COVID-19 Legal Services Resource Directory

With the city, state and national authorities taking steps to contain and mitigate the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic, your business will likely face numerous legal issues over the coming weeks and months. Bell Nunnally is well-situated and prepared to continue operations seamlessly for our clients during this time. We are taking all necessary precautions to protect the health and well-being of our team, clients and the community. We are closely monitoring the CDC, WHO, and federal, state, and local authorities as we make daily operational decisions.

As this situation unfolds, the Bell Nunnally team is here to provide resources and knowledge to help you deal with issues you may already be facing and others you may in the near future. Our hope is that we can provide resources that will minimize the uncertainty of these times. This page is a collection of the firm's client alerts regarding the unfolding COVID-19 epidemic. We will update this page regularly as new issues arise, so please check back often.

A Message From Bell Nunnally's Managing Partner Chris Trowbridge

General Guidance

• When Can We Open? Frequently Asked Questions on Federal and Texas Guidelines to Restart the Economy, May 7 (Heath Cheek)
• Overview of the CARES Act and Resources Available for Businesses, March 26 (Jennice Lee)
  

Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring

• Small Businesses Feeling the Effects of COVID-19 Should be Aware of the Newly Arrived Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019, March 18 (Russell Mills)

Commercial Finance

• PPP Loan Forgiveness Application is Now Available, May 15 (Trey DeLoach, Nikki Gibson, Ed McQueen, Ira Perez)
• SBA Issues New Guidance on PPP Loans, with Safe Harbors for Certain Borrower Certifications Regarding Loan Necessity, May 14 (Jean Boyea, Nikki Gibson, Ira Perez)
• Congress Approves Additional Funding for Small Businesses; Treasury Issues Guidance Clarifying PPP Loan Eligibility, April 24 (Trey DeLoach, Nikki Gibson, Ed McQueen, Ira Perez)
• PPP Loans: A Cheat Sheet, April 9 (Trey DeLoach, Nikki Gibson, Ed McQueen, Ira Perez)
• Business Size Requirements and Affiliation Rules for SBA Loan Eligibility under the CARES Act, April 3 (Ira Perez)
• Relief for Small Businesses under the $2 Trillion CARES Act, March 26 (Trey DeLoach, Nikki Gibson, Ed McQueen, Ira Perez)
• COVID-19 Expected to Launch Wave of Loan Workouts and Refinances, March 18 (Trey DeLoach, Nikki Gibson, Ed McQueen)
  

Construction - Litigation 

• COVID-19 and Development/Takedown Deals: Knowing When Force Majeure Does and Does not Apply, March 20 (Mike Bowers, Scott Larson)

Creditors' Rights

• Lien Issues During COVID-19: Early Is On Time, And On Time May Be Late, April 7 (Perrin Fourmy)
• COVID-19 Issues and Answers for NACM Members, March 20 (Randall Lindley, Karen Hart, T.J. Hales)
• Preparing for a Slowdown in Accounts Receivable Collection Due to COVID-19, March 18 (Randall Lindley, Gwen Walraven, T.J. Hales)

Entertainment, Advertising and New Media

• Brief Intermission: A Preview of the Theater Business After COVID-19, March 30 (Brent Turman)

Health Care

• HHS Announces Additional Allocations of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund, April 23 (Jarod Moss)
• Immediate Infusion of Initial $30 Billion of CARES Act Healthcare Provider Funding, April 13 (Jarod Moss)
• COVID-19 Relief for Health Care Providers, April 1 (Jarod Moss)

Immigration

• Immigration Concerns Relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 18 (John Smart)

Insurance - Litigation

• Will My Business Interruption Insurance Cover My COVID-19-Related Business Losses? If it Won't, What are My Options?, April 2 (Ross Williams, Mason Jones)

Intellectual Property

• USPTO Further Extends Certain Patent and Trademark Deadlines Until June 1 Under CARES Act, April 29 (Danica Mathes, Jennice Lee)
• USPTO Extends Certain Patent and Trademark Deadlines Under CARES Act, April 1 (Danica Mathes, Jennice Lee)
• COVID-19 Changes Affecting U.S. Intellectual Property Filings and Proceedings, March 18 (Danica Mathes, Jeff Tinker, Jason Nardiello, Jennice Lee)

Labor, Employment and Benefits

• Navigating Employment Laws as America Returns to Work, May 8 (Alana Ackels, Jay Wallace, Tom Case)
• New Guidance for Reopening Offices in Texas May 18, May 6
• Mitigating the Risks from COVID-19 as America Returns to Work, April 29 (Jay Wallace, Alana Ackels, Sydnie Shimkus)
• Small Businesses May Qualify for Exemption from Paid Sick Leave Requirement, April 16 (Katie Beaird)
• Understanding the CARES Act: Employee Retention Credit, April 16 (Katie Beaird)
• Enhanced Unemployment Benefits Available Under CARES Act, April 2 (Alana Ackels, Sydnie Shimkus)
• Unemployment and Layoffs During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 23 (Alana Ackels)
• COVID-19 Update for Employers, March 23 (Jay Wallace, Alana Ackels)
• What the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means to Your Business, March 19 (Brent Hockaday)
• Concerns Regarding Layoffs Due to COVID-19, March 18 (Jay Wallace, Tom Case)

