PPP Loan Forgiveness to Be Made Even Easier for Small Businesses

Some good news to report for certain small businesses that have been issued loans pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Beginning next week (August 4 to be exact), those that have borrowed $150,000 or less in PPP proceeds can apply for loan forgiveness directly through an online portal to be launched by the Small Business Administration (SBA). This option streamlines the forgiveness process by taking private financial institutions—the ones that have handled most aspects of the PPP since its inception—out of the mix. (Read More)

California Court Upholds Insurance Commissioner’s Order to Expand FAIR Plan Coverage

In an effort to better protect homeowners, insurance coverage has been expanded and limits increased under the California FAIR Plan – the state’s insurer of “last resort.” Such was the mandate as set forth in California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s 2019 Order No. 2019-2, which has just been upheld by the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. (Read More)

Employers Face Potentially Higher Compensation Obligations for Meal, Rest, and Recovery Breaks

Last week, the California Supreme Court issued a decision of great importance to employers statewide. In Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC, the court ruled employees must receive premium payments at their “regular rate of pay” for missed meal, rest, and recovery breaks. (Read More)

The Immediate Future of Essential Business Travel in a Post-Covid World

The economic impact of COVID-19 across industries cannot be overstated, with the hospitality and travel spaces being among the hardest hit. In the immediate wake of the pandemic, more than 40 airlines worldwide ground to a halt, suspending entire fleets. To put an even finer point on the devastation rained down upon the aviation sector in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus, major carriers cancelled in excess of 90% of scheduled flights last year. (Read More)

The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020: New Rules for Your Business

Early this year, the U.S. Congress enacted the National Defense Authorization Act, which included the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA or the Act). With the passage of the dramatic new set of laws came a broad range of fresh anti-money laundering obligations for banks and other financial institutions, certain private investment structures, and even federal regulators.

In the wake of this relatively recent legislation, several questions have arisen, especially with regard to compliance and the Act’s operational impacts. Many of the more significant, top-line issues are addressed here. (Read More)

Money Grab: All You Need to Know About the NCAA, Student-Athletes and Their NIL Rights

Late last month, the U.S. Supreme Court made news that echoed through the halls of athletic departments of colleges and universities nationwide. While perhaps not as attention-grabbing as a trip to the Final Four or Bowl Championship Series, the high court’s ruling in NCAA v. Alston is sure to have lasting repercussions, especially to the extent it means that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) can no longer impose strict limits on education-related benefits (read: scholarships and laptops) given to student-athletes. (Read More)