founded in 2016 by Kuldeep Malik and Harish Neelamana and…

HMB represented Ascent in a $19.3 Million Series B Funding Round, led by Drive Capital. Ascent is an AI-driven solution company. Their goal is to help customers automate regulatory compliance by delivering customers regulatory knowledge in the form of a dynamic obligations register. This approach reduces the mundane and error-prone manual efforts of regulatory research and analysis. With Series B…

11/7/19 Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, IL While there has been much discussion about a possible graduated income tax in Illinois, the General Assembly has also been busy on the sales and use tax side. From new rules for marketplace sellers and facilitators to sales sourcing for remote vendors to an expanded manufacturing exemption, the General Assembly recently passed several significant…

11/11/19 Austin, TX In "Post-Wayfair World - Now What?", Jordan Goodman will discuss how remote sellers were affected by the USSC overruling of Quill in June 2018.  This presentation will try to clarify when a business is subject to any of a state's taxes. In "Sea to Shining Sea - What is Happening in the SALT World", Jordan will highlight…

11/07/19 Suburban Collection Showplace Novi, MI In this presentation for MICPA, Jordan Goodman will cover the recent happenings in state and local tax with a focus on the Midwest states. It will highlight the GOOD things that happened for Taxpayers both judicially and legislatively and will inform attendees on the BAD issues that they and their clients should try to…

10/20/19-10/22/19 Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead Atlanta, GA While the US Supreme Court’s decision in Wayfair has dominated recent headlines, there is a lot more happening in the SALT world that you and your clients need to know about.  In this session for AGN International, David and Jordan will explore current SALT developments and trends with an emphasis on recent…

HMB represented EDCO Health Information Solutions Inc. in it's sale to BV Investment Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on the business services, software and IT sectors. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, EDCO provides automated unstructured data indexing solutions to healthcare providers. EDCO's Solarity®, a patented medical record indexing software, gives automated transformation of unstructured data into clinically relevant patient…

10/31/19 Chicago, IL Ken Goldstein, Jim Plucinsky and Joe Tamburello present an in-depth discussion of the tax considerations for small businesses.  Attendees will learn detailed information regarding tax compliance requirements based upon the choice of entity as well as tax planning and savings strategies for single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs, partnerships, S corporations and C Corporations. The CBF Justice Entrepreneurs Project…

On 9/17/19 Aaron Hammer and Rick Rein presented "Hot Topics in Cross Border Restructurings" at the Offices of Gowling WLG LLOP in Toronto, Canada. Aaron and Rick discussed the role of chief restructuring officers and other turnaround professionals in Canadian restructuring, flash points in today's cross border insolvencies, and the cannabis space. This program was intended for lenders, turnaround professionals…

On September 24, 2019, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Thrush Aircraft, Inc. selected HMB Legal Counsel (“HMB”) as its counsel, with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia approving HMB’s retention on October 2, 2019. Thrush Aircraft ( “Thrush”) is a leading designer and manufacturer and of single-engine light aircraft, primarily used in agriculture operations. Thrush…

10/23/19 Chicago, IL David A. Hughes will present "Unclaimed Property Enforcement in Illinois and Multistate Audits" with BDO. Two reporting cycles have passed since Illinois adopted its unclaimed property law changes, including elimination of the Illinois business-to-business exemption for vendor payments and customer credits. This webinar will focus on Illinois efforts to enforce its new unclaimed property regime, including a…

The original case was brought in California federal district court in 2017 by a company (hiQ) trying to protect its business of using publicly posted user data on LinkedIn. The California federal district court awarded a temporary restraining order against LinkedIn. This order allowed hiQ to keep scraping data off of LinkedIn’s platform on employees in connection with one of…

Chicago Passes New Legislation Effective Immediately On September 18, 2019, the Chicago City Council unanimously passed a new ordinance that increases the percentage of owners required to approve the sale of a condominium building in the City. The ordinance, introduced by Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), increases the required unit owner vote on a deconversion condominium sale to 85% of…

HMB represented Launchways in a new partnership deal with Patriot Growth Insurance Services, LLC. Launchways, founded in 2009, provides business leaders with human resources consulting, employee benefits and commercial insurance solutions. Launchways has guided over 400 customers to overcome insurance and human resources challenges throughout the Midwest. The company recently moved its headquarters to Chicago to accommodate its growing employee…

9/12/19 Chicago, IL 16 HMB team members participated in the 2019 Race Judicata 5k Sprint for Justice. The race celebrates pro bono work and raises funds for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, the city's biggest volunteer-based legal aid provider. Team HMB had a blast racing in support of the CVLS and their mission to represent Chicago's poor and working poor community.…

Auditors in Chicago have been aggressively asserting that businesses have tax duties under the "cloud computing tax" because of their economic presence, or the volume of business they conduct within the city. In an article by Bloomberg Law News titled "State of Wayfair: Economic Thresholds Sneak Into Chicago Audits" by Michael J. Bologna, Samantha Breslow explains that the problem is…

At the beginning of 2016, Chicago implemented a unique method to tax businesses for their use of remote computing services, also known as the cloud. The Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax program collected $13.9 million during its first six months and rose to $42.2 million through 6/30/18. In an article by Bloomberg Law News, Samantha Breslow explained that Chicago is…

11/8/19 California Tax Policy Conference Hyatt Regency Mission Bay San Diego, California Fred Marcus presents "That's Just Sales and Use Tax Creeping Up On You: When Unexpected Tax Arises for Responsible Persons and Successes" at the annual California Tax Policy Conference in November. The presentation will seek to assist uncertain business owners and officers who are concerned about sales and…

With President Trump’s signature August 23rd, the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (“SBRA”) will officially take effect in February 2020. The SBRA is designed to fill a gap in the current bankruptcy laws by providing a framework for small businesses to successfully reorganize in bankruptcy court.  As noted by the senate bill’s sponsor, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, “Chapter 11…

09/18/19 Chicago, IL While Americans remain the most generous and philanthropic people in the world, the landscape for giving is changing at an accelerated rate. Jeff Zaluda discusses how Millennial and generational subgroups have dramatically impacted the manner in which philanthropy is carried out. He will examine some of the reasons behind the changing landscape and ways in which donors…

09/23/19 Orlando, FL See below for more information about Jordan's presentation at the IPT Sales Tax Symposium. If you would like to attend or have questions about a presentation, click here to contact Jordan. Jordan Goodman presents "How to Effectively Manage Indirect Tax Liabilities with Big Data and Tax Analytics" In this session, attendees will learn to: Harness large volumes…

10/14/19 Chicago, IL The Seventh Circuit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference will present an overview of savings in chapter 13, coverage counsel at § 341 meetings and navigating bankruptcy appeals. There will also be a Seventh Circuit case law update as well as a look at recommendations made in the Final Report of the ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy. Nathan is a…

