In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders with an in-depth discussion of the latest guidance on the “play or pay” provisions and waiting periods for healthcare plans. Speakers will also offer best practices in ensuring compliance with healthcare laws.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Final regulations and additional guidance on the “Pay or Play” mandate
• Rules on the 90-Day Waiting Period Limitation for Health Plan
• Reporting requirements related to the “play or pay” mandate
• Penalties for Non-Compliance and so much more!

Key topics include:

• Effective Compliance Programs
• Control Measures to Reduce the Risk of Fraud
• Recent Nonprofit Fraud and Embezzlement Examples
• Reasons and Root Causes of Fraud, Theft, Embezzlement and Asset diversion
• Employee Fraud
• And a lot more!

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the significant and latest issues regarding the use of fair market value for compliance with the Anti-Kickback and Self-Referral Laws. 

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss: 

• Overview on Fair Market Value 
• The Anti-Kickback and Self-Referral Law 
• Payments Covered by the Anti-Kickback Statute 
• Do’s and Don’ts on Self-Referral Law (Paying for Referrals is a Crime) 
• Complying with Federal Anti-Kickback and Self-Referral Law 
• Up-to-the-Minute Regulatory Updates 

Key issues include that will be covered in this course are:

• Banking fraud in 2014: an overview
• Identifying banking fraudulent transactions and schemes
• Discussions on how banks respond to banking fraud and counterfeiting
• Utilizing effective tools and strategies on banking fraud prevention
• Risk assessment techniques and best practices
• Latest issues and regulatory updates

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• The Accounting Quality Model and Financial Reporting and Audit Task Force
• The Role of Whistleblowers in Financial and Accounting Fraud Cases
• Discussion on Significant Issues for Financial Statement Disclosures
• Recent SEC Enforcement Efforts with Case Citations
• Key Techniques to Identify Fraudulent Schemes and Best Practices in Developing an Effective Compliance Program

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 (FSIA) establishes limitations on suits, in U.S. federal or state courts, against foreign sovereign nations and institutions thereof.  The United States was the first nation to codify the law of foreign sovereign immunity by statute.  Until 1976, the U.S. State Department decided whether foreign nations could obtain immunity from suits in U.S. courts. The State Department’s decisions sometimes appeared to be too political, so Congress passed the FSIA to transfer immunity decision-making to the judiciary.  The FSIA seeks to define and codify the restrictive theory of immunity and provide a comprehensive and uniform litigation procedure against foreign states and governmental agencies.

Disputes under the FSIA often arise in commercial suits.  Globalization has resulted in many national governments undertaking commercial activities.  State-controlled enterprises across the world are active in international energy, mining, aviation, shipping, and other sectors.  Foreign government sovereign wealth funds invest in foreign markets and property.  Where foreign governments are acting as private entities, the general assumption is that they should be treated as such during litigation.

Recently, for example, courts have applied the FSIA in litigation between hedge funds and the Republic of Argentina over Argentina’s refusal to pay bondholders on its defaulted sovereign debt.  One court has entered an injunction against Argentina requiring it to pay holders of its defaulted bonds at the same time it pays holders of its restructured debt.  Courts have also upheld wide-ranging asset discovery that judgment creditors have sought in an effort to uncover attachable property.        

The FSIA has also been applied in disputes beyond commerce. For example, Congress has repeatedly amended the statute to permit litigation against U.S. government-designated state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran.  Those amendments have led to clashes with the Executive Branch, as Congress’s desire to provide compensation has often conflicted with the Executive’s foreign policy goals.  They have also raised questions over the extent to which state-owned instrumentalities should be treated as distinct from the sovereigns that own them for purposes of immunity and attachment.

Finally, in the past several years, there has been an increase in employment-related claims brought against foreign sovereign employers by employees working in consulate offices, embassies, other sovereign-related agencies, or nationalized entities in the U.S.  In fact, a foreign sovereign with consulate offices in various states was recently named as a defendant in a California wage and hour class action.  In some instances, foreign sovereign employers may avoid the application of complicated U.S. employment laws, and in other situations, sovereign employers should consider taking measures to comply with certain U.S. laws to avoid claims from personnel working for them in the U.S.

The twists and turns in application of the FSIA expand and continue to broaden beyond mere commerce. It behooves those dealing with state controlled and sponsored entities to understand the Act, issues of scope and territoriality, immunity and its exceptions, and liability and enforcement procedures.

Our expert panel will provide you with a practical look at the FSIA and how it affects the execution of judgments against foreign governments and their instrumentalities. Experts on the FSIA will discuss who can be sued and in which courts, what constitutes a “foreign state,” the presumptions of immunity and their exceptions, and liabilities, damages, and enforcement proceedings under the Act.

Our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners will offer a discussion of the fundamentals as well as updates regarding the latest regulatory demands and other significant issues surrounding transportation and logistics law. This LIVE webcast aims to help you to avoid common pitfalls and risk issues associated with the transportation and logistics industry. 

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are  

• Future of the transportation and logistics industry 
• Latest applications and methodologies in managing transportation and logistics 
• Department of Transportation (DOT) concerns 
• Regulatory Compliance 

Key topics include:

• Supervision of Multiple OSJs (New FINRA Rules 3110)
• New FINRA Rules 3120 (Supervisory Control System)
• Holding Customer Mail (New FINRA Rules 3150 )
• New FINRA Rules 3170 (Tape Recording of Registered Persons by Certain Firms)

And a lot more!

• Transfer Pricing in 2014: an overview 
• Latest trends and developments 
• Emerging issues and preventing potential pitfalls and regulatory errors 
• Understanding major impacts of recent critical changes 
• Compliance and best practices 
• Up-to-minute regulatory updates, useful insights and a lot more! 

There are a myriad of business, financial, legal, and other important aspects of selling and buying a business, from valuation techniques, to financing methods, to tax complications and beyond.  Transactions involving small- and medium-sized businesses can present unique challenges in “getting closed”, as compared to larger deals, in part and often due to the circumstances and expectations of the players and the condition of the target business. 

In this webinar, our panel of skilled leaders in their fields will guide listeners through the process and unique challenges of buying or selling a small- to medium-sized business. They will help ensure that legal and financial complications are avoided by identifying the most critical aspects for Purchasers and Sellers in this context. Our panel of speakers includes nationally-known mergers and acquisitions attorneys who will discuss:

• The Purchase Agreement, stripped to its essentials
  • Signing and closing mechanics
  • The “Rule 10b-5 Rep”
• Bridging the gap on valuation and risk expectations:
  • Earnouts
  • Seller Notes/Holdbacks
  • Setoff Rights
  • R&W Insurance Policies
• Earnouts - What they are, their Rationale, Measurement Criteria and Frequency of Use
  • Seller's Need to Protect the Earnout from Post-Sale Actions of the Buyer
  • Operational Covenants and Examples
  • Contractual Adjustments to Financial Metrics
  • Acceleration Events
• Distress Deals - Sales of Assets of Insolvent or Financially-Troubled Companies
  • Bankruptcy Code Section 363 Sales
  • Assignments for Benefit of Creditors
  • Bulk Sales
  • UCC-1 Sales by a Secured Lender

Key topics include:

• Regulation of internet gambling in NV, NJ and DE: commonalities and differences
• Expanding payment channels in internet and bricks-and-mortar gambling
• Social casino and fantasy sports: are they legal and what’s next?
• M&A, Current Deals
• Industry Consolidation

The Knowledge Group is producing a live webcast: IP Update: Trademark Registration Benefits to help firms and corporations better understand the Benefits of Trademark Registration.

Unregistered trademarks receive some protection under the common law and under the Lanham Act. However, registration of trademarks provides additional benefits and, substantive and procedural rights.  Registration grants the right to use the registered trademark symbol, to file trademark infringement lawsuits, and restricts registration of similar trademarks.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• Trademark Registration
• Benefits of registration
• Compliance Requirements
• Distinguishing Authentic Vs. Counterfeit Brands
• Trademark Validation
• Reasonable Criminal Charges for Imitators
• Statutory Damages and Monetary Awards

In this CLE course our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners, assembled by The Knowledge Group, will discuss the fundamentals of Mezzanine Financing and the most current and significant issues surrounding this topic. This LIVE webcast aims to help lending and commercial financing counsel avoid common pitfalls and risk concerning Mezzanine Financing for Middle Market Deals. 

