No Safe Harbor: DOT Rejects State-Licensed Marijuana as Basis to Overturn Positive Drug Test Results

Seyfarth Synopsis: In late May 2026, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a new Question and Answer (Q&A) addressing how its drug testing regulations apply considering the recent rescheduling of certain marijuana products under federal law. The Q&A provides important clarification for employers with safety-sensitive employees subject to DOT regulations—and reinforces that,…

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Philadelphia Publishes Fair Chance Hiring Update: What Employers Need to Know

In October 2025, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker signed amendments to the FCRSSO, effective January 6, 2026. As enacted, the amendments authorized, but did not require, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations to create a form of required pre-adverse action notice, an updated summary of rights, and a statement concerning evidence of error or rehabilitation. The Commission has now published a document, titled, “Notice: 2026 amendments to Fair Chance Hiring Law,”…

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Sanctions Pass the House. What’s Next?

The US House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2548, a bill imposing sanctions against Russia in connection with the Ukrainian conflict. Its passage in the House alone increases, but does not guarantee, the chances of it being ratified into law. This is especially true given that it is being sponsored primarily by Democrats. However, even if the bill is supported by the Senate and the President, it is unlikely to…

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Seyfarth’s Strategic Miami Expansion Drives Widespread Industry and International Press Coverage

Seyfarth’s launch of its Miami office has generated widespread media attention across leading legal, business, and international publications, reinforcing the significance of the firm’s strategic expansion into a key US–Latin America business hub. Coverage included feature stories in Law360, Daily Business Review (American Lawyer/Law.com), International Employment Lawyer, and Latin Lawyer. Other coverage included Latinvex, Global Legal Chronicle, Global Legal Post, Corporate Counsel Business Journal, and Europe Says, among others. Collectively, the coverage highlights the firm’s continued investment in…

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Trump Administration Appeals Ruling Striking Down $100,000 H-1B Fee Requirement

Quick Hits On June 8, 2026, a Massachusetts federal district court vacated the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee requirement. On June 11, 2026, the administration filed an appeal of the district court’s decision and on June 12, 2026, asked the district court to stay its decision. With multiple pending challenges in different circuits, the Supreme Court will likely weigh in. Background On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Proclamation…

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CMU’s Software Engineering Institute and Accenture Release New Framework To Help Organizations Realize AI’s Promise

As organizations invest billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, most still struggle to translate those investments into measurable results. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute(opens in new window) (SEI), working with Accenture(opens in new window), have developed a new framework(opens in new window) to help organizations adopt AI in ways that deliver predictable, meaningful value. Despite growing investment and optimism around AI(opens in new window), 95% of companies report realizing little or no return(opens…

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Today’s housing emergency is nearly 200 years in the making, says new report

Many of the problems facing the more than 134,000 households living in temporary accommodation in England today - including more than 176,000 children - are part of a pattern of failure stretching back nearly 200 years, according to a major new report.The research reveals that poor conditions, lengthy stays, placements far from schools, work and support networks, fragmented responsibility and weak accountability have been recurring features of England's temporary accommodation…

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Washington Human Rights Commission’s Antisemitism Resolution Clouded by Commissioner’s Remarks Invoking Anti-Jewish Tropes

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Washington State Human Rights Commission recently adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protecting Jewish Washingtonians from violence, threats, intimidation, discrimination, and harassment. That effort, however, was quickly overshadowed by remarks from a commissioner that many viewed as invoking longstanding antisemitic tropes. The incident has raised questions about the credibility of an agency tasked with enforcing civil rights—and whether it can maintain public trust when concerns about…

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Valdai Club to Hold Expert Dialogue “From Global ‘Fighting With No Rules’ to a Dialogue of Civilisations”

On June 23-24, the Valdai Discussion Club, in partnership with Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, will hold an expert dialogue in Kaliningrad entitled “From Global ‘Fighting With No Rules’ to a Dialogue of Civilisations”. The event will take place at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University. The purpose of the Valdai expert dialogue is to exchange views on how to reduce conflict and the level of chaos in international relations, from…

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ILO Adopts First Global Labor Standard for Platform Work: What U.S. Companies Need to Know

Quick Hits ILO Convention No. 193 is the first international labor standard specifically designed for platform and gig economy work. Under the Convention, core protections including minimum wage, social protection, and occupational safety and health (OSH) rights apply to all platform work, regardless of a platform worker’s formal employment classification (e.g., “independent contractor” or “employee”). Algorithmic management is addressed in a binding international instrument for the first time: platforms must…

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Employment Updates from the End of New York’s 2026 Legislative Session

