Affiliation in the Context of SBA Loans, Guidance for Venture Capital Investors

In this guidance document published by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), “Affiliation in the Context of SBA Loans, Guidance for Venture Capital Investors,”  PilieroMazza ’s Kathryn Hickey offers key takeaways for venture capital investors concerned about SBA affiliation rules in the context of SBA loans. To access the full article, please visit this  link . Ms. Hickey is Chair of the Firm’s  Business & Transactions Group , where she assists clients primarily in general business, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, and commercial contracting. . . . Read More

Teleworking in a COVID-19 Environment: Your Questions Answered

Presented by Nichole Atallah .   Click here  to view the recorded session.   Many businesses and employees are adjusting to a full-time remote workforce in response to COVID-19. Even for a business accustomed to remote work, remote work during COVID-19 is not a typical situation. Join  PilieroMazza ’s  Nichole Atallah , Chair of the Firm’s  Labor & Employment Group , for this brief webinar where she: examines how teleworking in the midst of COVID-19 is different from how we worked before and offers employers useful information to keep their teams . . . Read More

FFCRA Leave Effective April 1: DOL Issues Additional Guidance

DOL has issued additional guidance to assist employers in providing Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) emergency sick and family leave. We previously wrote on the FFCRA on March 18, 2020 ( link ). Below is important information to prepare for implementation this week. Will state or local isolation orders qualify an employee for FFCRA sick leave? It depends. Leave taken prior to April 1 regardless of the qualifying reason will not be eligible for FFCRA’s tax credit. However, if needed after April 1, . . . Read More

Jon Williams Comments on How Will COVID-19 Change How You Conduct Business?

In a March 27, 2020 blog, “How Will COVID-19 Change How You Conduct Business?” by Courtney Fairchild of Global Services, PilieroMazza ’s Jon Williams advises “all federal contractors to take time to fully understand their rights and obligations under their contracts, communicate with their agency customers, and document all of the impacts that they are facing as a result of COVID-19.” He goes on to say that “Contractors may be entitled to equitable adjustment and claims based on delays and increased costs of . . . Read More

The CARES Act and Leave Guide for Employers: Deciding Which Option is Best for You and Your Employees

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “Act” or the “CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020 in an effort to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on businesses and employees. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law any moment. Once signed, the CARES Act allows businesses to apply for loans to continue paying employees and maintaining operations, which may be forgiven, expands on provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Act ( FFCRA ), and . . . Read More

Contracting Officers Can Pay You Even If the Contract Is Shut Down!

Yesterday, we discussed the emergency loan programs and loan forgiveness opportunities for small businesses in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). However, it is critical to understand that there are other avenues for relief that do not have to wait for SBA or private lenders to start processing such loans. Specifically, OMB Memorandum M-20-18 gave Contracting Officers (“CO”) broad authority and specifically states that all contracting personnel should “feel fully empowered to use acquisition flexibilities.” Further, Section 3610 of the Act, entitled “Federal Contractor Authority,” specifically states that . . . Read More

BLOG: JEDI Update: Pentagon Files Voluntary Motion for Remand to Reconsider Microsoft Award

On March 12, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD) filed a motion for voluntary remand requesting that the Court of Federal Claims (COFC) remand the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract case for 120 days. This would allow DOD to reconsider certain aspects of its decision to award the JEDI contract to Microsoft. DOD’s re-evaluation could signify major flaws in the process. For background, in November of 2019 Amazon Web Services (AWS) filed a bid protest with the COFC protesting . . . Read More

Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 27, 2020

If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . CLIENT ALERT: The CARES Act and Leave Guide for Employers: Deciding Which Option is Best for You and Your Employees, March 27, 2020, Nichole Atallah , Sarah Nash , and Sara Nasseri . [ Read More ] COVID-19 CLIENT RESOURCE CENTER: To access more resources for businesses navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we invite you to visit PilieroMazza’s “ COVID-19 Client Resource Center .” WEBINAR: Teleworking in a COVID-19 Environment: Your Questions Answered, March 31, 2020, Nichole Atallah . [ Read More ] WEBINAR: COVID-19 Survival: . . . Read More

Senate Passes Historic COVID-19 Stimulus Package: Billions Set Aside for Small Businesses

On March 25, 2020, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), and the House of Representatives is expected to similarly pass the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The legislation represents an unprecedented stimulus package as the government attempts to mitigate the economic damage associated with the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a summary of some of the central components of the stimulus package that focus on economic relief for small businesses. . . . Read More

BLOG: Employers: A Briefing on Federal Agencies’ Responses to COVID-19

Federal, state, and local governments are working around the clock to implement various measures in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, a number of federal agencies and departments are also taking action in response to the outbreak. For employers across the nation, it is undeniably an unstable and unclear time, with no concrete signs of when there will be a sense of normalcy again. However, in the meantime, we compiled a list of some of the agencies with brief . . . Read More