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July 2010 Client Bulletins

President Signs Sweeping Financial Reform Bill:  What our Non-Bank Public Companies Need to Know Now

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Included in the reform legislation — aimed primarily at the reform of financial institutions – are provisions that will apply to all publicly traded companies, including provisions relating to “say on pay” shareholder votes, proxy access, executive compensation disclosure and compensation committees.  For more information on these and other provisions of the Act, please see the  Bulletin published by the Corporate Finance and Securities and Employee Benefits Client Service Groups on July 22, 2010.   

Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act of 2010:  New Law Changes Regulatory Framework for Alternative Investment Managers

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the financial reform package known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which contains the Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act of 2010 (the “Private Fund Act”).  The Private Fund Act changes the regulatory framework that governs investment advisers managing private fund investments, including private equity funds, hedge funds and certain real estate funds.  For more information on the Private Fund Act, please see the client Alert published by the Alternative Investments Group on July 29, 2010. 

Department of Labor Clarifies FMLA Definition of “Son or Daughter,” Confirming Benefit Eligibility of Non-Traditional Families

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave upon the birth of a son or daughter, the placement of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care, or to care for a son or daughter with a serious health condition.  Pursuant to the statute, the term “son or daughter” not only includes children with whom a parent has a biological or legal relationship, but the children of individuals standing “in the place of a parent.”  For more information on the clarification of the definition of the term “son or daughter”, please see the client Alert published by the Labor & Employment Client Service Group on July 19, 2010.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , , , . By Jeannie Osborne - Monday, August 2, 2010

June 2010 Client Bulletins

Regulations Issued on Preexisting Condition Exclusions, Annual and Lifetime Limits, Rescissions and Patient Protections under Health Care Reform

On June 22, 2010, the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health & Human Services issued regulatory guidance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act regarding prohibitions on preexisting condition exclusions, annual and lifetime limits and rescissions, as well as guidance regarding certain patient protections.  These rules are generally effective for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 (January 1, 2011 for calendar year plans).  For more information on the rules, please see the Bulletin published by the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Client Service Group on June 30, 2010.

Grandfathered Plan Regulations Provide Vital Compliance Information for Employer-Sponsored Health Plans

On June 14, 2010, the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health &  Human Services issued much-anticipated guidance on how a group health plan maintains or loses its status as a grandfathered plan under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  A grandfathered plan is generally one that was in effect on March 23, 2010.  Because grandfathered plans are exempt from many of the Act’s requirements, maintaining a plan’s grandfathered status has important plan design and cost implications.  Please read the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group’s Bulletin published June 16, 2010, for more information on the interim final regulations.

Supreme Court Expands Time Period for Filing Title VII Disparate Impact Charges

In Lewis v. City of Chicago, the US Supreme Court ruled that the period in which to file an EEOC charge alleging that an employment practice has a disparate impact commences anew whenever that practice is applied, not when that practice was first adopted.  The Lewis decision sharpens the dilemma created by last summer’s Ricci v. DeStefano decision, which held that an employer’s changing an employment practice based on its fear of possible disparate impact claims could be a basis for disparate treatment claims.  For more information on the decision, please see the Labor & Employment Group’s client Alert published June 1, 2010.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , . By Jeannie Osborne - Monday, July 12, 2010

January 2010 Client Alerts

IRS Announces New Section 409A Document Correction Program

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code Section 409A”) is spectacular in scope and notoriously difficult for even the most well-intentioned employers to satisfy.  Any employer which maintains non-qualified deferred compensation plans for its employees has struggled with Code Section 409A, and may have concerns that some of its plans might not satisfy the attention to minutiae that Code Section 409A demands.  On January 4, the IRS published its long-awaited program for correcting documentation failures under Code Section 409A.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice on January 22, 2010.

Major Campaign Finance Development – Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court yesterday handed down a landmark ruling in the Citizens United v. FEC case which could significantly transform the campaign finance system at the federal level.  In Citizens United, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling struck down the decades-old prohibition on corporate expenditures in connection with federal elections as unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Election Law and Government Ethics Practice on January 22, 2010. 

