Regulatory Playbook

Trending Issues

California Moves to Tighten PAGA Oversight
03.19.2026

The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) allows an “aggrieved employee” to pursue civil penalties on behalf of the State of California for alleged Labor Code violations. In 2024, amendments to PAGA expanded administrative cure procedures, limited standing to violations personally suffered by the named plaintiff and increased agency oversight of PAGA litigation. On February 6, 2026, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) issued proposed regulations concerning the interpretation of the PAGA. If adopted, these would be the first regulations in PAGA’s 20-year history, formally detailing how employers and employees must comply with both the original 2004 statute and the amendments enacted in 2024.

New California AI Laws Are Here: Is Your Business Ready?
03.18.2026

Effective January 1, 2026, many of California’s newly enacted artificial intelligence (AI) regulations took effect. The more than 20 new AI laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom regulate AI, data privacy, automated decision systems and generative AI across diverse sectors that include employment, health care, education, social media, among other sectors.

AI and Privilege: Lessons from U.S. v. Heppner and the Emerging UK Position
03.18.2026

Courts in both the UK and the U.S. are increasingly encountering the implications of generative AI outputs in litigation, which raises a foundational question: When does an AI generated communication attract legal privilege, and when is it exposed to disclosure?

Key Questions Remain Under DOJ’s New Department-Wide Corporate Enforcement Policy
03.17.2026

On March 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its first-ever department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy (CEP), describing the policy as “promoting uniformity, predictability, and fairness” in its resolution of white-collar cases. With one exception, for antitrust offenses, the new CEP applies to all criminal cases involving organizations and supersedes all component-specific or U.S. Attorney’s Office-specific corporate enforcement policies previously in effect.

Conflict Premium: Insurance and Supply Chains During the Iran War (Part 4)
03.13.2026

War-risk losses are rarely “mysteries.” They’re usually fights about ordinary words— “detainment,” “loss,” “costs,” “restraint,” “constructive total loss”—and about which section of a program pays when war is in the causal chain.

FERC Moves to Streamline Hydropower Environmental Reviews
03.13.2026

On February 19, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued two orders intended to streamline environmental reviews for certain actions related to hydropower facilities.

DEI Compliance Remains an Active Concern
03.13.2026

In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), the Supreme Court held that the use of race-conscious decision-making in admissions violated federal law. The complex and often opaque nature of the admissions process, however, has made it difficult to determine whether schools were complying with SFFA’s mandate. In August 2025, the White House issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Education to expand the scope of data schools are required to report to the Department of Education (ED) to provide greater transparency into admissions for the purpose of “exposing unlawful practices and ultimately ridding society of shameful, dangerous racial hierarchies.”

Conflict Premium: Insurance and Supply Chains During the Iran War (Part 3)
03.13.2026

Some losses don’t look like “property damage” at all. They look like government action, loss of control, blocked payments or a legal inability to perform. That’s where political risk insurance (PRI)/political violence wording—and sanctions clauses—do the heavy lifting.

NRC Proposed Rule Seeks to Streamline and Accelerate Adjudicatory Proceedings
03.12.2026

On March 3, 2026, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a proposed rule, Streamlining Contested Adjudications in Licensing Proceedings, which proposes to revise its Rules of Practice in 10 C.F.R. Part 2 to increase efficiency and accelerate licensing adjudications in response to the requirements of the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024 (ADVANCE Act) and Executive Order 14300, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (EO 14300).

CARB Approves Proposed Climate Disclosure Regulations
03.12.2026

On February 26, 2026, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved its initial implementing regulations for California’s corporate climate disclosure laws, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261), during a public hearing. As we have discussed previously on this topic, the adopted regulations proposed on December 9, 2025 are narrow in scope and address only a limited set of threshold compliance issues. The approved regulations define key terms, establish the program fee structures, explain fee enforcement and set initial reporting timelines. A broader rulemaking addressing Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, assurance requirements and ongoing reporting mechanics will follow later in 2026.

Conflict Premium: Insurance and Supply Chains During the Iran War (Part 2)
03.11.2026

In the first installment of this series, we focused on the operational side of the Iran war: chokepoints, reroutes, airspace constraints and the pricing ripple effects. Here’s the insurance translation: Before you can measure the loss, you need to classify it.

