Nonprofit legal departments can expect changes in 2019 due to new federal and state laws passed last year. Lakshmi Sarma Ramani, a member with our Washington D.C.-based team, offers an overview of the key issues that may impact nonprofits in her latest ACC Docket article.

New H-1B visa petitions (including change of status petitions) can be filed with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) beginning April 1, 2019 for an effective start date of October 1, 2019.  H-1B petitions are accepted on a "first-come-first-serve" basis, and the demand for H-1B visas is expected to be very high again this year. We therefore plan to file all cap-subject Petitions for USCIS receipt on April 1, 2019.  

In the wake of an historic, multi-state lawsuit filed against a “Business Associate” earlier this month, it is imperative that companies with business associate agreements (BAA) in place with health care/plan customers review internal data security policies and procedures to ensure they are in compliance with their obligations arising under HIPAA, state privacy laws and the BAAs.

Outside GC Member Stephan Grynwajc continues to keep a close eye on the fate of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield data-sharing arrangement. 

In this timely ACC Docket piece, Lakshmi Sarma Ramani (Washington D.C.-area team) reviews the IRS rules related to general lobbying and political campaign activity which apply to tax-exempt organizations.

"I think one of the best indicators of career satisfaction for an on-demand GC is that, like me, many lawyers choose this role at the pinnacle of their in-house careers. I am able to continue pursuing a professionally challenging career, while maintaining control over my time and my life," explains Outside GC Member, Lakshmi Sarma Ramani, in her recent article published in the ACC Docket's July/August issue.