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , , , . By Jeannie Osborne - Friday, February 5, 2010

December 2009 Client Alerts

SEC Approves Rule Changes Regarding Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance

On December 16, 2009, the SEC approved rule changes that would expand proxy statement disclosures relating to executive compensation and corporate governance. Additionally, Chairman Shapiro confirmed that the SEC expects to act on the controversial proxy access proposal (which was discussed in a June 22 Client Bulletin) in early 2010.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Corporate Finance and Securities Client Service Group on December 17, 2009.

Preparing for the 2010 Proxy Season

As public companies turn their attention to the preparation of their annual reports and proxy materials, we want to highlight several developments for the 2010 season.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Corporate Finance and Securities Client Service Group published December 8, 2009.

New (Temporary) 50% Bank Payroll Tax in The United Kingdom

The Government announced yesterday that between December 9, 2009 and April 5, 2010, the award of bonuses to bank employees will render the bank liable to a new “bank payroll tax”.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Tax Advice and Controversy Client Service Group (London) on December 10, 2009. 

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , , . By Jeannie Osborne - Tuesday, January 12, 2010

October 2009 Client Alerts

FinCEN’s New Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Outreach Initiative Targeted at Depository Institutions With Assets Under $5 Billion

Yesterday FinCEN announced a new outreach initiative targeted at depository institutions with assets under $5 billion. The outreach initiative builds upon knowledge FinCEN previously gained from its meetings with larger financial institutions. As part of its ongoing outreach efforts, FinCEN is now seeking to engage smaller to moderate size depository institutions who are working to implement the four pillars of the Bank Secrecy Act regulatory regime: (1) policies, procedures and internal controls; (2) designation of a compliance officer; (3) ongoing training; and (4) independent testing.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Financial Institutions Client Service Group on October 15, 2009.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , , . By Stan Santos - Friday, October 30, 2009

September 2009 Client Alerts

EPA Finalizes Mandatory Reporting Rule for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Approximately 10,000 facilities must begin monitoring greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions pursuant to federal law beginning on January 1, 2010. On September 22, 2009, the U.S. EPA issued its final rule to require mandatory reporting of GHG emissions within nearly all sectors of the economy. This rule was developed in response to a Congressional mandate and provides the first comprehensive national system for reporting emissions of carbon dioxide and other GHG emission sources in the United States. EPA announced its proposed rule on March 10, 2009.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Environmental Client Service Group on September 29, 2009.

FDIC Issues Final Statement of Policy on Investor Qualifications for Failed Bank Acquisitions

On July 2, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation issued for public comment a proposed Statement of Policy that sets forth the qualifications for private equity investors in failed bank acquisitions.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Financial Institutions Client Service Group on September 24, 2009.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , , . By Stan Santos - Monday, October 5, 2009

August 2009 Client Alerts

The Buying and Selling of Distressed Notes

The volume of purchase and sale of performing and non-performing real estate loans has picked up dramatically over the past year as banks seek to shrink their balance sheets as their capital base falls and other banks and investors seek to take advantage of the sale of assets from failing banks. What are the typical features of such agreements and what are the interests of buyers and sellers in such transactions?

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Real Estate Banking, Business and Public Finance Financial Institutions Client Service Group on August 5, 2009.

Group Health Plans: Compliance Items

Several important changes in governing law and regulations during the past year require changes to group health plans in the upcoming enrollment period. Below is a brief description of these major changes which require implementation in 2009 or 2010.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Client Service Group on August 20, 2009.

