Events/News

  • UPDATE: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness

    Clarifications Made to the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act In a Client Alert which we circulated on Friday June 5, 2020, we noted that Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the Flexibility Act) on June 3rd which provides much needed flexibility and relief to small businesses in qualifying for forgiveness of loans granted… Read more »

  • Congress Amends the Paycheck Protection Program, Providing Much Needed Flexibility

    Background: On March 27th, 2020 President Trump signed into law the coronavirus stimulus bill known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. One of the cornerstones of the CARES Act was the establishment of a new loan program to assist small business known as the “Paycheck Protection Program,” or the “PPP.” One… Read more »

  • UPDATED ALERT: PA Supreme Court Rules that the COVID-19 Pandemic is a “Natural Disaster”

    The COVID-19 pandemic is, by all definitions, a natural disaster and a catastrophe of massive proportions. In the case of Friends of DeVito v. Wolf, recently decided by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, several business owners and a political candidate challenged Governor Tom Wolf’s statutory authority to issue an executive order closing non-life-sustaining businesses to reduce… Read more »

  • UPDATED Summary of the Paycheck Protection Program Under the CARES Act

    On Friday, March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the more than $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. $349 billion has been allocated to a new loan program to assist small business under Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act known as the “Paycheck… Read more »

  • Attention Area Businesses: Friday, 4/3/20 at 5pm is Deadline to Submit Waiver for Keeping Physical Locations Open

    LAST CHANCE! All non-life sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania were directed to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. on March 19, 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you are uncertain whether your business qualifies as “life sustaining,” or if you believe you might be entitled to a waiver/exemption from the Governor’s Order… Read more »

  • Guidance on Major Issues Under FFCRA

    DOL’s wage and hour division answers 50+ questions On March 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) first published guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA applies to businesses with fewer than 500 employees and provides employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health… Read more »

  • Benefits Available to Businesses Under the CARES Act

    On Friday, March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the more than $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The following is a description of certain significant provisions of the CARES Act affecting businesses. Business Loan Program $349 billion has been allocated to a new… Read more »

  • COVID-19’s Impact on Current Real Estate Agreements; Could you be in default?

    If you have an outstanding real estate agreement, please consider whether the time deadlines it contains are realistic to meet due to the coronavirus. Buyers under contingent agreements You may be a buyer under a contingent agreement. You thought a year would be plenty of time to obtain the municipal approvals, utility approvals and permits,… Read more »

  • Department of Labor Changes Effective Date of Families First Coronavirus Response Act to Wednesday April 1, 2020

    On March 24th, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA applies to businesses with fewer than 500 employees and provides employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. Most importantly, the… Read more »

  • Can You Keep Your Business Open? Waivers May Be Available

    Governor Orders Pennsylvania Businesses to Close Is My Business Life Sustaining, and if not, What Can I Do? Governor Wolf ordered all non-life sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 19th, to slow the spread of COVID-19, and published a list identifying those business deemed life sustaining. Due to numerous… Read more »

Questions Every Business Must Ask

Q. Has your business recently reviewed its legal structure to determine whether it is set up in the most advantageous manner for legal and tax purposes, considering recent developments and changes in the law?

Q. Do the owners of your business have a current, updated buy-sell agreement which controls how ownership interests in the business are to be transferred in the event of an owner’s death, disability or termination of employment?

Q. Have the owners of your business developed a succession plan to define how ownership and authority will transition upon the death or retirement of the present owners?

Latest News & Events

Selling Your Business: Resolve Major Issues Early In The Process

The letter of intent often kicks the can down the road with respect to key terms that will be negotiated in the formal purchase agreement. Frequently, the parties do not realize there are major points of disagreement until the first agreement draft is circulated. For this reason, the seller should push the buyer to produce… Read more »

Investments In Qualified Opportunity Zones Can Provide Significant Tax Benefits

by Jonathan Samel, Esquire The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”), which became effective on January 1, 2018, created Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) as a tool for promoting long-term investments in low-income communities. Through this program, investors are provided significant tax benefits for investing in businesses and in real estate located in QOZs. … Read more »

Non-Compete Covenants in Pennsylvania

by Robert Sebia, Esq. Pursuant to Pennsylvania law, restrictive non-compete covenants are enforceable only if they are: (1) ancillary to an employment relationship between an employee and an employer; (2) supported by adequate consideration; (3) the restrictions are reasonably limited in duration and geographic extent; and (4) the restrictions are designed to protect the legitimate… Read more »