The coronavirus has caused a global health crisis, which impacts the way we live and do business. For many business owners, the restrictions laid out by local and national governments to reduce the spread of the virus have caused them to cease operations entirely or dramatically shifted the delivery of their products and services.

After months of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, many business owners face daunting financial challenges and are making adjustments to their workforce. In light of these challenges, we have assembled a business recovery team to help businesses stabilize and evolve to withstand the ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus and its lasting impacts. 

Below you’ll find resources assembled by our team of attorneys. In addition to these resources, our Coronavirus Resource page includes regular updates and articles regarding COVID-19.

Services Provided

Real Estate

• New Restriction on Evictions in New Hampshire
• NH Suspends Eviction, Foreclosure & Utility Shut-Offs | What Business Owners Need To Know

Lawyers in our practice who specialize in this service area include:

• Mark H. Scribner
• John F. Griffin, Jr.

Bankruptcy

• Chapter 11 Subchapter V: What Creditors Should Expect
• The New Streamlined Bankruptcy Solution For Small And Medium Sized Businesses
• CARES Act | Reorganization, Foreclosure & Bankruptcy
• District of Vermont | United States Bankruptcy Court
• District of New Hampshire | United States Bankruptcy Court

Lawyers in our practice who specialize in this service area include:

• Ryan M. Long
• Alexandra E. Edelman

Business

• (August 4, 2020) Recent SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness FAQ’s Concerning Business Owner Compensation
• Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Road to Recovery
• Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce
• Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development – Financial Assistance for Businesses
• Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
• New Hampshire Business & Industry Association – Business Loans/Grants
• COVID-19 Impact on Trademark & Copyright Law
• Business Interruption Damages Caused by COVID-19
• COVID-19: Pre-Existing Contracts in New Hampshire and Vermont

Lawyers in our practice who specialize in this service area include:

• Paul J. Phillips
• Ralphine N. O’Rourke

Employment

• Webinar: FFCRA Update & FAQs
• FFCRA Update: Aspects of the Final Rule Vacated by Federal Court
• An Employer’s Guide to Implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Vermont Department of Labor
• Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development – Business Resources
• New Hampshire Department of Labor
• New Hampshire Business & Industry Association – Employer Resources

Lawyers in our practice who specialize in this service area include:

• Alexandra H. Clauss

Litigation

• VT & NH Litigation During COVID-19 – Like most businesses relying on in-person interaction, the coronavirus has also disrupted both the state and federal court systems. In mid-March, courts in New Hampshire and Vermont issued a series of orders declaring a judicial emergency and allowing modifications to steadfast rules such as allowing e-mail filing across the board. Courts have transitioned to doing hearings remotely as much as possible, and when hearings, trials, or arguments do take place in-person, usually only the participants are allowed to attend. Court attendees may be required to undergo a temperature screening, must wear masks, and maintain six feet distance from others as much as possible.
• There have been no civil or criminal trials in state courts since the start of the Pandemic in the U.S. in mid-March. Trials are resuming in New Hampshire, and criminal trials in Vermont are set to start up in September. Still, there will be no state civil jury trials in Vermont until January 2021, a significant factor in the pre-trial practice of Vermont litigators. Parties and their counsel are likely to consider the significant delay in obtaining relief through a jury trial in their approaches to settlement negotiations and mediations.
• Litigation is still moving forward with motion practice, discovery, and mediations. Mediations and depositions transitioned immediately to video-conferencing platforms. Mediators can set up virtual “rooms” for each party, and then the mediator can move between the rooms. Court reporters attend video depositions and can provide official transcripts. Video and telephone hearings also occur regularly. Our litigation attorneys have stayed very busy this spring and summer filing motions for summary judgment, taking or defending depositions on Zoom or Webex, attending mediations via Zoom or telephone, and attending remote hearings. Read More

Vermont Legislative Updates

• October 23, 2020 – During this week’s press conferences, Governor Scott announced two new rounds of state grants that become available the week of October 26^th. Read More
• October 16, 2020 – Governor Scott again warned Vermonters to remain vigilant against COVID-19 as the state’s numbers ticked upward. He extended the state of emergency enacted in March through November 15, following previous addenda strengthening the state’s mask mandate and permitting cities and towns to limit gathering sizes and alcohol sales in prior executive orders. Updated modeling shows a shrinking map of counties where travel without quarantine is permitted, and national trends do not provide immediate hope that that shrinking will be reversed. Read More