Key topics include: 

• Mezzanine Financing: Review 
• Alternative Financing 
• Structuring Mezzanine Financing 
• Shareholder Liquidity and Inter-generational Transfer 
• Advantages and Dis-advantages of Mezzanine Financing 
• Risks and Pitfalls of Mezzanine Financing 
• Market Trends and Regulatory Updates 

Key topics include:

• Trademark Law 2014: an overview
• Five main types of trademark confusion and likelihood of confusion standard
• Emerging trends and recent cases
• Latest issues and ways to effectively deal with critical scenarios
• Mitigating errors and best practices
• Up-to-minute regulatory updates

In this two hour live webcast, the Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of thought leaders to provide an in-depth discussion and analysis regarding business valuation best practices.  This session will cover the following:

• Background on the continuously evolving business valuation landscape
• Overview of relevant premises of value and important considerations related to the scoping / engagement process
• Discussion related to project types as well as approaches, methodologies, and models – including key issues and common errors to avoid
• Fulfilling requirements and developing supportable valuations to anticipate reviews by overseeing authorities (including the IRS and the SEC) as well as other parties (including auditors and opposing parties in a dispute)
• Trends related to fair value and fair market value developments, as well as lessons from key tax court cases

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Accounting System Requirements
• Steps for getting your accounting system approved
• Understanding Indirect Pools
• Prime responsibilities for subcontractors
• Incurred Cost Submissions
• DCAA Hot Topics

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• Bankruptcy Law
• Recent Developments in Cases
• Questions Left After Arkison
• Cross-Border and International Bankruptcy
• New Risks for Credit Bidding
• Fraudulent Transfers and Ponzi Schemes
• Municipal Bankruptcies
• Financial Statements: Hidden Risks
• Purchase and Sale of Debt in Bankruptcy

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of key thought leaders and distinguished professionals will provide an in-depth discussion of the recently issued FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This new standard, which was the result of years of joint work between the FASB and IASB, has the potential to significantly impact revenue recognition for many companies in many industries. This live webcast will help firms better assess the implications of the new revenue recognition standard for their company or their clients.

Key topics include:

• ASU No. 2014-09: An Overview
• Identifying the contract and the performance obligations of the contract
• Determining the transaction price & allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations
• Satisfying the performance obligations
• Other accounting considerations
• Presentation and disclosure considerations
• Implementation considerations

The Supreme Court’s opinion in B&B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis Industries, Inc. (to be argued December 2, 2014), may well revolutionize trademark infringement litigation.  The petitioner, which won a previous trademark opposition against the respondent before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”), argues that the TTAB’s decision on the issue of likelihood of confusion is entitled to issue preclusion effect and that, consequently, the only issues to be decided in its subsequent trademark infringement action against the respondent are (1) whether the respondent ever used the mark shown in its application on the goods recited in its application and (2), if so, the wording of the injunction and the amount of damages to which it is entitled.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• The procedural history of the case
• The circuit split leading to the grant of certiorari
• The arguments of the parties and the amici
• The implications for trademark practitioners if the Supreme Court accepts the petitioner’s arguments
• The possible impact of the Supreme Court’s opinion on the settled law concerning the corresponding situation in patent cases

There aren’t many business enterprises larger, more disparately fragmented, and less technologically advanced than the American Healthcare Industry. Complex and confusing healthcare regulations and requirements for the protection and security of private data are two of the main reasons why the healthcare sector has been hesitant to adopt cloud computing technologies. 

Compounding this is the increasing cost of healthcare, new capital expenditures and operating expenses, business and legal risk, choosing the right vendor, confusing regulatory and political issues, vendor compliance with HIPAA privacy and security requirements, and private data ownership, and transmission; among others that drives the need to for healthcare entities to adopt cloud computing. Serious technical issues include digital storage limitations and lack of internal IT infrastructure.

Never the less, cloud computing will streamline electronic health records management and health information exchanges, help to ensure regulatory compliance, reduce costs, and enhance patient care and safety. Cloud systems enable rapid expansion of data storage, enhanced data analysis, and easing of data sharing while keeping some legacy data and applications in traditional, locally secure systems.

It has become imperative that all entities involved in the healthcare industry adopt cloud-based solutions to ensure compliance, cost reduction, collaboration, and efficient management of the vast amount of data. Cloud computing is ideally suited to storing and managing patient records, clinical research data, and imaging data.

Healthcare organizations must balance the costs, risks, and their response to changes in regulations while adopting new products and services to improve patient care and security under increasingly uncertain conditions for re-imbursement of services and more demand from patients for greater security, privacy, and access to their information.

Issues to be addressed in this webinar include:

• The Need to Adopt Cloud Services for Healthcare Entities
• Benefits and Limitations of Adopting Cloud Services
• Service, Pricing, and Deployment Models (Overview)
• Workflow and Data Management
• Privacy and Security
• Legal Issues and Compliance (HIPPA and HITECH)

In this webinar, a group of experts in the field of cloud computing and health data management will discuss the need for healthcare entities to adopt cloud computing and will explain how the initial expenditures will be outweighed by greater security, efficiency, co-operation, and compliance with regulations.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Managed Care Disputes and Litigation: A Brief Overview
• Medical Malpractice Claims
• Consumer Fraud Claims
• Litigation Cases under the Affordable Care Act
• Effective Strategies to Mitigate Risks for Disputes and Litigation
• How to Develop a Practical Disputes and Litigation Plan

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• SEC Investigation 2014: an overview
• Emerging trends and issues
• Enforcement, investigation process and recent cases
• Compliance and best practices
• Latest regulatory updates

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the significant issues and pointers highlighting the developments and updates with regards to the FCPA and International Anti-Corruption in 2014.

Key topics include:

• Provisions to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• Entities Prohibited by the Act
• Compliance Programs for the FCPA
• Recent FCPA Enforcement Actions

Key topics include:

• Enforcement Priorities of Federal and State Regulators
• New and Up-Coming Rules and Regulations
• Swaps and Derivatives and Market Enforcement
• Financial Reporting and Fraud
• Legal and Policy Developments
• Enforcement or Deterrence
• Remedies: What to Expect
• Facing Multi-Agency and Inter-agency Investigations
• Ethics in Enforcement

Key topics include:

Intellectual property of information technology is complicated and rapidly changing. Corporate counsel need to address a wide range of agreements when retaining a contractor to develop software for a company. During this live webcast, the speakers will review and discuss:

• IP in Software Development Agreements
• The Importance of Ownership
• Transfer of Rights: Sub-licensing, Transferability, and Exclusivity
• Restrictions on Transfer
• Monitoring of IP Rights
• Risks: Joint Ownership, Bankruptcy

Key topics include:

• Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) Policy Provisions
• Data Breach Insurance Coverage
• Data Privacy Policy Regulations and Compliance
• Breach Investigation
• Privacy and Data Breach Risks and Penalties
• Credit and Debit Card Fraud Mitigation
• Government-mandated Identity Theft Prevention Programs

Key topics include:

• Tactical Approach and Strategy of Companies on non-reportable transactions
• Types of Transactions affecting consumers and companies
• Transactions not reportable under the HSR Act
• Companies Perspective on the issues of Antitrust
• Antitrust recent issues and developments

And a lot more!

Concurrent to a proposal from the Federal Reserve Board to repeal Regulation AA (12 CFR part 227), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and several federal agencies have issued inter-agency guidance concerning unfair or deceptive credit practices by banking and financial entities. Never the less, the agencies claim to retain supervisory and enforcement authority regarding Unfair, Deceptive, and Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAP). Consequently, agencies may determine that statutory violations have occurred even in the absence of a specific regulation governing such conduct.

In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders assembled by The Knowledge Group will help compliance and risk mitigation professionals and others understand the important aspects of the CFPB Guidance on UDAAP Enforcement in Light of Regulation AA Repeal. They will provide an in-depth discussion of UDAAP principles and the impact of this enhanced regulatory focus on financial products and services and related entities. Speakers will also offer best practices in developing and implementing an effective policy to identify compliance issues and potential violations of UDAAP.

Key topics include:

• UDAAP Framework and Regulation AA (12 CFR part 227)
• Prohibited Practices Deemed as Unfair, Deceptive and Abusive
• Emphasis on Self-Reporting
• CFPB Guidance and Priorities
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation

In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders will help white collar criminal law practitioners, law enforcement officials, and trade industry counsel understand the important aspects of this significant and timely topic. The panel will provide an in-depth discussion of export regulations, economic sanctions, and current risks and trends in compliance and litigation. Speakers will also offer best practices in developing and implementing an effective trade policy to ensure compliance with Export Controls and Economic Sanctions securities laws in 2015.

Economic sanctions are multi-lateral and rapidly change, making compliance a formidable challenge. The US Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers and enforces a sanctions affecting international trade. It is vital for anyone doing business outside the US to know how the US Export Controls affect their business transactions at home and for subsidiaries over-seas.

