State Bar of Wisconsin: Wisconsin lawyers offer free legal advice to small businesses impacted by the pandemic

MADISON, WI – Small businesses in Wisconsin now have a place to go for free legal advice on issues they face due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a tough economy.

Starting Feb. 5, volunteer attorneys with the State Bar of Wisconsin Business Law Section will meet with small-business owners each Friday for an hourlong appointment, as part of the section’s new Small Business Assistance project.

The project, implemented in collaboration with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics program, pairs volunteer attorneys and law students with pre-screened small-business owners who have legal questionsrelated to their business.

The Small Business Assistance will support a wide-variety of small businesses, including those that provide business services; restaurants and bars; retail; health, beauty and fitness; automotive repair, travel and lodging; and recreation, according to Patricia J. Lane, section board member and organizer of the project. Lane is a partner with Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee.

How it Works

Wisconsin-licensed lawyers will offer free consultations, by Zoom or by phone, of up to one hour. If a business
law issue cannot be adequately addressed during the session, the business person may be referred for an additional one-hour session at no charge. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Finance and lending
• Insurance claims/coverage
• Commercial leases and contracts
• Tax
• Labor and employment
• Real estate
• Commercial debtor/creditor
• Regulatory compliance, including privacy and COVID-19 related requirements

Exclusions: Litigation; entity selection and formation; patent, trademark, or other intellectual property issues; or commercial real estate transactions.

A Very Real Need

Small businesses account for 99.4% of all businesses in Wisconsin, and they employ nearly half the state’s workforce. Lane recognized the need after hearing that business lawyers were receiving many questions from small-business owners on issues regarding compliance with COVID-19 governmental orders and whether force majeure clauses in contracts may be invoked to excuse performance, and governmental loan programs, including determining eligibility and compliance.

“Other owners needed assistance with business-interruption insurance claims and labor matters,” Lane said.

While the project currently offers an hour-long consultation for three businesses per week, additional consultations may be added in the future. “We will calibrate our future level of service to meet demand,” Lane said.

The project, she says, is expected to last indefinitely.

“One way we can help these business – and thereby the community at large – is to provide free legal advice. We hope this will increase the chances that a local business will be able to survive and thrive – thereby preserving jobs,” she said.

Request an appointment today for your free one-hour consultation.

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FPC Live Announces the “Return to Live”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, February 8, 2021

FPC Live Announces the “Return to Live”
A New Breese Stevens Field Series

Madison, WI – February 8, 2021 – FPC Live will be announcing the first artist in their “Return to Live” Series at Breese Stevens Field on Tuesday, February 9 at 9:00am local. The show date is set for Thursdsay, May 6^th and is expected to be the kick-off show in the series. This exciting, socially-distanced series will take place throughout the 2021 season and replicate the company’s successful “Around the Bend” socially-distanced concert series in Charleston, South Carolina which hosted 11 concerts in the fall of 2020 with plans for more shows this spring and summer.

“We are thrilled to safely bring live music to Madison,” said Matt Gerding, President of FPC Live. “Our experience in other parts of the country have proven that fans can safely enjoy outdoor live events, and we look forward to bringing shows back to our hometown.”

The “Return to Live” concerts will look different than previous Breese concerts. Reserved, socially-distanced 8 x 8ft pods will be sold rather than individual tickets. Each pod can accomadate up to four guests. Breese Stevens Field normally hosts up to 10,000 fans for concerts; however, current plans for the series have a capacity of 1,512 in the stadium with pods divided among the field and stands. Other safety plans, include staggered entry and exit times, required face coverings, cashless concessions, and more. General information and safety guidelines are available at www.fpc-live.com/madisonreturntolive.

“We are confident in bringing our successful socially-distant concert model to Madison, and we know the community will continue to follow the mitigation steps supported by Public Health Madison Dane County (PHDMC). These efforts work, and we know Madison’s music lovers can count on everyone to mask up and stay safe so we can enjoy live music again this spring and summer,” added Gerding.

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About Frank Productions

Frank Productions (FPC Live) is a full-service concert promotion company involved in every facet of live events including production, logistics, ticketing, marketing, sponsorships, food and beverage, operations, and merchandising. Frank Productions produces and promotes live entertainment events in arenas, amphitheaters, performing arts centers, clubs, and other venues across the country. For additional information, visit www.FPC-Live.com.

