The 2022 proxy season is just around the corner. This quick reference guide, which is intended to supplement Shearman & Sterling’s 19th Annual Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey, summarizes themes from the...more
Today, Shearman & Sterling released its 19th annual Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey, which finds that the boards of directors of the largest 100 U.S. companies have maintained their strong focus on...more
11/4/2021
/ Board of Directors ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Management ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Corporate Strategy ,
Cybersecurity ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Equity ,
Executive Compensation ,
Human Capital ,
Shareholders
In last year’s Survey, we noted that concern for environmental and social issues (the “E” and the “S” of “ESG”) had reached an inflection point, having taken center stage from the more traditional governance issues (the “G”...more
10/2/2020
/ Best Practices ,
Board of Directors ,
Business Plans ,
Business Strategies ,
Capital Markets ,
CEOs ,
Commercial Real Estate Market ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Diversity ,
Executive Compensation ,
Golden Parachutes ,
Shareholders
It is well known that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business operations has directly affected executive compensation decision-making and related disclosures. With this backdrop, the Securities and Exchange Commission...more
Among its many impacts on society, COVID-19 has changed, perhaps permanently, how employees interact with each other and the workplace. As some businesses begin to reopen their doors to their workforce, they should consider...more
On July 31, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations providing guidance under Section 1061 (the “Proposed Regulations”) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Section 1061, which was added...more
We provide a deeper dive into the key stimulus programs under the CARES Act, as summarized in our client note “Congress Passes Largest Ever Economic Stimulus Package: Key Provisions of CARES Act.” The following table...more
In a proposed class prohibited transaction exemption published on June 29, 2020 (the “proposed exemption”), the Department of Labor (DOL) stated that advising employee benefit plan (“plan”) participants to roll over plan...more
Two key provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”)—the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)—are raising surprising new issues in...more
We provide a deeper dive into the key stimulus programs under the CARES Act, as summarized in our client note “Congress Passes Largest Ever Economic Stimulus Package: Key Provisions of CARES Act.” The following table...more
Those responsible for overseeing their company’s 401(k) plan may be pleased to learn that recent DOL guidance provides that private equity investments may be offered to plan participants if included as part of a multi-asset...more
Although it is too early to know when America’s workforce will return to offices and other places of work, it is prudent for companies to start preparing for the return of employees to the physical workplace. This is...more
We provide a deeper dive into the key stimulus programs under the CARES Act, as summarized in our client note “Congress Passes Largest Ever Economic Stimulus Package: Key Provisions of CARES Act.” The following table...more
KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN EMPLOYEE TERMINATIONS -
The rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced many businesses to operate with reduced staff, with some concluding that employee layoffs are necessary....more
In the wake of the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, many employers are considering employee furloughs as an alternative to layoffs. Furloughs generally refer to a mandatory, but temporary, cessation from...more
Many employers have been forced to consider employee layoffs, furloughs or salary reductions as a way to manage some of the financial hardship created by COVID-19. Companies should keep in mind existing federal, state and...more
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Families First Act” or the “Act”) requires covered employers to provide employees two weeks of paid sick leave and additional benefits for family leave due to the COVID-19...more
In the wake of the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, a number of employers have announced temporary salary reductions as a means of conserving cash, and thus demonstrating sound stewardship. This memorandum...more
Planning for an unexpected absence or loss of a key person is an important component of enterprise risk management. In the present environment, boards are meeting regularly in real time to address absences of key persons–both...more
We provide a deeper dive into the key stimulus programs under the CARES Act, as summarized in our client note Congress Passes Largest Ever Economic Stimulus Package: Key Provisions of CARES Act. The following table summarizes...more
If you are a decision-maker or part of a COVID-19 response team at a U.S. business, you are making urgent, daily decisions that affect the health and wellbeing of your workers, customers and suppliers, as well as the...more
4/1/2020
/ Affiliated-Business Arrangements ,
Board of Directors ,
Business Interruption ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Economic Injury Disaster Loans ,
Employee Retention ,
Executive Compensation ,
Federal Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health Insurance ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Payroll Taxes ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Shareholders ,
Small Business ,
Stocks ,
Tax Relief
The rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced many businesses to operate with reduced staff, with some concluding that employee layoffs are necessary. This memorandum discusses key considerations for...more
Equity-based incentives are intended to motivate high levels of performance and align the interests of employees with those of shareholders. When markets decline steeply, however, many companies find that a significant...more
The COVID-19 outbreak has had a swift and volatile impact on business operations and the financial markets. Because this is occurring simultaneously with the annual incentive award cycle of many companies, immediately at...more
On December 30, 2019, New York State enacted the “Women on Corporate Boards Study Act” (the “Act”), which requires the New York Department of State and the Department of Taxation and Finance to conduct a study on the number...more