We are proud to announce Laura Weiner as the first winner of the Levene Gouldin & Thompson Regional Connection Scholarship! Laura is currently attending City University of New York School of Law. Her unique path to the field of law began in the music industry (she is a professional French horn player), which phased into work in the prison system (music programs for the incarcerated), which led to a desire to help change the carceral system directly through the law. We are proud to help [...]

As a member of a New York State Bar Association task force,  LGT partner, Karen McMullen, is advocating for legislative solutions for safe visitation to residents of nursing homes and adult care facilities during the pandemic. Currently, visitation is limited to virtual connections or short visits with mandated masking and social distancing in designated areas – which is particularly difficult for families with loved ones suffering from dementia. Karen, along with her colleague, [...]

On March 31, 2021, New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana for individuals over the age of 21 The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) generally legalized cultivation, distribution, use, and possession of recreational marijuana in New York State Important for New York employers, MRTA amends Labor Law Section 201-d, which protects employees’ right to engage in certain recreational activities outside of work Section 201-d generally prohibits employers from [...]

 On March 12, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed a new law that allows employees in New York to take up to four hours of paid leave time, per vaccination, to get vaccinated for COVID-19, which takes effect immediately and will expire on December 31, 2022 We previously published a summary of this new law here: https://www.lgtlegal.com/news/Newly-Enacted-COVID-19-Vaccination-Leave-Effective-as-of-March-12-2021_344-news.htm The New York Department of Labor has recently published guidance on this [...]

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the PPP Extension Act was signed into law.  This gives small business owners the opportunity to apply for a PPP Loan until May 31, 2021.  Here is a link to the SBA’s Press Release on the PPP Extension Act of 2021:  SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman’s Statement on President Biden signing the PPP Extension Act of 2021 into law. The Attorneys at Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP are available to provide advice and counsel concerning [...]