The agenda will include:

• Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Regulations, including those implemented by the Departments of Treasury (OFAC), Commerce (BIS) and State (DDTC)
• Integration of administrative legal defenses in the context of criminal cases
• What is Covered: Transactions, , Software, Services, Technical Data and Products
• Best Practices as Mitigation and Defense/Exporter Compliance Responsibilities
• Risks, Enforcement, and Penalties
• Common Errors of Aministrative Lawyers Dealing with Criminal Cases and Criminal Lawyers Dealing with Administrative Enforcement

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Overview on Final Wellness Regulations
• New Proposed Changes/Modifications Issued by HHS
• Latest Trends and Issues on Final Regulation
• Group and Individual Insurance Markets
• Programs Offered and Requirements
• Best Practices in Protecting Consumers from Unfair Practices
• Up-to-the-Minute Regulatory Updates

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• The Cloud Phone System – An Overview
• Features of Cloud Phone System
• Benefits of Moving Your Phone System to the Cloud
• Cloud Phone System on Small or Medium-Sized Business (SMB's)
• Cost Savings, Reliability and Support
• Latest Technology Updates on Cloud Phone System

The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of key thought leaders to provide the audience with an in-depth discussion of the U.S. Immigration System and the proposed immigration reform for undocumented immigrants.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• Proposed Immigration System aimed at:
• Strengthening National Security
• Provide Visas to Foreign Entrepreneurs
• Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants
• Establish a Legal Immigration System
• Work Permit Plan for Undocumented Immigrants
• House Lawmakers Appeal on Work Permit Plan for Undocumented Immigrants
• Piecemeal Immigration Reform
• Legislation to Defund Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program

The Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 is a set of amendments to the Clayton Antitrust Act. It requires the filing of pre-merger notification forms and certain attached documents with the FTC and DOJ before mergers, acquisitions, or transfers of securities and assets may be consummated. 

In a two-hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners, assembled by The Knowledge Group, will provide an overview of the Act, discuss the implications of recent changes, and provide guidance to help minimize the risk of compliance failure, investigation, and punitive damages.

Key topics include:

• The Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR)
• Pre-Merger Notification Process
• HSR Antitrust Threshold Tests
• Filing HSR and FTC’s Approval
• Minimizing Risk of Investigation and Enforcement Penalties

Key topics include:

• Best Practices and Practical Guidance in using Transactional Insurance
• Types of Transactional Insurance Policies
• Transactional Insurance as an important tool in M&A Transactions
• Up-to-minute Regulatory Updates
• And so much more!

False advertising law, both under the Lanham Act and in state law consumer class actions, has been a hotbed of activity in the past year.   The Lanham Act prohibits false advertising, trademark infringement, and trademark dilution.  State consumer protection laws prohibit false advertising, including omissions and any statement likely to mislead consumers.  This valuable course will help you stay abreast of false advertising law and learn how to defend against class actions, claims for monetary damages, trademark infringement, and injunctive relief.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course include:

• False Advertising Law
• Recent Changes in the Law
• Non-competitor Suits
• Strategies for defeating class certification
• Non-compliance Risks
• Future Trends

Key topics include:

• E-Commerce and the Law
• Agreements with Online Service Providers
• Legal and Regulatory Issues
• Taxation Risks and Pitfalls
• Legal Differences Between B2B and B2C
• Data Protection and IP Rights in E-Commerce
• E-Commerce Compliance and Risk Mitigation

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued a joint proposal that could significantly alter how companies account for leases. The FASB and IASB (the Boards) have started their re-deliberations in March 2014 following the publication of the revised Leases Exposure Draft in March 2013 and has targeted 2015 to issue the final standard. As evidenced by 600+ comment letters  received by the Boards, the proposed changes will no doubt represent financial reporting, regulatory and in some jurisdictions, tax reporting challenges to adopters. Other significant challenges such as data capture, system updates or procurement, lease vs. buy decision, contract management and human resources are also expected.

In this 2-hour live webcast, a panel of key thought leaders organized by The Knowledge Group will provide an overview to help you understand the accounting of the proposed changes, status of the re-deliberations and the potential effects of the changes on companies’ businesses.

The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of key thought leaders to provide the audience with an in-depth analysis and thorough discussion of using Technology-Assisted Document Review (TAR) when facing the prospect of a Merger Investigation.

• Technology-Assisted Document Review in Merger Investigations
• Risks and Benefits of TAR
• Negotiation with the Antitrust Division
• Second Requests and Litigation
• Document Collection, Characterization, Workflow, and Validation
• Compliance and Risk Reduction

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course will include:

• Supreme Court of Canada: Recent Actions
• White Collar Health and Safety Work Refusals
• Incentive Programs Compliance and Risk
• Work-place Privacy Challenges, Mitigation, and Damages
• Confidentiality Agreements and Social Media
• Absenteeism: Reasonable Penalties
• Restrictive Covenants Signed by Employees
• Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreements
• Employers and Workers Rights Protection

Green Bonds are issued by development banks, bi-lateral donor agencies, governments, and corporations to fund projects for sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction; including renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable waste management, low carbon transportation, water conservation, and others.

Principally, Green Bonds are high capital expenditure investments that may provide investors with stable, long-term returns. Bond financing is ideal for high capex infra-structure projects with long-term payback (e.g., transport and renewable energy).

The initial investors in Green Bonds were funds such as the California State Teachers’ Pension Fund and Sweden’s AP Pension Fund. Over $10 billion in Green Bonds were issued in 2013 and the market is expected to double in 2014 with a prediction that they will account for 10-15% of the corporate-bond market by 2020.

The International Finance Corporation raised a $1 billion for a Green Bond as did The World Bank ($550 million), the European Investment Bank (650 EUR million Climate Awareness Bond), and The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In addition to these expectations, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, MidAmerican Energy, France's EDF ($1.9 billion) and other financial firms have issued bonds.  In 2013, Unilever, the world’s second-largest consumer-goods firm, issued $415 million Green Bond designed to reducing waste, water use, and greenhouse-gas emissions, Toyota is raising $1.75 billion to help finance car loans for hybrid and electric vehicles and, Zurich, an insurance firm plans to invest $1 billion in Green Bonds.

The OECD reports that the market is too small to create the required liquidity for institutional investment. Although bankers are enthusiastic about these bonds, they emphasize a lack of standardization as a problem. Yet, their popularity continues to grow.  In January 2014 a coalition of global banks issuing Green Bonds presented a set of ‘Green Bond Principles’, calling for transparency in such investments.

Our panel of experts will provide an over-view of Green Bonds and discuss their potential and risks as investment tools for renewable and other sustainable energy and infrastructure projects.

Subjects to be discussed include:

• Green Bonds – Proceeds, Revenue, Project, and Securitized
• Green Asset-Backed Bonds and Impact Bonds
• The Green Bond Market Growth
• Investment Potential and Risks

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the significant and latest Guidance regarding COBRA and the ACA Marketplace Coverage and provide insight for business, legal counsel, lawyers, and healthcare coverage firms.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• New Guidance on COBRA and ACA Marketplace Coverage
• Continuation Coverage Options for Enrolled Employees
• Pros and Cons of Forgoing COBRA in Exchange to ACA Marketplace Coverage
  • Availability of Enrollment
  • Availability of Coverage
  • Possibility of Gap in Coverage
• Special Enrollment Period

Key topics include:

• An overview of ASC 740: Income tax accounting
• Latest Tax Accounting Principles and Provisions
• Significant issues on compensation and benefits developments
• Guidelines and Best Practices in Tax Compliance
• Latest regulatory updates and a lot more!

Key topics include:

• New Guidance on Financial Disclosures
• Changes in the Auditing Standards
• Auditors Responsibilities
• Auditing Implications
• Compliance, Risks, and Benefits

Key topics include:

• Pension Plan Investment in 2014
• Investment Strategies: LDI
• Fair Value and Investment Plan Terms
• Filing IRS Form 5500
• Audited GAAP Financial Statements
• FASB ASC 820 Requirements
• Fiduciary Considerations
• Pension De-risking
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk

Key topics include:

• AICPA SSAE 16/SOC 1 and SOC 2 Reporting for Vendor Management in 2014: an overview
• Emerging trends and issues
• SOC 1 vs. SOC 2
• Managing relationships with outsourced vendors and other best practices
• Up-to-minute regulatory updates

Key topics include:

• Government Contractor Qualifications
• Responsibilities of Contractors
• Legal and Regulatory Developments
• Pros and Cons of the Legal and Regulatory Developments
• Affected Entities
• Recent Trends and Updates 

Recently, defending against and resolving long-tail liabilities and other toxic torts has become a significant expense to corporate policy-holders. In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the most current and significant Liability Issues and Litigation Risks from Liability Insurance Coverage.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Liability Insurance Coverage – An Overview
• The Long-Tail Liabilities and Their Treatment
• Preparing and Presenting Claims
• Statute of Limitation and D&O Insurance Coverage Policy
• Replacement Costs, Settlement Negotiations, and Recovery
• Two-Year Limitation Suits– Enforcement, Limitations, and Provisions
• Future Long-Tail Claims and Exposures: Valuation

With greater sophistication and often with un-anticipated uses, many new, ‘smart’ devices (internet-connected telephones, TVs, tablets, health-monitoring devices, watches, vehicle Event Data Recorders , ‘smart home’ and building control systems, are seen by some people as a threat to privacy and security. Others worry about ensuring adequate regulation and safeguards regarding data collection, storage, transmission, ownership, and access by corporations and governments.

G Data reports that 2014 will be the year of mobile data theft (e-Crime). One example will be development of smart phone botnets to distribute SMS spam and new methods to infect Google devices. Black Hat demonstrated the starting of expensive cars by text message from a phone. But, the greatest risk may be hacking of phone systems, printers, scanners, and webcams in offices. Knowledgeable of the risks, the US Federal Trade Commission wants electronics manufacturers to enhance the security of the smart devices sold to consumers.  However, the Gartner Group and others predict that Mobile devices and applications will become the pre dominant method of providing information and services to consumers. Businesses could benefit from better data tracking, analytics, third-party monitoring, security, and privacy.