Conflict Premium: Insurance and Supply Chains During the Iran War (Part 1)
03.11.2026

Modern supply chains are engineered for efficiency—until the map changes. The current conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East is a real?time reminder that a single regional shock can cascade through shipping schedules, commodity pricing, aviation routes and contract performance.

Treasury and IRS Issue Proposed Regulations Under IRC Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit
03.06.2026

Recently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released long-awaited proposed regulations (the Proposed Regulations) under Section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC), providing comprehensive guidance on the clean fuel production credit (CFPC) enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and amended by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA). The Proposed Regulations largely follow the approach taken in last year’s draft form of proposed regulations (Draft Regulations) that was included as part of IRS Notice 2025-10. As discussed below, however, the Proposed Regulations include several significant modifications from the Draft Regulations in response to comments submitted to Treasury and amendments to IRC Section 45Z made by the OBBBA.

The Pendulum Swings Back: DOL Proposes to Restore 2021 Independent Contractor Framework
03.03.2026

The Department of Labor (DOL) proposal marks the latest shift in a continuing cross-administration debate over how workers should be classified under federal law. In January 2021, at the end of the first Trump administration, the DOL adopted a rule that emphasized two “core” factors in the economic reality analysis—control over the work and opportunity for profit or loss. That rule sought to provide greater predictability by giving those factors more weight than the remaining considerations.

Robust Sourcing for Private Equity Acquisitions Five Key Considerations for Stand Up, Transition and Cost Optimization
03.04.2026

Private equity (PE) firms increasingly recognize that value creation depends on disciplined procurement of business services, particularly technology, in addition to financial engineering and operational optimization. Whether establishing a standalone services environment, especially in the case of a carveout, replacing services provided under a transition services agreement (TSA), optimizing costs after deal closing, or reaping synergies presented by an acquisition, PE firms aim to “get it right once.” Engaging a robust sourcing team comprising specialized attorneys and experienced sourcing experts is essential to mitigate risk, control costs and enhance the enterprise value.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Proposes GENIUS Act Implementing Rules for Payment Stablecoins
03.03.2026

On February 25, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing regulations to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act) for the issuance of payment stablecoins and certain related activities by entities subject to OCC jurisdiction.

NRC Issues Proposed Rule Establishing Licensing Framework for Fusion Machines
03.03.2026

In late February 2026, the NRC issued a proposed rule titled Regulatory Framework for Fusion Machines, which regulates the possession, use and production of byproduct material associated with fusion machines under Part 30 rather than under the reactor licensing framework applicable to fission facilities. The proposal amends provisions across Parts 20, 30, 37, 50, 72, 110, 150, 170 and 171 to integrate fusion machines into the byproduct material structure.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026: Greater Compliance, Broader Application and the Road to FCA Authorization
03.02.2026

Following Parliament’s approval, on February 4, 2026, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 were published, with most provisions expected to apply from October 2027.

The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act Expands Defense Procurement Sourcing Restrictions Related to Critical Minerals and Advanced Batteries
02.27.2026

The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 2026 NDAA), signed into law on December 18, 2025 (Pub. L. 119-60), includes several provisions affecting critical mineral and materials sourcing for DoD procurements. Many of these changes will be implemented through updates to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), particularly restrictions under 10 U.S.C. § 4872 (covered materials) and related DFARS clauses. These include adding additional materials subject to sourcing restrictions from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, and clarifying timelines for entry into effect of certain restrictions. The FY 2026 NDAA also provides for a new battery-related prohibition tied to foreign entities of concern (FEOCs) and for opportunities for stakeholder and private sector engagement to accelerate compliance with DFARS sourcing restrictions. These provisions have significant implications for contractors and sub-contracts (at all tiers) supplying material for or incorporated into DoD contracts including related to compliance with the restrictions and opportunities to supply DFARS-compliant material.

