Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Accounting for the Coronavirus

BY John Drum
August 01, 2020

The economic shutdown resulting from the responses to the global coronavirus pandemic has disrupted all manner of business relationships governed by contracts. This has brought into sharp focus the critical governance role that accounting numbers play in many business transactions. In particular, they constitute a kind of "scorecard" for compliance with the terms of numerous types of contracts and agreements, such as debt contracts, supplier agreements, operating agreements, incentive compensation agreements, merger earnouts, and sales commission agreements.

Even in the best of times, accounting and financial reporting — which are often erroneously thought of as objective, straightforward exercises in number crunching — involve a considerable amount of subjectivity and judgment. In fact, they are subject to judgmental estimates that go far beyond simply recording the numbers, as well as beyond either voluntary or mandatory changes in the way the accounting numbers are derived.

The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic seems likely only to heighten the subjectivity, complexity and risk associated with such judgments while simultaneously creating more challenges for oversight. The business challenges created by the pandemic are largely unprecedented, and in many cases managers will need to make highly subjective judgments without the benefit of past experience. Simultaneously, unique financial and business pressures are likely to exacerbate incentives to strategically employ accounting changes.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.