All Perspectives

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting all elements of society – with changes coming every day. These changes include the import, trade and transportation sectors. We will keep you updated on these changes as they occur.

As noted in our previous Legal Alerts concerning insurance coverage for coronavirus related issues, as businesses are forced to close, travel is restricted, and supply chains are disrupted, COVID-19 insurance claims will proliferate, likely affecting all lines of coverage, particularly property and

What Does This Mean For Legal Proceedings in New York State?

The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment (DUA) has taken steps to streamline the process for securing unemployment benefits in light of increased demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, March 20, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “New York State on PAUSE” Executive Order (“PAUSE,” Executive Order No. 202.8: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency).

The introduction of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) at the beginning of the year continues a global trend of law-makers introducing new and more stringent rules for companies using individuals’ data.

International Co-Leader and Litigation Partner Malcolm McNeil participated in a 3 part online series on coronavirus-related business and legal developments hosted by the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

Partner Joel Wallace shared his insight on the updated guidelines from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on running clinical trials and the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on those trials.   

The disruptions resulting from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic present difficult questions for many employers who must decide whether to close offices, furlough employees, or layoff all or part of their workforce.

On March 18, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. The statute, which the City Council passed unanimously, contains two major workforce protections applicable to employers in the District of Columbia.  

By now, almost everyone is aware of the dire situation that exists in the United States for testing patients with the Coronavirus.

The federal law requires employers to physically inspect each employee’s Form I-9 documentation to prove their identity and work authorization. 

In a tweet this morning, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the IRS is extending the tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15.

As of this alert, governors from California, New York, and Illinois have issued “shelter in place” or “stay at home” orders requiring all residents to stay at home, subject to certain exceptions, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Late on Friday, the IRS formalized U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s announcement earlier in the day regarding the extension of the tax filing deadline to July 15 by issuing Notice 2020-18, which contains several important clarifications.

On Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed A10153, a bill designed to provide paid sick leave and wage replacement for workers who are affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 10th, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued guidelines that address many Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In recent weeks and months, we have watched China, Italy, and other countries take aggressive measures in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Earlier this week, we published an Alert that reviews the EEOC’s recent guidance entitled What Employers Should Know about the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19. This Alert reviews the additional guidance that the EEOC issued on March 19.

Employers and workers’ compensation insurers face a potentially huge number of claims for coverage by employees sickened with the coronavirus. State workers’ compensation statutes, however, will erect significant evidentiary hurdles which those claimants must overcome.

On March 10, 2020, the New York Department of Financial Services issued Insurance Circular Letter No. 5, titled “Guidance to Department of Financial Services Regulated Insurance Entities and Request for Assurance Relating to Operational and Financial Risk Arising from the Outbreak of the Novel Coron

The Treasury Department extends the US federal tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15

On March 16, 2020, the Joint Commission announced that it was suspending all regular surveying due to the COVID-19 national emergency, effective immediately. DNV GL Healthcare followed suit on March 19.

On March 19, 2020, as part of the State of Illinois’ efforts to combat disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Illinois Department of Revenue announced that it is waiving for two months all penalties and interest that would be imposed on late payments by registered Illinois retailers operating small eating and drinking establishments for sales tax liabilities that are due for the February, March, and April 2020 reporting periods.