Pandemic Response - HunterMaclean

Overview

COVID-19 has created unanticipated challenges for businesses of every size and across every industry. These challenges are requiring businesses to use their judgment, knowledge, and experience to maintain operations and keep employees safe.

The legal and regulatory landscape surrounding the effect of the virus is rapidly developing and changing. HunterMaclean’s Pandemic Response Team includes attorneys with the crisis management, regulatory, litigation, and transactional experience necessary to navigate the immediate and longer-term impacts of this pandemic. The Firm has invested in the technology necessary and continues to adapt with the unfolding situation to ensure that our attorneys and staff are able to provide the level of responsive service that clients expect from HunterMaclean. Our attorneys (accessible through the links below) offer practical counsel that incorporates legal and public policy advice across a wide range of impacted industries and are continuing to serve clients during these unprecedented times.

HunterMaclean Pandemic Response Team

Employment (WARN Act, FLSA, ADA, FMLA, New Benefits Requirements)

Workplace Health & Safety / Epidemiology & Disease Causation

Business (Operations, Restructuring, Loans, Bankruptcy)

Information Technology / Remote Workplace

Diana J. P. McKenzie

Tax & Employee Benefits

Rebecca L. Sczepanski

Real Estate (Landlord/Tenant and Borrower/Lender Concerns)

Joshua S. Yellin

Healthcare

Workers’ Compensation

Kirby G. Mason

Immigration

T. Mills Fleming

Publications & Presentations

Publications

Companies Can Mandate Vaccines for Employees, But Should They?

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is underway. Although companies can generally require vaccinations, whether they should is subject to debate. Attorney Shawn Kachmar discusses the issue in his article for Savannah Morning News.

COVID-19 and Artificial Intelligence: How the pandemic has re-ignited a focus on the software

In their article for Savannah Morning News, Diana McKenzie and Nicole Pope discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the focus on AI as developers rush to create software that can help businesses reduce the risks for employees returning to work.

FFCRA Leave Documentation

Now that businesses are reopening, some employees will be requesting paid leave pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). Attorney Wade Herring discusses what documentation businesses can and cannot request from employees and what documentation the business should maintain.

Usage Reminders for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan

As businesses receive PPP loans, review of the guidance is important, especially if the business will be seeking loan forgiveness. Attorney Louann Bronstein offers a compilation of existing guidance, including recent guidance issued on May 13, 2020.

Unemployment Challenges

Many employees are hesitant to return to work as businesses start to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorneys Sarah Lamar and Amy Mitchell discuss employers’ options in this article for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.

CARES Act Provides Tax Relief to Real Property Trades or Businesses

This article discusses how real property trades or businesses can find tax relief under the CARES Act.

Key Points of the Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program

On Thursday, April 9, 2020, the Federal Reserve took action to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. This article outlines the key points about the Main Street Lending Program.

Frequent Questions from Commercial Landlords about COVID-19

In this article for Savannah CEO, Allan Galis and Taylor Dove provide answers to some of the most common questions they’ve been receiving from their clients regarding landlords’ legal rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Loans, and the CARES Act

The CARES Act contains modifications to the SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program. HunterMaclean has prepared a reference to compare Paycheck Protection Loans to the EIDLs, as well as a breakdown of the Employee Retention Credit. *Updated on 4/13/2020 to include Treasury guidelines.

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Presentations

COVID-19 Unplugged

Sarah H. Lamar was a panelist for this segment at the ALFA International 2022 Workers’ Compensation Seminar in Savannah, Georgia, on March 24, 2022.

Legislative/Regulatory Developments in COVID World

A webinar presented by Sarah H. Lamar to the Golden Isles Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on November 18, 2020.

Evolving Human Resource Challenges Posed by COVID-19

A webinar presented by Sarah H. Lamar for members of the Georgia Association of Orthopaedic Executives on October 14, 2020.

PPP Loan Forgiveness Updates and Q&A Panel

HunterMaclean teamed up with Hancock Askew to present a webinar on August 13 on loan forgiveness for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The panelists discussed recent updates to the PPP and answered questions from attendees.

Return to Work Guidelines and Recommendations

Christopher Smith and Sarah Lamar joined Brett Godwin, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Seacrest Partners, and Suzanne Kirk, owner of Employee Development Strategies, Inc., for a Zoom webinar on returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preparing for the Post COVID-19 Legal Landscape

Christopher Smith and Sarah Lamar were presenters for this webinar by Miles Mediation & Arbitration. The discussion covered key business and legal issues to consider in the future, including tort issues, workers compensation, and insurance issues.

Bankruptcy Issues as a Result of COVID-19 – Small Business Reorganization Act and CARES Act

HunterMaclean partner Francesca Macchiaverna served as a panelist for this webinar by ALFA International’s Business Litigation Practice Group on May 5, 2020.

Employment Law Issues During COVID-19

In this YouTube video that livestreamed on April 17, 2020, Wade Herring spoke with Marjorie Young, CEO of Carriage Trade Publications, about the employment law issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and what small business owners can do to survive.

