Inflation Reduction Act
The Battle of the Bills Begins: Proposed Federal Data Privacy Legislation Aims to End Patchwork Problem But Increases Enforcement
After years of advocacy from both sides of the aisle and growing concerns about challenges created by state-based solutions, 2021 is poised to be a bellwether year for Congressional debate over federal data privacy regulation. On March 10th, Representative Suzan...
SEC Underscores ESG Disclosure and Compliance Priorities
Since announcing the creation of its Climate and ESG Task Force on March 4, 2021 , the Securities and Exchange Commission has continued to emphasize that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues will take center stage disclosure and enforcement priorities...
Power Struggles: Maximizing Insurance Recoveries from Winter Storms
Record-breaking winter weather in Texas has had devastating impacts across the state, and challenges still remain. Millions of homes and businesses were without power, water, internet and other services, leaving employees unable to work and businesses unable to operate. Access...
HSR Notification Thresholds Decrease Slightly for 2021
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 March 4, 2021. Pursuant to Section 7A(a)(2) of the Clayton Act, the FTC is required to...
What Labor Nominee Walsh Means for the Fiduciary Rule’s Future
On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden named Boston Mayor Martin Walsh as his nominee for Secretary of Labor. Walsh’s nomination raises questions for the future of the Labor Department’s (DOL’s) fiduciary rule , which regulates “investment advice fiduciaries” under...
Opposites Attract: How Oil & Gas and Renewables+Storage Are the Perfect Match
Article originally appeared in the November 2020 issues of Oil, Gas & Energy Law Intelligence (Vol. 18 - issue 6) I. Introduction As the world lives through a global pandemic, it is challenged inter alia with persistent blackouts and wildfires...
ESG Investing and Retirement Plans
Background As ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing recently has drawn the attention of governmental agencies that oversee the administration of qualified retirement plans and their trillions of dollars in assets. This is unsurprising given that focus and interest in...
Changes to Renewable and Carbon Capture Tax Credits under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
On December 22, 2020, the U.S. House and Senate approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the 2021 Act) and, on December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the 2021 Act into law. The 2021 Act extends tax credits currently available for...
IRS and Treasury Department Release Final Regulations Regarding Like-Kind Exchanges
On November 23, 2020, the IRS and Treasury Department released final regulations (the Final Regulations) under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the...
IRS and Treasury Department Release Guidance on the Deductibility of Eligible Expenses under the Paycheck Protection Program
On November 18, 2020, the IRS and Treasury Department released Revenue Ruling 2020-27 (the Revenue Ruling) stating that, if a taxpayer received a PPP Loan (defined below) and paid or incurred Eligible Expenses (defined below), the taxpayer may not deduct...
2020 Post-Election Analysis: Issue by Issue
CONTENTS First 100 Days Committee Leadership in the 117th Congress Energy Environment Tax International Trade Consumer Product Safety Appropriations and Budget ________________________________________ FIRST 100 DAYS By Scott Segal and Liam Donovan As President-elect Biden stands poised to assume the...
The PRG Pulse 2020 Post Election Webinar
Guest Speakers for the PRG Pulse 2020 Post-Election Webinar Michael Gottlieb: Former Counsel to President Obama and Senior Advisor on political-military affairs Ron Minsk: Former Special Assistant to President Obama on energy and environmental affairs at the White House National...
The COVID-19 Vaccine: An In-Depth Discussion Exploring Emerging Legal Issues for Consideration by Employers
In a time where employers face scrutiny with respect to the obligation to provide a safe working environment, the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine is certain to present employers with difficult decisions regarding workplace policies. Please join partners Becky Baker...
IRS and Treasury Department Release Last Set of Final Regulations on Bonus Depreciation
On September 21, 2020, the IRS and Treasury Department released the last set of final regulations (the 2020 Final Regulations) under the bonus depreciation rules of Section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). Background Code Section 168(k) entitles...
Square Pegs and Round Holes
Bracewell’s Oliver Irwin and Bagyasree Nambron co-authored an article for Project Finance International (PFI) on the impact of the impending London interbank offered rate (Libor) replacement on project finance loans and their associated interest rate swaps. As market commentators and...