All Perspectives

Federal and state regulators have intensified scrutiny of collaborative industry initiatives designed to address sustainability commitments. A series of enforcement actions, warning letters, and litigation assert that these initiatives violate the antitrust laws.

This alert summarizes recent developments regarding the District of Columbia’s attempt to decouple its local tax laws from the federal One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) (Public Law 119-21), the congressional response disapproving of the District’s action, and the ongoing legal dispute between District officials over how to administer the 2025 and 2026 tax filing seasons.

Join ArentFox Schiff Partner James Kim for a webinar hosted by The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA).

Partner J. Michael Showalter, International Bar Association Environment, Health, and Safety Law Committee officer, was quoted on President Trump’s January memorandum removing the United States from 66 international organizations and instruments, including 31 entities tied to the United Nations.

As the beverage and food industry enters 2026, companies face a rapidly changing legal environment shaped by an expanding litigation landscape, evolving regulatory frameworks, and renewed transactional activity.

The cannabis industry’s rapid expansion presents significant workplace safety challenges that operators must address proactively.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

International Trade & Investment Partner Chris Skinner will speak on the “Routed Exports” panel at the Annual ICPA Conference on March 2, 2026.

Advertising regulation continues to evolve through a steady accumulation of federal rulemaking, state legislation, and active enforcement under longstanding deception principles. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs’ bar is increasingly treating advertising compliance failures as class action opportunities.

Last week, with the backing of CalPrivacy, California Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo introduced bill AB2021 (The Whistleblower Protection and Privacy Act), which would make California the first jurisdiction in the United States to create a whistleblower incentive and protection program specifically tailored to privacy law violations.

This Immigration Compliance and Policy Checklist provides a practical framework to help employers assess whether their immigration related practices are legally compliant and aid in developing policies to ensure practices are aligned with their operational and talent needs.

On February 6, bipartisan members of the US Helsinki Commission, led by Chairman Senator Roger Wicker, called on US Attorney General Pam Bondi, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to “robustly enforce” the Foreign Extortion Protection Act (FEPA).

On February 11, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced a settlement agreement and $252 million civil penalty against California-based Applied Materials Inc. and its subsidiary Applied Materials Korea, Ltd.

Fully autonomous vehicles (i.e., those that can operate on public roads without a human driver, SAE level 4), now mostly in the form of ride-hailing services, are becoming ubiquitous in urban areas across the nation as manufacturers and operators look to expand their services and gain market share.

Analysts say 2026 will bring fierce competition among automakers, but higher MSRPs, steady inventory and affordability pressures mean buyers may not pay less.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina has captivated the world, but not just for the athletic feats on display.

Customs Practice Leader Angela Santos and Senior Associate Lucas Rock will present at a Canadian Apparel Federation webinar examining the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

International Trade & Investment Partner James Kim will lead a discussion at DesignCon 2026 on February 25th.

Gift card cash redemption laws — also known as “cash-out” laws — require retailers to refund the remaining balance on a gift card in cash when that balance falls below a specified dollar threshold. These consumer protection statutes are designed to prevent small, unusable balances from becoming “breakage” that benefits the retailer rather than the consumer. Several states have enacted such laws, each with varying thresholds and requirements.

AFS Partner Kevin Matz will present at the EPCNYC’s annual Heckerling Review on February 24, 2026, in New York.

Customs & Import Compliance Practice Group Leader Angela Santos was quoted on the US Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling that the Trump Administration lacks constitutional authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that five thought leaders have been recognized by the 2026 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, which acknowledge the visibility and engagement their thought leadership has earned among readers over the past year.

AFS Product Liability Partner Jonathan Judge will speak on a panel at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization’s (ICPHSO) 2026 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium on February 25, 2026.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

The plaintiff, NEXT Payment Solutions, Inc., designs and develops customer service software. The defendant, CLEAResult Consulting, Inc., provides North American utilities with energy efficiency programs and services for utility customers, including the opportunity to schedule in-home appointments for services like home energy-efficiency assessments.