Sonya Olds Som, Esq.

To learn more about the key themes that emerged from our Paths to Justice Summit Series, check out our latest report, Paths to Justice: The Bold Steps We Need to Reform Civil Justice. https://lnkd.in/gJ_w5ZjY

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If you work freelance at all in Illinois, you’ll now have more protections. A new law which went into effect July 1st looks to make sure freelancers get paid for their work. The Freelance Protection Act requires a contract between the employer and the freelancer, which would require them to pay the freelancer when the work is done. #legalnews

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The merger between Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper has led to significant departures from Locke Lord’s IP department. On January 3, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney welcomed a 17-lawyer group from Locke Lord's Chicago office, including nine shareholders, led by Michael Gaertner, to establish Buchanan's new Chicago office. Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/WgvP50UBBqE #LawFirmMerger #IntellectualProperty #LegalNews

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The 2024 Justice Fellows — our largest class of Fellows yet — will soon join their host organizations, working to provide quality legal counsel to immigrants in need. Below, we have highlighted six of the 2024 Fellows who shared what they are most excited for as they begin their fellowship this fall! #IJCfellows #immigrationlaw

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Thinking about your next career step as a woman in the legal field? You might want to consider aiming for a board position while you're still in your in-house or outside counsel role. Maria Doughty, CEO of The Chicago Network and a veteran in-house counsel, underscores the importance of not waiting until retirement to throw your hat in the ring. Despite women making great strides in non-profit boards, corporate boards still have a long way to go in achieving gender diversity. By stepping up early, you not only advance your career but also help enrich governance with diverse perspectives. Check out the full article to gain more insights on how to position yourself for these top-tier opportunities and why now is the time to act: https://buff.ly/4a2w2CF #womeninlaw #legalcareer #boardposition #genderdiversity #corporateboard #careerdevelopment #professionalgrowth #legalindustry #careeradvice #leadershipopportunity

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Constangy partner Laura Balson recently participated in a webinar hosted by #LaSalleNetwork on compliance with the new #Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance. Discover more details in the link below. #PaidLeave #EmploymentLaw

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There are communities around the world in which Collaborative Practice has been embraced by professionals and clients. One of the common elements that tie these communities together is that quality Collaborative Practitioners... https://lnkd.in/ekkNrjeX

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The latest Supreme Court term has been one of incredibly consequential decisions. Rulings regarding gun rights, immunity, and abortion access grabbed headlines for months. Yet, the most important ruling for the healthcare space writ large is the case of Loper Bright v. Raimondo, which involved regulations in the commercial fishing industry. What does a ruling about fishery regulation have to do with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)? In this situation, nearly everything.… Read more at https://lnkd.in/eJAhAnDA

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The #NLRB has adopted a new rule reinstating its pre-2020 position on union and collective bargaining procedures. Though the rule is likely to face legal challenges, employers should prepare for these significant procedural changes. The NLRB's new rule goes into effect on September 30, 2024, and would specifically impact unions and unionization efforts in three key areas: ☑ “Blocking” charges ☑ Voluntary recognition of unions ☑ Construction industry union representation without employee choice Get insight into the NLRB’s new rule and its implications for employers confronted with union activity: 🔎https://lnkd.in/gWqqJ28k. Analysis provided by Richard S. Cleary, Seth Granda, John Lovett, and Mekesha Montgomery from FBT's labor and employment team. #EmploymenLaw #Unions #LaborLaws #UnionOrganizing #Employers #Construction #HumanResouces #Workforce #CollectiveBargaining

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Join Thompson Hine lawyers Nancy Barnes and Brittany Mallow for a webinar highlighting the recent EEOC release of the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) final rule, which took effect on June 27, 2023. Learn about the new requirements for employers with 15 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions. This presentation will also offer insights on the final rule and guidance for implementing the PWFA, which requires most employers to rethink their approaches to workplace protections. Additionally, this webinar will provide an update on the legal challenges the PWFA final rule is facing as the newly issued guidance comes under scrutiny and is quickly becoming a target of litigation. Discussion topics include: 🔹 Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act overview 🔹 Examination of the final rule and interpretative guidance 🔹 Analysis of pending litigation and its potential ramifications 🔹 Tips for managing accommodation requests, policy adjustments and documentation needs Register today ➡  https://lnkd.in/gFZS2aeK #PWFA #EEOC #LaborandEmploymentLaw #ThompsonHine

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On July 1, Illinois’s Freelance Worker Protection Act went into effect, offering new provisions for “contracting entities” regarding protections for their freelance workers. The “Act” marks Illinois as the first state to set specialized protections for freelancers, leading the way for other states to adopt similar rules. To read more about the widespread impact of the Freelance Worker Protection Act, read our latest article below from Shareholder James P. Looby. #EmploymentLaw #IllinoisLaw #FreelanceWorkerProtectionAct #FreelanceEmployment

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The split verdict reflects the complex interplay between the Speaker's authority and the judiciary's role in safeguarding democratic principles. While Chief Justice Rao prioritized institutional integrity and deference to constitutional authorities, Justice Dua emphasized the need for accountability and protection of individual rights. The matter will now be further deliberated before the Chief Justice, signaling ongoing scrutiny of the delicate balance between these two pillars of governance. #MLAresignation #judicialintervention ⚖️🏛️🤔

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Great piece by Mark A. Cohen on how General Counsels are strategic (underutilized) assets for any business. Key takeaways: (1) Legal teams engage actively with all functional divisions of a company from product development to finance, customer service, HR and more, so GCs offer a global perspective on the business, its challenges, and its opportunities; (2) Proactive engagement with your legal counsel drives and protects value; (3) Lawyers are trained critical thinkers who can offer sound judgment to inform key strategy decisions. If that has not been your experience with legal, you should change the way you engage with your attorney or find new counsel. This is why I always tell our team that we do not take on any client unless we can provide "Legal Plus Value" for that client and unless that client is ready to receive that value. If you ask me, it's the only way to work! #legalimpact #forcemultiplierforgood #legalinnovators #disruptinglegal #fractionalgeneralcounsel

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It's time to move beyond outdated compensation models. The black box model, with its opacity and subjectivity, hinders firm culture and profitability. Embrace transparency and performance-based models that align with firm objectives and partner archetypes, ensuring every contributor is rewarded for their unique value. Learn more about building a stronger, more cohesive firm culture in Maggie Miller's latest article with ALM.

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#EmploymentLaw attorney Steven Suflas spoke to Law360’s Employment Authority on possible tacks the labor movement could take under the Trump administration, saying, “I think you're going to see more aggressive union tactics for purposes of top-down organizing — what can we do to get a card check neutrality agreement, what can we do to get recognition — rather than going through the traditional process.” Subscribers read more here: https://lnkd.in/gjB2zyU8

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Nonprofit Law Alert – Lobbying/Advocacy and Political Campaign Activity: What can Nonprofit Organizations and Leaders Say and Do? Learn more in this timely election-year reminder from Partner Carrie Pollak. https://lnkd.in/e7uFPvpd #nonprofitlaw #politicalcampaignactivity #nonprofitgovernanace

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Managing Partner Mary Beth Gray spoke with Law.com on the ways that midsize law firms can foster more inclusive environments and shed the boys-club stigma.

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