U.S. Trade Representative Issues Request for Comments on a Plurilateral Critical Minerals Trade Agreement
02.27.2026

On February 26, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a Federal Register Notice requesting comments regarding a plurilateral “Agreement on Trade in Critical Minerals” and policy actions to support critical minerals supply chain resilience. Comments are due by March 19, 2026. This Notice builds upon various policies of the Trump administration over the past year including supporting domestic investments in the United States (which we discuss here), and the President’s directive following an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 of imports of processed critical minerals (which we discuss here, here and here) for the Department of Commerce and USTR to negotiate agreements with partners to address national security risks and consider “price floors for trade in critical minerals and other trade-restricting measures.”

Ninth Circuit Rules That Federal Courts May Invalidate Arbitration Agreements Implemented to Subvert an Ongoing Class Action
02.27.2026

The Ninth Circuit has ruled that the broad authority that FRCP 23(d) grants federal judges to oversee class actions includes the power to invalidate arbitration agreements where their rollout appears designed to prevent or discourage class member participation.

NIST Launches AI Agent Standards Initiative and Seeks Industry Input
02.25.2026

In January and February 2026, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through its Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), launched a new AI Agent Standards Initiative to support the development of interoperable and secure AI agent systems, issued a Request for Information (RFI) on securing AI agent systems, and announced a series of virtual listening sessions to identify barriers to artificial intelligence adoption, including in the financial sector.

Extended Producer Responsibility Laws: Strategic Considerations for Trade Associations as Compliance Expands and Litigation Unfolds
02.25.2026

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws regulating packaging materials are now in effect in several states and expanding rapidly nationwide. As we’ve discussed previously, these laws are designed to shift the costs of managing packaging waste from municipalities to “producers,” a term typically defined broadly and depending on the situation, vaguely to include brand owners, manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers that introduce covered packaging materials into a state’s marketplace. EPR programs require producers to register with a designated third party—typically referred to as the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)—that manages the program, report detailed packaging data, and pay fees to support recycling and waste management systems.

Enforcement Landscape Heightens Risk Around Surveillance Pricing in California and at the Federal Level
02.24.2026

California has entered 2026 with an aggressive enforcement posture toward surveillance pricing—the practice of using consumer personal information to set individualized prices for goods or services. The California Attorney General (AG) has explicitly linked this practice to potential violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended, (CCPA) and has begun formal investigative sweeps targeting businesses across retail, grocery and hospitality sectors. Meanwhile, California’s parallel antitrust reforms (AB 325) targeting algorithmic pricing deepen legal exposure for companies that use shared or data?driven pricing systems.

Cal/OSHA Proposes Inspection “Walkaround Rule”
02.24.2026

As previously alerted, federal OSHA’s May 2024 walkaround rule clarified that employees, like employers, have the right to designate a non-employee third party to be their representative during worksite inspections. If federal OSHA establishes a new standard, state-plan states such as California must adopt their own standard that is at least as effective as the new federal standard within six months. (See 29 CFR 1953.5(a)(1).) Although late, in February 2026, Cal/OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to add a section to the California Code of Regulations titled, “Regulating the Process for Representatives of Employers and Authorized Representatives of Employees to Accompany the Division During Workplace Inspections.” The proposed new 8 C.C.R. section 331.8 consists of four subsections, which are summarized below.

DOJ’s First Antitrust Whistleblower Award: The New “Race to Report” and What Companies Should Do Now
02.20.2026

On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the first whistleblower reward payment under the Antitrust Division’s Whistleblower Rewards Program. DOJ reported that it paid $1 million to an individual whose information contributed to criminal charges and a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with EBLOCK Corporation, under which EBLOCK agreed to pay a $3.28 million criminal penalty. DOJ’s program guidance contemplates potentially significant awards for eligible whistleblowers, subject to eligibility requirements and DOJ discretion.

A Sea Change in California Antitrust Law? CLRC Single-Firm Proposal Raises the Stakes for Algorithmic Pricing
02.18.2026

On January 20, 2026, California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) staff circulated a draft final recommendation addressing single-firm conduct. The proposal recommends amending the Cartwright Act, California’s antitrust statute, by creating new prohibitions against single-firm conduct, which would add new Sections 16729–16731 to the Business and Professional Code. “Single-firm” (or “unilateral”) conduct simply refers to conduct that a company engages in on its own, as opposed to through agreements or coordination with other unrelated parties (i.e., other companies, associations or individuals who are not under common control). The CLRC’s recommendations do not change the law unless and until the California Legislature enacts them.