As American individuals, employers, and governments are implementing various restrictions from social distancing to quarantines to reduce the rate of new COVID-19 infections, each of these decisions results in an increasingly negative impact on the American economy. Even with the recent financial aid package passed by Congress, with greater credit constraints and a heightened sensitivity to weak consumer demand, small businesses are among those hit the hardest by COVID-19 restrictions.

The Australian Federal Court has made orders relieving the administrators of retailer Colette from personal liability for rent in response to the COVID-19 crisis and the current uncertainty in respect of government policy about rent relief for tenants: see

What you need to know

Last week, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law, implementing broad relief for individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. One of the sections of the CARES Act receiving less attention is a temporary amendment to the Bankruptcy Code to provide streamlined reorganization procedures for businesses with debt of less than $7.5 million.

Ice Miller is carefully monitoring the rapidly changing developments of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It is our goal to provide you with the most up-to-date information available, along with advice on best practices and strategies to minimize loss and maximize long-term financial stability.

Below are some strategies for assessing exposure and preparing and responding to bad debt, slow-paying or delinquent counter-parties, bankruptcies or related creditors' rights litigation. Note: The steps and strategies below should be pursued simultaneously despite the numbered steps.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020 (“CARES Act”) which Congress approved last week, together with the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (the “SBRA”) which became effective on February 19, 2020, will make Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection much more attractive for small business debtors.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis unprecedented in modern history, and the resulting economic dislocation has caused financial distress across supply chains worldwide. In light of this extraordinary crisis—and in anticipation of a wave of defaults by businesses large and small in the months to come—shippers, vendors, and other suppliers are assessing their potential exposures in the event of a customer failure.

The newly enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) contains some significant bankruptcy-related provisions, including those which amend the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA) to make bankruptcy relief available to an increased number of small businesses.

For those who are contemplating the need to develop a bankruptcy strategy – and for creditors evaluating a debtor’s bankruptcy plan – it is important to understand these changes in the law.

No one can yet predict the overall effect the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the economy in the long run. However, the immediate impact on small businesses seems readily apparent. The dramatic disruption has impeded cash flow and upset daily operations to the point that some business owners question whether recovery is possible.

Should a business find themselves in that unfortunate position, there is relief available under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, but the Chapter 11 process can be unwieldy and expensive for small or even medium-sized businesses.

On Friday March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the third major piece of coronavirus-related legislation in the last several weeks – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). The new law contains several amendments to the Bankruptcy Code.

In 2019, the increased wave of distressed health care companies continued, and with downward pressure on reimbursement rates, regulatory changes, decreased occupancy rates and technological advances, this trend is unlikely to subside in 2020.

Health care providers often are heavily dependent on revenues from government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, accounting for nearly 40% of national health care spending in 2018. Therefore, a Medicare payment suspension could cripple a health care provider.