Maintaining Confidentiality During Workplace Investigations

Workplace Investigation
In a recent case, the Western District of Virginia found that emails between defendants were not entitled to the work product privilege and were instead discoverable. The court held that for the work product privilege to apply, the subject materials “must be part of the process of seeking, developing, or conveying legal advice or strategy”
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Virginia Covid-19 Rules for Employers – Part 2

Virgnia Department of Labor and Industry
As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has promulgated new temporary measures that all employers within Virginia must adhere to in order to minimize the risk of contagion. The new law is expected to take effect on July 27, 2020, and all employers within the state must
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Can Employers Be Held Liable If Employees Contract Coronavirus In The Workplace?

Employee at work
Now that local and state restrictions are easing and businesses are starting to reopen, business owners must determine whether and to what extent to reopen the workplace. While they may be eager to reopen workplaces for financial reasons, they may also be wondering what may happen if they reopen and an employee or customer contracts
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What to Consider Before Implementing a Mandatory Arbitration Agreement for Your Business

Writing Contracting Dispute Language
Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution, aimed at resolving disputes outside of the traditional court system. You can find more information about arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution generally, here. In context of employment agreements, mandatory arbitration requires employees to utilize arbitration instead of the public court system and these agreements are typically entered
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Virginia is the First State to Mandate Emergency COVID-19 Rules for Employers

Virgnia Department of Labor and Industry
Last week, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry voted to implement strict work-place standards in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Click here to view §16VAC25-220, Emergency Temporary Standard). These new standards are applicable to most employers, and all state-owned and operated businesses and offices. These new measures are expected to take effect on
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Business Attorney Matthew Brennan Joins General Counsel, P.C.

Matthew Brennan, Business Attorney
NEWS RELEASE Contact:  Merritt Green (mgreen@gcpc.com)  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Matthew Brennan (mbrennan@gcpc.com)  June 23, 2020     Telephone:  703-556-0411 McLean, Virginia:  General Counsel, P.C. is honored to have Mr. Matthew Brennan join the firm.  For the past 25 years, Mr. Brennan represented clients at Brennan & Waite, P.L.C., a firm he
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Former White Collar Prosecutor Samer Korkor Joins GCPC

Samer B. Korker, White Collar Crime Attorney
  NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     June 30, 2020       McLean, Virginia:  General Counsel, P.C. (GCPC) – a full-service law firm serving as external general counsel to a wide variety of companies – announced today the addition of Samer Korkor as a Senior Counsel.  Samer is a former federal prosecutor and focuses on
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Supreme Court Holds Title VII Includes Protections for LGBT Employees

U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination protects gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) workers. The 6-3 decision makes clear that employers cannot discriminate against gay or transgender workers for being gay or transgender. These protections apply to all employers with 15 or more employees. The Supreme Court’s decision was
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Virginia Enacts Ban the Box legislation for Marijuana Possession

Virginia Marijuana Possession Legislation
On May 21, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana under Virginia law. Under the new legislation, it is still unlawful to possess marijuana, with medical exceptions, but possession will now result in a civil penalty of no more than $25. Simple possession of marijuana will no longer lead to
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Series of New Laws Reshape Virginia Employment Law

Updating Employee Documentation
Recently, the Virginia General Assembly passed a collection of new laws that transform employment law in Virginia, creating more protections for employees. While previously Virginia had been considered a reasonably business-friendly state, the changes resulting from these new laws will create challenges for employers in Virginia. These new laws cover a series of employment law
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