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Inflation Reduction Act
Amid "Stay Home. Work Safe" Orders, Community Banks Remain Open for Business Under Designation as "Critical Infrastructure Sector"
On March 24, 2020, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, in coordination with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, issued a mandatory “Stay Home. Work Safe.” order, effective at 11:59 pm March 24, to preserve public health and safety in Harris County in...
COVID-19 and "Electronic" Execution of English Law Documents
In light of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, many organisations are implementing remote working policies and limiting access to offices in order to effect social distancing measures. Notwithstanding the changes to usual working practices, organisations continue to enter into binding contractual...
President Trump Signs Families First Coronavirus Response Act
On March 18, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FFCRA”). The FFCRA seeks to assist employees impacted by novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and applies to employers with fewer than 500 employees . The...
DOJ Wins Groundbreaking Arbitration to Resolve Merger Challenge
The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) has prevailed in a first-of-its-kind arbitration, resolving its challenge to aluminum producer Novelis Inc.’s $2.6 billion proposed acquisition of rival Aleris Corporation. As a result of the arbitrator’s ruling in favor of...
New House Bill Prompted by Coronavirus
In the early morning hours of March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “House Bill”), which seeks to assist employees impacted by the coronavirus and has significant impacts for...
COVID-19 Preparedness
Employers across the world are responding to the developing information on the coronavirus (referred to as COVID-19). While there are many considerations, and many fact-specific considerations based on the nature of the workforce, employers should keep these tips... Read more...
FTC to Investigate Big Tech's Past Deals and Consider Broadening Merger Notification Requirements
In an unprecedented move further expanding its ongoing investigation of large technology companies, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered Amazon.com , Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google to provide details about their acquisitions during the past 10 years that were...
HSR Notification Thresholds Increase for 2020
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has announced the annual revisions to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (“HSR Act”) thresholds, which will become effective on February 27, 2020. The revised thresholds will apply to any merger or acquisition closing on or...
The Global Sustainable Finance Movement
The present and future impacts of climate change, human rights violations, environmental, labor and regulatory violations and poor corporate governance on the quality of investments and credit risks have spurred widespread recognition of the importance of environmental, social and governance...
DOJ and FTC Propose Highly Anticipated Vertical Merger Guidelines
On January 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission released draft Vertical Merger Guidelines for public comment. The new guidelines, which will replace the outdated 1984 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines, are intended to assist the business...
New Law Repeals Parking Tax for Tax-Exempt Organizations
Good news for tax-exempt organizations! The “Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020” (H.R. 1865 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)) (the “Act”) signed into law on December 20, 2019, retroactively repealed Section 512(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, often referred to...
Staying Compliant in 2020 and Beyond - Drug Testing, Marijuana, and CBD Laws & Trends
Bracewell Partner Robert Nichols tackled the layers of drug testing laws and regulations affecting employers. Our webinar explored trends we see across the country and explain how to stay complaint no matter where your business operates. Special emphasis was given...
When Does it Pay to be Absent From Work? Developments in State and Local Paid Leave Requirements
Leslie Selig Byrd and Amber Dodds discuss the increasing number of state laws and local ordinances requiring paid leave benefits to employees. Many of these require a minimum number of hours of accrued paid time off for illness or preventative...
Not Just a Hashtag: Legislation Created by #MeToo
On November 5, 2019, Bracewell attorneys Amy Karff Halevy and Becky Baker discussed the ways in which sexual harassment and discrimination laws are dramatically changing at the state and local level in the wake of the #MeToo movement. The webinar...
Proposed Rules Addressing LIBOR Phase-out Help Ease Reissuance Concerns
Since the 2017 announcement that the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) may be phased out after the end of 2021, the municipal finance industry has been concerned that changes to debt obligations and related financial products necessary to address the...