10/03/19 New York City, New York David Ruskin presents "Alternative Dispute Resolution" at the Cannabis Law Institute. The key curriculum of the third annual institute is "All Things CannaBusiness" and seeks to focus on learning every aspect of cannabis legal representation. David will discuss how one of the most important instruments in the attorney's doctrinal toolbox is Alternative Dispute Resolution…

HMB represented A.M. Money, Inc. in an outside venture capital round led by Lightbank. Founded by Daniel Rogers based on his experience paying for college by enlisting in the United States Army and taking courses online while deployed in a combat unit in Iraq, A.M. Money is a Chicago-based social enterprise that provides low-interest, no-cosigner loans to college students from…

Sean Auton, an HMB partner and member of HMB's Business and Finance practice, gave out plenty of high-fives at Facing Forward to End Homelessness's Board/Resident picnic. Sean works with Facing Forward as a board member. Facing Forward ends the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and social services. Once critical needs such as food and housing are met, clients at…

On 8/15/19, John Wiktor, Chair of HMB's Private Client, Trusts & Estates Group and pictured above in the blue shirt, joined the groundbreaking ceremony for Bethesda Cornerstone Village, in Victoria, Minnesota. The community, one of the first of its kind in the United States, will provide an inclusive environment for active seniors and independent adults with disabilities. John is a Board…

After serving as Vice Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's SALT committee last year, Samantha Breslow has been appointed as the 2019-2020 Chair. Learn more about Chicago Bar Association here.…

Starting October 1st, 2019, two new Amnesty programs will arrive in Illinois. One will cover all taxes administered by the Department of Revenue. The other program will cover franchise taxes. Before these programs come into play, members of the HMB State and Local Tax practice provide insight into what these changes will look like. Taxes Administered by Department of Revenue…

9/17/19 Offices of Gowling WLG LLP Toronto, Canada Aaron Hammer and Rick Rein present "Hot Topics in Cross Border Restructurings" at the Offices of Gowling WLG LLP on September 17th. The discussion will include: The Role of Chief Restructuring Officers and Other Turnaround Professionals in Canadian Restructuring • Would Canadian restructurings benefit from an increased use of CROs, similar to…

10/24/19 JW Marriott Washington, DC Fred will co-present with fellow Paul Frankel Award recipients at COST's 50th annual meeting. Over his long career, Paul Frankel, the "Godfather of COST", spearheaded a number of issues that evolved over the years. In this session, presenters will discuss those issues, their evolution and Paul's impact on them. If you want to attend or…

12/17/19 Grand Hyatt New York on 42nd Street New York City, NY Fred Marcus will present "Today in Taxes" at New York University's 37th Institute on State and Local Taxation on December 17th, 2019. The most important SALT developments will be discussed throughout the event by a team of industry leaders. The 37th Institute will include a "Hardball" segment that…

11/15/19 Tax Strategies 2019 Hotel Allegro Chicago, IL David Hughes will present "State and Local Tax Issues in Corporate M&A Transactions" for Practising Law Institute at Tax Strategies 2019 on November 15th, 2019. The presentation will address state and local tax issues that arise in corporate transactions with a particular emphasis on Section 338(h)(10) sales and tax-free reorganizations and spin-offs.…

CHICAGO, IL - HMB Legal Counsel, 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 Nathan E. Delman joined the firm as an associate in its growing bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors' rights practice. Nate has over ten years’ experience as a…

Cannabis business attorney David Ruskin was interviewed by Chicago's top legal radio show, Legal Face-Off on WGN Radio. David discussed Illinois' new recreational marijuana law and what it means for individuals and businesses. Listen to the recording on WGN Radio.…

HMB represented Quantitative Insights, developer of QuantX, the first-ever FDA-cleared computer-aided breast cancer diagnosis system in radiology, in its sale to Qlarity Imaging, a portfolio company of Paragon Biosciences. Quantitative Insights was founded at the University of Chicago around technology developed at the University and with the support of the University’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Paragon is a…

2019 State and Local Tax Workshop for Technology Companies Foster City, California Beware of the Locals—They Might Take You by Surprise With Jordan Goodman San Francisco, Mountain View, Portland, Seattle—what are these cities thinking? Each has aggressively targeted businesses (and, in many situations, exclusively tech businesses) for new revenue. This panel will provide an overview of several of these new…

THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs is committed to bringing clarity and offering solutions to issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business and governments engage the world.…

6/27/19 Saddle & Cycle Club Chicago, IL David Hughes presents "Indirect and Operational Tax" at the Chicago Tax Club's Summer Seminar on June 27th. The presentation reviews recent state cases that defy logic and would cause any tax professional to think twice about whether the positions they take are on solid ground. Click here to learn more about the seminar.…

This 2-part presentation will get the audience up to date on recent state and local tax cases and statutory changes that will affect their client's business. The discussion will cover such topics as when a state can impose its taxing jurisdiction on an out-of-state business and what taxpayers can do to protect themselves. We will also cover the latest in…

Business Email Compromise ("BEC") is a scam perpetrated by cyber criminals to attack businesses that first began to be tracked and reported by the FBI in 2013. BEC typically consists of phony or phishing emails that appear to originate from a company executive or member of a company's accounting or finance department containing fraudulent payment instructions with the objective to…

As you may be aware, the Illinois legislature recently completed its 2019 legislative session. This session was particularly productive from a tax legislation perspective and we would like to update you on the key state and local tax changes that may affect you or your business. Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the HMB SALT team if…

The necessary details of charitable agreements are often overlooked by the parties, potentially resulting in serious legal ramifications. Incorporating charitable giving in an estate plan involves careful consideration to specific rights, conditions, restrictions and other vital provisions within a charitable gift to ensure the donor's intent and the benefits allowed for estate planning purposes. Charitable gift agreements must outline the…

5/7/19 Salvatore’s Italian Garden Buffalo, NY David Hughes presents "Multi-State Taxation" at the 60th Annual TEI Upstate New York Tax Conference. The all-day event hosts speakers from across the United States who will discuss tax and tax-related topics. Click here to learn more about the conference. Click here to contact David with questions.…

5/1/19 Chicago, IL David Hughes is a faculty member for Sales Tax Institute's Advanced Sales and Use Tax Advanced Workshop. David discusses taxation services, the construction industry and gross receipts taxes. Click here to learn more about Advanced Sales Use Tax Workshops. Click here to contact David with questions.…

With a multi-billion dollar budget and pension crisis on hand, Illinois is desperately seeking new sources of revenue, including new and potentially radical unclaimed property laws. These new rules create a "taxing effect" on holders who in many cases did not have unclaimed property reportable to the state under the previous law. Many holders now have reporting obligations as a…

David provides an overview of the regulation of cannabis and considers the top legal issues faced by a cannabis-related business, focusing on the conflict between federal law and state laws where medical or adult use recreational marijuana is legal.

