There is something that the Trump and Biden Administrations agree on: Whenever possible, the Federal Government should buy American products with the goal of helping American businesses compete in strategic industries to help U.S. workers thrive. Both administrations issued EOs and rules with this goal in mind. Current Buy American Act Currently, the Buy American…
On its first day in office, the Biden Administration directed a freeze on pending regulations and directed agencies to review pending and proposed regulations to assure pending regulations are consistent the its policy goals. The freeze directed that: Federal Agencies will not propose or issue new rules until an official, designated by the President, approves…
On April 27, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to pay a $15.00/hour minimum wage impacting about 390,000 employees of federal contractors. Estimates project it may lead to an average pay increase for annual, hourly workers of $3,100. Overall, the EO will result in a significant wage jump of almost a…
Margaret Cassidy and her colleagues at The Candid Counsel are writing away – see Margaret’s article: Can Your Lawyer Hold Their Firepower? I’ve seen over the years that holding firepower (that is, doing nothing), is at times, the best course for a lawyer. But it’s hard to do nothing…
Margaret and The Candid Counsel crew put together many terrifying tales of just what it takes to frighten your friendly attorney. In no particular order Margaret’s classic tales of terror include: Writing emails to your lawyer joking about who in the company will look good in an orange jumpsuit. Conduct your own internal investigation without…
Margaret is honored to be invited back to speak at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Transportation Research Board 59th Annual Workshop on Transportation Law on September 15, 2020. Speaking with attorney Fred Wagner and moderated by Bruce Smith, their panel – The Appearance of Impropriety: Its Continued Viability in Ethics Compliance details…
According to FAR Part 16, the Federal Government uses fixed-price contracts when it wants to place most of the risk and responsibility for performance on the contractor. This means that fixed-price contracts are generally not subject to being adjusted as a result of the contractor’s costs or profits increasing or decreasing in performance. As a…
From the ABA: Once a voluntary initiative, corporate social responsibility has become a central element of a business’ value. Drawing on several subject-matter experts, legal professionals and others, The Lawyer’s Corporate Social Responsibility Deskbook: Practical Guidance for Corporate Counsel and Law Firms helps companies and their lawyers develop practical approaches to a corporate social responsibility…
Cassidy and her colleagues at The Candid Counsel are writing away – see enclosed The Candid Counsel article on: Some Tips When Applying for COVID19 Federal Loans, Grants or Other Aid. For small businesses seeking COVID19 loans, complete THIS FORM but remember, it requires certification to the federal government, so be sure your certifications and internal controls will stand up…
Receiving a small business status can be valuable when it comes to federal contracts and other benefits. Make sure your small business status isn’t in jeopardy as a result of your business relationships. In federal government contracting, small businesses that have been awarded the status by the federal government as a “small” business are eligible…