As with many ‘new’ and controversial technologies of the past, such as the Eastman Kodak’s instant camera, concerns about privacy, security, and the need for new regulations can be resolved though a balanced and holistic approach.

In light of this, The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of skilled practitioners and leaders in their fields to help participants to find rational, balanced, and equitable solutions to the complex issues of privacy, security, regulation, and legislation of smart devices in the workplace and in society at large. Attendees will be able to join the live webinar and to ask the speakers questions during the Q&A session.

Key issues in this webinar will include:

• Smart Devices and Connected Networks (The Internet of Things)
• Data Transfer and Breaches
• Cryptography and Security
• Privacy, Ownership, and Corporate Access
• Regulation and Law Enforcement
• Future Trends and Needs in Security

Our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners will provide a comprehensive discussion and advice on how to deal with Tax Controversies: Handling Audits, Appeals, Litigation, and Collections for Clients in 2014. This event is designed to help lawyers, legal counsel, and tax and accounting practitioners understand the fundamental procedures, rules and regulations, risks and pitfalls, and best practices in handling government taxation disputes.

Key topics include:

• The IRS Audit Process
• Compliance Regulations
• Delinquency, Risk of Summons, Avoidance
• Tax Return Examination: Client Advice
• RIS Exam: Closure or Settlement in Appeals
• Tax Case Derailment
• Best Practices in Resolving Tax Cases
• Auditing Techniques

This webinar provides exporters, their legal counsel, and cloud service users and providers with an overview of the latest trends in regulations and best practices regarding using the Cloud in Export Controls. A panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will help firms better understand the rules, regulations, and pitfalls. 

Cloud computing is less expensive and more efficient than internal corporate networks. However, businesses that store exportation data in the cloud need to be aware that the cloud service provider may store their data overseas. This practice and the use of cloud based export-control software could subject the user and provider to export compliance obligations. Where they fail to comply with the regulations, they face potential civil and criminal penalties. 

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this webinar include: 

• Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Export Administration Regulations 
• Risks of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) on Cloud 
• Foreign Management of Export Data in Cloud 
• Potential Civil and Criminal Penalties 
• New License Exemption for Cloud Services? 
• Insufficiency of ITAR-Complaint Services 
• Export Control Compliance Risk Mitigation 
   

• Scope of patent-eligible subject matter
• Guidance in determining subject matter eligibility
• New USPTO patent subject matter eligibility guidelines
• Issues related to patenting pharmaceutical compositions
• Categories of patentable subject matter based on the Patent Act of 1952

Key topics include:

• Financial Reporting Fraud
• Financial Disclosure Overload and Complexity
• Updates from the FASB, IASB, PCAOB and SEC
• Intangibles, Fair Value, & Goodwill
• Revenue Recognition and Lease Accounting
• Fraud Detection and Mitigation
• Compliance and Risk

The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of key thought leaders to provide the audience with an in-depth analysis of the final IRS Regulations on tangible Property Repair and Capitalization. The panel will provide insight into how best to determine and assign repair and property costs as expenses or capitalizations and, review hidden deductions.

Key topics include:

• Deduction and Capitalization of Property Costs
• Final Regulations on Property Capitalization Regulations
• Guidelines in Determining Property Capitalization
• Safe Harbor De Minimis Rule (Expense or Capitalization)
• Required Written Capitalization Policy
• Materials, Supplies, and Parts: Deduction vs Capitalization
• Repairs and Maintenance Deduction Qualification
• Final Tangible Property Regulations compliance for a publicly-traded automotive retailer including historical §481(a) adjustments, Form 3115’s, elections, and pragmatic implementation.
• Practical compliance engagement, using valid statistical sampling techniques, for a national fashion merchandise retailer not seeking additional timing difference deductions.

Rule 23 governs the procedure and conduct of class action suits brought before the Federal courts. 

This CLE course offers attendees an overview of the latest trends and best practices with respect to Rule 23(b)(3) Class Actions. A panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will help firms and their counsel better understand how to apply this law or defend businesses and clients under litigation.

Key topics include:

• Rule 23 (b)(3): Determinants to Certify Class Superior
• When is Class Action Maintained?
• Class Action Requirements
• Coverage of the Rule 23(b)(3)
• Advantage and Disadvantage of Rule 23 (b)(3) Class Action
• Up-to-Date Regulationss

In this two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and seasoned professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will help employers, workers, and business organizations better understand the wide array of new employment-related obligations being imposed on federal contractors by various executive orders and regulations enforced by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Key topics include:

• Increasing Employment Opportunities for Veterans and Disabled Individuals
• Ensuring Pay Transparency in the Workplace
• OFCCP's Compensation Standards
• Protecting LGBT Rights
• Self-Reporting of Civil Rights, Safety and Wage and Hour Violations
• Restricting Arbitration of Employment Disputes
• Raising the Federal Minimum Wage 
   

Key topics include:

• Impact of the Provisions
• Tax and Accounting Issues
  • Clawback Risks for Employees’ Loss Deduction Under Tax Code Section 165(a)
  • Section 1341 and 'Nacchio v. United States', 115 Fed. Cl. 195 (Fed. Cl. 2014)
• Rules on the Recovery of Payments from Executive Officers
• Compliance Risks and Pitfalls

Key topics include:

• EPA’s New Emission Rules for Petroleum Refineries
• The Clean Air Act
• Risks of Airborne Toxic Emissions Exposure
• New Monitoring Requirements for Petroleum Refineries
• Financial and Economic Effects of EPA’s Rules
• The Flare Gas Recovery and Flare Efficiency

This webinar offers an overview of the latest trends and best practices with respect to corporate data management and information security. A panel of thought leaders and practitioners will help firms better understand how to apply various Corporate Data and Information Management and Security Strategies to reduce and mitigate risks due to mis-management of corporate data.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Information and Data Management (IDM) Best Practices
• Elements of an Effective Security Program
• Core Principles and Data Life Cycles for Effective IDM
• Significance of Data Analysis, Reporting, and Risk Assessment
• Regulatory Compliance and Auditing
• New Media Marketing and Data Management
• Importance of Knowledge in Various Data Management Disciplines

Key issues include that will be covered in this course are:

• Asset Liability Management and Liquidity Risk Management 2015: an overview
• Recent trends and issues
• Common pitfalls and ethical problems
• Best practices
• Up-to-minute regulatory updates

In this webinar, experts will provide practical advice and solutions to the current challenges facing biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and help their intellectual property and legal practitioners keep abreast of the latest relevant regulatory changes, legislative initiatives, and case law in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK)

During this live webcast, the focus will be upon regulatory updates in the EU and UK regarding pharmaceutical and biotechnological patent law. Experts in patent law will help you understand your legal rights, avoid the stiff anti-competitive sanctions imposed by the EC Commission and the US Federal Trade Commission for ‘pay for delay’ settlements under competition law; provide advice about commercially valuable Supplementary Protection Certificates, and discuss the complexities of competition law, patent filing and litigation strategies, trans-national infringement, managing expiry of patents at home and abroad, and address Bolar and experimental use and research exceptions.

The discussion will include the following key issues:

• Recent Changes in European Patent Case Law and UK Patents Act Amendments
• Claims of UK and European Patent Office and Decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union
• Interim and Trans-national Infringement and Enforcing of Patents in Developing Countries (India)
• Competition Protection: Laws, Pay-for-delay’, License Refusal, and Reverse
• Patent Expiry: Management, Warnings, Response, and Litigation
• Patent Litigation: Risks, Preparation, Opt-Outs
• Second Medical Use & Dosing Regimen Risks, Protection, Bolar and Research Exemptions in EU, and Supplementary Protection Certificates

In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders assembled by The Knowledge Group will help firms understand the important aspects of this significant topic. They will provide an in-depth discussion of with regards to the recent developments and key issues relating to the Goods shipped within 20 days under Section 503(b)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code.

Key topics include:

• Bankruptcy Code’s Priority Schemes
• Expenses allowed as Administrative Expenses
• Requirements for Suppliers under the Section 503(b)(9)
• Qualified Goods for the Bankruptcy Code Section 503(b)(9)
• Bankruptcy Courts’ decision for hybrid situations
• And a lot more!

The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of key thought leaders to provide the audience with an in-depth analysis and understanding of the nuances of Applications of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to Management of Student Health Records.

