Blogs

Business and Financial Services

IRS Guidance – President’s Memorandum Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations for Four Months

On August 8, 2020, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Treasury Department to defer the employee’s portion of Social Security taxes due to the COVID-19 pandemic for wages paid from September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 (see our blog). The deferral applies only for wages less than $4,000 for any bi-weekly period,…

September 1, 2020

Business and Financial Services

8 Common Business Bankruptcy Questions

Financial and economic challenges due to the pandemic have resulted in a growing number of bankruptcy filings for both individuals and businesses. A number of creditors’ rights challenges arise when a business or individual whom you transact with files for bankruptcy. Here are examples of several scenarios currently impacting landlords, tenants, and business owners and…

August 18, 2020

Business and Financial Services

President’s Memorandum to the Secretary of Treasury Defers Payroll Tax Obligations for Four Months

On August 8, President Donald J. Trump, signed the memorandum (the President’s Memorandum) directing the Secretary of Treasury to defer the withholding, deposit, and payment of the 6.2 percent payroll tax during the period of September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 for wages less than $4,000 during any bi-weekly pay period (i.e., $104,000 annually)…

August 11, 2020

Business and Financial Services

Beyond PPP – Financing Options for the Restaurant Industry

The Small Business Administration administered Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), designed to incentivize small businesses to keep their workers on payroll, will stop receiving new applications on August 8, 2020. Franchisees and independent restaurant operators would be well advised to now consider financing alternatives in light of the impending PPP application deadline. Most readily available options…

July 27, 2020

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

Employment Law

Virginia Phase 3 Reopening: Will a COVID-19 Liability Waiver Protect Your Business from Legal Risks?

Virginia governor Ralph Northam announced that Phase 3 of the Forward Virginia reopening plan will get underway on July 1, 2020, lifting more of the restrictions on businesses and public activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Commonwealth’s move toward expanded reopening options, many Virginia businesses, in particular retail and services entities, have become…

July 6, 2020