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Employment Law Update: How Long is Long Enough? ERISA Record Retention Rules Every Employer Should Know.

A common question employers ask is: How long do we need to keep records related to employee benefits, and what are the rules?
 
This summary covers the requirements for benefit plans governed by ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act). It focuses on the key rules from ERISA Sections 107 and 209, and IRS regulations. At the end, you’ll find practical tips for keeping your records in order.

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COVID Relief Enforcement Is Not Over: Defending Against PPP Fraud Allegations and ERC Disallowances

Introduction

The Internal Revenue Service’s April 27, 2026, announcement of a streamlined process for filing Form 907 to extend the deadline on Employee Retention Credit (ERC) disallowance challenges was, on its surface, a procedural housekeeping item. But the announcement carried a more substantive message: more than five years after Congress enacted the CARES Act, COVID-19 relief enforcement is not winding down. It is, in many respects, just hitting stride.

NEWS

Chambers Recognizes Whiteford in a Record 16 Practices

Whiteford is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2026 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes 31 attorneys in 16 practice areas at the National and State level.

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Client Alert: HUD Changes Course: Are Emotional Support Animal Accommodations No Longer Required?

On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) issued an enforcement memorandum permanently rescinding the 2020 guidance on assistance animals and establishing new criteria for evaluating complaints brought under the federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) for animal-related reasonable accommodation requests. Under the new criteria, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (“FHEO”) will only find probable cause and prosecute complaints if the animal in question has been individually trained to provide assistance directly related to an individual’s disability. This change raises significant questions for community association boards and managers about their ongoing duty to grant reasonable accommodations for emotional support animals under the FHA.