COVID-19 Rapid Response Team

Our legal rapid response lawyers are ready to respond to our clients’ COVID-19 legal inquiries and concerns about how this could impact their business. Our lawyers can address any issues you may have across a variety of areas.

Our Services

Litigation and Employment

As developments arise, our Litigation and Employment attorneys are ready to respond to your needs. They are well versed in issues such as:

• Employment policies and obligations
• HIPPA, data security and privacy concerns
• Insurance coverage
• Contract disputes and business interruption litigation
• Premises liability
• Crisis management
• Bankruptcy issues, including debtor protections and creditors' rights
• Personal tort litigation

Business Transactions

Our Business Transactions team is available to answer questions about existing and upcoming matters or deals that could be disrupted by COVID-19 protocols. For example:

• Material adverse change or effect clauses
• Disclosures -- ’34 Act reporting in MD&A or similar disclosures
• Force Majeure clauses and notice requirements
• Construction and development delays
• Staffing/employment contracts/rights
• Deal flow disruptions and repricing

Regulatory and Government

In an emergency, government and regulatory issues can emerge quickly. Our regulatory and government lawyers and professionals are continually monitoring these changes and can help answer any questions or address any issues you may have during this evolving environment.

• Contingency planning to ensure continuity of services, protection of employees, and the public
• Compliance continuation to ensure integrity of environmental protective equipment and policies amid changes to available personnel due to illness and leave
• Regulatory changes and updates as governmental agencies respond to crises

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property is a major component of many businesses. Our IP lawyers have long-established relationships with international firms in countries around the world and cannot only address our clients’ U.S.-based IP matters, but their international IP management issues. If you have any questions regarding the continued operation or future operation of your IP needs, please reach out to our IP Group.

COVID-19 Rapid Response Resources

Real Estate and Construction

• April 30, 2020 - Blog - What Borrowers Need to Know about Mortgage Forbearance During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Authored by Drew Wilson, Lindsay McKae, and Linda Mitchell
• April 29, 2020 - Client Alert - New OSHA and EEOC Guidance Impacts Construction Employers' Return-to-Work Obligations - Authored by Melanie Pate and Frances Haynes
• April 14, 2020 - Blog - The Unintended Consequences of Rent Defaults - Authored by Amy Altshuler
• March 26, 2020 - Client Alert - Tenants Face Questions and Landlords Face Rent Losses During COVID-19 Pandemic - Authored by Amy Altshuler and Chad Caby
• March 26, 2020 - Client Alert - Colorado Governor Polis Issues Order To Prevent or Delay Real Estate Evictions and Foreclosures Relating To The Pandemic - Authored by Trevor Bartel and Lindsay McKae
• March 17, 2020 - Client Alert - COVID-19, Force Majeure and Delay Notice - Authored by Robert Roos

Intellectual Property

• June 23, 2020 - Client Alert - Trademarks for COVID-19 Products and Services Given Free Expedited Examination by the USPTO - Authored by David Jackson and Jennifer Van Kirk
• May 28, 2020 - Client Alert - The USPTO Continues To Offer Relief For Businesses Impacted By COVID-19 - Authored by David Jackson, Jennifer Van Kirk, and Shaun Lee
• April 30, 2020 - Client Alert - The USPTO Extends Patent and Trademark Deadlines Due to COVID-19 - Authored by David Jackson, Jennifer Van Kirk, Shaun Lee, and Tom Daly
• April 1, 2020 - Client Alert - USPTO Offers Deadline Extensions Due To COVID-19 - Authored by David Jackson and Jennifer Van Kirk
• March 31, 2020 - Client Alert - S-Signatures for Patent Documents During COVID-19 - Authored by Oliver Bajracharya and Tom Daly

