William R. Mitchell, Kevin Matz, Tracy L. McLaughlin, Evgeny Magidenko, Jon S. Bouker, David P. Grosso
On April 6, the US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Revenue Procedure 2026-12 (Designation Guidance) to provide guidance for the nomination of census tracts to be designated as qualified opportunity zones (OZs) under the now-permanent OZ regime under §§ 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by § 70421 of Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72, 223 (July 4, 2025), commonly known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Data centers have a global reach, but their development is increasingly shaped by local land use decisions, public opinion, and evolving legislative frameworks. Across the country, state and local governments are introducing moratoria, revising zoning codes, and responding to community concerns in ways that directly affect project timelines and siting strategies.
Prop 65 Counsel: What To Know
D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Shoshana Golden, Meredith Gillespie
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
On April 20, the US Supreme Court granted certiorari in Beaird v. United States, No. 25-5343, agreeing to decide whether its 1993 decision in Stinson v. United States, 508 US 36 (1993), still correctly defines how much deference federal courts owe the official commentary accompanying the US Sentencing Guidelines. The outcome could reshape how federal judges calculate sentencing ranges nationwide.
The next phase of the Trump Administration’s efforts to end unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices moves forward with the issuance of new Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.222-90.
On April 23, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a final order reclassifying US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug products containing “marijuana” and cannabis products regulated under qualifying state-issued medical marijuana licenses from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), effective April 28. Critically, adult-use (recreational) cannabis remains in Schedule I.
Everyone is talking about peptides. Your doctor, your trainer, that guy at the dinner party who swears that BPC-157 rebuilt his knee — peptides have officially entered the zeitgeist. But for every breathless testimonial, there is a thicket of regulations that most market participants barely understand.
On April 22, Virginia enacted a new paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance program after Governor Abigail Spanberger’s proposed amendments to Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 1207 were adopted by the General Assembly.
Rapid changes to US tariff policy have transformed what were once transactional import decisions into issues with enterprise-wide implications. The reliance on tariffs has had bipartisan support across Administrations, and the risks are not going away.
Individuals facing federal fraud and tax evasion charges may soon see lower advisory guideline ranges under proposed Sentencing Guidelines amendments.
Sustainability reports have become a routine part of corporate disclosures for many US companies, even though no single federal law requires them.
With the release of the DC Board of Elections’ (DCBOE) official ballot for the 2026 District party primaries on June 16, the field is now set for one of the District’s most consequential local elections in the 50 years since Home Rule.
When the Delaware Supreme Court held in Maffei v. Palkon that Tripadvisor’s reincorporation from Delaware to Nevada should be reviewed under the business judgement rule and not the entire fairness standard (all but ensuring the company’s departure), the business community widely viewed the decision as another nail in the coffin of Delaware’s dominance of corporate formations.
D. Jacques Smith, Michael F. Dearington, Nadia Patel, Hillary M. Stemple, Laura Zell, Michelle J. Shapiro, Meghan F. Hart, Meredith Gillespie
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is signaling that health care and life sciences companies should expect heightened regulatory scrutiny related to consumer protection and competition.
On April 18, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing multiple federal agencies to accelerate research and expand access to psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for serious mental health conditions. The EO represents a notable shift in federal policy toward psychedelic substances and their potential therapeutic use.
Health care enforcement targeting diagnostic and laboratory services accelerated in 2025 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2026.
On April 14, Jay Clayton, US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), made headlines when he announced that the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy did not supersede the SDNY Corporate Enforcement Policy.
Imagine you are about to enter a sprawling, complex product liability multidistrict litigation (MDL) — on either side of the “v.” Hundreds of parties, a mountain of discovery, and years of litigation loom ahead. What if you could shape the case’s trajectory from day one?
A Will County circuit court ordered the county board to issue permits for six solar energy projects in one of the first decisions applying last month’s landmark Equity Solar appellate ruling.
In a recent ruling out of the District of Minnesota, a federal magistrate judge directed UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to turn over an expansive set of documents in the class action Estate of Lokken v. UnitedHealth Group, Inc., alleging that the health insurer used an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to improperly withhold post-acute care coverage from Medicare Advantage enrollees.
Angela M. Santos, Antonio J. Rivera, Nancy A. Noonan, Kay C. Georgi, James Kim*, Matthew Tuchband, Lucas A. Rock, Mario A. Torrico, Maya S. Cohen, Collin M. Douglas, Derek Ha, Tyler J. Kimberly, Andrew McArthur, Denny Peixoto, Riyaz Dattu*
Welcome to the April 2026 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.
The US Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) advance notice of proposed rulemaking is seeking industry input on delivery-fee transparency practices, which signals potential interest in broader federal regulation, underscoring the importance for online food and grocery delivery platforms and restaurant brands to assess current practices and consider participating in the comment process.
In the latest episode of “Tax Stuff You Should Know,” hosts Bob Pluth and Gene Magidenko unpack the complexities of federal self-employment tax through the lens of the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Sirius Solutions.