Jackson Walker Fast Takes

Jackson Walker Labor & Employment attorney Brooke Willard returns to give an update on the changes in paid sick leave. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) extended employee paid sick leave due to COVID-related reasons through September 30, 2021. In addition, ARPA created three new qualifying reasons for when an employee can take this kind of leave: 1) The employee is getting the COVID-...

With over 126 million vaccinations administered in the U.S. as of March 22, 2021, many Americans are reaching "fully vaccinated" status. Jackson Walker Labor & Employment attorney Brooke Willard  discusses the recently issued CDC guidance on  Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People  and what employers can do as employees transition from unvaccinated to...

On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law. The rescue plan affects a number of issues surrounding employer-provided health coverage, specifically triggering a number of changes in COBRA coverage for employees who lost their jobs or had a reduction in hours since November 2019. Jackson Walker ERISA partner Greta Cowart explains some of the changes f...

Time is of the essence for businesses to apply for relief from the Paycheck Protection Program. Jackson Walker finance partners Lindsey Berwick and John Wittenberg join hosts Art Cavazos and Daniel Maldonado to discuss the recent updates to the PPP regarding eligibility, forgiveness, and options available for businesses that have already received a PPP loan and those that did not before but are el...

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently issued GA-34 removing the state's mandate on wearing masks in public place and businesses, as well as removing limits on Texas businesses on the occupancy rates for customers. Governor Abbott is promoting this as Texas is back open for business. Jackson Walker partners Jamila Brinson and Brad Nitschke discuss Governor Abbott’s executive order and its impact on b...

The recent winter storm caused major disruptions for Texas businesses, including closures due to loss of electricity, water issues, property damages, and transportation issues. As businesses deal with the fallout of the storm, employers may be wondering whether they are responsible for compensating employees during the interruption. Jackson Walker Labor & Employment partner Dawn Holiday d...

As Texas businesses deal with property damages following the winter storm, Jackson Walker insurance litigation partner Chris Thompson discusses what business owners should consider when beginning the process of filing insurance claims to help cover the cost of repairs. For additional JW Fast Take podcasts and webinars, visit  JW.com/Fast . Follow Jackson Walker LLP on  LinkedIn ,  T...

As we approach the one-year mark of COVID-19 lockdowns, state and federal courts continue to struggle with the scheduling of civil cases – with some cases backed up to the end of 2022 and even the beginning of 2023. For parties wishing to speed up the resolution of their disputes, arbitration may be the perfect solution. Jackson Walker Labor & Employment partner Lonnie Schooler , who serves as...

While the topic of diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace is not new, the events of the past year have amplified the desire for employees and employers to create formalized D&I programs in the workplace. Though the motives for creating these programs may be well-intentioned, employers still need to understand certain guidelines before launching a D&I initiative, especially as t...

With a new presidential administration and a shift in power in Congress, there are some ambitious goals set forth in the first 100 days of Biden’s presidency, and employment laws are included in those announced policy goals. Jackson Walker Labor & Employment attorney Jackie Staple discusses a few of the issues facing employers as a result, including COVID-19 relief, a possible wage increase, a...

As many businesses and those in the health care industry wonder what protections, if any, they have against COVID-19-related litigation claims, Jackson Walker's Healthcare practice chair, Virginia Mimmack , and healthcare litigator Brad Nitschke discuss the patchwork laws and regulations of federal, state, and local governments. While the PREP Act allows for certain "covered countermeasures" for l...

As potential investors contemplate getting into the blockchain and cryptocurrency market, Jackson Walker Corporate & Securities partner Michael Laussade discussed some of the practical and legal implications surrounding these issues. Prior to jumping into this complex, technical area, there are multiple legal pitfalls to consider, including the potential for fraud and white collar issues, and...

Jackson Walker immigration attorney Sang Shin rejoins the podcast to provide an update on the Trump administration's recent proclamations to extend bans on all new H-1, L-1, and J-1 visas until March 31, 2021. In addition, there are a number of COVID-19-related immigration restrictions in place now that limit entry into the U.S. from certain hotspots across the globe. Finally, with Democrats now i...