Understanding the Paycheck Protection Program

HunterMaclean partner Louann Bronstein served as a panelist for this webinar about the CARES Act by ALFA International on April 2, 2020. Other panelists included Edward Hayes, Nicholas Simon, and Alex Johnson.

Workforce Development Impact of COVID-19

Employment attorneys Wade Herring and Sarah Lamar discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the workforce in this virtual session by the Leadership Southeast Georgia program.

Zoom Webinar re: CARES Act

HunterMaclean partners Louann Bronstein and Robert J. McGuirk presented this interactive webinar hosted by the Golden Isles Development Authority, Opportunity Brunswick, Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, and Historic Downtown Brunswick on April 2, 2020.

SHRM COVID-19 Update

Sarah Lamar and Wade Herring discussed the legal impacts of COVID-19 for employers in this webinar for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

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News

SMN: How a Georgia Bill Aims to Shield Businesses Against COVID-Related Legal Claims

July 09, 2020

The Savannah Morning News talked with attorney Wade Herring about a new bill that could provide extra protection to restaurants and other businesses against virus-related legal claims brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SMN: Savannah Attorneys Offer Advice as Employers Navigate COVID-19 Pandemic

April 21, 2020

Sarah Lamar, Shawn Kachmar, and Wade Herring discuss where employers stand when it comes to allowing workers to stay home due to the pandemic, guidelines for proper personal protective equipment, and how to approach a possible reopening.

HunterMaclean Announces Pandemic Response Team

March 20, 2020

COVID-19 has created unanticipated challenges for businesses of every size and across every industry. To assist clients, HunterMaclean has established a Pandemic Response Team.

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Videos & Podcasts

Videos

Video: Allan Galis of HunterMaclean Discusses COVID-Related Trends in Brick & Mortar Retailers

In this video for Savannah CEO, HunterMaclean partner Allan Galis talks about the negative impact COVID-19 has had on brick & mortar retailers and retail’s post-pandemic future.

Video: Allan Galis of HunterMaclean Discusses COVID-Related Trends in the Food & Beverage Sector

In this video for Savannah CEO, Allan Galis talks about challenges that COVID has created for local restaurants and what helped certain restaurants in the area survive the pandemic.

Video: Louann Bronstein of HunterMaclean Gives an Update on the Mergers and Acquisitions Market

In this video for Savannah CEO, Louann Bronstein, chair of the corporate practice group, talks about the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mergers and acquisitions and three things she expects to see in the coming months in the M&A market.

Video: New PPP Loan Funding: Latest Updates and Q&A Panel

HunterMaclean attorneys Louann Bronstein and Robert McGuirk joined Michael McCarthy and Samuel Evans from Hancock Askew to present this webinar on new PPP loan program updates.

Video: Brad Harmon of HunterMaclean, Leadership during Disruption

In this interview for SavannahCEO, Brad Harmon talks about strategies for leading through disruption and how COVID-19 has changed the way we do business.

Video: Panel Discussion: Navigating Data Privacy & Cybersecurity during COVID-19

HunterMaclean teamed up with Sterling Seacrest Partners, Ad Specialty Services, and Infinity, Inc. for a panel discussion about the impacts of COVID-19 on information technology.

Video: PPP Loan Forgiveness Updates and Q&A Panel

Video: Return to Work Guidelines and Recommendations

Christopher Smith and Sarah Lamar joined Brett Godwin, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Seacrest Partners, and Suzanne Kirk, President of Employee Development Strategies, Inc., for a Zoom webinar on returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Video: Preparing for the Post COVID-19 Legal Landscape

Video: Employment Law Issues During COVID-19 with Guest Wade Herring of HunterMaclean

Wade Herring speaks with Marjorie Young, CEO of Carriage Trade Publications, about the employment law issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and what small business owners can do to survive this crisis.

Video: Zoom Webinar re: CARES Act

Video: Workforce Development Impact of COVID-19

Employment attorneys Wade Herring and Sarah Lamar discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the workforce in this virtual session by the Leadership Southeast Georgia program.

Video: SHRM COVID-19 Update

HunterMaclean employment attorneys Sarah Lamar and Wade Herring discuss the legal impacts of COVID-19 for employers in this webinar for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

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Podcasts

Podcast: Employers can mandate workforce get COVID-19 vaccine, but should they?

Employment attorney Shawn Kachmar joins The Commute podcast by Savannah Morning News to discuss the pros and cons of companies mandating vaccines for their employees.

Podcast: Panel Discussion: Navigating Data Privacy & Cybersecurity during COVID-19

HunterMaclean teamed up with Sterling Seacrest Partners, Ad Specialty Services, and Infinity, Inc. for a panel discussion about the impacts of COVID-19 on information technology.

Podcast: PPP Loan Forgiveness Updates and Q&A Panel

Podcast: Ready to Play But Are We Ready to Work?

In this podcast by Miles Mediation & Arbitration, Christopher “Smitty” Smith moderates a discussion with employment lawyers Sarah Lamar and Wade Herring about the challenges employers face with bringing their employees back to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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