In a published opinion filed December 19, 2025, the First District Court of Appeal (Div. 5) affirmed the trial court’s post-judgment order denying plaintiffs’ Make UC A Good Neighbor and The People’s Park Historic Advocacy Group’s (collectively, “Make UC”) motion for $1,166,097.88 in attorneys’ fees under Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”) section 1021.5 (commonly known as the
Managing Greenwashing Risks When Revising Sustainability Targets
In recent months, some companies have begun reconsidering their sustainability targets. This trend is influenced by a range of factors, including economic pressures and scrutiny of climate action by the current federal administration and state attorneys general. In addition, many companies with interim decarbonization goals (e.g., companies with “net zero by 2050 goals” that also
EPA Issues “Compliance First” Enforcement Policy
EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) recently announced a major shift in the agency’s approach to environmental enforcement, emphasizing swift, efficient achievement of compliance over punitive or expansive enforcement measures. The “Reinforcing a ‘Compliance First’ Orientation for Compliance Assurance and Civil Enforcement Activities” memo (not publicly available as of this writing) clarifies that
FERC Directs Revisions To Enable Co-Located Load (Data Centers) And Generation
On December 18, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) took a significant step to break up the log jam that is precluding large load and data centers to receive power in the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) region of the United States.[1] FERC issued an Order finding that PJM’s existing rules that pertain to
New York Latest State to Institute Workplace Violence Prevention Program Requirements for Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Seyfarth Synopsis: New York requires hospitals and nursing home employers to implement written workplace violence prevention plans, including hazard assessments, training, and incident logging within the year.
Health care employers have long faced liabilities relating to workplace violence, most commonly from patients and visitors. Although no federal OSHA standards currently provide requirements for workplace violence
What Data Center Developers Need to Know About Virginia DEQ’s Recent Air Permitting Guidance
PFAS Product Labeling Requirements Set to Take Effect in Connecticut and New Mexico in the Coming Months
Both Connecticut and New Mexico are moving forward with regulations to implement statutory labeling requirements for products in certain categories that contain intentionally added PFAS. Connecticut’s labeling requirement will be effective July 1, 2026, and New Mexico’s, when approved and finalized, would go into effect January 1, 2027. Manufacturers should begin preparing now for these
European Commission Publishes Environmental Omnibus
Six legislative proposals from the Commission are intended to simplify environmental legislation.
By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Toon Dictus
Key Points:
- Target areas for simplification include industrial emissions, circularity, extended producer responsibility, environmental assessments, and geospatial data.
- The Environmental Omnibus will now be submitted to the European
European Institutions Reach Agreement on Sustainability Omnibus
Following complex negotiations, the EU has agreed substantive changes to sustainability reporting and due diligence rules.
By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Toon Dictus
Key Points:
- Major changes to the CSRD and CSDDD include narrowed scope, removal of the climate transition plan obligation, and targeted exemptions and timing
The EU AI Act and The Automotive Sector: Why Are Product Conformity Regimes Relevant to High-risk AI Systems?
Introduction
From autonomous-driving to ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), to the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform the aftermarket, AI is much-discussed as being transformational in the automotive sector; and there are numerous reported examples of AI being used already, for design, validation and performance management, connected with the manufacturing process.
However, automotive businesses