Practical perspectives for contemporary legal challenges.
On January 16, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published to the Federal Register the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”) merger-reporting thresholds for 2026. Each year, the FTC is required to adjust the thresholds under the HSR Act to correspond with changes in gross national product. The thresholds for 2026 will increase …
Continue reading “2026 FTC Updates to HSR and Clayton Act Threshold”
Trademarks are generally recognized as an essential and major component of each company’s economic value.[1] In fact, a well-recognized report indicates that company trademarks and other intellectual property assets represent 90% of the market value of businesses included as part of the S&P 500. In recent years, larger cannabis companies expanded their brands to reach …
Continue reading “What Does the Revised Definition of Hemp Mean for Trademarks?”
The Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA” or the “Act”) has dropped off of most people’s radar, perhaps prematurely. Although December 2025 was not the CTA roller coaster that December 2024 was,[1] it still provided some year-end entertainment. You may remember that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, an arm of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“FinCEN”), …
Tennessee’s Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has moved decisively into the hemp space. Emergency rules adopted in September 2025 now require mandatory age verification and prohibit sales of Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Products (HDCP’s) to anyone under 21. Beginning January 1, 2026, TABC will also roll out a three-tier licensing system for hemp-derived cannabinoid products (suppliers, wholesalers, retailers), …
Continue reading “TABC Tightens Rules on Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Products, COAs, and Retail Sales”
After half a decade of development and review, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)*/ will implement contracting regulations, effective November 10, 2025, making the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program a reality for hundreds of thousands of companies across the defense industrial base (DIB). More than ever before, companies doing business with DoD, either as …
Continue reading “Preparing for CMMC: Navigating DoD’s New Cybersecurity Rules”
On September 5, 2025, the DC Circuit issued its opinion in SSM Litigation Group v. EPA, reversing EPA’s rescission of the longstanding emergency event affirmative defense under Title V of the Clean Air Act (“CAA”). The Court’s decision restores an important tool for all Title V sources facing potential enforcement as a result of emergency technological …
Continue reading “Key D.C. Circuit Decision Revives CAA Emergency Event Affirmative Defense”
What Happened? On January 8, 2025, the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a final rule (“Final Rule”) to implement Executive Order 14117, “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern” (“EO 14117”). The Final Rule aims to restrict or prohibit certain categories of data …
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (the “OBBB”), which makes a number of highly beneficial changes to the tax treatment of Qualified Small Business Stock (“QSBS”) acquired by “non-corporate” taxpayers after July 4, 2025. The goal of these changes is to encourage investment in new companies by providing …
The Ohio Department of Development (“ODOD”) has made some changes to documents provided by renewable energy projects that have received certification as a Qualified Energy Project (“QEP”) in the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (“PILOT”) program under R.C. 5727.75: Recently, ODOD established new informational requirements that a QEP must meet if the project provides an …
Continue reading “Ohio Department of Development Updates QEP PILOT Construction Reporting Process”
We are pleased to provide an update to our recent Client Alert regarding Tennessee’s new law transferring oversight of hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCPs) from the Department of Agriculture to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), effective January 1, 2026. TABC has announced that it will honor existing Department of Agriculture licenses for manufacturers and applicable …