Antitrust & Trade Regulation
Today’s businesses face a wide variety of laws and regulations, adopted by both federal and state governments, that restrict business practices viewed as promoting monopolies or otherwise hindering interstate commerce. Businesses are also subject to a range of laws that provide warranty protections to consumers and other purchasers of products. Ruder Ware attorneys advise clients on complying with these state and federal antitrust laws, as well as warranty and product liability matters.
Our services include:
- Designing and analyzing distribution and pricing programs for compliance with federal and state antitrust laws, including the federal Robinson-Patman Act
- Developing and reviewing warranties and advertising for compliance with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requirements and with federal, state, and local advertising regulations
- Representing manufacturers, distributors, and dealers in connection with various federal and state franchising requirements as well as distributor termination laws
- Providing antitrust analysis of mergers and acquisition transactions
- Preparing and filing required Hart-Scott-Rodino Act pre-merger reports.
Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services through its offices in Wausau, Eau Claire, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. A full-service law firm, over 40 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.
Posted on April 19, 2021 by Steven P. Lipowski
Many businesses work hard and invest heavily to develop and protect their intellectual property rights, including trade secrets and proprietary processes, designs, and know-how. However, special rules apply in determining ownership of these intellectual property rights when the work product is created by employees and independent contractors or consultants, particularly in a technical or creative […]
Posted on April 8, 2021 by Joseph M. Mella
Even though the increase in vaccinations and other public health initiatives have resulted in a dramatic reduction in new COVID-19 cases hinting at a possible “return to normal,” recent industry publications are starting to report on an anticipated long-term result in what was once thought to be only a short-term trend for commercial leasing: the […]
Posted on April 7, 2021 by Mary Ellen Schill
Today the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the section of the Department of Labor that handles all things employee benefit plans, posted a dedicated webpage with much anticipated (and much needed) employer tools on the “COBRA subsidy” provision of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), which was enacted on March 11, 2021. The […]
Posted on March 5, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
On February 25, 2021, Governor Tony Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 4 (“Act”). The Act became effective on February 26, 2021. The Act, in part, created broad immunity to civil liability related to exposure of COVID-19 for companies under Wisconsin Statute section 895.476 (“Statute”). The full Act is available here. Worker’s compensation is still the […]
Posted on February 1, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new, “stronger” Guidance on identifying and preventing coronavirus exposure risks in the workplace. Although this is labeled a “Guidance” and OSHA says that it is advisory, employers are cautioned that they can be at risk for standard OSHA penalties under the General Duty Clause if […]
Posted on December 23, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2021, and the decrease in rates reflect the decrease in the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle. Effective January 1, 2021, the optional standard mileage rates […]
Posted on December 22, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill and Amy E. Ebeling
On the evening of December 21, 2020 the House and Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”), a 5,593 page bill that funds the federal government for the next fiscal year and provides long anticipated COVID-19 pandemic relief to individuals and businesses. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation shortly. It is […]
Posted on October 26, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill
On October 26, 2020 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. Some of the limits shown below have increased from last year while others remained unchanged. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2020 – $19,500 2021 – $19,500 $200,000 compensation limit […]
Posted on October 13, 2020 by Steven P. Lipowski and Benjamin E. Streckert
After several months of uncertainty, businesses are carefully resuming merger and acquisition transactions. Many (if not most) small businesses took advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), but, as forgiveness is still pending, they are forced to navigate the treatment of these loans in the sale or acquisition process. The SBA issued a procedural notice […]
Posted on September 2, 2020 by Joseph M. Mella
On September 1, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a yet-to-be published Emergency Order (Order) prohibiting residential evictions. The Order will take effect on its legal publication date (expected to be Friday, September 4, 2020) through December 31, 2020. Specifically, the Order prohibits any action by a landlord or similar owner of […]
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