As the rollout of the two current FDA-approved vaccines for COVID-19 takes place, many employers may be looking toward reopening offices for vaccinated employees. Can an employer require employees to be vaccinated as a requirement to return to the office? Jackson Walker attorneys Sarah Mitchell Montgomery and Sara Harris discuss this issue. Traditionally, U.S. courts have upheld vaccination requir...

In achieving a compromise in the latest COVID-19 relief package, one of the items cut from the final bill was Senator McConnell's business immunity protections from coronavirus-related lawsuits. Jackson Walker attorneys Brad Nitschke and Amanda Crouch discuss what that means for business liability issues, and how federal, state, and local regulations play a role going forward. For additional JW Fa...

With just six weeks left before Joe Biden's inauguration, businesses are preparing for a number of tax issues that will arise before and after January 20, 2021. In this episode, Jackson Walker Tax partner Nate Smithson discusses some anticipated changes and what businesses should be doing right now.  For more insights on potential policy changes under a Biden administration, view the article...

Subject to pending federal litigation and the Electoral College vote, Joe Biden is the projected president-elect with approximately 60 days remaining until Inauguration Day. Leading up to January 20th, Jackson Walker immigration attorney Sang Shin discusses current immigration policy and what changes may occur once Biden is sworn in. While immigration law has not changed in more than 30 years, som...

As we enter the winter season with COVID-19 infections at record highs, businesses are preparing for an unusual holiday workplace where typical travels and gatherings are hindered. With the Thanksgiving holiday just weeks away, Jackson Walker Labor & Employment partner Sarah Mitchell Montgomery and Litigation partner Brad Nitschke discuss some of the issues they are hearing from businesses, in...

For guidance on business entities in Texas and Delaware, look no further than Jackson Walker's resident expert, Byron Egan , who literally wrote the book on choice of entity. The third edition of his treatise, EGAN ON ENTITIES: Corporations, Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies in Texas , will be available through LexisNexis in November, and while the last update was released just two year...

When it comes to government contracts and procurement issues, even the savviest of businesses can need help navigating the applicable laws and the often-complicated regulations. From the initial request for proposal (RFP) process to the winning or losing of those bids, and all the way through the performance of the government contract, there are pitfalls businesses need to understand.  Jackso...

The recent temporary halt on residential evictions by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) raises a number of legal and logistical questions. Jackson Walker partner Brad Nitschke , who leads the Firm's COVID-19 Task Force, and governmental affairs consultant Kate Goodrich discuss how these issues affect both landlords and tenants and what the order does and does not cover. In this episode, Kate ex...

While Texas is considered pro-employer, the state has seen a significant increase in Fair Labor Standards Act employment litigation so far in 2020. Labor & Employment partner Jamila Brinson joins to explain the rise in litigation cases – particularly in the Southern District of Texas. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has played a significant role in the rise, but employees are finding creative...

Cybersecurity and data privacy regulations were complicated well before the global pandemic. Since COVID-19 swept the world, Brazil has delayed enacting its new general data protection law, California's CCPA has gone through enforcement changes, and businesses in the U.S. are in limbo after the European Union Court of Justice overturned a Privacy Shield commonly used to satisfy US/EU data transfer...

Not all bankruptcy plans need to be drawn-out or costly affairs. Jackson Walker attorney Veronica Polnick explains how a bankruptcy prepack plan speeds up the time it takes to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings. One such example is Jackson Walker's representation of Mood Media Corp. and its 17 affiliates in filing a prepackaged reorganization plan and emerging from bankruptcy in just over 30 hours...

Nonprofits are some of the best providers of necessary services in the United States. However, many run on shoestring budgets and require a mix of paid staff, volunteers, and internships to fulfill their missions, and there are still labor and employment laws, rules, and regulations they must follow. We discuss some of the issues around staff classification and benefits with Jackson Walker Labor &...