Mona Dajani, a highly experienced and specialist energy and infrastructure lawyer, has joined Baker Botts as a partner, based in the New York office, the firm announced earlier this week as reported. In her new role at Baker Botts, Dajani will serve as the global co-chair of energy infrastructure and hydrogen. Besides, she will also…
With the ongoing climate summit, COP28, attention has swiveled back to carbon pricing. Over 40 national jurisdictions already have carbon-pricing systems in place, and another 35 are considering implementing such systems. Notably, the EU’s implementation of the world’s first carbon-centric tariff system, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), was initiated last month. The UN is…
In an update that will undoubtedly be of interest to legal professionals in the energy, transportation, and infrastructure sectors, Sidley Austin has further fortified its capabilities by adding Andrea Lucan to their ranks. Lucan has now joined the firm’s Los Angeles group as a partner, Sidley Austin announced on Monday. With this development, Sidley Austin…
Sidley Austin, in an effort to continue its growth in the realms of alternative energy, has successfully recruited a top-tier talent from Allen & Overy’s Los Angeles offices. Former office leader and renewable energy transactions partner Andrea Lucan has joined the firm and will now contribute her valuable expertise to Sidley’s energy, transportation and infrastructure…
In response to perceived unfair European Union (EU) policies towards Ukrainian competitors, Slovak truck drivers announced last Friday, they plan to join their Polish counterparts in a border blockade. The protest centers around the Vysne Nemecke border crossing with Ukraine, further escalating tensions in a region already burdened with political strife. The announcement was made…
Nov 8, 2023 marked a significant event as nearly thirty North American labor groups, including major players such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Auto Workers, openly voiced their concerns about the autonomous vehicle industry. They did so by sending a letter to the Secretary of Transportation and the Acting Administrator of…
A drawn-out battle is ongoing as 16 Democratic Attorney Generals (AGs) have made an unprecedented move by filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case in question is Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries, here, the AGs are urging the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court’s ruling that has deemed truck drivers for…
In a move that is significant for environmental conservation efforts in the U.S., the United States Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration (DOT) has promulgated a final rule focusing on the tracking of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The rule is described as providing several key government organizations a national framework to follow up with GHG…
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has updated three of its cybersecurity directives that regulate freight and passenger railroad carriers, as stated in an October 2023 report. This move falls into a continuing effort to fortify the cybersecurity of surface transportation systems.Hogan Lovells reported the following three security directives have been renewed and updated: Enhancing…
As regulatory bodies across the globe ramp up their focus on consumer protection, the legislative scrutiny around robocalls is intensifying, particularly in the United States. The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband (hereinafter “Subcommittee”) recently held a hearing on “Protecting Americans from Robocalls”— an initiative that could have…
In the context of the U.S. Supreme Court’s precedent-setting verdict in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, 600 U.S. 181 (2023) (SFFA), which curtailed the extent of race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions, a consequential federal lawsuit has now been leveled in the Eastern District of Kentucky. This…
In accordance with the announcement made on October 17, 2023, by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD), the U.S. Tanker Security Program (TSP) has reached full enrollment alongside its sister program, the Maritime Security Program (MSP). Both these initiatives play critical roles in supporting the U.S. Department of Defense during times of need….
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced the commencement of a comment period for proposed updates to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). This invitation allows stakeholders to discuss and propose suggestions on forty-six distinct topics related to the regulatory updates on hazardous materials (Hazmat) transportation. The comment period…
A pressing deadline looms for businesses and non-profits in Ontario. Those with a headcount of 20 or more have until December 31, 2023, to file their Accessibility Compliance Report with the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility (the Ministry) or face potential penalties. Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, the news stresses the importance of…
On October 21, 2022, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) established definitive guidelines for Massachusetts’ 175 MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) communities. The guidelines aim to ensure compliance with M.G.L. c. 40A, § 3A (“Guidelines”). These new directives specifically apply to communities identified as Rapid Transit Communities. Compliance is…
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) made a noteworthy announcement on November 16, 2023, as per details provided on JD Supra. Acting on behalf of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, the EERE communicated its plans to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA). This prospective FOA is…
In a development on November 16, 2023 pertinent to stakeholders in the energy and LNG industry, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted Dominion Energy Virginia, also known as Virginia Electric and Power Company’s petition. Dominion’s request centered on FERC declaring that its planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, storage, and regasification facility in Greensville…
On October 26, 2023, U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program encountered a fresh legal battle. The dispute was initiated in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and currently stands as one of the most salient issues in the legal arena. The contention lies in the DOT’s implementation of a…
The MCS-90 endorsement, an additional component to trucking liability policies, is increasingly in focus as the American legal community navigates the complexities of the transport industry, particularly motor carriers participating in the interstate commerce of property. A requirement of federal law, motor carriers must exhibit proof of the financial capacity to cover any public damage…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the proprietor of several transportation companies based in New York, alongside an immigration lawyer and her firm. The lawsuit alleges the sale of unregistered securities, and reportedly, these sales also included individuals seeking permanent U.S. residency through an immigrant investor program. As…
As legal professionals remain alert to the changing landscape of regulatory standards, it’s worth noting a recent development concerning healthcare and fringe benefit limits. On November 9th, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publicized additional inflation adjustments which involve amendments to the annual contribution and carryover limits for healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), as well…
A recent incident in London has sparked a conversation regarding the necessity of security on buses. Reports from Above the Law revealed that legal professionals found themselves victims of an anti-Semitic attack while on a London double-decker, leading many to question the measures in place to protect public transit passengers. This disturbing event is not…
As we embark on the holiday season, there are no shortages of gift-giving among friends, family, and business associates. However, within the corporate world, these simple gestures may sometimes blur ethical lines. An impactful example is the common misunderstanding that a bottle of wine gifted to a company’s purchasing manager from a long-standing vendor is…
In recent years, global supply chains have faced a great deal of pressure due to a series of exogenous shocks. These range from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical ruptures such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and escalating US-China tensions. The latest incident to cause disruption was the conflict that ensued after an…
In an unprecedented move, California’s Attorney General’s Office and the Labor Commissioner have teamed up to petition the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for a waiver of meal and rest period preemption determination, aimed at protecting the state’s drivers. The Attorney General’s push comes after FMCSA announced in August that it would commence the…