Generally speaking, FERPA, which prevents the disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in student’s education records without the consent of a parent or the eligible student, applies to all student health records maintained by educational institution's student health care centers since the records are considered 'educational' or 'treatment' records, and not protected health information. However, there are instances where HIPAA, which prohibits covered entities from disclosing protected health information (PHI) to any third parties, may apply. The panel will help inform and guide academic health administrators, legal counsel, and others in compliance with the law.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• FERPA and HIPPA in Educational Institutions - An Overview
• People Covered by FERPA and HIPAA
• Privacy of Student Educational and Health Records
• Inter-relatedness of FERPA and HIPAA
• Accessing Data With and Without Consent
• Disclosures on Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Data: Coverage, Exceptions, De-Identified, and Limited
• Affect Upon State Law
• Compliance and Enforcement

• Detection and Avoidance of Counterfeit Electronic Parts – Scope and Overview
• Section 818 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Section 833 of the 2013 NDAA
• Key Changes and Revisions in DOD’s Final Rules on Counterfeit Electronic Parts
• Risk Management
• Detecting and Avoiding Counterfeit Electronic Parts 
• Up-to-the-Minute Regulatory Updates 
  
  

   

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Government Contracting Legislation and Regulations
• GSA Schedule Changes
• Valuation Criteria, Source Selection, & Solicitations
• Compliance and Auditing Risks
• Security, Training, & Enforcement
• Quality Control Program Enhancement
• International Standards
• Risk Mitigation Advice

Recent breaches of security have encouraged federal and state lawmakers, regulators, and attorneys general to focus on how entities and government agencies are protecting consumer information from un-authorized access. New rules and regulations are being formulated and lawsuits are being filed more frequently. Many businesses will face scrutiny regarding their compliance and face increased risk of liability and litigation due to breaches.

Key topics include:

• Cyber-Security Breaches
• Cyber-Security Regulations
• Breach Litigation Risks
• Putative Class Actions
• Privacy Law Claims – Un-Fair Competition
• Common Law Claims - Tort
• Litigation Outcomes - Standing, Class Certification, Cognizable Damages
• Security and Breach Risk Avoidance Methods

Bundling of payments to healthcare providers will be used more frequently to reduce the cost of healthcare in the United States. Theoretically, bundled payment schemes will improve the quality of care, reduce un-necessary care, and reduce variation in cost among payers. However, research results are varied. Pilot projects such as Prometheus have been slow to develop because of the difficulty of agreeing upon which services can be bundled.

Provisions for bundled payments are included in both the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Affordable Health Care for America Act (AHCAA). The PPACA bill established a national Medicare program in 2013. The AHCAA bill requires reform of Medicare payments for post-acute services, including the bundled payments.

Healthcare legal counsel face a number of legal and regulatory issues in structuring bundled  and gain-sharing payment systems. The legal challenges arise from insurance, state laws, provider relationships, and fair market value dis-agreements. In the past, these arrangements were found potentially to violate the Anti-Kickback statute and Civil Monetary Penalties Act.

Our panel of skilled practitioners will review bundled payment schemes and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the schemes. The panel will discuss operational and regulatory concerns for healthcare providers, critical provision documentation, the effects of healthcare reform and other recent legislative, regulatory, and enforcement activities. Also addressed is gain-sharing.

Key Topics include:

• Public and Private Bundled Payment Initiatives & Gain-sharing Arrangements
• Bundled Payments Programs and Current CMS initiatives
• Implementation and Operational Challenges
• Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Bundled Payments
• Medicare Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Initiative
• Bundled Payment Transparency and Risk Arrangements
• Bundled Payment Documentation, Data Analysis, & Reporting
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance Issues

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Overview on Private Equity Funds
• Bipartisan agreement on the debt cap
• Economic Nexus and How it affects PE
• FATCA on Private Equity
• Guidance and Details in Determining FATCA Obligations and Identify Operational Gaps.
• Up to the Minute Regulatory Update

In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders will help Real Estate Practitioners and Investors understand the important aspects of this significant topic. They will provide an in-depth discussion of Creative Finance’s Crowdfunding for Finance Real Estate Projects.

Key issues include that will be covered in this course are:

• Fundamentals on Real Estate Crowdfunding
• Purchasing and Financing Real Estate Projects
• General Principles and Standards of Proposed Rule
• Pitfalls and Risk Issues in Real Estate Crowdfunding
• Up-to-the-Minute Regulatory Updates

Originally enacted during the Civil War, The False Claims Act imposes liability on entities which falsely seek government funds or which attempt to avoid paying dues to the government. The law has evolved into a lucrative source for plaintiffs’ lawyers and their clients at the expense of American businesses and taxpayers.

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and seasoned professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will review and provide an in-depth discussion on the latest trends and developments regarding the enactment, State differences, implications, and enforcement of the State’s False Claims Act.

Most of the state false claims acts are modeled after the federal False Claims Act and allow qui tam whistleblowers to file claims on behalf of the state. There are differences in the law between states and, fraudulent schemes may affect the federal government and several state governments.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• Overview on False Claims Act
• Steps to Reduce Potential Exposure to FCA Actions
• Implications of the Qui tam Provisions
• Effect of the Deficit Reduction Act on FCA
• Up-to-Date Issues and Trends

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) two proposed rules (RIN 0936-AA04 and RIN 0936-AA05) entitled 'Medicare and State Health Care Programs: Fraud and Abuse; Revisions to the Office of the Inspector General’s Civil Monetary Penalty Rules.' designed to revise civil monetary penalties for healthcare provider fraud in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Civil Monetary Penalties Law (CMPL) replaced the Federal False Claims Act (FCA) for enforcement of false claims regarding the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Key topics include:

• Civil Monetary Penalties Law (CMPL)
• Medicare and State Health Care Programs: Fraud and Abuse
• False Claims, Omissions, Misrepresentations, and Overpayments
• Key Provisions on 60 – Day Refund Rule
• Revisions to CMP Authorities
• Major Revisions on CMP Regulations
• Non-Compliance with CMP: Penalty Rules

This course offers an overview of the latest trends and best practices in Understanding the Implications of Exclusive Dealing Arrangements. A panel of thought leaders and practitioners organized by The Knowledge Group will help firms better understand how to use this knowledge for their company or clients.

Key topics include:

• Implications of Exclusive Dealing Arrangements
• Potential Pro-competitive and Anti-competitive Effects
• Assessing Potential Anti-trust Risks
• Anti-trust Challenges to EDA Structure Exclusive Agreements
• Anti-trust: Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
• Rule of Reason Analysis

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Fundamentals of conditional pricing arrangements
  • loyalty discounts
  • bundled product discounts
• Pros and cons of conditional pricing practices
• FTC guidance on conditional pricing
• Implications under the antitrust laws
• And a lot more!

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the significant and latest issues regarding the management of I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) violations.

Key topics include:

• Fundamentals of Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification)
• Emerging Issues Relating to I-9 violations
• Verifying Employment Eligibility and Ensuring Employer Compliance
• Increase in Penalties Along with Increase in I-9 Inspection Audits
• Latest Regulatory Updates

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) - Overview
• Catastrophe Bonds
• Issuance of Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS)
• Types of Prevalent Securitized Insurance Contracts Exchanged in Capital Markets
• Financial Losses and Risk Transfer
• How Insurers profit in this business
• Policies, Roles, and Benefits of Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS)
• Up-to-the-Minute Regulatory Updates

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of key thought leaders and professionals organized by The Knowledge Group will provide the audience with an in-depth discussions of various issues and regulatory updates on Aviation Industry including new policies and other technological jeopardies.

Key topics include:

• Flight Data and Locator Technology - An Overview
• NTSB's Organizational Framework
• The “Black Box”
• Deployable Flight Recorder System and Emergency Locator Transmitter(ELT)
• Wireless Transmission of Flight Data
• Effective Flight Data and Locator Technologies
• And a lot more!

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the latest updates and strategies for compliance with conflict minerals disclosures as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act as well as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

Key topics include: 

• Requirements for Conflict Minerals Disclosures 
• Trends and insights from latest Form SD filings 
• Up-to-the-minute Regulatory Updates 
• SEC Guidance
• Recommendation for next year’s Form SD filings 

This course offers an overview of the latest Significant Developments in U.S. Patent Law in 2014-2015. A panel of thought leaders and practitioners, assembled by The Knowledge Group, will help firms better understand the changes and learn how best to apply them in their businesses and for their clients. The panel will discuss recent changes in the district, state, and federal courts regarding anticipation, obviousness, function, and  infringement, several important cases, and design patent-specific protection and litigation issues.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• U.S. Patent Law – An Overview
• Patent Litigation: Significant Developments
• Fee Shifting, Divided Infringement, Patent Eligibility
• Definiteness and Reasonable Certainty
• MRC Innovations, Inc. v. Hunter Mfg., LLP (Fed. Cir. 2014)
• High Point Design LLC v. Buyer's Direct (Fed. Cir. 2013)
• Munchkin, Inc. v. Luv N’ Care, Ltd. (USPTO 2013)
• ATAS International, Inc. v. Centria (USPTO 2013)
• Amendment and  Continuation: USPTO's Proposed Changes

In a two hour webcast entitled Bring Your Own Device Policy: What You Need To Know in 2014, The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of key thought leaders to provide employers and their legal counsel with a thorough over-view and discussion of the current rules and regulations and the risks of employees using their own mobile devices while at work. This interactive course will provide crucial information regarding the 'dos' and 'don’ts' of BYOD for 2014 & beyond.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Bring Your Own Device Policy (BYOD) – An Overview
• BYOD and Employment Laws
• Access to Company Information and Applications
• Advantages and Dis-advantages of BYOD Policies
• Risks: Fired and Past Employees
• Establishing a Stringent Security Policy

Defined benefit plans have changed dramatically since ERISA was enacted in 1974. Employer sponsored group life, health, and disability benefit plans continue to evolve and become more complex legally and in design. This webinar will focus upon the legal and regulatory aspects influencing these developments as they relate to the duties and responsibilities of employment lawyers.