The purpose of the editorial advisory board is to get feedback on Law360's coverage and gain insight from experts in the field on how best to shape future coverage. David represents clients in multistate planning, audit and controversy matters, including state income, franchise, gross receipts, sales/use and unclaimed property. Hughes is also an adjunct professor of state and local tax…

This year's Business and Commercial Law Journal Symposium will be focused on developments and innovation in the legal landscape. The speakers will be presenting on a wide range of topics from technological developments, and how they impact the practice of law, to diversity and pay inequity in the workplace. David Ruskin will discuss the evolving cannabis industry and how to…

4/24/19 Dallas Chapter of Tax Executives Institute Dallas, TX Jordan Goodman will lead a detailed discussion of the key SALT cases.…

Jordan Goodman will participate in a mock trial experience using recent unclaimed property cases as the backdrop.…

Lightstream, a Chicago startup that makes cloud-based video production software, announced their $8 million funding round led by Drive Capital. Lightsream's vision is to provide video content creators of all levels with professional-grade production and editing tools through the service's browser-based or downloadable software. Read more about Lightstream and their Series A here. HMB's team was led by Jim Jerue, Renee…

3/12/19 Ritz-Carlton new Orleans New Orleans, LA David Hughes presents "Market Based Sourcing" at the ABA/IPT Advanced State Income, Sales/Use & Property Tax Seminar in March. The seminar is designed with attorneys, accountants, tax directors state and local tax managers, government tax officials, appraisers, property tax managers, commercial and industrial property managers and others interested in state and local income,…

Join Professor Richard D. Pomp and Jordan M. Goodman in an in depth point counter-point discussion of trending SALT issues!  Participate in an outstanding session of insightful commentary on observations with two of the country's leaders in SALT. By attending this session, participant will be able to: Identify major developments in today's state and local tax world and spot trends…

An article published by International Tax Review discusses how Judge Ralph King Anderson III will decide whether Amazon acted as a seller in a case against the US state of South Carolina, potentially making it liable for millions of dollars in back taxes. Although the parties agree that the facts of the case are not in doubt, and no trial…

2019 Illinois Super Lawyers John W. Guzzardo Richard M. Horwood Fred O. Marcus Jeffrey A. Zaluda 2019 Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Matthew R. Barrett Brett M. Winterstein 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…

In Wayfair, the US Supreme Court held that the dormant Commerce Clause requirement of "substantial nexus" no longer mandates a "physical presence" requirement in the context of South Dakota's sales tax nexus law. In reaching this outcome, Wayfair potentially blurs historical distinctions between Due Process and Commerce Clause nexus, leaving businesses to contemplate going forward the extent to which the Commerce…

CHICAGO, IL (December 18, 2018) - Horwood Marcus & Berk (HMB), a preeminent provider of legal services in business and finance, state and local taxes, trusts and estates, litigation, real estate and bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors' rights announced that three attorneys were elevated to partner. Christin A. Handa Christin is a member of HMB's Trusts and Estates Group. She concentrates her practice…

In Wayfair, the US Supreme Court held that the dormant Commerce Clause requirement of "substantial nexus" no longer mandates a "physical presence" requirement in the context of South Dakota's sales tax nexus law. In reaching this outcome, Wayfair potentially blurs historical distinctions between Due Process and Commerce Clause nexus, leaving businesses to contemplate going forward the extent to which the…

HMB has been selected as a "Go-To Thought Leader" for coverage of State Tax and Local Tax regulations, litigation and legislation. The attorney-authors at HMB analyze developments in their field and provide a deep understanding of issues. The 2018 "Go-To Thought Leadership Awards" recognize 65 exceptional authors and legal organizations for their reporting of complex legislative and litigation news, as…

An article published by Bloomberg Law discusses how the Supreme Court Wayfair decision could affect dozens of lawsuits filed by prolific whistleblower Stephen B. Diamond. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a series of motions to dismiss these cases, alleging they have minimal financial and legal relevance for the state. State and Local Tax attorney, David Ruskin, stated, "The…

Illinois CPA Society Illinois CPA Society Education Center Chicago, Illinois Click here for more info and to register. On June 21, 2018, the US Supreme Court issued the most important sales tax decision in the last 25 years. Overruling 50 years of precedent, the Court ruled that a remote seller can be required to collect a sales or use tax…

Conference Hotel - Hyatt Regency New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana The concepts of confidentiality and privilege arise for attorneys on a recurring basis. Ethical considerations, among others, are often part of the complex analysis that goes into a confidentiality and privilege evaluation. When, how and to whom do these obligations and protections attach are just a few of the primary…

John Guzzardo and Rick Rein wrote an article for NABT American Bankruptcy Trustee Journal regarding the use of Consent Directives to locate offshore assets. A consent directive is a "rare bird" investigatory tool that litigants in the US may use to discover assets and information from debtors or third parties located anywhere in the world. Recently, the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy…

John Guzzardo and Rick Rein wrote an article for American Bankruptcy Trustee Journal regarding the use of Consent Directives to locate offshore assets.

Get ready for a jam-packed show. It's hard to cover the ever-changing state and local tax landscape, but our all-star team of special reporters provides a rundown of what you need to know about the most important SALT developments affecting taxpayers today. Included in this year's "Hardball" segment is a discussion of the applicability of local which are widespread and…

The Chicago Tax Club, organized in 1933, is a nonprofit association consisting of individual tax professionals employed by corporations and other businesses. The principal function of the organization is providing educational and networking events, in order to assist members in identifying and resolving tax compliance, planning and audit issues relating to their employers.…

University & Whist Club Wilmington, Delaware Moderated by Rafael Zahralddin, International section co-chair and Elliott Greenleaf, P.C. Director & Shareholder, Rick Rein will participate in a panel that will discuss how to domesticate a foreign judgment in Delaware, as well as how to domesticate a Delaware judgment in a foreign jurisdiction. The keynote speaker is The Honorable Eric M. Davis,…

Fred Marcus has been selected to be the recipient of this year's Bloomberg Tax State Tax Author of the Year Award. "As the lead author for two State Tax Portfolios and three State Tax Navigators, you have significantly contributed to our state tax analysis. Over the past two years in particular, you have delivered top notch analysis and shown tremendous…

An article published by State Tax Notes discusses how South Dakota's recent Wayfair settlement has eliminated an opportunity to provide further guidance for other states' remote seller laws. State and Local Tax attorney, Fred Marcus, stated, "Wayfair shows an acknowledgment by the Court that the economy has changed since Quill was decided, and that the inability to tax online commerce…

The Wayfair decision?state and local tax implications of tax reform?taxation of streaming videos and other digital products?multiple states taxing the same income. Navigating the current SALT landscape is a challenge for any multistate taxpayer. This session will explore the hottest SALT issues and how to deal with them.…

Philadelphia Chapter of the Tax Executives Institute, Inc. (TEI) Penn State Great Valley Malvern, Pennsylvania Click here for more info and to register. Catch up on the latest issues in state and local tax with a discussion of the latest and greatest cases and evolving trends in the SALT world.…

