Brownstein Podcast Series

Sarah Mercer and David Meschke discuss Colorado citizen ballot initiatives for the 2019-2020 cycle. They compare the volume of initiatives this cycle to the previous cycle, identify hot topics they’re seeing from the current initiatives, remind us what’s already on the ballot, summarize other initiatives moving through the process and point out key upcoming deadlines.

With the Iowa Caucus nearly underway, the nation will be watching closely to see how candidates fare in their first real test. Drew Littman moderates a discussion with Nadeam Elshami, David Reid and Brian Wild to provide fresh analysis on the current state of the presidential race and offer insight into likely outcomes in Iowa and how these results may impact the race going forward.

Starting in 2020, Colorado’s employers will face a new landscape regarding how to pay their hourly and salaried employees. For example, on Jan. 1, Denver will become the first Colorado city to raise its local minimum wage independent from the state’s minimum. But that’s not the only big change ahead for the state’s wage standards. Tune in as Shareholders Sarah Mercer and Martine Wells along with Associate Craig Finger discuss what will be increasingly stark contrasts between the federal and Colorado wage requirements, how cities are expected to respond to some of these changes and, most importantly, why the proposed replacement to the Colorado Minimum Wage Order will mean big changes for Colorado’s employers.

Privacy, and the GDPR in particular, has captured the headlines in recent years, but it is only one element of a much larger legal and operational landscape that can expose companies (and their officers) to significant risk. Guy Sereff and Erin Eiselein discuss some often overlooked information security issues that companies should be focusing on to ensure compliance and minimize risk in this dynamic landscape.

Future developments that will change political strategies are always on the horizon but not always unpredictable. In this podcast, Mark Begich sits down with Geoff Burr and Drew Littman to foreshadow “wild card” issues that would deeply impact domestic politics in 2020 should they become a reality. From a deep third party run in the presidential race to a government shutdown or Supreme Court vacancy – they describe the impact and likelihood of game-changing political events.

Technologies like artificial intelligence are fundamentally altering the way health providers service patients. As the health care industry evolves, the federal government and state medical boards across the country will face increased pressure to address these changes. Mark Begich moderates a conversation with David Reid and our guests, Eric Fish and Sarvam TerKonda of the Federation of State Medical Boards, and René Quashie of the Consumer Technology Association, in which they discuss the regulatory landscape for AI in health care and whether regulations should address specific technologies or overarching principals.

Welcome to the first episode of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce podcast powered by Brownstein’s Women’s Leadership Initiative. Brownstein Shareholder and CWCC Board Member Sarah Mercer hosts CWCC President and CEO Kristen Blessman for a discussion about what they’re doing to help women owned businesses grow over the million dollar mark, what companies can do to help advance women in the business community and upcoming CWCC events.

With the 2019 election in Colorado approaching, Shareholder Sarah Mercer and Associate David Meschke provide an update on the election, including information about two statewide referred ballot measures (Propositions CC and DD) and voter trends so far in 2019, and take a quick look ahead at the 2020 election.

Impeachment activity has been frenetic and though we’re inundated with news updates, many Americans are still left with more questions than answers. Will subpoenas be enforced in light of the administration’s lack of compliance? How will Sen. Mitch McConnell respond if the House passes articles of impeachment? Drew Littman moderates a conversation with Will Moschella, Nadeam Elshami and Greg Brower, in which they put the current impeachment proceedings into historical context and provide insight into where the process is heading.

As state attorney general enforcement continues to ramp up, learn about how state attorneys general work with each other and their federal partners, where they are focusing their enforcement efforts, and how to establish relationships with attorneys general so you can effectively head off or mitigate an investigation. Brownstein Shareholder Alissa Gardenswartz, who previously served as deputy attorney general for consumer protection in Colorado, moderates a discussion with fellow Shareholders Sarah Auchterlonie and Sarah Mercer as well as special guest Karen White, executive director of the Conference of Western Attorneys General and the Attorney General Alliance.

In this episode of the “Finance in Five” Podcast Series, Corporate Shareholder Jay Spader and Associate Scott McEachron discuss the rise and fall of the most important number in the world, LIBOR; it’s replacement, SOFR; and what you should be thinking about to ensure a smooth transition to SOFR.

The House Financial Services Committee hit the ground running following the August recess, and numerous issues are top of mind for members, including data privacy, interest rate caps and income inequality. Mark Begich moderates a conversation with Zach Pfister, Milan Dalal and Travis Norton in which they discuss committee chair Maxine Waters’ agenda and dive into legislative proposals that could gain traction over the next year.

Autonomous vehicles, drones and artificial intelligence have not only captured the attention of the public but also the U.S. government. As policymakers begin to consider establishing new federal rules, Geoff Burr and Greta Joynes, in a discussion moderated by Mark Begich, provide a roadmap for how Congress and the administration may approach regulating these emerging technologies.

As Democrats and Republicans in Congress work to reach a deal on the USMCA, trade talks with China have escalated and intensified, with a U.S./China trade meeting set to take place in Washington in early October. Brian Wild moderates a conversation with Ed Royce, Lori Harju, Nadeam Elshami and Russ Sullivan in which they lay out a timeline for passing the USMCA and discuss the probability of negotiating an agreement with China.

From rest and meal periods for hourly employees to independent contractors in the gig economy, Brownstein shareholder Martine Wells and plaintiff’s attorney Brian Gonzales come together across the “v.” to discuss wage and hour trends impacting Colorado employers and employees.

A power shift in the House has completely transformed the nature of congressional oversight. While Congress’ relationship with the president has dominated headlines, deliberate and methodical oversight is having a real impact on private companies. Mark Begich moderates a discussion with Brownstein’s Congressional Oversight & Investigations team, providing an overview on the current landscape and advising on best practices for businesses, corporations and individuals facing a potential investigation.

Despite heightened tension on Capitol Hill, numerous legislative proposals and agreements are inching towards a vote, including the NDAA, USMCA and two spending packages. In a conversation moderated by Mark Begich, Brownstein’s Elizabeth Maier, Brian McKeon and Drew Littman discuss imminent legislation that could receive bipartisan support and explore policy ideas that could materialize into law down the road.

With the first presidential debate nearly upon us, 20 Democratic candidates are about to present their policy platforms to a national audience. Drew Littman moderates a conversation with David Reid, John Sonsalla and Greta Joynes, discussing how the campaign playbook has changed since the 2016 election and offering insight into how the first debate may unfold.

Following the Colorado Supreme Court decision that repealing TABOR is a single subject and Colorado Ballot Initiative #3 can move forward with the Title Board, Shareholder Sarah Mercer and Associate David Meschke break down the decision and discuss what happens next for this much-watched initiative.

As state attorneys general play a more prominent role in policy issues, Shareholders Alissa Gardenswartz and Sarah Mercer discuss recent trends they’re seeing across the country and some examples of consumer protection powers being used in traditional and also creative ways by state AGs to address issues in their states.