New York Restaurant Employer Briefing — Wage Payment Requirements

New York restauranteurs operate in one of the most regulated employment environments in the country. In addition to the federal, state and local laws applicable to all employers, such as those prohibiting employment discrimination, governing the payment of wages, workplace safety and leaves of absence, New York-based restaurants also must comply with regulations applicable only to the restaurant industry. This extensive maze of regulation can be exploited by plaintiffs’ lawyers who search for unwitting violations. This has led recently to many lawsuits that are costly to defend, and which seek not only damages for employees, but also fees and costs for the attorneys who bring these suits. The threat of litigation is compounded by the fact that many lawsuits are brought as collective actions on behalf of several employees, which can greatly add to potential damages and to the complexity of the defense.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Labor and Employment Client Service Group on July 31, 2009.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , . By Stan Santos - Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Client Alert — June 26, 2009 to July 27, 2009

SEC Publishes Proposed New Rules Regarding Compensation and Corporate Governance Disclosure and the Proxy Solicitation Process

On July 10, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) published the proposed new rules to enhance compensation and corporate governance disclosure in Items 401, 402 and 407 of Regulation S-K, which we reported earlier in our July 2, 2009 bulletin (available here),

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Corporate Finance and Securities Client Service Group on July 17, 2009.

SEC Approves Elimination of Broker Discretionary Voting in Director Elections and Announces Proposed Rule Changes Regarding Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance and “Say on Pay” for TARP Recipients

Yesterday the SEC approved an NYSE proposal that will eliminate broker discretionary voting in director elections. Additionally, the SEC is proposing rule changes that would eliminate (1) certain proxy statement disclosures relating to executive compensation and corporate governance and changes to certain proxy solicitation rules and (2) require recipients of Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) funds to implement “say-on-pay” practices through the proxy solicitation process.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Corporate Finance and Securities Client Service Group on July 2, 2009.

Ricci v. DeStefano Supreme Court Finds that City Discriminated Against White Employees

On June 29, 2009, the United States Supreme Court rendered its much-anticipated decision in the case of Ricci v. DeStefano, 2009 WL 1835138 (2009), and declared that the City of New Haven, Connecticut had engaged in unlawful disparate treatment discrimination when it refused to implement the results of a promotional exam that revealed a substantial disparate impact on African-American employees. Specifically, the Court held that an employer may not use statistical disparity as the sole basis for changing an employment practice unless there is strong evidence indicating that continuing the practice would violate the disparate impact provisions of Title VII. Ricci is a significant development in the area of discrimination law, and will require employers to consider carefully a wide range of employment practices and decisions.

For more information, please read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Labor and Employment Client Service Group on July 15, 2009.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , . By Stan Santos - Monday, July 27, 2009

Client Alerts Update — April 20, 2009 to May 4, 2009

H1N1 Flu Concerns: Workplace Privacy and Employee Illnesses

In the wake of the H1N1 Flu outbreak (initially named “swine flu”), many employers will be asked to balance employee privacy rights with public and company health concerns. We have recently issued a client alert that offers a brief checklist of guidelines that may help balance the privacy interests of potentially infected workers and the health interests of co-workers and the public.

For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Labor and Employment Client Service Group and its Pandemic Preparedness Team on May 1, 2009.

H1N1 Virus: Employees in Mexico

In light of the current H1N1 virus outbreak events around the globe, the Mexico Practice of Bryan Cave has prepared a list of issues and recommendations to be taken into consideration by our firm’s clients and friends with employees in Mexico, so as to avoid any improper or unlawful employer conduct under Mexican labor laws.

For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Labor and Employment Client Service Group and its Pandemic Preparedness Team on May 4, 2009.

New Case Clarifies Copyright Protection for Handbooks, Manuals and Training Materials

Although the copyright term “literary works” tends to conjure images of Hemingway and Faulkner, most companies have a different — and often more valuable — set of “literary works”, including training manuals, employee handbooks, how-to booklets, customer pamphlets and the like. Some are in printed form; others are available at the company’s website. Indeed, some companies are in the business of creating such materials — and this spring, a hotly litigated dispute between two such companies has shed new light on the scope of protection for this special category of literary works.

For more information, read the client alert published by Bryan Cave LLP’s Intellectual Property Client Service Group on April 30, 2009.

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Email This Content Email This Content Posted in Client Alerts. Tagged with , , , , , , , . By Stan Santos - Monday, May 4, 2009