Publications
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, H.R. 748) (the “CARES Act”) signed into law on March 27 contains a number of tax provisions that will have a significant impact on certain taxpayers. A summary of the most significant tax provisions included in the CARES Act is set forth below: Individual Individual […]
Last week, the Department of Labor released a series of Questions and Answers to provide guidance regarding employer obligations under two key provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (“FFCRA”), the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. The guidance has been updated since to address more questions, […]
As COVID-19 continues to disrupt businesses across the U.S., many employers must make the difficult decision to suspend workers, reduce hours, and/or initiate layoffs. If H-1B sponsorship is being utilized by an employer, then visa compliance obligations must be carefully reviewed prior to taking any personnel actions that impact employees working pursuant to H-1B visa status […]
ICE continues to release guidance documents, including broadcast messages, and FAQ updates to assist educational institutions with F-1 visa compliance as campuses close and classroom instruction transitions to online forums. A summary of the latest flexible, modified, or waived requirements is provided below. I-20 Issuance During the COVID-19 emergency, a Designated School Official (“DSO”) may sign […]
H-1B Fiscal Year 2021 Lottery Selection Complete USCIS announced that as of March 27, 2020 selections for the Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B quota-subject visa lottery have been made. Notification will be provided by March 31, 2020 to successful lottery entrants who are eligible to submit a quota-subject H-1B petition starting April 1, 2020. USCIS will also provide […]
A variety of governmental orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused nearly all industry sectors to evaluate how and to what extent compliance with environmental statutory, regulatory and permit requirements will be achieved. For non-essential businesses that have been required to cease operations, the regulated community is faced with whether otherwise applicable environmental requirements […]
On March 18, 2020, the President issued Executive Order (EO) 13909, entitled “Prioritizing and Allocating Health and Medical Resources to Respond to the Spread of COVID-19,” thereby invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 (“DPA”) in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In a nutshell, EO 13909 delegated to the Secretary of Health and Human […]
During this difficult time of physical distancing and remote working, Connecticut’s Governor has suspended statutory deadlines applicable to judicial proceedings. Many in the legal profession welcome this development as they and their clients cope with changes that affect both their work and personal lives. Yet, while the suspensions are intended to be helpful, the question […]
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Connecticut has established the Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program (the “Program”). This $25 million short-term emergency loan program will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The Program will be administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) and expedited with the administrative and underwriting support […]
On March 17, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) published a Declaration in the Federal Register providing immunity from liability under state and federal law to certain individuals and entities using medical countermeasures in the fight against COVID-19. The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (the “PREP Act”) of 2005 […]
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) have provided updated guidance via questions and answers in the attached link here. Do not hesitate to continue to reach out to your Wiggin and Dana attorney with questions or concerns. Visit Wiggin and Dana’s COVID-19 Resource Center here for additional publications and helpful links on multi-disciplinary topics that are relevant […]
On only March 24, 2020, we released an advisory discussing the newly available Subchapter V of Chapter 11 and how it can facilitate in- and out-of-court restructurings for companies under the approximately $2.7 million threshold currently in effect without requiring a change of ownership. Yesterday, March 25, 2020, the Senate passed the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, […]
We understand that during these difficult and uncertain times, many of our clients are thinking of their health and well-being more than ever and, as a result, may re-evaluate their estate planning. We want to reassure you that your Wiggin and Dana attorneys remain available to discuss and address all of your estate planning needs and […]
In a series of FAQs posted on its website, the Internal Revenue Service has now provided guidance on a number of additional issues related to the postponement of the federal income tax filing and payment deadline until July 15, 2020, as previously provided for by the US federal government in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow across the U.S., employers should consider Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) injury and illness recording and reporting obligations in connection with confirmed employee cases of COVID-19. Generally, OSHA requires covered employers to prepare and maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses. See 29 CFR § […]
The Coronavirus has had a devastating impact on small businesses. As states ban so-called “non-essential” commercial activity, businesses have been forced to shutter their operations. This has resulted in a sudden cessation of revenue flows, but not expenses. Debts, rent, and other liabilities must still be paid. Some relief is available through a hodge-podge of […]
College campuses have not been immune to the COVID-19 epidemic wreaking havoc on the national economy. As colleges grapple with how to handle the crisis, several higher education institutions sent a memo to Congress asking federal lawmakers to give DeVos “the authority to waive compliance with significant and/or costly new regulatory requirements that may be […]
On March 18, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Guidance Document for sponsors, investigators and institutional review boards (IRBs) conducting clinical trials during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this Alert is to summarize the Guidance Document, which identifies potential challenges and outlines considerations to push ongoing clinical trials forward, without compromising […]
The New York legislature has enacted a new law in response to the growing public health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Effective immediately, the New York Quarantine Leave Law provides job-protected leave, and in some instances paid leave, for employees subject to a mandatory or precautionary quarantine or isolation order due to the coronavirus. Employers should take careful […]
The COVID-19 crisis has forced the Department of Health and Human Services’ (“HHS”) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) to rethink Medicare’s stringent and limiting telehealth rules. As federal and state governments struggle to slow the spread of the virus, they are increasingly encouraging people to stay home as much as possible and, at […]
In the past week, we’ve spoken with many founders and venture capital investors whose businesses are facing drastic revenue reductions, uncertain capital availability, and other business challenges as a result of the current COVID-19 crisis. Although we hope that collective local and national efforts will provide sufficient support to many businesses, whether in the form of […]
COVID-19’s impact has extended to intellectual property cases in the courts, US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and patent and trademark offices abroad. In the IP licensing context, it has brought to the fore certain key issues in agreements that may need to be considered in the near term. The purpose of this Alert is […]
On Friday, March 20, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order 7H in response to the deepening COVID-19 Pandemic. Order 7H requires all “non-essential” businesses and non-profits to reduce the number of employees they have working on-site at a workplace to zero, starting at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23, and running through April 22 (though […]
Given the fast moving nature of the federal government’s responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, we already have one update to the Tax Filing and Payment Advisory we published on Friday. The Treasury Department has now removed the cap on the amount of tax payments (formerly $1 million for individuals and $10 million for corporations) that […]
On March 20th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that for the next 60 days or within three business days after the termination of the National COVID-19 Emergency, whichever comes first, employers and workplaces that are operating remotely may “defer the physical presence requirements associated with Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).” This means that […]
On March 20th, the Department of Labor (DOL) released an FAQ guide for complying with notice requirements for H-1B visa petitions and underlying Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) during COVID-19. The contents are summarized below with additional guidance from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). 1) Complying with DOL Notice Requirements During COVID-19 When seeking to employ […]
Please note the following immigration benefit case processing and travel updates released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS): Effective March 16th U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows ESTA/Visa Waiver Participants (VWP) who were admitted into the U.S. through John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK) or Newark […]
On Friday, March 20, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order 7H in response to the deepening COVID-19 Pandemic. Order 7H requires all “non-essential” businesses and non-profits to reduce the number of employees they have working on-site at a workplace to zero, starting at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23, and running through April 22 […]
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the federal government and many states have developed paths towards economic relief for small businesses. Below is a summary of such programs at the federal level and in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. I. Federal – U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) In response to the Coronavirus […]
On March 18, the United States Senate approved a relief package to provide sick leave, unemployment benefits, free coronavirus testing, and food and medical aid to people impacted by the pandemic. The legislation was passed by the House on March 14, and was signed by President Trump on the evening of March 18. The legislation […]