Key topics include:

• International Franchising
• Start Up and Early Stage Franchise
• Product and Location Choice
• Franchising Agreement
• Alternatives to Franchising
• Start Up and Early Stage Franchisors
• Management & Support

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the significant developments created by release of the CMS Final Rule Regarding ACA Exchange Insurance Market Standards for 2015 and Beyond.

In May 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule entitled Exchange and Insurance Market Standards for 2015 and Beyond relating to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplaces in 2015.

The new rule would address the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), standardization of consumer notices from health insurers, require insurer quality rating information, and address standards for Navigators and other personnel; among others.

The speakers will discuss:

• Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Exchange Insurance Market Standards in 2015.
• Employee Choice in SHOP Exchanges in 2015
• Guidelines for Navigators and Consumer Assistance Personnel
• Strengthening Essential Health Benefits Prescription Drug Exceptions
• Exchange Quality Standards and Reporting
• Fixed-Dollar Indemnity Policies
• Standardizing Insurer's Consumer Education Notices
• Premium Stabilization Policies
• Transition Policy of the Final Rule
• Small-Group Cost-Sharing Limits
• QHP Insurer's Submission and Validation Requirements

Key topics include:

• The Current Joint-Employer Standard
• Requirements to the Joint-Employer Doctrine Rule
• Old Doctrine vs. Newly Revised Doctrine: Resurrecting the Past
• Practical Implications for Established Business Relationships
• Franchisor-franchisee Relationships: McDonald's Case
• Compliance, Risks, and Litigation

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the significant and latest issues regarding Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions.

Key topics include:

• Important Rules for H-1B petitions  and cap-subject petition specifically
• Filing Period for New H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions
• Prerequisite Labor Condition Application (LCA)
• Key “Cap-Gap” Provisions and STEM
• Up-to-the-minute Regulatory Updates
• Post-Selection: Other Options to H-1B status If Not Selected

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• FFIEC's Final Guidance on Social Media Usage
• Potential Risks to Financial Institution
• Compliance and Legal Risks
• Reputational and Operational Risks
• Employment Law and Social Media
• Privacy and Social Media
• Legal Ethics and Social Media
• Risk Mitigation Methods and Programs

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) of the US Department of State is used to control the exportation and importation of defense materiel and services on the United States Munitions List. The Department of Commerce administers the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss and review importation and exportation rules and regulations from ITAR to EAR and help firms and their counsel in Mastering the Complexity and Maximizing the Benefits of the New Reform Rules. Speakers will provide helpful guidance and insightful best practices in developing and implementing export compliance strategies for your company and clients.

Key topics include:

• Export and Import Control Regulations (ITAR and EAR)
• Transition: From ITAR to EAR
• USML to CCL: Adapting and Maximizing the Benefit
• Applying the New Definition of 'Specially Designed' in EAR
• Regulatory Activities and Changes
• Effects on the Industry
• Compliance and Risk Mitigation

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) plans to revise the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID I) and Regulations (MiFIR) to improve financial market transparency and to strengthen protection of investors. MiFID II/MiFIR will introduce substantial changes that will affect the EU’s financial markets.

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of key thought leaders and professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will help firms better understand the implications and effects of the implementation of the MiFID II.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

• States Covered by the MiFID II
• Practical Implications of MiFID and MiFIR
• Organizations Affected by the Implementation
• Scope and Details of the Regulation
• Compliance and Risks
• Duties of Investment Firms for Clients

In this two-hour LIVE webcast, a panel of distinguished professionals and thought leaders assembled by The Knowledge Group will help bank and tax authorities, financial institutions, investors and trustees better understand the important aspects of this significant topic. They will provide an in-depth discussion of FATCA for Foreign Bank Registration and Non-US Funds. Speakers will also offer best practices in developing and implementing an effective tax policy to ensure compliance with banking secrecy laws.

Key topics include:

• Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Final Regulations
• FATCA Requirements and Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA)
• FATCA Implementation and Effects
• FATCA: Benefits and Drawbacks to Foreign Financial Institutions (FFI)
• Latest Overseas Controversies Involving FATCA
• FFI List Search and Download Tool
• Reasonable Penalties and Lawsuits for Non-Compliance

Our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners will offer a discussion of the fundamentals as well as updates regarding the latest and significant issues surrounding this topic. This LIVE webcast aims to help you to avoid common pitfalls and risk issues surrounding: Online Banking Fraud and Mobile Retail Banking.

Key issues include that will be covered in this course are:

• Overview on Online Banking Services
• Conforming with FFIEC Guidance
• Mobile Malwares, Insider Threats and Retailer Breaches
• Schemes and Techniques of Cyber Criminals
• Determining Legitimate Vs. Suspicious Account Holder
• Protecting Customer's Profile Against Online Fraud
• Managing Risks and Preventing Fraud

Up-to-the Minute Regulatory Updates

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of distinguished leaders and seasoned professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will provide an over-view and in-depth discussion of the latest trends and recent updates to the FASB Accounting for Repurchase Agreements.

 Key topics covered in this webinar include:

• Significant Changes to Re-purchase Agreement
• New Disclosure Requirements
• Adaptation and Implications
• Key Dates for the Agreement
• Recent Developments and Updates

One of the biggest tax breaks for manufacturing firms, the 'Manufacturing Deduction', is available under Section 199 of the tax code. Some manufacturers may not be entitled to claim this tax deduction. Hence, to eliminate the confusion, the Large Business and International (LB&I) division of the IRS has issued new guidance for auditors.

The Knowledge Group assembled a panel of thought leaders and professional speakers that will provide an overview of the changes in the Rule and, help companies and their counsel understand which entities can claim the Manufacturing Deduction and under what conditions and circumstances under Section 199 Rule in Manufacturing Contracts.

Key topics include:

• Section 199 Overview
• Qualified Production Activities Income (QPAI)
• Key Provisions on Domestic Production Activities Deduction
• New IRS Guidelines
• Tax Regulations
• Two Key Certifications
• Manufacturers Eligibility
• Benefits and Burdens
• IRS Audit Guides: Insights 

This course offers an overview of the fundamental issues and recent developments in Reverse Triangular Mergers Acquisition Techniques.

In this course, the panel of speakers will review the risks associated with structuring triangular mergers, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of structuring an acquisition as a forward or reverse triangular merger, address the effects of the merger on employees, contracts, and the corporation, and review the taxation implications.

Key topics include:

•  Benefits on Reverse Triangular Mergers
• Assignability and Anti-Assignment Provisions
• Obligations Under Reverse Triangular Merger
• Protections for Merging and Non-Merging Parties
• Share Exchange and Share Acquisition
• Functionality and Formalist Approach in Reverse Triangular Merger
• Exceptions to Anti-Assignment Clauses 

In this 2 hour live webcast, a panel of key thought leaders and professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will provide an in depth analysis of the litigation risks, litigation issues and the threat of vicarious liability to Insurance companies upon facing the Telephone Consumer Protection Acts.

• Telephone Consumer Protection Act – An Overview
• Automated Telephone Dialing System
• Threat of Vicarious Liability
• Sanctions for Statutory Damages
• Defenses against TCPA claims
• The Prior Express Written Consent

A software audit is used by software publishers to determine if customers are in compliance with software licenses and copyright laws. Our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners, assembled by The Knowledge Group, will discuss the fundamentals of software licenses, compliance, enforcement, and defense measures against auditing. This LIVE webcast aims to help companies avoid the common pitfalls and risks associated with Defending Against Software License Audits.

Key topics include:

• Software Audits: Independent & Third-Party and Self-Audits
• Risks and Liabilities Arising from Software License Abuse
• The Audit Defense Process: Analysis, Verification, Negotiation
• Software License Audits: Financial Consequences
• Requirements for BSA Audits and SIIA Audits

Like so many sectors today, hedge funds face increasing scrutiny and regulation. The needs, expectations, and desires of investors in Asian hedge funds have changed; with more focus on operational issues and building global businesses. Effective and honest communication with clients is viewed as imperative today to ensure trust.                                            

A new plan will enable Hong Kong to become a gateway to China's $6.6 trillion retail savings market. This may open opportunities for foreign managers to raise capital in China.  Last year, China started a heavily regulated Qualified Domestic Limited Partner program, allowing Chinese investors to invest in foreign hedge funds for the first time.  Thus far 6 hedge funds have been granted licenses under the new program with a combined quota of $300 million. The Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program, allowing funds to be invested as Renminbi raised offshore assets in China.

China-focused hedge funds are beating the more tepid stock indexes and attracting capital inflows. Hedge funds betting on China rose 17% last year (eVestment). But, not all is rosy in China. A hedge fund, PCA Investments, backed by China’s sovereign-wealth fund closed after the China Investment Corp. withdrew its investment while the Shanghai Composite fell by 6.8%.