Frank Productions (FPC Live) Media Contact:
Matt Gerding, President
matt@fpc-live.com  

Kraus-Anderson completes car dealerships in Mount Pleasant and Bristol, Wis.

RACINE, Wis. (February 2021) – The Madison office of Kraus-Anderson Construction has completed the construction of Racine Honda in Mount Pleasant, Wis., and Kenosha Subaru in Bristol, Wis. Both car dealerships are owned by Home Run Auto Group.

Racine Honda, a new $9.1 million dealership, located at 1701 E Frontage Rd. in Mount Pleasant, was developed by Janesville, Wis.-based M&J Real Estate. The new two-story building replaces the existing dealership at 9501 Washington Ave. The 45,000-square-foot building features a new showroom and a full-service department with 34 bays, including two detail bays and a car wash. The dealership also includes new sales and finance offices and a storage mezzanine.

Kenosha Subaru, located at 7900 120th Ave. in Bristol, features a $1.9 million, 7,300-square-foot expansion that added 11 service bays to the service department and renovated the offices and restrooms.

Both dealerships were designed by Johnsburg, Ill.-based architect R.B. Custom Designs, Inc.

COVID-19: KRAUS-ANDERSON’S COMMITMENT TO JOB SAFETY
As the world continues to deal with and adapt to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kraus-Anderson’s top priority remains safety. The company has implemented stringent social distancing practices and other elevated safety protocol on construction job sites, details of which can be found at https://www.krausanderson.com/about/kraus-anderson-responds-to-covid-19/.

About Kraus-Anderson
Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies including insurance and financing operations. Kraus-Anderson, an Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.

Aldevron to Host Virtual Ribbon Cutting for Madison Site

Aldevron recently announced its upcoming virtual ribbon cutting event, which will take place on Wednesday, February 10 at 12:00 PM CST. Its focus will be the company’s investments in key areas, expanding Aldevron’s ability to enable clients’ breakthroughs in the emerging field of genetic medicine, further impacting patients and achieving the company’s mission.

Multi-Instrumentalist, Vocalist Nicholas Payton Online Performance Added to Wisconsin Union Theater Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 5, 2021

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, VOCALIST NICHOLAS PAYTON ONLINE PERFORMANCE ADDED TO WISCONSIN UNION THEATER SEASON

MADISON – Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Nicholas Payton, known as a leading voice in American popular music, will perform as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater season on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. CDT after which he will participate in a question-and-answer session.

Tickets for Payton’s virtual performance cost $10 for University of Wisconsin-Madison students; $17 for Wisconsin Union members, UW-Madison staff and faculty, and students that do not attend UW-Madison; and $20 for all other patrons.

Payton’s performance will include music from his latest album, “Maestro Rhythm King.”

Patrons will experience talent that has been nurtured and honed since Payton first began learning the trumpet at 4 years old. His talent for music became apparent quickly and early in his life. He was recognized as a prodigy before the 1st grade and participated in professional performances by the age of 10. This early talent for music has grown into a career that spans decades and has earned him numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.

While Payton does not confine himself to specific genres, he works to honor postmodern New Orleans music and the spirit of Black American Music. He established the term Black American Music, also known as #BAM, to represent the breadth of improvisational music created by Black people in the United States.

“Nicholas Payton does not conform to the status quo in life or in his music. His musical talent is vast, but his most interesting and, I’d say, most important talent is how he uses his art for social activism and to make deeper connections to the world we live in,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “Nicholas says art is not just here to make us feel good and to entertain; it’s to help us grow and think critically.”

This event is co-presented by the Wisconsin Union Theater team and the student leaders of the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee. They work together to make dozens of events possible each year.

The Theater strives to make each Wisconsin Union Theater event accessible. Those that need accommodations can reach out to the Wisconsin Union Theater at wisconsinuniontheater@union.wisc.edu. 

The Wisconsin Union Theater is taking steps to address racial inequalities, including commissioning programming that highlights BIPOC stories. Click here for a full statement on the Theater’s stance and efforts.

The Wisconsin Union Theater presents this event, in part, with the help of financial support from Wisconsin Arts Board funding from the State of Wisconsin and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about this event, click here.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an expansive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Theater: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee plans and promotes events for the historic Wisconsin Union Theater stages. The student-led committee programs a variety of events to provide a diverse and cultural experience for students, faculty, alumni, community members and visitors. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

[Click here to download a photo of Nicholas Payton. Photo by Jimmy Katz.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/nicholas-payton.