Labor and Employment

• December 22, 2020 - Congress Passes Second Major COVID-related Relief Package: How Will it Impact Employers? - Authored by Melanie Pate
• December 18, 2020 - EEOC Issues New Guidance to Employers Regarding Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccinations - Authored by the Labor and Employment Group
• September 24, 2020 - ELA "Employment Matters" Podcast - Navigating the Legal Risks as Employers Prepare for a Possible COVID-19 Vaccine​ - Guest Laura Pasqualone
• August 25, 2020 - Webinar Slide Deck - Managing the Workplace in A Pandemic: Tips for Employers to Survive the Era of COVID-19 - Originally presented to the Tempe Chamber of Commerce by Mary Ellen Simonson, Melanie Pate, and Laura Pasqualone.
• June 2020 - Publication - State of Colorado Workers' Compensation COVID-19 Quick Guide - Prepared by Ben Ochoa, Nathan Thoreson, and Tyler Nemkov
  • This compendium was assembled as part of a resource for USLAW. For more information on USLAW, click here.
• June 12, 2020 - Client Alert - EEOC Issues New COVID-19 Guidance for Employers on Variety of Topics - Authored by Melanie Pate
• June 5, 2020 - Client Alert - Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act Provides Employers Greater Leniency and Opportunities for Loan Forgiveness - Authored by Melanie Pate and Hannah Dolski
• May 13, 2020 - Webinar - Everybody Back to Work: Now What Do You Do? - Presented by Melanie Pate
• April 30, 2020 - Blog - COVID-19: What Should Nevada Gaming Establishments Consider When Bringing Employees Back to Work? - Authored by Howard Cole and Jennifer Hostetler
• April 21, 2020 - Client Alert - EEOC Issues Updated Guidance Regarding Reasonable Accommodations During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Authored by Labor and Employment Group
• April 21, 2020 - Blog - CARES Act 401k Distributions FAQ - Authored by Jan Steinhour
• March 30, 2020 - Webinar - Congress Passes CARES Act - What You Need To Know Webinar - Presented by Melanie Pate and Bill Mahaffey
• March 27, 2020 - Client Alert - Congress Passes Historic Coronavirus Relief Act - Authored by Labor and Employment Group
• March 24, 2020 - Client Alert - U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes Guidance Explaining Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act - Authored by Labor and Employment Practice Group
• March 20, 2020 - SHRM of Greater Tucson Webinar - Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What All Employers Need to Know - Presented by Melanie Pate
• March 19, 2020 - Client Alert - New Federal Legislation Provides Relief for Some Employees Affected by COVID-19 - Authored by Melanie Pate
• March 18, 2020 - Article - Four Sick-Leave Practices to Avoid During the Coronavirus Pandemic - Laura Pasqualone quoted in SHRM Online article
• March 17, 2020 - ELA Webinar - Coronavirus and the Workplace: The North American Experience - Presented by Laura Pasqualone
• March 10, 2020 - Client Alert - Follow These Steps to Address Coronavirus Concerns in Your Workplace - Authored by Laura Pasqualone

Corporate

• November 2020 - Publication - State of Colorado Statute of Limitations (During COVID-19 Pandemic) - Prepared by Ben Ochoa and Elliot Reaven
  • This compendium was assembled as part of a resource for USLAW. For more information on USLAW, click here.
• July 2020 - Publication - State of Colorado General Liability COVID-19 Quick Guide - Prepared by Ben Ochoa and Elliot Reaven
  • This compendium was assembled as part of a resource for USLAW. For more information on USLAW, click here.
• June 2020 - Publication - State of Colorado Force Majeure Law Compendium (During COVID-19 Pandemic) - Prepared by Ben Ochoa and Elliot Reaven
  • This compendium was assembled as part of a resource for USLAW. For more information on USLAW, click here.
• April 14, 2020 - Blog - Five Steps Businesses Should Take During Shelter-In-Place - Authored by Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, and Mary Tran
• April 7, 2020 - Client Alert - Limited Access to Colorado Courts Due to COVID-19 - Authored by Brent Cohen
• April 6, 2020 - Client Alert - COVID-19 Update: CFPB Policy Statement Regarding Fair Credit Reporting Act - Authored by Scott Brown
• April 3, 2020 - Client Alert - Paycheck Protection Program Update: SBA Issues Immediately Effective Rules Hours Before Banks May Begin Accepting PPP Loan Applications
• April 1, 2020 - Client Alert - The Small Business Reorganization Act: Prescription For Small Business Financial Distress? - Authored by Rob Charles
• March 25, 2020 - Client Alert - The Department of Treasury has Identified the Financial Services Sector as an Essential Service - Authored by Ed Barkel