Litigation

• The Effect of COVID-19 on Existing Litigation, May 20 (Heath Cheek, Saba Syed, Brent Turman)
• Emerging COVID-Specific Business Interruption Litigation Issues in Texas, May 8 (Brent Turman, Ross Williams)
• Precautionary Measure Against COVID-19 Exposure Claims: Waiver of Liability, May 5 (Ross Williams, Jennice Lee)
• Completing Service of Process and Establishing Proof of Delivery in Light of COVID-19 Social Distancing Orders, April 3 (Randall Lindley, T.J. Hales)
• Force Majeure – The Biggest Buzz Term of Litigation in a COVID-19 World, March 30 (Craig Warner)
• Effective Mediation During COVID-19, March 25 (Perrin Fourmy, Dominic Cruciani)
• Planning for the Incoming Wave of COVID-19 Litigation, March 18 (Tammy Wood)

Mergers and Acquisitions

• M&A Agreements in the COVID-19 Climate, April 10 (Stephen Iya)

Real Estate

• Commercial Lease Workouts During Covid-19 Pandemic, April 23 (Jean Boyea, Kassie McLaughlin, Natasha Gandhi, Murphy Sayre)
• IRS Extends Deadlines for Certain Real Estate Investors, April 17 (Jared Hays, Ira Perez)
• Impacts of COVID-19 on Commercial Leasing, April 3 (Karen Hart, T.J. Hales)

Tax

• Tax Relief in the Wake of COVID-19, April 24 (Andrew Dowdy)
• Treasury Department Issues Official Guidance on Relief from Tax Deadlines, March 20 (Andrew Dowdy)

White Collar and Regulatory Defense

• Implementation of the CARES Act in Federal Criminal Proceedings, April 6 (Jeff Ansley, Arianna Goodman, Katherine Devlin)
• Price Gouging Concerns in the COVID-19 Era, March 30 (Jeff Ansley, Arianna Goodman, Katherine Devlin)
• How COVID-19 Will Effect White Collar and Government Investigations, March 18 (Jeff Ansley, Arianna Goodman)

Events

• Legal Issues Impacting the Live Event and Entertainment Industries in the Wake of COVID-19, April 16 (Saba Syed, Brent Turman, Ira Perez)
• Employment Law Webinar - Pandemic Style, April 14 (Alana Ackels, Mark Shoffner)
• COVID-19 - Impact on Oklahoma and Arkansas, April 8 (Karen Hart)
• Texas Mechanic's and Materialman's Liens in the COVID-19 World, April 7 (Randall Lindley)
• Panel on COVID-19 Impact on Legalink Law Firms, April 3 (Christopher Trowbridge)
• Karen Hart Moderates COVID-19, Force Majeure Panel for ABA, March 31 (Karen Hart)
• COVID-19 Impact on Texas: Know Your Legal Rights, March 27 (Karen Hart, Randall Lindley)
• COVID-19 Business Legal Alert: Navigating the New Normal, March 26 (Karen Hart, Gwen Walraven)
• COVID-19 - Legal Update for Credit Professionals, March 25 (Karen Hart)

Related Media Coverage

• Jared Hays Quoted on Legaltech News Regarding Potential Risks of COVID-19 Spurred "No-Entry" Policies at Data Centers, Legaltech News, May 18
• CNBC Interviews Partner Russell W. Mills On Possible J.C. Penney Bankruptcy Filing, CNBC, May 15
• Randall Lindley and T.J. Hales in NACM's Business Credit Discuss Service of Process and Proof of Delivery Issues in the Social Distancing Era, National Association of Credit Management, May 11
• Alana Ackels on Texas Lawyer Looks at "Layoffs and Unemployment Basics" During COVID-19, Texas Lawyer, April 21
• Partner Jean Boyea Quoted on Dallas Business Journal Article Looking at Deadline Relief for 1031 Exchange Buyers, Dallas Business Journal, April 21
• Randall Lindley, Gwen Walraven and T.J. Hales in NACM eNews Consider "Preparing for a Slowdown in Accounts Receivable Collection Due to COVID-19," National Association of Credit Management, April 16
• Trey DeLoach, Nikki Gibson, Ed McQueen and Ira Perez on Dallas Business Journal Break Down the CARES Act for Small Businesses, Dallas Business Journal, April 15
• Russell Mills on the Dallas Business Journal Explores how the SBRA Makes the Bankruptcy Process Easier for Small Businesses, Dallas Business Journal, April 10
• Ross Williams and Mason Jones on Dallas Business Journal Look at Business Interruption Insurance During COVID-19, Dallas Business Journal, April 8
• Alana Ackels, Mark Shoffner and Mason Jones on Texas Lawbook Offer a COVID-19 Update for Employers, Texas Lawbook, April 7
• Partner Ross Williams Quoted in Washington Post on Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19, Washington Post, April 2
• Partner Russell Mills Describes Importance of Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 in Light of COVID-19, National Association of Credit Management, April 1