Our panel of experienced practitioners will review Asian hedge funds, growth and performance, the latest developments and changes in regulation, the current, volatile market, the expansion and diversification of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, interest rate reform, and how these changes will affect banking and capital markets. Other issues will include mainland China as a source or capital, renewed interest of European investors, impending QE tapering on Asia, the most promising opportunities, distressed debt, interest in credit and derivative-based strategies, global equity fund growth, markets, stocks, and sectors of interest, the risks and rewards of funds, and the effects of global regulatory developments such as implementation of the AIFM directive in Asia. Also to be addressed are  the introduction of the Investment Fund Securities Law last June, the Qualified Limited Domestic Partner Program progress, new licenses, and the challenges Chinese fund managers face.

• The continuing development of hedge funds
• The expansion and diversification of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone
• Where to Find Opportunity in Asia
• Adapting to the Needs of an Evolving Investor Base
• Seizing the Opportunities and Managing the Risk
• Building a Global Business in Asia

In a two-hour live webcast, The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of key thought leaders and seasoned professionals to provide the latest insights into the New IRS Program for Delinquent Form 5500 Filers of Non-ERISA Plans.

Key topics include:

• Eligible Plans
• Penalty Relief Under 5500 Filers
• 5500 Filers of Non-ERISA – Requirements
• Sanctions for Non-Compliance with IRS Program
• Code Sections 6052(e) and 6692 -  Key Provisions

Contracting with the government has inherent risks including the potential loss or dilution of a company's intellectual property. This stems from the inherent complexity of Federal procurement rules and regulations that often run counter to private sector practices; especially with respect to intellectual property. In this webinar, the panel of speakers will review and discuss:

 Key topics include:

• Government Ownership
• Copyrighted Material
• Patent Protection
• Contractor's Rights
• Third Party Rights
• Trade Secrets
• SBIR Data
• Limitations and Restrictions

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes a variety of provisions to reform the health care insurance market and, to encourage small businesses to provide health insurance to employees. Understanding the myriad provisions and knowing which are applicable can be overwhelming since new guidance is issued frequently by the government and delays in application of some provisions make compliance a challenge.

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and distinguished professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will provide a discussion and informative guide to ever changing and un-predictable field of compliance with the Affordable Care Act.

In this webinar, our panel of speakers will address important issues ranging from qualification of employees, employer 'play or pay' reporting mandates, retirement issues, and COBRA to software and strategies to avoid penalties.  Our panel will also provide insight into balancing full-time and part-time employees to achieve business goals while controlling health care costs and how advanced software can help in such management.

Key topics include:

• Guidance for Compliance with Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• Entities Covered by Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• Policies and Procedures for Healthcare Law Compliance
• Public and Private Health Insurance Exchange: Status and Outlook
• ACA Compliance Priorities for 2014-2015
• Employer's Obligation Under IRS Section 6055, 6056
• Requirement of the New Transitional Rule
• Employer Shared Responsibility and Pay or Play
• ACA Software - Optimization Methods
• Prohibitions on ACA
• Imposed Penalties and Strategies for Their Avoidance

In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion released three, draft guides on information disseminated via specific social media platforms. Guidance on 'Internet/Social Media Platforms' addresses the need to correct independent, third-party misinformation about prescription drugs and medal devices.  Guidance on 'Internet/Social Media Platforms with Character Space Limitations' addresses the dangers of limited information regarding risks and benefits of prescription drugs and medical devices that is posted on text limiting sites such as Twitter and others. 'Fulfilling Regulatory Requirements for Post-marketing Submissions of Interactive Promotional Media for Prescription Human and Animal Drugs and Biologics' is the third draft guidance. The conundrum of these regulations, however beneficial, is that it may be very difficult to state adequately the risks and benefits within the allowed character space limitations of each platform.

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will provide a discussion of the highly controversial FDA Prescription Drug Promotion Draft Guidance for Social Media Platforms.

Key topics include:

• Draft Guidance for Social Media: Drug and Medical Device Advertising
• Promotional Communication Requirements
• User Generated Content (UGC): Responsibility
• Benefits and Risk Information on Internet
• Industry Responsibility and Regulatory Restrictions
• Misinformation: Regulation and Compliance
• Independent Third-Party Responsibilities
• Next... Mobile Device Guidance?

The Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of thought leaders and professionals who, in this CLE Course, will review and discuss the Recent Developments and Emerging Trends in Employee and Employer Litigation with an emphasis upon Assault and Battery.

Key topics include:

Increasingly, human resources professionals deal with employee's claims of illegal harassment. There is an increasing trend of lawyers representing employees filing assault and battery claims based on such harassment claims.  Today in business, managers need to be aware of the rules, regulations, and legal definitions of assault and battery in the workplace.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will review and discuss:

• Rules and Regulations: Application and Compliance
• Identification, Investigation, and Documentation
• The Inflation of Assault and Battery Claims
• Effect on Employees and Employers
• Assault and Battery Claim Prevention
• Dispute Resolution and Arbitration
• Recent Development and Updates

Key topics include:

• Patent Troll Methods
• Patent Transparency and Improvements Act Status
• Identifying Patent Trolls
• Attacking Patent Trolls Assertions
• Litigating Patent Troll Cases
• State Solutions Example: Louisiana
• Injunctive Relief
• Monetary Remedies
• Recent Trends

Our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners will provide an overview and discussion of the latest changes to The Dodd-Frank Act that affect Financial Market Reform.

Following the financial market crisis of 2008, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Act to control instability risk in financial markets. Subtitle A of Title VII amended the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) to regulate swaps and, to provide enhanced enforcement for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In this webinar our panel will discuss the following topics:

• CFTC's Financial Market Reform: Overview
• New Rules and Regulations
• Dodd-Frank Act
• Amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA)
• Systematic Risks in the Financial Markets
• Swap Market Rules
• Current Regulatory Developments & Compliance Risks

The Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure met to revise the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in April 2014. Civil discovery varies under US law and can include almost any material relevant to a case except that which is privileged, a product of the opposing party, or certain expert opinions. Electronic discovery (e-discovery) is used when the material is stored in electronic format.  Rule 37 addresses failure to provide information or failure to co-operate in e-Discovery. The proposed amendments to Rule 37(e) make it more standardized by using the aspect of 'reasonableness' to measure the degree to which entities have complied with the Rule.

This course offers an overview of the latest changes and clarifications made to the Proposed Rule 37 (e) On E-Discovery. A panel of thought leaders and practitioners organized by The Knowledge Group will help firms better understand how to apply this law and ensure compliance of their business or their clients.

Key topics include:

• Civil Discovery: Rules 26-36 Review
• Key Revisions on Rule 37(e)
• Goals of the Newly Proposed 37(e) Rule
• The Electronically Stored Information
• Sanctions for Failure to Preserve ESI
• Subsection (e)1, (e)2 and (e)3 – An Overview
• Defensible Deletion – Best Practices
• Rules Change Perspectives: The Plaintiff, Defendant, the Bench
• Proportionality and Spoliation Standards
• Litigation and e-discovery Strategies

The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is a set of performance measurements (indicators) used to assess the performance of managed healthcare programs. It is managed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

HEDIS enables consumers to compare health plans based on such performance data such as screening for cancer or childhood immunization.

Many organizations fail to meet the requirements for compliance with HEDIS reporting, fail to report correctly, or are un-aware of the risks and consequences of failing an audit.

Agenda:

• HEDIS 2014, 2015
• Changes in Regulations
• Compliance Audit: Standards, Policies, and Procedures
• HEDIS and Coding (ICD-9, ICD-10)
• ACOs and HEDIS
• Risk Monitoring and Management

In a two hour live webcast, a panel of thought leaders and professionals, organized by The Knowledge Group, will provide an in-depth analysis and discussion of the Final Rules on Healthcare Reform Reporting Requirements. The panel will provide insight into the reporting requirements, up-coming new laws such as Federal code 6056 and 6055, and changes in taxes and fees, among others.

Some of the major topics that will be covered in this course are:

• Reporting Requirements for Healthcare Covered Individuals and Employers
• Transition Period of the Rule
• The Consolidated Form for Reporting
• People Required to Report
• Reportable Information
• Simplified Reporting Methods for Employers
• Compliance and Penalties

In April, 2014, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 was enacted. Under the Act, ICD-10 codes will replace ICD-9 in the United States in October, 2015. All medical practices must be compliant with the new codes to be re-imbursed for patient care costs. Payers, billing services, clearinghouses, and all other entities covered by HIPAA will need to comply with ICD-10.  Coding changes include consideration of the severity of conditions.

ICD-10 claims to provide more accurate processing and re-imbursement for claims, better measurement of treatment outcomes and reporting on the quality of care, easier identification of patients for disease management programs, and enhanced analysis of disease patterns and tracking of public health outbreaks.

These codes represent a significant change from ICD-9 and, have wide-reaching and serious implications for non-compliant organizations. A June 2013 survey by MGMA reported that 70% of respondents were very concerned about the new changes and almost 60% reported that coding will be much more difficult.