The U.S. Supreme Court's Wayfair decision is one of the most important state and local tax decisions of the last 25 years. By eliminating the physical presence requirement for sales tax nexus, the Court has completely changed the landscape for remote sellers. This session will explore how states are responding after Wayfair and the potential problems that sellers can expect…

Marylin Wethekam is one of several authors who penned articles for State Tax Notes regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. that overturned Quill Corps v. North Dakota and altered the state tax landscape. The articles address the Wayfair decision and the issues that remain after the Supreme Court struck down the physical presence test…

After waiting patiently for over 25 years, South Dakota finally bested her northern sister in the battle of naming rights to the most important nexus case. Our panel will discuss the Wayfair decision in depth, including its implications for economic nexus standards outside sales and use taxes (e.g. income taxes and gross receipts taxes). Panel members included Fred Marcus, Randy Ferris,…

We are pleased to announce that HMB earned top recognition in the 2019 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…

An article published by State Tax Notes discusses how streaming services (Cable Services, Amusements and Tangible Personal Property) are often taxed by states and local jurisdictions under existing statutes that predate the technology, a move that has prompted litigation around the country, with mixed results. State and Local Tax attorney, David Hughes, stated that most of the fees and taxes…

10/11/18 - 10/12/18 2018 Duke University Estate Planning Conference Duke University Durham, North Carolina Click here for more info and to register. Building and maintaining a financially successful estate planning practice is much harder today. From building a practice to the importance of social media, Jeff will discuss how the estate planning department of a mid-sized firm in a very…

A full-day conference presented exclusively to HMB's valued clients and invited guests.  Discover the latest issues, evaluate important updates and gain valuable insight from our seasoned professionals. Click here to request a PDF of the presentation. Agenda   8:00 - 8:30am - Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30 - 8:45am - Welcome and Introduction 8:45 - 9:45am - Wayfair:  The Court Has Spoken -…

10/23/18 - 10/26/18 COST - 2018 49th Annual Meeting Arizona Grand Resort and Spa Phoenix, Arizona Rise and shine and enjoy an entertaining, informative hour on the latest ethics developments relevant to state tax professionals. This presentation will serve as your "wake up" for Thursday morning. However, there's much more to this session than getting an hour of Ethics CPE/CLE.…

9/20/18 - 3:50pm-4:50pm TFI 19th Annual Illinois State & Local Tax Conference The Meridian Conference Center Rolling Meadows, Illinois By attending this session, the participant will be able to take away a deeper understanding of the ethical rules applicable to state and local tax attorney; identify and learn how to implement the best audit and litigation practices for records retention,…

10/1/18 IPT - 2018 Sales Tax Symposium Renaissance Indian Wells Resort Indiana Wells, California This session will provide overview and insight into the Wayfair proceedings from participants and experts on the case. The panel will discuss the background, the decision, and its impact on Quill and nexus. After attending this session, the attendee will: Understand the effects of Wayfair on…

9/18/18 - 9/20/18 2018 MINDBODY BOLD Conference Hilton San Diego Bayfront San Diego, California Aaron Werner will present "The Dealmaker's Perspective: Selling Your Business for Maximum Price, Minimum Risk" at the 2018 MindBody BOLD Conference in September. BOLD Conference's mission is to bring together business owners in the wellness, fitness and beauty industries to share what works in growing a…

The use of cryptocurrencies are becoming more prevalent throughout the world. During the early days of Bitcoin there was a relative absence of regulation or control by governments since there is no central issuing authority. Given the increasing use of cryptocurrencies, as well as the increased hacking of these currencies and bankruptcies of cryptocurrency firms, bankruptcy courts will likely have…

An article published by State Tax Notes discusses the expansion of Chicago's amusement tax to music streaming services. Apple Inc. filed a complaint in an Illinois circuit court saying it is unconstitutional and violates the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA). Apple's complaint was similar to Labell, which is currently pending on appeal, and raised a number of identical arguments. State…

10/17/18 - 10/19/18 25th Annual Paul J. Hartman State and Local Tax Forum Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Nashville, Tennessee Click here for more information and to register 10/19/18 8:45am-9:45am Pomp vs. Goodman Jordan Goodman Catch up on the latest issues in state and local tax and get your daily dose of laughs as longtime bantamweight champion Professor Richard Pomp battles Jordan…

8/21/18 12:00PM - 1:00PM CDT On-Line Newscast On June 21, 2018, the US Supreme Court issued the most important sales tax decision in the last 25 years. Overruling 50 years of precedent, the Court ruled that a remote seller can be required to collect a sales or use tax even if it is not physically present in a state. This…

Cryptocurrency has been all the rage recently in the financial and legal news. Everyone has or knows someone who owns bitcoin (the most common form of cryptocurrency), but what exactly is cryptocurrency?

8/7/18 - 8/8/18 Momentum Advanced Planning: Family Office Symposium Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Click here for more info and to register. This symposium will provide the opportunity to explore what it takes to succeed in the family office space with fantastic guest speakers who are eager to share their expertise by discussing the myriad of challenges they've helped affluent families…

Chowly, a bridge between popular restaurant delivery services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash and a restaurant's POS system, closed a $5.8 million Series A funding round to fuel mass market expansion in the US. Read the full press release on Newswire here. HMB's team was led by Jim Jerue, Renee Rossi and Ray Jacobi.…

Clean Chemistry, Inc., a provider of patented chemical solutions and technology for oilfield water treatment, completed a Series B financing with Black Bay Energy Capital. The financial terms of the investment are not disclosed. Read the full press release on Business Wire here. HMB's team was led by Jim Jerue, Aaron Werner and Josh Haberkorn.…

7/23/18 - 2pm-3:30pm EST HMB and BDO USA Complimentary Webinar 1.5 CPE Credits in Tax 1.5 CLE Credits in Tax (Illinois Residents) Click here for more info and to register. Jordan Goodman teams up with BDO USA's SALT practice to offer a webinar discussing recent changes to Illinois unclaimed property law. With tax reform and Wayfair in the mainstream, new…

David A. Hughes and Jordan Goodman will lead this discussion on the new nexus standards around the country and the impact the Wayfair decision has not only on use tax collection but other state taxes as well.…

While distinguishing between tangible personal property and real property is necessary in several contexts, it is not always a simple determination to make, particularly from a tax perspective.

Article by Michael J. Bologna The Cook County Circuit Court will randomly assign judges in all future actions under the Illinois False Claims Act, a development with implications for the adjudication of tax whistleblower cases in Illinois. Under Judge James Flannery's order, new cases under the FCA "shall be randomly assigned at the time of filing to one of the…

Everyone is by now likely familiar with the recent Wayfair decision and its central holding. Prior to Wayfair, businesses had some degree of comfort that they would not be required to collect and remit sales or use taxes to states in which those businesses did not have physical presence. Now that the physical presence test is gone, state legislation must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it will survive Commerce Clause scrutiny.