Data Protection and Cybersecurity

• June 25, 2020 - Client Alert - Rising Tide of Ransomware and Waves of COVID-19 - Authored by the Data Protection and Cybersecurity Group
• April 23, 2020 - Client Alert - Cybercriminals Targeting Healthcare Providers With Phishing Scams Exploiting COVID-19 - Authored by Hilary Wells and Doug DePeppe
• April 1, 2020 - Client Alert - CCPA Enforcement Still on Track Despite COVID-19 - Authored by John Gray
• March 25, 2020 - Client Alert - Cyber Crime on the Rise During COVID-19 Fight - Authored by Ed Barkel

Gaming

• April 28, 2020 - Blog - SBA Revises Guidelines for Small Gaming Businesses - Authored by the Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, Mary Tran, and Marla Hudgens
• April 8, 2020 - Blog - Casinos, Contracts, and Force Majeure Clauses in Light of COVID-19 - Authored by Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, and Mary Tran
• March 30, 2020 - Blog - Deadline Approaching to Ensure Gaming Apps Comply with Apple App Store Guidelines - Authored by Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, and Mary Tran
• March 26, 2020 - Blog - Socializing with Customers in a Social-Distancing World - Authored by Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, and Mary Tran
• March 20, 2020 - Blog - Online Gaming Platforms Achieve Unprecedented Growth During Social Distancing - Authored by Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, and Mary Tran
• March 17, 2020 - Blog - Appealing to Customers in a Social Distancing World - Authored by Karl Rutledge, Glenn Light, and Mary Tran

Natural Resources

• April 8, 2020 - Client Alert - Do Viruses Cause Oil & Gas Liens? What You Need to Know - Authored by Brent Cohen

Tax

• July 10, 2020 - Client Alert - Southwestern States COVID-19 Tax Relief Update: States Beginning to Provide Advice on Income Tax Conformity to Provisions in the CARES ACT - Authored by Pat Derdenger and Karen Lowell
• July 6, 2020 - Client Alert - Arizona Seeking Public Comment on Draft COVID-19 Penalty Abatement Procedure - Authored by Pat Derdenger and Karen Lowell
• June 26, 2020 - Client Alert - Southwestern States COVID-19 Tax Relief Update - Authored by Pat Derdenger and Karen Lowell
• April 23, 2020 - Client Alert - COVID-19: Telework and Nexus and Update on Southwestern Tax Relief - Authored by Pat Derdenger and Karen Lowell
• April 17, 2020 - Client Alert - IRS Releases FAQs on Interaction Between CARES Act and Payroll Protection Program - Authored by Pat Derdenger and Karen Lowell
• April 8, 2020 - Client Alert - Southwestern States' COVID-19 Tax Relief Efforts - Authored by Pat Derdenger and Karen Lowell

Nonprofits

• April 10, 2020 - Client Alert - What Nonprofits Need to Know About The CARES Act - Authored by Laura Lo Bianco and Eric Kniffin

Banking

• May 21, 2020 - Client Alert - A Surprising Question: Is The New Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 Retroactive? - Authored by Rob Charles
• May 5, 2020 - Client Alert - SEC Issues Guidance on Form ADV Disclosures for CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program Loans - Authored by Ed Barkel
• April 22, 2020 - Client Alert - How the Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act ("UCRERA") May Be An Option For Business Creditors Affected By the COVID-19 Pandemic - Authored by Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Group
• April 16, 2020 - Client Alert - FINRA Issues Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness - Authored by Ed Barkel and Brooks Brennan

Insurance

• April 17, 2020 - Client Alert - Arizona Department of Insurance Regulatory Bulletin 2020-04 - Authored by Greg Harris

Government Contracts

• June 2020 - Publication - Defense Department Issues Guidance to Contractors on Managing Impact of COVID-19 - Authored by Ross Crown

Contacts:

• Matt Sweger
  Practice Group Leader, Business Transactions
• Tom Dougherty
  Practice Group Leader, Regulatory and Government
• Greg Lampert and Joshua Chu
  Practice Group Leaders, Intellectual Property
• Doug Tumminello
  Practice Group Leader, Litigation