This update looks at the help offered to some self-employed individuals by the Self-employment Income Support Scheme. Details of this Scheme were published on 26 March 2020. It will be of direct interest to those self-employed individuals who may be able to claim under it. However, employers who make use of the services of self-employed individuals, and who are concerned about their financial welfare, may wish to draw this Scheme to their attention. Read the…

COVID-19 Response Blog

COVID-19 Ramifications for Public Companies—SEC Disclosures, SEC Filings and Shareholder Meeting Logistics: First Analysis

By Laura D. Richman & Michael L. Hermsen

April 3, 2020

In this Lexis Practice Advisor ® First Analysis article, Laura Richman and Michael Hermsen discuss some key ramifications of coronavirus outbreak for public companies. In addition to a host of significant general business concerns, such as those relating to liquidity and financing opportunities, revenues, supply chain and employee and community health and welfare, the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 has raised a number of issues specific to public companies that file reports with the US…

COVID-19 Response Blog

How is the United Kingdom Rising to the Competition Challenges of COVID-19?

By David Harrison, Warsha Kalé, Alexandra Aninoiu & Rhys Morgan

April 3, 2020

Westminster and Big Ben clocktower in London just after sunset

COVID-19 and Competition Authorities Since its emergence in late December, COVID-19 has reshaped the world’s markets. Bans on travel and gatherings have hollowed out the transport and tourism sectors, while containment measures of various forms affecting over 40% of the entire global population have caused the widespread closure of establishments and driven an unprecedented shift to home working. Added to this, supply issues, together with stockpiling activity and demand shifts, have caused product shortages…

COVID-19 Response Blog

USPTO Extends Deadlines under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

By Melissa A. Anyetei

April 3, 2020

On March 31, 2020, the United States Patent Office (USPTO) announced extensions for certain fees and deadlines during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Citing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), the $2 trillion relief bill signed by President Trump on March 27, the USPTO extended most deadlines for patent and trademark filings and fees that would have otherwise been due between March 27, 2020 and April 30, 2020.…

COVID-19 Response Blog

The United Kingdom, Like the United States, Formally Sanctions Video Checks of Right to Work, As COVID-19 Work From Home Arrangements Continue

By Grace Shie & María E. Ferré

April 3, 2020

The United Kingdom, like the United States, has formally announced an alternative, temporary method by which employers may conduct right to work (RTW) checks during the coronavirus pandemic, when employers have instituted telecommuting and work-from-home arrangements and thus are onboarding newly hired employees remotely. Because it remains an offence in the United Kingdom to knowingly employ anyone who does not have the right to work in the UK, these temporary measures provide a practical means…

COVID-19 Response Blog

White House Uses Defense Production Act to Facilitate Ventilator Production and Prioritize N-95 Respirator Acquisition

By Marcia Madsen, David F. Dowd & Andrew Tauber

April 3, 2020

On Thursday, April 2, 2020, President Trump issued two memoranda directing use of the Defense Production Act (“DPA”) to (i) facilitate the supply of materials for production of ventilators and (ii) acquire N-95 respirators. Making the determination necessary to trigger the president’s powers under DPA section 101, 50 U.S.C. § 4511, the presidential memoranda determined that the scarcity of critical health and medical resources essential to national defense requires intervention in the commercial market. Continue…

COVID-19 Response Blog

CARES ACT – Changes for Retirement Plans

By Debra B. Hoffman, Karen F. Grotberg & James C. Williams

April 3, 2020

Conceptual finance image of white empty page curl over one hundred dollar bill of US currency

In the second of a series, our benefits team takes an in depth look at the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act” or the “Act”) affecting retirement plans. For a description of changes affecting health and welfare plans, see our prior post. Retirement Plans Tax-Favored Coronavirus-Related Distributions The CARES Act introduces a new category of withdrawals, referred to as “coronavirus-related distributions,” under retirement plans. These withdrawals are…

COVID-19 Response Blog

SBA Releases Guidance on PPP Small Business Loans

By Julie A. Gillespie, Eric T. Mitzenmacher, Andrew T. Kugler, Joanna C. Nicholas, Amanda L. Baker & Ger P. O'Donnell

April 3, 2020

The Small Business Administration (SBA) released an interim final rule on the evening of April 2, 2020, outlining key provisions of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the provisions of the CARES Act relating to loan forgiveness. The rule is effective immediately. Continue reading on Mayer Brown’s Retained Interest blog. *** If you wish to receive periodic updates on this or other topics related to the pandemic, you can be added to our COVID-19…

COVID-19 Response Blog

Illinois Extends Stay-at-Home Order Until April 30, 2020, with Essential Business Definitions Unchanged

By Thomas V. Panoff & Gary A. Isaac

April 2, 2020

Warning in a yellow sign about coronavirus or covid-19 vector illustration stock illustration

Who or What Is “Essential” in Illinois On March 20, 2020, Governor JB Pritzker issued executive order 2020-10 (Executive Order), which ordered all Illinois residents to “stay at home or at their place of residence” from 5:00 pm on March 21, 2020, until April 7, 2020, unless otherwise exempted under the executive order. On April 1, 2020, Governor Pritzker extended the stay at home period until April 30, 2020.…

COVID-19 Response Blog

COVID-19 and Employees’ Privacy: Capita Selecta

By Charles-Albert Helleputte, Diletta De Cicco, Régine Goury, Vanessa Klesy, Ana Bruder, Mark A. Prinsley & Oliver Yaros

April 2, 2020

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic lead to the deployment of unprecedented responses by states and organizations; from “data against corona” initiatives (i.e., use of “anonymized” and “aggregated” mobile data as part of monitoring the success of in-shelter rules) to employers around the globe eager to protect their workforces and launching corona-investigations (inquiring about personal travels, imposing self-quarantine measures, etc.). Even more in stretched times, attention shall be paid to the balancing of those initiatives…

COVID-19 Response Blog

Legal Analysis of the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

Blog Authors

Government Support for Self-employed Individuals in the United Kingdom

COVID-19 Ramifications for Public Companies—SEC Disclosures, SEC Filings and Shareholder Meeting Logistics: First Analysis

How is the United Kingdom Rising to the Competition Challenges of COVID-19?

USPTO Extends Deadlines under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

The United Kingdom, Like the United States, Formally Sanctions Video Checks of Right to Work, As COVID-19 Work From Home Arrangements Continue

White House Uses Defense Production Act to Facilitate Ventilator Production and Prioritize N-95 Respirator Acquisition

CARES ACT – Changes for Retirement Plans

SBA Releases Guidance on PPP Small Business Loans

Illinois Extends Stay-at-Home Order Until April 30, 2020, with Essential Business Definitions Unchanged

COVID-19 and Employees’ Privacy: Capita Selecta

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