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Inflation Reduction Act
IRS Provides Guidance on Presidential Payroll Tax Deferral
On August 28, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-65 (the “Notice”) to provide guidance with respect to the Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster , issued by President Trump to the Secretary of...
The COVID-19 Vaccine: Now Is Time for Employers to Plan for Whether They Can, and Should, Require Employees to Be Vaccinated
A Gallup survey released earlier this month indicates that more than one in three Americans, specifically 35 percent, intend to decline to have any COVID-19 vaccine that ultimately is approved by the FDA — even if offered free of cost...
Before the Storm: How to Use Insurance to Prepare for and Recover from Hurricane Laura
Hurricane Laura’s impact reaches across the Texas and Louisiana coasts. Aside from power outages, physical access issues, evacuations and curfews, COVID-19 adds a new dimension. A key step in recovering from this storm involves dealing with insurance. Many insureds have...
FERC Staff Report on High Voltage Transmission Development to Congress
On Friday, August 7, 2020, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) Staff sent a report to Congress examining the “barriers and opportunities for high voltage transmission.” FERC Staff prepared this report in accordance with the Congressional directive contained in the 2020...
A New Era in the Middle East for Trade and Politics? Israel and United Arab Emirates Agree to Establish Full Diplomatic Relations
The substantive political and social upheaval that follows crises and disasters is a well-documented phenomenon. The worldwide coronavirus outbreak is likely to be no different, particularly when combined with an ensuing global recession. Arguably we may have already seen one...
Predictable unpredictability: stranded assets and the scope for disputes under PSCs
Summary In the current climate, many exploration and production companies are looking to reduce capital expenditure and to streamline their operations. They are also reassessing their demand and price forecasts and considering the impact on their balance sheets. In this...
Environmental Compliance: Readiness for a Potential Change in Administration
While U.S. national elections are still three months away and inauguration day isn’t for well over six months, current national and battleground state polling suggests that a change in Administration seems more likely than not. Companies asking themselves how to...
PPP Reboot Likely to Include Second Round of Funding for Distressed Businesses
As Congress scrambles to craft the next phase of COVID-19 stimulus and relief legislation, both sides of the aisle appear to be in agreement on expanding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to include more funds for small businesses that have...
FERC Finalizes Reforms to PURPA Regulations
On July 16, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) issued Order No. 872 , a final rule that the Commission explains is intended to implement its statutory mandate to update rules promulgated pursuant to the Public Utility...
Religious Education Employers see Two Significant Jurisdictional Decisions in Summer 2020
Educational institutions across the nation are grappling with decisions on returning teachers, staff and administrators to work for the academic year 2020-2021 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each institution must consider a myriad of factors to decide when...
Privacy Shield Invalidated by ECJ
On Thursday , July 16, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the EU-US Privacy Shield is invalid. The ruling stems from the complaints filed with the Irish supervisory authority by Max Schrems regarding the transfer of his data...
Trump Administration Publishes Final Revisions to NEPA Regulations
On July 16, 2020, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) published its much anticipated final rule revising the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). [1] Since taking office, the Trump Administration has sought to modernize NEPA...
Clean Water Act Developments
Christine Wyman will discuss EPA’s final Section 401 Water Quality Certification Rule, which aims to provide structure and limits on how States consider whether discharges from federally permitted projects will impact water quality. Daniel Pope will provide an update on...
Electric Transmission and Distribution Utilities and FERC COVID-19 Relief
On March 13, 2020, President Trump deemed the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States a national emergency as of March 1, 2020. [1] Due to the pandemic, certain electric transmission and distribution public utilities have experienced electricity demand that differs...
Webinar: M&A - Emerging From Crisis
On 13 July 2020, Bracewell and BDO hosted a joint webinar on the theme of “Emerging from Crisis” which included a thought-provoking session at who will emerge from COVID-19 as winners and losers and what the M&A landscape is likely...