Juneteenth: A National Day of Reflection
It was on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free—over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This year, the observance of Juneteenth takes on even greater significance as we all bear witness to injustices against people of color. Today, the PilieroMazza family pauses to reflect and take a collective breath in remembrance of this day in our country’s . . . Read More
SBA and Treasury Release New PPP Application Forms
As we reported in our previous alert , President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (“Flexibility Act”) into law. The bill makes numerous changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) aimed at improving loan forgiveness procedures and loosening restrictions on PPP funds. In accordance with the Flexibility Act, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) released revised application forms for businesses participating in the PPP. The new PPP application forms differ substantially from their previous . . . Read More
BLOG: New Judicial Order Offers Clarity on Maryland Statutes of Limitations Impacted by COVID-19
Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of state-level court systems, including Maryland’s courts, declared judicial emergencies and issued orders automatically tolling, or postponing, the expiration of statutes of limitations [1] for claims filed within those states. These orders offered plaintiffs a reprieve from the strict filing deadlines. Now, as Maryland begins the process of reopening its court systems to the public, the state’s highest court has issued an order offering clarity as to the new filing deadlines for the expiration of . . . Read More
ANNOUNCEMENT: Tony Franco Joins MCCC Board of Directors and Executive Committee as General Counsel
On June 10, 2020, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) announced the appointment of Tony Franco as a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, where he will serve as general counsel. “I’m honored to be working with MCCC’s visionary leaders Gigi Godwin and Barbara Ashe, amongst others, as I continue PilieroMazza’s enduring partnership with the Chamber,” said Tony. Tony brings over 30 years of legal experience to his role as general counsel. As the Practice Group Chair for PilieroMazza ’s Government Contracts Group , Tony will . . . Read More
SBA’s New WOSB / EDWOSB Certification Requirement and 8(a) Economic Disadvantage Criteria Revisions: What You Need to Know
Presented by Meghan Leemon and Jonathan Pomerance. Click here to view the recorded session. The Small Business Administration recently published a final rule that will impact businesses competing for contracts under the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program and those companies seeking admission to the 8(a) Business Development Program. The rule implements a certification requirement for WOSBs and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSBs) and also revises 8(a) economic disadvantage eligibility criteria. This webinar covers ways to keep your business competitive and compliant, . . . Read More
Landmark SCOTUS Decision Holds Title VII Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers who discriminate against gay and transgender workers violate Title VII. The Court’s 6-3 decision resolves a longstanding circuit split on this issue and extends Title VII protections to LGBTQ+ employees across the country. Justice Gorsuch drafted the majority opinion for the Court, and was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan. For employers, we examine the ruling below and offer key takeaways. In its long-awaited and hotly-debated decision, the . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – June 12, 2020
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . PilieroMazza will host a series of webinars on “The Post-Coronavirus Workplace,” which will cover topics of interest for our clients who are navigating “the new normal.” Please visit this web page for updates and this link to subscribe and receive PilieroMazza webinar invitations. To access resources for businesses navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we invite you to visit PilieroMazza’s “ COVID-19 Client Resource Center .” Please contact covid19@pilieromazza.com for immediate assistance. SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS & ADVISORY SERVICES . . . Read More
BLOG: 5 Steps for Preserving and Preparing Your Miller Act Claim
As the United States economy continues to grapple with the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus pandemic, many contractors are concerned about making and receiving payment for work. The Miller Act provides the process for subcontractors to ensure they are paid for their work on federal construction projects, but they must be familiar with its requirements and deadlines to seek payment. This guide outlines five steps subcontractors and material suppliers should take to ensure they preserve their right to recover payment . . . Read More
Return to Work Plan: Not Business As Usual
Presented by Nichole Atallah and Sarah Nash of PilieroMazza PLLC and Stephanie Alexander and Mary Holmes of BOOST LLC . Click here to view the recorded session. Now that states are beginning to reopen and we start going back into the workplace, there are important questions employers need answers to in order to protect themselves from liability. In this webinar, we focus on preparing employers to make these important decisions. Learning Objectives: Understand legal requirements employers need to consider. Consider policies and procedures employers need to implement before their employees . . . Read More
Treasury and SBA to Make Changes Regarding Enactment of PPP Flexibility Act
On May 28, 2020, we wrote about the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the Act), a new piece of legislation introduced in the House of Representatives. The Act’s intended purpose was to give employers more latitude regarding the use of their Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans while also increasing loan forgiveness in order to stimulate the economy. Since then, the Senate has passed the Act and President Trump signed it into law . On June 8, 2020, U.S. Department of the Treasury . . . Read More