9/30/18 - 10/3/18 2018 IPT Sales Tax Symposium Renaissance Indian Wells Resort Indian Wells, California IPT's Sales Tax Symposium is your opportunity to take a deep dive into the topics that are top of mind for sales and use tax professionals, delivered by professionals who will provide you with best practices, alternate strategies and ways to demonstrate the value of…

8/8/18 2018 Southwest/West Regional State Tax Seminar Occidental Petroleum Corporation offices Tulsa, Oklahoma Partnership Audit Regulations: The Great Unknown Jordan Goodman The federal government has completely changed the way it is going to audit partnerships, beginning with the partnership itself. These new rules will have profound impact at the state level. This discussion will look at the potential issues and…

7/13/18 1:00pm-2:40pm EST Lorman Education Services Webinar Click here for more info and to register. Determining eligibility for sales tax exemptions and navigating the application process can prove to be difficult for taxpayers who do business in multiple states and jurisdictions. This live webinar will help attendees understand the difference between an item that is excluded from sales tax versus…

Jordan Goodman was interviewed by Chicago's top legal radio show, Legal Face-Off on WGN Radio. Jordan discussed the Wayfair decision's impact on sales tax and how it opens the door for internet sales to be taxed. Listen to the recording on WGN Radio.…

" Jordan Goodman Awarded ""Instructor of the Year Award for State Income Tax"" from the Institute for Professionals in Taxation - 6/26/18 Jordan Goodman was awarded the Institute for Professionals in Taxation's (IPT) Instructor of the Year Award for State Income Tax at the 2018 IPT Annual Conference on 6/26/18. This award is in recognition of his significant contribution to…

6/28/18 Saddle & Cycle Club Chicago, Illinois Click here for more info and to register.   Outrageous Cases 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM A review of recent state indirect and operational tax cases that defy logic, or at least that defy logic more than usual. Whether it is cases upholding tax on streaming services, free meals or bobbleheads (yes, even…

Aaron Werner was admitted as a Partner in Social Venture Partners Chicago. SVP Chicago invests time, expertise and money in innovative nonprofits that have the potential to make meaningful and sustainable improvements within the Chicagoland community. SVP Chicago brings together a community of engaged philanthropists who want to do more than provide financial support to charitable causes. It is a vehicle…

06/20/18 - 6/22/18 Basics of Sales and Use Tax Live Course 2018 Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago, Illinois 23 CPE Credits Offered Click here for more info and to register. Move from handling sales tax with nerve wracking, frustrating guesswork to shining as a go-to expert in your department. Basics of Sales and Use Tax is an interactive live training course designed…

5/14/18 2018 Startup Showcase (District 214) Forest View Educational Center Arlington Heights, Illinois Josh Haberkorn participated as a judge in High School District 214's Startup Showcase, which gives students from six high schools the opportunity to pitch their business ventures following a year's worth of critical thinking, collaboration and innovation in the District's entrepreneurship program.…

Brian Axelrad and his team from Beyond Capital Fund participated in a discussion focused on innovation in East Africa hosted by the Global Innovation Exchange. Other participants were from Kenya Climate Innovation Center, Unreasonable East Africa, NetBizImpact, Innovations in Healthcare, VentureLift Africa, Moringa School and ANDE East Africa.…

Article by: Diane Yetter Read full article published by Sales Tax Institute on 5/18/18. The  South Dakota v. Wayfair court case has been dominating news cycles lately and in a very short time, much has happened. On April 17th, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments and this article gets different perspectives on the outcome from five experts on sales…

Article by: Michael J. Bologna Read the full article published by BNA Daily Tax Reports on 5/21/18 for its subscribers. A prolific tax whistleblower, Stephen B. Diamond known as the "king of qui tam," is finding it harder to make a living after his pattern of litigation under the Illinois False Claims Act hit a dry spell and a state…

One significant area of confusion for both sellers and purchasers is making sure the tax is collected and remitted to the correct taxing jurisdiction. This session will cover the similarities and differences on how the states situs a sale (including subsequent uses) for sales and use tax purposes.…

The use of cryptocurrencies is increasing at a staggering pace. As cryptocurrency use becomes mainstream, its use as a form of payment and storage as an asset will increase across industries and among companies and individuals.

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…

5/22/18 1:00 - 2:30 PM CST 1.5 hours of IL CLE credit offered 1.5 hours of CPE credit in the field of tax offered Click here for more information and to register With a multi-billion dollar pension crisis on hand, Illinois seeks to use unclaimed property to be a funder to pension obligations. Accordingly, IL has stepped out as one…

04/30 - 05/01/18 Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL) Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center Plano, Texas David Hughes will be discussing some of the unique gross receipts tax issues faced by consumer vehicle lessors at the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL) in Plano, Texas.…

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…

4/14/18 Emerging Markets Summit Chicago Booth School of Business Brian Axelrad participated in a panel at the "Emerging Markets Summit" at the Chicago Booth School of Business. This discussion focused on "The Role of Social Impact in Africa's Development" where attendees learned about the investing landscape and the future of social impact programs in Africa. The panel consisted of: Brian…

5/1/18 Tax Executives Institute, Inc. -  Rochester Chapter Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Rochester Rochester, New York Click here for more info and to register Jordan Goodman will discuss qui tam lawsuits, class action lawsuits and how your organization may be at risk.…

4/25/18 Tax Executives Institute, Inc. Dallas/Fort Worth Tax School Cityplace Conference Center Dallas, Texas Jordan Goodman will discuss how to identify major developments in today's state and local tax world and spot trends to anticipate potential problems and find potential solutions as well as recognize positions that taxpayers and states are currently taking and issues affecting positions multi-state taxpayers may…

4/25/18 Dallas and Fort Worth Chapter of Tax Executives Institute Dallas, Texas Click here for more info about TEI Jordan Goodman will discuss current State and Local Tax developments and polices. Click here to request a copy of this presentation.…

4/16/18 Good Food Accelerator Chicago, Illinois Jeffrey Hechtman and Aaron Werner presented "Exit Strategies for Privately Held Businesses" at the Good Food Accelerator on April 16, 2018. The presentation covered various topics that business owners should consider prior to marketing and selling their business, in addition to various strategies and approaches to structuring a sale transaction that is beneficial to…

2/8/18 The 2018 National Multistate Tax Symposium Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Orlando, Florida Presented by The National Multistate Tax Symposium This session will address how businesses may tactically position and manage their daily corporate operations in preparation for imminent state income tax audits and controversies to help avoid unnecessary costs, disruptions, and expensive litigation, as well as increase…

