News & Insight

Category: Firm News

The American Rescue Plan Act and Its Impact to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”). The ARP is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill intended to speed up the nation’s efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. For the higher education community, the ARP provides almost $40 billion for colleges […]

  Mar 22, 2021  |  By    |   On COVID-19 and Cares Act (EDUCATION)

Summary of Provisions Related to Higher Education under the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act and 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act

Over the holiday weekend, President Trump signed the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (“Act”), the full text of which is available here. The Act funds the federal government until September 2021 and provides $900 billion for COVID-19 relief. The relief package includes funding for institutions of higher education, which are intended […]

  Dec 29, 2020  |  By    |   On COVID-19 and Cares Act (EDUCATION)

Refresher on The Congressional Review Act and Regulatory Actions Occurring Within Congress’ “Look-Back” Period

With less than a month away from Election Day, the possibility of a new Presidential Administration and a change in the Congressional majority presents an opportunity to refresh our understanding of the Congressional Review Act (“CRA”) and its procedural rules for expedited review of agency rulemaking. Enacted in 1996, the […]

  Oct 27, 2020  |  By    |   On Education

Patrick Deady participates in College of Labor and employment lawyers 7th circuit fall program for law students

Patrick Deady, a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, recently participated in the College’s 7th Circuit Fellows’ fall program for law students held virtually for the first time in its ten year history.  Mr. Deady was one of the panelists who discussed issues and concerns in remote […]

  Oct 19, 2020  |  By    |   On Firm News

CLIENT ALERT: EXECUTIVE ORDER ON COMBATING RACE AND SEX STEREOTYPING LIMITS CERTAIN TYPES OF DIVERSITY TRAINING

By: Debbie Osgood and Linh T. Nguyen On September 22, 2020, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping (“EO”) to combat, in the Trump Administration’s view, “offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating” in certain diversity trainings hosted by executive departments and agencies, […]

  Sep 25, 2020  |  By    |   On Education

HMBR Shareholder Named Co-Chair of the ABA’s Labor and Employment Law Section’s Trial Institute

Patrick Deady, head of the firm’s Litigation Practice, was recently named the union/employee co-chair of the Trial Institute of the ABA’s Section of Labor and Employment Law. The Trial Institute sponsors a biannual comprehensive four-day trial skills training course specifically designed for mid-level labor and employment lawyers.  The 3rd Trial […]

  Sep 16, 2020  |  By    |   On Firm News

HMBR Successfully Appeals A Circuit Court Decision That Reinstated Pension Credits Awarded To A Government Employee For Unqualified Prior Employment

The River Forest Township (Township), together with the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) successfully appealed a decision of the Cook County Circuit Court that had reinstated 198 months of “omitted service credit” awarded to a former Township employee for his prior employment with a non-profit entity not eligible to make […]

  Sep 9, 2020  |  By    |   On Firm News

CLIENT ALERT: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ISSUE FINAL RULE ON DISTANCE EDUCATION AND INNOVATION

The U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) has announced that it will soon officially publish in the Federal Register final regulations governing distance education and innovation in higher education (“Final Rule”).  The Final Rule is one of three final regulations to follow from the consensus-building work of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee […]

  Aug 28, 2020  |  By    |   On COVID-19 and Cares Act (EDUCATION)

Upcoming HMBR Webinar: Title IX Sexual Harassment Training

The new Title IX Regulations on Sexual Harassment became effective on August 14, 2020. HMBR is offering a webinar to help colleges and universities comply with the new training requirements in the regulations.  Sign up here. This training is designed for Title IX Coordinators, investigators, hearing officers, hearing panel members, […]

  Aug 13, 2020  |  By    |   On Compliance - Title IX

Debbie Osgood Elected as Program Committee Chair for Associated Colleges of Illinois

Debbie Osgood has been elected to serve as the Program Committee Chair for the Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI). ACI is a network of 22 private independent colleges and universities located in urban, suburban and rural communities throughout Illinois.  ACI supports member institutions by helping to advance independent liberal arts […]

  Jun 24, 2020  |  By    |   On Education