Alerts

Businesses across the country are facing challenges, including lawsuits, as they grapple with how COVID-19 has impacted their operations, work forces, and supply chains. The wave of litigation is rising, and it appears that no industry is immune.

Yesterday, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its technical assistance document, What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws. 

On August 31, 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the pre-publication notice of a final rule that revises two aspects of the technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs).

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

As online shopping picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic due to brick-and-mortar closures, so too have questions about liability for online marketplaces.

On August 3, 2020, USCIS published a final rule that significantly increases the filing fees for certain immigration and naturalization petitions.

The DC Circuit recently affirmed dismissal of IMAPizza’s copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit against At Pizza, Ltd.

In a move with far reaching implications for the health care industry, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a proposed rule that would codify into regulation specific requirements that it and its related agencies must follow when issuing guidance to the public or regul

The Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (the WHD) issued an Opinion Letter on August 31, 2020.

On August 21, 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an interim final rule (IFR) to implement hemp-related amendments to the Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that were made by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill).

On August 26, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted significant rule changes to Regulation S-K, including changes to risk factor disclosures by public reporting entities, which will impact public companies and private investors.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows eligible employees to take up to two weeks of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of expanded family and medical leave – 10 paid – for specified reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

BIS will be looking at items that are controlled only for anti-terrorism, crime control, short supply, United Nations embargoes, or designated as EAR99 in establishing new Foundational Technologies Controls.

In this video episode of Fashion Counsel, Arent Fox Fashion & Retail Practice Leader Anthony V. Lupo talks about the retail crisis with WWD Executive Editor Arthur Zaczkiewicz. 

Hong Kong is gearing up to implement the international registration system under the Madrid Protocol in the next two years.

On August 24, 2020, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-5 addressing employer obligations for tracking time worked by remote workforces.

On August 20, 2020, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a $140 million jury verdict in a published opinion reiterating the important role of unjust enrichment damages in compensating victims of trade secret misappropriation.

On August 21, 2020, CBP issued new guidance providing an additional 45-day transition period for compliance with new marking requirements for goods produced in Hong Kong that are imported into the United States. This extends the transition period for companies to comply with the requirements from Se

There is a risk that garments made from cotton produced by XPCC could be subject to a Customs and Border Protection withhold release orders.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

In recognition that many employees are still working remotely due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has extended through September 19, 2020.

In addition to battling class certification, businesses swept into these class actions may be faced with consolidation motions in multidistrict forums.

On August 13, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law the “Protecting Businesses and Workers from COVID-19 Emergency Amendment Act of 2020.”

In the Food and Drug area, we don’t often get dramatic changes in FDA policies, but an announcement from the Secretary of HHS, published on August 18, appears to be just such a dramatic change.