6/13/18 - 6/16/18 The 2018 MEGA CPE Conference Disney's Contemporary Resort Orlando, Florida Presented by Florida Institute of CPAs This presentation will get the audience up to date on recent state and local tax cases and statutory changes that will affect their client's business. The discussion will cover such topics as when a state can impose its taxing jurisdiction on…

6/24/18 - 6/27/18 2018 IPT Annual Conference JW Marriott Parq Vancover Hotel Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Presented by Institute for Professionals in Taxation Your company's (or client's) goals change all the time. Last year, the focus was on the ETR.  This year, its free cash flow.  Next year, above-the-line savings. Then the focus shifts to headcount. Then to risk management. In this session, we…

4/24/18 TEI 4th Annual Spring Seminar Scott Conference Center Omaha, Nebraska Presented by The Tax Executives Institute (Nebraska Chapter) Click here for more info and to register. Fundamentals of State Taxation is a full day seminar designed to provide basic state and local tax knowledge for tax professionals. This seminar covers a wide variety of state and local tax topics…

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…

2018 UPPO Annual Conference - Tampa Marriott Waterside, Tampa, FL - 3/5/18 HMBs Jordan Goodman will present at the 2018 UPPO Annual Conference on 3/5/18. He will discuss state-specific reporting exemptions, including business-to-business (B2B) transactions and allowable deductions.…

HMB's Jordan Goodman presented at the 2018 COST Sales Tax Conference & Audit Session held in New Orleans, LA from 2/26/18 - 3/1/18. He discussed taking a closer look at qui tam "whistleblower" and class action lawsuits and how your organization may be at risk.…

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…

State and Local Tax Attorneys Fred Marcus, Jordan Goodman and Marilyn Wethekam recently authored "Sales and Use Taxes: The Machinery and Equipment Exemption" for Bloomberg BNA's Tax Management Portfolios, 1330 3rd edition. This portfolio discusses sales and use tax incentives for machinery and equipment used in manufacturing operations. HMB offers a limited number of hard copies for clients. Click here to…

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…

3/19/18 2:00-2:50 PM The Insider's Guide to New Tax Dispute Resolution Forums David Hughes Many states recently revamped their tax dispute forum systems, often for the better. This panel will compare and contrast the systems of three states: Illinois, Georgia and the new California Office of Tax Appeals. Click here to request a copy of this presentation. 3/20/18 11:00-11:50 AM…

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…

On December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) was signed into law.  This Act will impact Illinois' income tax base and therefore the state's income tax revenue. The Department has analyzed the Act based on current Illinois law, federal law, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rulings and interpretations and issued an "Explanation of the…

3/19/18 - 3/21/18 2018 ABA/IPT Advanced State Income, Sales/Use & Property Tax Seminar The Ritz Carlton New Orleans, LA Click here for more info and to register The Insider's Guide to New Tax Dispute Resolution Forums - 3/19/18 Many states have recently revamped their tax dispute forum systems, often for the better. This panel will compare and contrast the system…

"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…

Click here for more information Determining eligibility for sales tax exemptions and navigating the application process can prove to be difficult for taxpayers who do business in multiple states and jurisdictions. Join David and Sam on a live webinar hosted by Lorman Education Services. Attendees will be able to: Define an 'exclusion' versus an 'exemption' for sales tax purposes Explain…

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…

The Illinois replacement tax allows an LLC or partnership to deduct from its base income ''personal service income'' or a reasonable allowance for compensation paid or accrued for services rendered by the partners.

1/17/18 8:15 AM - 4:20 PM CST IL CPA Society 550 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 900 Chicago, IL Click here for more info and to register. Apportionment rules are constantly changing.  From one factor to three factor formulas.  From sourcing based on location of service to sourcing based on location of customer. Review the current state of apportionment rules with…

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…

Congress appears poised to enact a major tax reform that could potentially make fundamental changes in the way you and your family calculate your federal income tax bill, and the amount of federal tax you will pay. This letter is designed to help you evaluate the changes that Congress is working on right now, and how those changes may impact your personal tax situation for 2017 and future years.

Grand Hyatt New York New York, NY 12/4/17 - 12/5/17 Get ready for a jam-packed show! It's hard to cover the ever changing state and local tax landscape, but an all-star team of "special reporters" provides a rundown of what you need to know about the most important SALT developments affecting taxpayers today. Included in this year's "Hardball" segment is…

12/4/17 - 12/5/17 Grand Hyatt New York New York, NY The panel tests the audience to determine who possesses the best working knowledge of the ethical rules (or are just good guessers). Taking the form of a game show, this ethics test examines everyday occurrences in the state tax world and applies the different ethical standards. The session covers the…

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…

11/29/17 Penn State Great Valley Malvern, PA Click here for more info and to register Jordan will discuss the erosion of the traditional tax base and the creation of new, different and more fun taxes being imposed by the states and local governments. He will examine the types of revenue generation being utilized and some of the new and non-traditional…

11/2/17 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, IL Click here for more info and to register  Cities, counties and other local municipalities in search of additional revenue are aggressively imposing taxes in ways not typically seen. Many of these jurisdictions have outdated and imprecise laws and regulations, little or no guidance and often no administrative hearing process, forcing taxpayers into…

Dassault Systemes Franklin Room 175 Wyman Street Waltham, MA 02451 8:00-10:00 AM EST Click here to register Because international commerce and cross-border financing has become commonplace, US companies have been forced to face the realities that they will have to resort to legal procedures to collect debts owed by foreign business partners. However, trying to pursue an offshore enterprise presents…

Rick Rein Contributed to an article discussing Local jurisdictions and establishing a plan of action for achieving an international recovery of an asset.

10/25/17 The Palmer House Hilton Chicago, IL When it comes to building an internal incentives team, there are many departments within an organization that have input into the decision process.  In this session, speakers will discuss proven methods and strategies on how to build an internal incentives team.  The topic will include developing the workplan, measurement and reporting incentive outcomes…

10/23/17 Double Tree by Hilton Nashville - Downtown The world of state and local tax is growing increasingly complex for multistate taxpayers. Issues concerning nexus, sourcing, credits, services, flow-throughs, combined reporting, exemptions and the tax base present new challenges every day. This session will explore current developments in state and local tax, including a deep dive into local taxes and…

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…

11/6/17 - 11/8/17 Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Nashville, TN Click here for more info and to register. Jordan Goodman Pomp vs. Goodman Be informed and entertained as perennial champion Professor Richard Pomp takes on the underdog Jordan M. Goodman in a title match for the championship of SALT Nerdom. The never ending battle of good versus evil will feature discussions of…

9/26/17 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM Meridian Conference Center 1701 W. Algonquin Road Rolling Meadows, Illinois 6 MCLE/CPE Credits Click here for more info and to register. This year's conference will focus on technical tax and policy developments in Illinois, plus provide updates to changes occurring in other states. The speakers for the State and Local Tax Conference are some…

