Acknowledging the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US IRS and Treasury Department have issued notices granting much-sought flexibility for health and dependent care flexible spending accounts and health plans. The relief includes permission for plan sponsors to amend
Latest from COVID-19 Response Blog - Page 12
Japan Considering Entry of Certain Individuals From Thailand and Three Other Countries
As a first step to implementing a system for broadening entry into the country, the Japanese government is currently engaging in discussions to begin permitting entry of certain individuals from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand for business purposes, including
The Return to Work: COVID-19 Considerations for Leases
There has been much discussion of late around the effect of COVID-19 on leases, focusing in particular on the non-payment of rents by tenants and the limitation on the landlord’s usual arsenal of options for non-payment. As the lockdown eases
COVID-19 in the UK: Furloughing “new” employees after 30 June
One of the changes to the furlough scheme announced by the Chancellor last Friday was that the scheme will close to new entrants on 30 June, and so the last date on which an employer can furlough an employee for
US Congress Enacts Legislation to Give PPP Borrowers Added Flexibility
Borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are breathing a sigh of relief after the US Senate approved legislation yesterday that will ease some of their biggest concerns about PPP loans. H.R. 7010, “The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of
China’s Crackdown on Hong Kong Spooks Western Law Firms
Mayer Brown partner Terence Tung is quoted in The Times regarding China’s recent steps using the pandemic to impose a national security law that may threaten Hong Kong’s special legal status.
International firms with broad legal service offerings will be
Will retail still be therapeutic post-lockdown?
As we slowly start to ease out of lockdown, the impact of how the retail landscape will be changed, remains to be seen. Some retail stores are starting their preparations to be ready to open again in England from 15 June
COVID-19 Related Worker Retention and Right of Recall Protections Adopted for Airport, Event Center, Hotel, and Commercial Property Employees in Los Angeles City and County
On April 29, 2020, the City of Los Angeles adopted the COVID-19 Right of Recall Ordinance and the COVID-19 Worker Retention Ordinance, both of which come into effect on June 14, 2020. Two weeks later, on May 12, 2020,
The C2B Program: A lifeline for local businesses devastated by COVID-19
A Mayer Brown team took on an intriguing project for the Financial Times “hackathon,” which encourages innovative solutions to challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. To help local businesses struggling to survive COVID-19, we proposed a Community Business Capital (C2B)
Law Firm Tech Tools Help Clients Get “Back to Business” in the US
As US businesses begin to reopen, LegalTech News/Law.com (subscription required) asked lawyers how their firms are leveraging technology to inform clients on states’ and local governments’ evolving reopening requirements.
Lawyers interviewed for the May 26, 2020 article say that their