Construction companies often possess valuable intellectual property assets without realizing it. From trademarks that protect brand identity to patents covering innovative building methods, copyrights safeguarding original content, and trade secrets preserving proprietary business information, strategic IP protection can strengthen competitive advantage, reduce risk, create new revenue opportunities, and enhance long-term business value. By identifying and protecting these assets, contractors can better position themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys use “Reptile Theory” tactics in transportation litigation to push for higher verdicts by appealing to jurors’ primal need for safety, distracting from the relevant facts of the case. For motor carriers, understanding how these arguments work and preparing for them in advance can help reduce risk and strengthen their defense if a claim arises.

On June 1, 2026, President Trump issued a new proclamation further amending the Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper that it issued on April 2, 2026. These changes, which potentially lower costs for U.S. importers, will be effective June 8, 2026 and expand eligibility for preferential tariff rates.

For U.S. businesses that import goods or rely on global supply chains—especially in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture—these updates may affect duty rates, sourcing decisions, and overall costs.

Companies operating in the online payments ecosystem should be aware of a limited window to secure branded domain names in the newly launched .pay top-level domain before it opens to broader public registration in 2027.

Rising education costs have made planning for a child’s future a top concern for parents. Section 529 accounts have long served as a powerful tax‑advantaged tool to help families save for education, allowing investment earnings to grow tax‑free when used for qualifying expenses. Although originally limited to state-sponsored prepaid college tuition plans, the list of qualifying expenses has expanded, most recently by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

In a unanimous decision issued May 14, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States held that negligent hiring/selection claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA). This ruling significantly increases litigation exposure for brokers, particularly in jurisdictions that had previously found such claims preempted.

Intellectual property shapes how businesses develop new products, protect their brands, and compete in crowded markets. Every April 26, World Intellectual Property Day celebrates the power of human creativity and this year’s theme—“IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”—highlights how intellectual property drives progress across the global sports industry. From patented equipment to iconic team branding and the media that brings games to life, IP strategies that serve as the invisible infrastructure behind world renowned teams offer lessons for businesses and creators in every field.

Federal and state prevailing wage mandates are colliding on construction projects in Illinois, exposing owners, developers, and contractors to conflicting compliance obligations and increased project costs. With the enactment of Illinois HB 1189, projects that long fell exclusively under the federal prevailing wage law (Davis-Bacon) may now also be subject to the state’s prevailing wage law mandates.

In a major win for businesses facing Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held that the 2024 amendment limiting damages applies retroactively to cases pending at the time of enactment. This decision significantly reduces potential exposure by limiting plaintiffs who allege multiple, biometric data collections or disclosures to a single recovery, rather than per-scan statutory damages, even for actions that predate the amendment.

The U.S. Department of Labor has revised OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) on outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, signaling that construction employers should expect continued heat inspections rather than the rollout of a new federal heat standard. The updated NEP, which takes effect immediately and continues through April 10, 2031, refines how OSHA targets employers, including construction jobsites, for heat-related inspections when the heat index is expected to be 80 degrees or higher.