Inflation Reduction Act
New House Bill Prompted by Coronavirus
In the early morning hours of March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “House Bill”), which seeks to assist employees impacted by the coronavirus and has significant impacts for...
COVID-19 Preparedness
Employers across the world are responding to the developing information on the coronavirus (referred to as COVID-19). While there are many considerations, and many fact-specific considerations based on the nature of the workforce, employers should keep these tips... Read more...
FTC to Investigate Big Tech's Past Deals and Consider Broadening Merger Notification Requirements
In an unprecedented move further expanding its ongoing investigation of large technology companies, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered Amazon.com , Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google to provide details about their acquisitions during the past 10 years that were...
HSR Notification Thresholds Increase for 2020
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has announced the annual revisions to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (“HSR Act”) thresholds, which will become effective on February 27, 2020. The revised thresholds will apply to any merger or acquisition closing on or...
The Global Sustainable Finance Movement
The present and future impacts of climate change, human rights violations, environmental, labor and regulatory violations and poor corporate governance on the quality of investments and credit risks have spurred widespread recognition of the importance of environmental, social and governance...
DOJ and FTC Propose Highly Anticipated Vertical Merger Guidelines
On January 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission released draft Vertical Merger Guidelines for public comment. The new guidelines, which will replace the outdated 1984 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines, are intended to assist the business...
New Law Repeals Parking Tax for Tax-Exempt Organizations
Good news for tax-exempt organizations! The “Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020” (H.R. 1865 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)) (the “Act”) signed into law on December 20, 2019, retroactively repealed Section 512(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, often referred to...
Staying Compliant in 2020 and Beyond - Drug Testing, Marijuana, and CBD Laws & Trends
Bracewell Partner Robert Nichols tackled the layers of drug testing laws and regulations affecting employers. Our webinar explored trends we see across the country and explain how to stay complaint no matter where your business operates. Special emphasis was given...
When Does it Pay to be Absent From Work? Developments in State and Local Paid Leave Requirements
Leslie Selig Byrd and Amber Dodds discuss the increasing number of state laws and local ordinances requiring paid leave benefits to employees. Many of these require a minimum number of hours of accrued paid time off for illness or preventative...
Not Just a Hashtag: Legislation Created by #MeToo
On November 5, 2019, Bracewell attorneys Amy Karff Halevy and Becky Baker discussed the ways in which sexual harassment and discrimination laws are dramatically changing at the state and local level in the wake of the #MeToo movement. The webinar...
Proposed Rules Addressing LIBOR Phase-out Help Ease Reissuance Concerns
Since the 2017 announcement that the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) may be phased out after the end of 2021, the municipal finance industry has been concerned that changes to debt obligations and related financial products necessary to address the...
An Alternative Structure for Certain P3 Projects – The 63-20 Financing
With all of the talk about the need for infrastructure legislation, public-private partnerships (or “P3s”) are receiving increased national attention. What exactly constitutes a P3 is an ever-evolving question, and the answer you get often depends upon whom you ask...
Webinar: 86th Legislative Session Recap
Bracewell is pleased to host a webinar about how the bills passed during the 86th Legislative Session affect Texas governmental entities, the debt issuance process and ongoing disclosure and transparency requirements. Please join us on August 14 to hear analysis...
SLGS Window Reopening; Sequestration Extended Through FY 2029
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (the “Act”), which suspends the federal debt limit through July 31, 2021, was signed into law on August 2, 2019. As a result, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced that it will...
New UAE Economic Substance Regulations Issued
On 30 April 2019, the UAE Cabinet issued the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 31 of 2019 concerning Economic Substance Regulations in the UAE (“Regulations”). Why has the UAE issued the Regulations? The implementation of the Regulations is a result...