Japan has been facing an unprecedented rise in the number of COVID-19 cases into 2021. The Japanese government has now been forced to broaden its January 8, 2021 implemented national emergency measures. The state of emergency has expanded beyond Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures to seven additional prefectures, including Osaka and its surrounding prefectures. The state of emergency is set to expire on February 7, 2021 and may be extended in the future. The nonresident foreign entry…
On the cusp of the transition of power to President Biden, the Trump administration is pressing forward with three separate rulemakings restricting the H-1B visa program, which employers rely on to hire foreign workers for specialty professions, including in the pivotal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (“STEM”) fields. The new rules seek to substantially increase the price tag on engaging H-1B talent, narrow eligibility of foreign workers whose academic degrees are not singularly tied to…
The end of 2020 witnessed an alarming spread of multiple COVID-19 variants, including strains that first emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Record high COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were reported at similarly alarming rates, leading governments to take drastic action. In our December 22, 2020 blog, we reported on the travel restrictions imposed across multiple countries and regions across the globe, a trend that has continued at a rapid pace as governments…
The Japanese government announced this weekend that it will be suspending foreign entry into Japan (with certain exceptions) from December 28, 2020 until the end of January 2021. The blanket ban is a precaution against a new and potentially more contagious coronavirus variant that has spread across Britain.
The Foreign Ministry of Japan indicated in a statement on Saturday, December 26 that for the time being, the ban will be maintained through January 31, 2021. …
Law firms have been among the countless workplaces faced with adapting to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The transition to videoconferences and virtual collaboration has impacted the lawyer experience, and Liz Stern, head of Mayer Brown’s Global Mobility & Migration practice, emphasized the importance of maintaining communication—both with clients and employees—in a December 22 Legaltech News article (subscription required).
“It’s very important to create new communication vehicles, whether it’s a digital tool or a…
Over the weekend, countries across Europe announced travel bans on the United Kingdom, with the growing list of countries spanning all other regions of the globe. The restrictions come in the wake of the discovery of a new (and possibly highly transmissible) COVID-19 strain in the United Kingdom, coupled with the UK prime minister’s Saturday announcement of the strictest domestic movement restrictions to-date, including a new Tier 4 “stay at home” level alert for parts…
Last night, US Congressional leaders announced an agreement on a $900 billion COVID relief bill. While the text of the bill has not been released as of this writing, people familiar with the negotiations have indicated that the deal will extend renewable energy tax credits for wind and solar projects and the Section 45Q carbon capture tax credit, with special provisions addressing offshore wind farms.
Read more on Mayer Brown’s Tax Equity Times blog.…
The UK Government has confirmed that it will be renewing the measures it introduced to protect tenants in the commercial property sector unable to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, commercial tenants benefit from a prohibition on landlords forfeiting commercial leases for non-payment of rent. This measure was due to end on 31 December 2020, however the Government has announced that the restriction on forfeiture will be extended until 31 March 2021.…