9/17/17 - 9/20/17 La Cantera Hill Country Resort 16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 9/18/17 - 8:30-10:00 AM Jordan Goodman The Year in Review A review of trends that have emerged in the last 12 months including a discussion of recent court decisions and pending cases and their impact. Click here to request a copy of this presentation. 9/18/17…

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,…

Aaron D. Werner will present "Smart Growth Solutions: Structuring, Growing and Selling Your Business" at the 2017 MINDBODY Software Conference in San Diego, California on 9/29/17. MindBody, Inc. is the leader in business management software making marketing and management easy for business owners. This session is for business owners who want to grow from a few locations to a national…

8/22/17 Global Corporate Tax Staff Meeting - Medtronic Corporate Tax Le 1k/Rome/Paris/Athens/Sydney By attending this session, the participant will be able to take away a deeper understanding of the ethical rules applicable to state and local tax attorney; identify and learn how to implement the best audit and litigation practices for records retention, filing strategies, and electronic records; and focus…

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…

8/8/17 1:00 - 2:30 PM CST At the end of this Webinar, participants will: Appreciate the numerous ways states are trying to tax out-of-state sellers Be aware of the "single state" attack on Quill and potential ramifications associated with its demise Understand the constitutional hurdles that a state must overcome to reverse Quill…

Live Webinar At the end of this Webinar, participants will: Appreciate the numerous ways states are trying to tax out-of-state sellers Be aware of the "single state" attack on Quill and potential ramifications associated with its demise Understand the constitutional hurdles that a state must overcome to reverse Quill…

Local taxing jurisdictions - from big cities to small municipalities to counties - are becoming noticeably more aggressive in their efforts to raise revenue.  These efforts can take the form of new taxes, questionable interpretations of existing taxes, or aggressive audit positions.  Taxpayers need to be aware of the limits imposed on local taxing jurisdictions in order to defend themselves…

8/7/17 8:00 AM - 3:55 PM Click here for more info and to register. CPE Hours:  8 based on actual attendance. MCLE Hours: 6.5 based on actual attendance. Join Jordan from the comfort of your office as he discusses: Recent SALT decisions affecting taxpayers today Practical applications and how to best approach each state Colorado reporting provisions Various state approaches for…

David's article explores the ramifications of treating something as tangible personal or real property for sales/use and property tax purposes, specific to the telecommunication industry.

Join us for our 15th Annual HMB Summer Camp!  A full-day conference presented exclusively to HMB's valued clients and invited guests.  Discover the latest issues, evaluate important updates and gain valuable insight from our seasoned professionals. Click here to request a PDF of the presentation. Agenda 8:00 - 8:30am - Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30 - 8:45am - Welcome and…

In this three hour session, David will cover everything you need to know about nexus, including recent developments in economic nexus, agency nexus and "anti-Quill" legislative and judicial activity.  The session will explore the limits on a state's authority to tax under state, federal and constitutional law with a particular emphasis on sales/use tax and income tax nexus.…

After attending the session, attendees will be able to: Differentiate among the different state sales and use tax rules that apply to different types of business acquisition transactions as well as the applicability of important exemptions from sales tax that can be used to limit potential exposure More effectively communicate potential exposure to organization leaders and decision makers regarding sales…

10 Reasons Why You Should Attend Delve into how changes to the federal tax regime may affect state tax regimes Explore the impact of federal tax changes on business state tax planning Watch a lively debate on retroactivity between advocates before state tax court judges Hear perspectives from three state tax administrators on key issues their states are facing Network…

By attending this session, participants will: Have a deeper understanding of he ethical rules applicable to state and local tax attorneys Identify and learn how to implement best audit and litigation practices for records retention, filing strategies, and electronic records Focus on the implications of ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Click here to contact Jordan Goodman about this presentation.…

This never-ending battle of good versus evil in SALTdom will feature discussions of cases and evolving trends in the SALT world. By attending this session, the participant will be able to: Identify major developments in today's SALT world and spot trends Recognize positions that taxpayers and states are currently taking Recall the most important recent SALT cases Analyze key decisions…

7/9/17-7/12/17 2017 IPT Annual Conference Charlotte, North Carolina Jordan will zero in on the nexus, sourcing and tax base issues specifically associated with financial institutions and their affiliate businesses. After attending, the attendee will be able to: Explain nexus rules as they apply to Financial Institutions Determine sourcing of interest and other income from intangibles is subject to the same…

Recent cases have brought to the forefront issues regarding the risks of purchasing art.

The ABA published this article in one of their journals and it expresses my views of what makes a satisfying client relationship, as well as a satisfying relationship with partners, referral sources, and the legal practice generally.

David's presentation will focus on the distinction between real property and tangible personal property for purposes of taxing telecommunication companies. Telestrategies is the leading tax conference for telecommunication service providers. Click here to contact David and request a copy of the presentation. Why you should attend: Whether you are new to communications taxes and fees, or an industry veteran, the…

This ABA Section of Taxation meeting brings together the nation's leading tax practitioners to discuss current issues, topics and legislation. This three-day meeting will give you the resources and information you need on the latest developments, strategies and techniques to represent and meet the needs of your clients and take your practice to the next level. Attendees, speakers and guests…

Asian Art Council, Art Institute of Chicago, May 4, 2017 Mr. Horwood is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Group of Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered and advises collectors regarding key issues such as authentication; provenance; collection management; tax matters; disposition and charitable, museum, and family gifting. Mr. Mottier is a collector who, over the course of three decades,…

Mr. Horwood is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Group of Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered and advises collectors regarding key issues such as authentication; provenance; collection management; tax matters; disposition and charitable, museum, and family gifting. Mr. Mottier is a collector who, over the course of three decades, acquired one of the most comprehensive collections of 20th-century Japanese…

Two key takeaways from this presentation: The disclosure of information can be as useful of a risk management tool as any. A client who understands how a corporate fiduciary will interact with all parties will have a more positive experience.…

Two key takeaways from this presentation: The disclosure of information can be as useful of a risk management tool as any. A client who understands how a corporate fiduciary will interact with all parties will have a more positive experience.…

The J. Nelson Young Tax Institute is an annual professional program covering current state and federal tax problems and issues at the post-graduate level of knowledge. The program is designed for the practitioner who must frequently handle state and federal tax matters. Emphasis is placed on subjects that are new and current, including in-depth coverage of recent developments and problems…

The Basics of Sales and Use Tax is a boutique-style course designed for individuals working in financial or accounting corporate and consulting environments who handle sales and use tax for themselves or their clients. The 3-day course involves lecture, case studies and group discussion. All attendees have one-on-one access to the faculty members and can bring their specific questions and situations…

"Speaking at the 2017 American Bar Association and Institute for Professionals in Taxation conference in New Orleans, Jordan Goodman of Horwood Marcus & Berk Chtd. asked fellow panelists whether taxpayers are required to follow 'unconstitutional' state laws, like those challenging the physical presence standard in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota."  Questions? Click here to contact Jordan Goodman. Jordan presented with:…

