Blogs

Business and Financial Services

New Employee Protections for Non-Payment of Wages Go Into Effect in Virginia

In April 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law nearly two dozen bills that provide significant new rights for Virginia employees, including new legal protections to combat wage theft. The law became effective on July 1, 2020. We have published additional updates on other new Virginia employment laws that prohibit non-compete covenants for low-wage workers, expand the scope of the ban on workplace discrimination, and provide enhanced employee whistleblower protections against…

July 21, 2020

Business and Financial Services

New Enhanced Whistleblower Protections for Virginia Employees Now in Effect

In April 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law nearly two dozen bills that provide significant new rights for Virginia employees, including enhanced employee whistleblower protections against retaliation for reporting suspected violations of state law or cooperating with law enforcement, as discussed below. We have also published updates on other new Virginia employment laws that combat wage theft, prohibit non-compete covenants for low-wage workers and expand the scope of the…

July 21, 2020

Business and Financial Services

New Protections against Workplace Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Pregnancy Now in Effect in Virginia

In April 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law nearly two dozen bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly that provide significant new rights for Virginia employees, including legislation that expanded the scope of the ban on workplace discrimination, as discussed below, which became effective on July 1, 2020. We have published additional updates on other new Virginia employment laws that combat wage theft, prohibit non-compete covenants for low-wage workers, and provide…

July 21, 2020

Business and Financial Services

Virginia Law Now Prohibits Non-Compete Restrictions for Low-Wage Employees

Virginia has always viewed restrictive covenants, including non-compete agreements, skeptically as unfair restraints on trade. However, employers have widely relied on well-drafted restrictions on competition as a means of protecting against employee misuse of client relationships and opportunities to start a competing business, for example. Now, however, with Governor Ralph Northam’s signature on House Bill 330 and Senate Bill 480 , Virginia employers will not be able to enter, enforce, or…

July 21, 2020

Business and Financial Services

COVID Impact on GovCon Deals in 2020

This year has been fraught with global health concerns for everyone and financial burdens on businesses and individuals. But, has the government contracting space been impacted as well or is it business as usual? According to data reported on mergr.com, the number of closed mergers and acquisitions deals in the government contracting industry in the…

July 20, 2020

Business and Financial Services

Virginia Joins Lawsuit to Block Implementation of New Title IX Final Rule

Eighteen states, including Virginia, and the District of Columbia, filed suit on June 4, 2020, in federal district court in the District of Columbia, seeking to block the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) from implementing its recently published final rule (New Title IX Rule or Rule) effectuating sweeping changes to Title IX, the federal law which forbids discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded K-12 and postsecondary education. The State of New York has filed a separate law…

June 15, 2020

Business and Financial Services

4 Tips for Pursuing Principal Forgiveness of a PPP Loan

The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) has been a highly popular relief program for small businesses passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP allows small businesses to obtain government-backed loans from private lenders which, if spent properly on payroll, rent, utilities and/or mortgage interest, can be all or partially forgiven. Over the last month,…

May 4, 2020

Business and Financial Services

COVID-19 Economic Relief Investigations: They Will Expose Some Businesses to Civil Liability

The initial rounds of COVID-19 economic relief have largely been depleted. More rounds of relief are expected soon. Further out, there will be investigations and follow-on civil (and criminal) proceedings surrounding this largest-ever economic stimulus package in U.S. history, with almost $350 billion going to small businesses. Federal and state authorities, and even some companies,…

April 22, 2020

Business and Financial Services

Online Board Meetings – What to Know When Social-Distancing Requires Your Meetings to Go Virtual

Many corporations and LLCs that have traditionally held in-person shareholder and board meetings are looking for alternatives during the social distancing required for COVID-19. Fortunately, corporate and LLC governance statutes in most states, including Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and DC allow for meetings to be held remotely, if some special considerations are followed. Corporations are required…

April 16, 2020

Business and Financial Services

What Can Employers Ask and Do About Their Employee’s Health During the Coronavirus Crisis? Answers from the EEOC

EEOC Update, May 7, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has had an undeniably dramatic and devastating impact on public health in the U.S. It also has had dire consequences for the U.S. economy and businesses across the country. Many nonessential businesses have been forced to close altogether. Those that have been permitted, or required, to continue providing essential services, including many retailers, have struggled to find ways to keep workers from getting sick from coronavirus, and keep their…

April 14, 2020