The implementation of ICD-10 will affect physician’s practices, hospitals, payment companies, billing and coding organizations, legal services, and compliance and regulatory affairs. It is essential that your company and staff have the expertise, technology, and training required to meet the new legal requirements of ICD-10. The deadline for compliance range from September to October 2014; depending upon the institution. Our panel of skilled practitioners will review the changes in the disease coding regulations, explain how they will affect various organizations, and identify and provide solutions for the most serious legal risks of failure to be compliant:

• ICD-10 Over-view
• ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM Compared
• ICD-10 and Operational Changes
• ICD-10-PCS Procedure Coding and Billing Risks
• Compliance Risks and Penalties
• Risk Avoidance Methods

Key topics include:

• SEC's top agenda for 2015
• SEC's National Examination Priorities (NEP)
• Key risks closely monitored by SEC
• Enterprise Risk Management and Corporate Governance Best Practices

Key topics include:

• New Laws and Regulations in 2014
• Implementing Federal health Care Laws
• Social Media in the Workplace
• The False Claims Act & Settlements
• The New OFCCP Requirements: Veterans & the Disabled
• Background Checks
• Arbitration and Appeals
• Enforcement, Risks, & Penalties

Accountable care organizations (ACOs), which address all the health-care needs of their patients and minimize costs while providing a higher standard of care, are an alternative strategy to reduce spending and increase the quality of care. ACOs are either commercial or associated with Medicare as Pioneers or Medicare Shared Savings Programs (MSSP). Since passage of the Affordable Care Act, more than 626 ACOs have been established. Many have been established by large health insurance companies such as Aetna (24), and Cigna (66).

ACOs can face many risks, ranging from financial, technological, and operational to human capital. More specifically, they may reduce competition and thereby violate anti-trust laws. Many doctors still are afraid to join ACOs for fear of the liabilities. It has been suggested that ACOs might eliminate more expensive tests and select more healthy patients to reduce their costs and thereby face risk of litigation.

Our panel of skilled practitioners from diverse backgrounds will review and discuss the legal risks faced by OCAs and provide insights into risk avoidance and management strategies.

Key Topics include:

• ACOs - Structure (Medicare and commercial ACOs), Function, and Future
• Ant-trust Issues - DOJ & FTC
• Fraud & Abuse: Stark Law & Anti-kickback Law  (Federal and State)
• Legal Structuring Under Uncertain Regulation
• Civil Monetary Penalties Law - Medicare/Medicaid Payments
• HIPPA Title II Privacy and Security Rule
• Quality Assessment and Monitoring- 42 CFR
• ACOs and TINS
• Managing Risk and Compliance
• Implementing ePrescribing and Medication Management

Ever increasingly complex and onerous legislation regarding reporting requirements, from data breaches and OSHA and SOX to HIPAA, is driving development of robust standards for data management and breach mitigation. Law firms are no exception.

Subjects to be discussed include:

In this webinar, our panel of information management compliance practitioners and lawyers will discuss changes in code and case law that create policies affecting your firm’s practice and the businesses of your clients.

• Managing Electronic Data in a Law Firm
• Document Retention and Destruction Policies
• Changes in Laws and Regulations: Stricter Enforcement
• Legal Risk and Pitfalls
• Information Security
• Compliance and Costs
• Strategies for Data Life Cycle Management

Our panel of key thought leaders and practitioners will discuss Accidental Contracts and provide sound advice on Mitigation Strategies. The speaker panel, assembled by The Knowledge Group, will review the common pitfalls, litigation risks, and methods to reduce risks and resolve erroneous contractual agreements irrespective of the method of agreement.

Key topics include:

• Accidental Contracts: Overview
• Agreements in Principle, Understandings, and Accidental Contracts
• Business Risks: Loss Of Plausible Deniability
• Federal and State Laws on Contracts
• Litigation Risks
• Sound Electronic Communication Policy
• Litigation Minimization and Dispute Resolution

Recently, in accordance to Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Americans are required to have health insurance coverage. The final regulations on the reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provide instructions to employers and insurers who must report to the IRS about 2015 health coverage for individual and employer mandates. Under the new regulations, employers and insurers must provide monthly reports to the IRS regarding the health coverage they offer and the individuals covered.

In this two hour live webcast, a panel of leaders and practitioners in the field assembled by The Knowledge Group will discuss the reporting requirements under the Final Rules for Health Insurance Exchanges in 2015 and provide insight into compliance.

Key topics include:

• Public Vs. Private Exchanges
• Market Place Management
• Eligibility Verification
• Transparency and Accountability
• Effect of the Individual Mandate
• Personal Data Security and Privacy
• Premium Tax Credits and Subsidies
• Financial Risks to Insurers, Government, and Insurance Providers
• Criminal Charges for Non-Compliance

In this CLE course, a panel of skilled practitioners, assembled by The Knowledge Group, will provide an overview of the latest legal trends and best practices to help healthcare officials and their counsel understand the Implementation and Adoption of Change of Ownership (CHOW) Rules for Medicare Providers. The panel will discuss the factors to consider when determining whether to accept or reject healthcare provider agreements, how to apply the law, and will offer best practices.

Key topics include:

• Change of Ownership for Medicare (CHOW): Overview
• Requirements and Considerations for CHOW
• CHOW Rules, Policies, and Procedures
• Accepting and Rejecting Provider Agreements
• Medical Transactions Qualified for CHOW
• Risks and Liabilities for Automatic Assignment
• Best Practices During and After CHOW

Under the US Occupational Health & Safety Act (1970) employers are required to provide a safe and healthful working environment. OSHA enforces established standards with which all employers must comply. Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the Act which requires them to keep the workplaces free of recognized serious hazards.

Employers can face dauntingly complex tasks and confusing language in complying with OSHA’s numerous and extensive federal and state occupational safety and health standards and regulations. Many employers and their legal advisors often are un-aware of many of the legal requirements that must be met to ensure the safety of their workers – such as training.

With the growth of temporary employment status in the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is focusing upon employers skirting the laws regarding such issues as Injury and Illness prevention and reporting,  safety training deficiencies, and placement of new employees in hazardous positions.  In April OSHA announced the final rule revising and enhancing the standards for electric power generation, transmission, and distribution.

In this webinar, our panel of speakers will review the fundamentals of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (1970) and, the extent of the authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

Specifically, the panel speakers will address the statutes involved in OSHA legal practice, the enforcement of and compliance with the statutes, the regulations promulgated, and the role of the Commission and the courts in appeals relating to OSHA citations and practices. Other issues addressed will include NFPA changes, the SVE Program, and practices putting your organization at risk. Whether you are an employment lawyer or a lawyer representing industrial employees or employers this webinar will be of value.

Agenda:

• OSHA Rules and Regulations: Changes and Implications
• OSHA Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) Rule, Recording, and Reporting
• OSHA Inspectors: Avoidance and Preparation
• Regulatory Compliance: The Necessary Evil
• Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP)
• 2015 NFPA: Potential Changes
• Role of Courts and the Commission
• Industry View-point: Oil and Gas Safety
• OSHA and United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
• Practices Putting Your Firm at Legal Risk: Reporting and Training

More companies are considering employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) to liquefy accumulated equity without relinquishing control of the companies or jeopardizing the jobs of valued employees. The Knowledge Group is hosting a live webcast to help companies understand the Advantages and Disadvantages of an Employee Stock Ownership Plans in 2014.

In this two hour webinar, the panel of skilled practitioners will provide an overview of ESOP structuring, administration, the tax implications, accounting and disclosure issues, common misconceptions, and recent litigation risks due to changes in ESOP accounting rules and fair value disclosures. The agenda will include:

• ESOPs: Overview and Trends
• ESOP Vs. Other Retirement Plans
• Rulings:  IRS PLRs, DOL Advisory Opinions & FABs, IRS TASM, and ESOP Cadre Guidance
• ESOP Advantages and Disadvantages
• Monetary Consequences: Employees and Companies
• Compliance and Monetary Risks for Participants
• Non-Compliance Sanctions for Employee Benefit Plan Rules
• Widely Held Misconceptions

Following some amazingly excessive golden parachutes and other excessive executive compensations in the last decade, scrutiny continues to be placed upon the salaries of executives in all industries; including healthcare. Executive compensation packages at non-profit hospitals have come under scrutiny by regulators, legislators, the media, and the public. The Health & Human Services' Office of Inspector General intends to examine whether limitation of executive compensation could increase Medicare savings. Hospital boards face balancing compensation, disclosure requirements, and compliance with complex regulations.

This webinar will provide attendees with an overview of the recent trends and latest insights regarding Healthcare Executive Compensation Programs. A panel of distinguished leaders and seasoned professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will help firms and their legal counsel better understand the consequences of scrutiny, greater regulation, and effects on industry and state and federal healthcare programs.

Key topics include:

• Trends in Healthcare Executive Compensation
• IRS Requirements for Healthcare Organizations
• Performance Measures of Hospitals and Health Systems
• Compensation Reduction: Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance
• Consequences for Industry and Medicaid