 Jordan Goodman will discuss recent state tax decisions and developments focusing on trends observed in the last 12 months. Tax Executives Institute is the preeminent international association of business executives responsible for the tax affairs of their employers. TEI has nearly 7,000 members who represent 2800 of the leading businesses in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.  For more…

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.…

8:30 am - 9:00 am      Registration / Networking / Continental Breakfast 9:00 am - 3:15 pm      Seminar 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm     Lunch - What's New at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Horwood Marcus & Berk is proud to sponsor and present at the upcoming COST Mid-West Regional State Tax Seminar. Attendees will network with local tax peers and leave…

Note: CPE and Illinois CLE credit are offered for this event. Please see below for more information. In recent years, states have been increasingly aggressive in the administration of unclaimed property laws. The Temple-Inland case represents the pinnacle of state aggression. The Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 2016 represents a potential legislative response to Temple-Inland.  Holders should be cognizant…

Are you attending the 2017 ABA/IPT Advanced Sales/Use Tax Seminar in New Orleans, LA? Visit one of our SALT attorneys' presentations: David Hughes: "Top 10 State Income Tax Cases" - 3/21/17 - 9:00 - 9:50 AM Jordan Goodman:  "Prompt vs. Goodman" - 3/21/17 - 11:00 - 11:50 AM Jordan Goodman: "The Annual Big Easy Brawl" - 3/21/17 - 1:45 -…

Burden of proof, unconstitutional discrimination, nonresident trusts, net operating losses; this fast paced session will address these issues and more as it covers ten of the most recent and significant income tax decisions in the SALT world. By attending this session, the participant will be able to: Identify recent and significant SALT income tax cases Recognize how these recent cases…

Round Deux - SALT Heavyweight Championship - A Bayou Battle - Professor Richard D. Pomp enters the ring to face perennial underdog Jordan M. Goodman in a battle royale match on all matters SALT.  This never-ending battle of good versus evil in SALTdom will feature discussions of cases and evolving trends in the SALT world. By attending this session, the…

This session will present an overview of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal including its establishment, jurisdiction, procedures, decisions and potential changes.  The session will also address when the tax tribunal should be considered to resolve Illinois sales tax issues as well as best practices in anticipation of utilizing the tribunal. Click here to learn more about the Chicago Tax Club…

Some states are challenging Quill's physical presence test by regulation, while others are challenging it with the express consent of the state's legislature. A practicing attorney and a former state tax commissioner will debate these tactics and explore the constitutional issues and restrictions on extending the economic nexus concept to sales/use taxes. During their debate, they will provide an analysis…

Council On State Taxation (COST) Sales Tax Conference & Audit Session San Antonio, TX - 3/1/17 Early Morning Ethics Coffee Talk: Ethics and Professional Responsibilities for Transaction Tax Professionals It's never too early to learn about ethics.  Come to this early morning session and be entertained by these speakers as they cover new and breaking ethical issues related to transactional…

Aaron D. Werner will be presenting "Top Legal Risks & Solutions for Health Club Facility Owners and Managers" at the 2017 International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association Trade Show in Los Angeles, California on March 9,2017. IHRSA is an international health and fitness organization and the Trade Show is the largest fitness conference in the world. In addition to his…

Family Foundation Advisor is a publication of the Civic Research Institute, offering guidance for effective foundation management, development and grant-making. Family Foundation Advisor is devoted exclusively to helping family foundation administrators and their professional advisors. In How to Connect With the Next Generation of Philanthropists, John discusses the changing landscape of philanthropy with respect to millennials joining the charitable planning…

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…

Join us for our 15th Annual HMB Summer Camp!  A full-day conference presented exclusively to HMB's valued clients and invited guests.  Discover the latest issues, evaluate important updates and gain valuable insight from our seasoned professionals. Click here to request a PDF of the presentation. Agenda 8:00 - 8:30am - Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30 - 8:45am - Welcome and…

SECOND NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING 1)         Agency:  Illinois Department of Revenue 2)         Title and Ill. Adm. Code Citation of Proposed Rulemaking:  Retailers' Occupation Tax, 86 Ill. Adm. Code 130.410, 130.415 3)         Date, Issue, and page number of the Illinois Register in which the First Notice was published:  August 25, 2015, Issue 35, 39 Ill. Reg. 11865. 4)         Text and Location of any Changes Made…

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…

Illinois Appellate Court Holds Entities Must Be Represented By an Attorney At Administrative Hearings A recent decision by the Illinois Appellate Court held that corporations may not represent themselves at administrative hearings, but instead must be represented by an attorney. In Stone Street Partners, LLC v. The City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings, Case No. 12 M1 450026, Stone…

Spring 2014 The winter months were unusually cool in late 2013 and early 2014, and most middle market borrowers and lenders will likely concede that lending activity during those months was equally cool.  The optimism for robust deal flow in 2013 never materialized into actual results, even though most middle market lenders remained quite optimistic until the bitter end.  Spring,…

FALL 2013 Although the first half of 2013 was marred by stagnant activity within the middle market lending environment, senior lenders across the middle market seem quite optimistic about finishing the year with a bang.  While it is difficult for senior lenders to pinpoint the exact cause for their optimism, the recurring talking point has been that these senior lenders…

On June 5, 2013, the City of Chicago's City Council passed an ordinance (the "Ordinance") that requires all purchasers of foreclosed rental properties in Chicago to either renew or extend each existing tenant's lease with annual rent increases not to exceed two percent (2%) or pay each existing tenant a relocation fee of $10,600.00 (per unit). All rental properties in…

In an effort to increase transfer tax revenue, the City of Chicago seeks to amend its Municipal Code in a manner that would result in tax liability for some real estate investors on transfers of real property that traditionally have been treated as exempt transfers. The City's proposed amendments come on the heels of several unfavorable Department of Administrative Hearing…

For many foreclosure sales, the typical sale process - selling the property at a court-ordered auction - is sufficient.  The result of most such sales is the bank "credit bidding" against its debt.  In certain cases, however, a traditional judicial auction may not be appropriate.  For example, the bank may not want to take title to the property or the…

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…

In our previous two articles we walked you through the reasons to hire an investment banker for the sale of your middle market business (i.e. transaction valued between $25 million and $250 million) as well as typical terms for how the relationship will work. Now your attention turns to fees. Our experience is that terms vary among investment banking firms…

In the first of our three part series we walked you through the process of deciding whether to hire an investment banker for your middle market business (i.e. transaction valued between $25 million and $250 million). So now that you have decided to sell your business, we will discuss customary investment banking terms in this article and will wrap up…

So why do business owners want to hate investment bankers? Too often, it is based on cocktail party chatter. Have you ever heard, "the investment bankers added no value to the process? I already knew the buyer. We were competitors for years." Or, "the investment bankers wrote a nice book, but at the end of the day my lawyer and…