RSHC news

Nick Kahlon and Sarah Finch provide an in-depth analysis of a new amendment to the Illinois Freedom to Work Act and how it significantly alters the restrictive covenant landscape in Illinois. As they explain, the amendment prohibits employers from entering into non-competition or non-solicitation agreements with many Illinois employees after January 1, 2022, and also contains provisions regarding employer notice, fee recovery for prevailing employees, and oversight by the Illinois Attorney General.

Health care providers may face new challenges under the DOJ’s recently launched Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, which will use the False Claims Act to target cybersecurity-related fraud by ensuring the technology-related representations by government contractors and grant recipients are accurate. RSHC is prepared to counsel industry executives on best practices for compliance.

Ransomware attacks continue to plague companies, universities, and government agencies. In their recent whitepaper for Best Lawyers, RSHC Partners Georgia Alexakis, Patricia Brown Holmes, Abigail Peluso, and Jack Theis provide a primer on the federal government’s response to the crisis, and the next steps organizations must take to protect consumers, ensure operational continuity, and avoid reputational damage.

In "Neutral Shift," published in the second annual Best Lawyers in the Midwest edition, Patricia Brown Holmes and Rachel Sifuentes explain why diversifying the pool of neutrals is the first step toward improving inclusion in the alternative dispute resolution process.

In "How Should U.S. Companies Guard Against the Growing Threat of Ransomware?" Jack Theis outlines the scope of the growing ransomware threat, and reviews new federal recommendations companies should incorporate into their compliance and regulatory programs to defend against attacks.

RSHC Partner Matthew Kennison explains the significance of the Supreme Court's recent 5-4 ruling on the case: Has a plaintiff suffered a real, concrete, non-abstract harm if there is incorrect and embarrassing information in the plaintiff’s credit file, but that information is never disclosed to a third party? Or, as the Supreme Court put it, “if inaccurate information falls into a consumer’s credit file, does it make a sound?" Last Friday, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court answered no. In doing so, the Court reigned in broad views of the Court’s language in Spokeo, reaffirmed long-standing concepts related to Article III standing, and provided helpful precedent and guidance for defendants defending against future class actions.

Brenna Woodley co-authored Trade Secret Remedies and the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine, which appears in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s 2021 Edition of Intellectual Property Law. The IICLE provides continuing legal education for Illinois attorneys. Brenna’s piece, published on April 20, 2021, discusses the latest developments regarding remedies in cases involving trade secret misappropriation and related claims under state and federal law, including claims under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act and federal Defend Trade Secrets Act.

Greg Curtner provided commentary on recent arguments in the Supreme Court case that will decide the future of amateurism in college athletics. In his piece "Amateurism Is Not a Horizontal Price Fix," Curtner unpacks what took place during the March 31 arguments, noting that the discussion included a "jumble of half-baked antitrust concepts, polemics rather than facts, and lack of focus on the legitimate issues before the Court."

In "Education or Exploitation? Fair or Foul? The NCAA Plays in a Different Court — the Supreme Court," Greg Curtner answers key questions on the legal arguments in Alston.

In an opinion piece for The Hill, Greg Curtner; James Heckman, Nobel Prize-Winning Economist and University of Chicago Professor; and Colleen Loughlin, PhD economist and Executive Vice President at Compass Lexecon, make a research-based argument for preserving the amateur system.

In his Built In article, “What Biden Means for Tech,” RSHC Partner Jack Theis discusses the how the Biden Administration’s legislative, regulatory, and enforcement priorities will impact the tech industry, and the proactive steps tech firms can take to prepare. Jack counsels that the tech industry can expect new antitrust legislation, financial services regulation, increased enforcement actions and congressional investigations, and federal data privacy and cybersecurity initiatives.

Law360 invited RSHC Managing Partner Patricia Brown Holmes and other law firm leaders to answer five questions about lessons learned one year into the pandemic. Enjoy watching Patricia’s video clips.

Lawdragon’s feature on Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, “Law Firm So Real,” highlights the Firm’s unique origin as a true "blank slate" and its continuing commitments to helping clients achieve their goals, maintaining professional excellence in all areas of work, and advancing a Firm culture that is built on authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In "How to Navigate Automotive AR's Legal Challenges," RSHC Attorneys Deborah Bone and Joshua Roquemore discuss the numerous legal challenges posed by fast-moving augmented reality technology.

Best Lawyers' new "Best Law Firms" issue chronicles the distinguished career of RSHC Managing Partner Patricia Brown Holmes in a new profile. Tracing Holmes' journey from high school to law school, prosecutorial work to the judicial bench and private practice, this article also explores the judge's legendary resilience, public service, and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the profession.