Client Alerts

March

• 3/1/2012
  Immigration Alert: TSA Precheck
  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the expansion of TSA Precheck, a passenger pre-screening initiative. Under this initiative, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) focuses its efforts on passengers the agency knows less about, while providing expedited screening for travelers who volunteer information about themselves before flying.
  Read more »

February

• 2/29/2012
  Immigration Alert: Time to Prepare for April 1 H-1B Filings
  As you may know, the annual cap for the current fiscal year allocation of H-1B visas was reached on November 22, 2011. Since that time, employers have not been able to file H-1B visa petitions subject to the annual cap.
  Read more »
• 2/29/2012
  Ohio Statehouse Update: Ohio Election Preview
  Every 10 years, following the census, the Ohio Apportionment Board is tasked with redrawing Ohio’s House and Senate districts to reflect changes in population. The Ohio legislative districts must include 99 House Districts and 33 Senate Districts.
  Read more »
• 2/15/2012
  Labor and Employment Alert: Summaries of Benefits and Coverage (SBCs) Back on the Schedule and Other Employee Benefits News
  An SBC is a standardized explanation of health coverage intended to help individuals make apples-to-apples comparisons of their options for health coverage. The Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services (the Departments) published proposed SBC rules and an SBC template on August 22, 2011.
  Read more »
• 2/13/2012
  Oil and Gas Alert: A Win-Win Solution - Using Tax Increment Financing to Pay for Infrastructure Improvements in Areas Impacted by Oil and Gas Production from Shale
  The development of oil and gas from Utica shale is one of the most significant opportunities for economic development in Ohio in the recent past. For example, geologists have estimated that Ohio’s portion of Utica shale alone could contain up to 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5 million barrels of oil-related liquids.
  Read more »
• 2/2/2012
  Oil and Gas Alert: Ohio EPA Issues a Final General Permit for Oil and Gas Well Sites
  On February 1, 2012, the Ohio EPA issued its final general permit for oil and gas production sites. The general permit covers equipment used for production activities at Marcellus or Utica/Point Pleasant shale wells in Ohio.
  Read more »
• 2/2/2012
  Labor and Employment Alert: NLRB's Acting General Counsel Issues Second Report on Social Media Cases
  Read more »

January

• 1/30/2012
  Labor and Employment Alert: Update on Reporting the Cost of Health Coverage on Form W-2
  The IRS issued Notice 2012-9 on January 3, 2012, clarifying some of its earlier guidance in Notice 2011-28 on reporting the cost of health coverage on Form W-2. The aggregate cost of health coverage will be reported in Box 12 with Code DD, starting with 2012 Form W-2s (distributed in January 2013).
  Read more »
• 1/26/2012
  Securities Alert: NYSE Eliminates Uninstructed Broker Voting on Certain Corporate Governance Issues
  The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) published Information Memo 12-4 on January 25, 2012, in which NYSE altered its previous position under NYSE Rule 452 of allowing brokers to vote customer shares in certain situations without specific client instructions.
  Read more »
• 1/12/2012
  Client Alert: Ohio House Bill 225
  On December 21, 2011, Governor Kasich signed Substitute House Bill 225 (the Bill). As enacted, the Bill includes changes to Ohio’s New Community Authority (NCA) law, permits the county boards of revision to adopt procedures for the electronic filing of real property tax valuation complaints and makes county auditors responsible for the review and approval of property tax exemption applications for certain types of publicly owned property.
  Read more »
• 1/3/2012
  Labor and Employment Alert: States to Define "Essential Health Benefits" and Other Employee Health Benefits News
  Starting in 2014, every non-grandfathered individual health insurance policy and insured small employer group health plan will have to cover essential health benefits.
  Read more »

December

• 12/9/2011
  Client Alert: Mortgage Holders, Mortgage Servicers Will be Significantly Affected by Recent Rule Changes
  Read more »

November

• 11/30/2011
  Labor and Employment Alert: Hayes Stays: NLRB Moves Forward with Election Rule
  Read more »
• 11/30/2011
  Immigration Alert: Bundle Filings of L-1 Petitions
  Read more »
• 11/22/2011
  Client Alert: The New District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act of 2010 Takes Effect on January 1, 2012 – Are Your Governance Documents in Order?
  Read more »
• 11/22/2011
  Securities Alert: Summary of 2012 Updates to the ISS U.S. Corporate Governance Policy
  Read more »
• 11/21/2011
  Labor and Employment Alert: Summaries of Benefits and Coverage on Hold and Other Employee Benefits News
  Read more »
• 11/21/2011
  Labor and Employment Alert: NLRB to Vote on Election Process Rule
  Read more »
• 11/18/2011
  Client Alert: Issuance of Rules for the InvestOhio Program
  Read more »
• 11/11/2011
  Labor and Employment Alert: One for the Employer: Social Media Posting Results in Lawful Termination
  Read more »