Brownstein Podcast Series

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.

Colorado's Initiative #3 seeks to repeal the Tax Payer Bill of Rights, more commonly known in Colorado as TABOR. Brownstein Shareholder Sarah Mercer and Associate David Meschke provide background on the initiative, an overview of the ballot initiative process and insight on what could happen now that the initiative has been appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Earlier this spring, the Trump administration asked judges to toss out the entire Affordable Care Act, setting up another likely Supreme Court battle and raising questions about the future of health insurance for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, the 2018 election brought a "blue wave" to Colorado, with Democrats in full control of state government for the first time in many years. Corporate Department Chair Mike King moderates a discussion with Denver Shareholders Mike Feeley, Sarah Mercer and Darryl Landahl as well as Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel Emily Felder from the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. They analyze the new political order for health care, discuss pending legislation and engage in an open roundtable discussion.

The Treasury Department has released the latest set of regulations providing guidance on investment in the Opportunity Zones created by the Tax Reform Act. Brownstein shareholders Nicole Ament, Greg Berger and Erik Jensen discuss the new regulations and how to structure investment in Opportunity Zones to take advantage of the deferral of capital gains taxes.

With the presidential campaign cycle in full swing, both parties have shown renewed interest in reforming the nation’s health care system. As the House convenes its first Medicare for All hearing, questions remain about the high price tag of the proposal and whether Democratic leadership will actually bring the legislation to a vote. Drew Littman moderates a conversation with Emily Felder, Nadeam Elshami and Jerome Murray, providing insight into the likelihood of a bipartisan bill on health care reform and the future of the Affordable Care Act.

Experts have recently made a startling claim: the United States will need to invest more than $4.5 trillion by 2025 to fix its failing infrastructure. Debates over ways to generate revenue — whether to invest in new technology or repair existing systems, and how to achieve infrastructure development without promoting environmental degradation — remain ongoing. Geoff Burr, Greta Joynes and Brian McKeon, in a discussion moderated by Mark Begich, discuss ways the 116th Congress is likely to address infrastructure and the challenges that lie ahead.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been signed by each country’s respective leader, but its fate now rests in the hands of legislators. Past difficulty enforcing NAFTA labor standards have left members of Congress wary and cautious. Mark Begich moderates a conversation with Lori Harju, Milan Dalal, and the newest addition to the Brownstein team, former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ed Royce, in which they discuss the trade agreement’s probability of success and shed light on the global impact of it failing.

In this episode of the Finance in Five podcast series, Corporate Shareholders Jay Spader and Mark Oveson take five minutes to discuss how to distinguish different types of junior debt and the accompanying subordination agreements.