Seyfarth Synopsis: With the 2026 New York State legislative session complete, several employment-related bills have passed both chambers, and now await possible consideration by Governor Hochul. The 2026 New York State legislative session, which concluded in early June, saw a number of bills that passed both the Assembly and Senate and may become law. The ultimate fate of the bills, however, remains in flux, as it is uncertain whether they…

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New Colorado Law on Demographic Reporting May Signal Larger Changes

Quick Hits Governor Jared Polis recently signed legislation that requires employers in Colorado to provide EEO-1 data to the Colorado secretary of state beginning July 1, 2027, even if federal EEO-1 reporting is repealed or discontinued. The new Colorado law may signal a broader trend of state-level action to preserve demographic reporting obligations as the EEOC proposes to eliminate federal EEO-1 reporting. The elimination of federal EEO-1 reporting would create…

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Philosophy as a Practice of Self-Cultivation with Robin Dembroff

In this episode, Heidi Brooks talks with Robin Dembroff who invites us to notice the confining, prescriptive categories we get boxed into and the opportunity to maybe name or nudge our way to a more enlivened self. Robin challenges us to see gender fundamentally as a verb rather than a noun–an active, ongoing process of “gendering” rather than an immutable, biological trait. By looking at the “windshield of consciousness” that…

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Pretext or Mixed Motive? Practical Guidance After Robinson v. Marshfield

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently upheld a $1.4 million jury verdict in Robinson v. Marshfield in favor of a fire chief who alleged retaliation after complaining that his niece, a probationary firefighter, was being discriminated against on the basis of her gender. On appeal, the town challenged the lower court’s blending of pretext and mixed-motive instructions to the jury, when only a pretext instruction was warranted.…

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Alabama Establishes Private-Employer Voluntary Hiring Preference Program for Veterans and Spouses

Quick Hits Effective January 1, 2027, private employers in Alabama may voluntarily adopt written hiring and promotion preference policies for veterans, spouses of veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members. Employers that implement such policies must notify the Alabama Department of Workforce. The Alabama law’s definitions of veterans and active-duty service members may be narrower than those under USERRA. HB 307 On April 16, 2026, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed…

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Real Estate: Market Pulse (June 2026)

CRE Enters a Selective Cycle as Growth Becomes More Targeted Seyfarth’s real estate team provides a bird's-eye view of the current state of commercial real estate throughout the country—highlighting which markets and major asset types are active, slowing down, or experiencing shifts. Seyfarth’s Take: What to Know ✔ Opportunities: Data centers remain the primary growth engine, with continued acceleration in Texas, the Midwest, and key coastal markets. Industrial has stabilized…

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2026 Is a Reporting Year Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Quick Hits Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), companies with twenty or more employees in Ontario must file an accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2026. The AODA applies to provincially regulated organizations in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Failure to submit the report may lead to potential enforcement action. Background Facts Enacted in 2005, the AODA is Canada’s oldest and most fulsome accessibility legislation. Provincially regulated…

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Online reviews, real risks: A closer look at RIBO’s guidance on online conduct

On June 1, 2026, the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) released Guidance 006 – Online Conduct (Social Media and Review Manipulation) (Guidance). This article summarizes the key expectations and practical implications for brokerages. Scope of guidance The Guidance confirms that brokers’ online activities are subject to the same professional standards as their offline conduct. The Guidance applies to public-facing digital activity connected to insurance brokering, including social media posts,…

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Student-Athletes Step Forward as Partners in Football’s Next Era of Safety

Carnegie Mellon University football players are essential partners in a groundbreaking study led by neuroscientist Brad Mahon(opens in new window), a professor of psychology at CMU. The research is developing new ways to understand how routine hits on the field impact the brain. While Mahon refines predictive models and explores future innovations like digital twins, the Tartans are providing something no lab alone can generate: authentic game data and firsthand insight…

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Silent Impact: What If Routine Hits Are Football’s Biggest Threat to the Brain?

With every collision in football, the stakes rise — fueling the urgency for researchers like Brad Mahon(opens in new window), a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, to answer a pressing question: How can we protect the brain without sidelining the sport? Mahon is tracking football players across multiple seasons to understand how they can stay healthy while playing hard. By partnering with athletes and leveraging cutting-edge neuroscience, he’s helping to…

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Science, Policy, and Power

Transcript Harlan Krumholz: Welcome to Health & Veritas. I’m Harlan Krumholz.Howard Forman: And I’m Howie Forman. We’re physicians and professors at Yale University. We’re trying to get closer to the truth about health and healthcare. Ordinarily, we have a guest, but at least once a month we like to do a deeper dive on health and healthcare. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, Harlan. So what…

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Organisational culture lessons from professional football

Why culture is the ultimate performance advantage Elite football teams invest heavily in strategy, talent and analytics, yet performance gaps remain. The difference often lies in culture. This article explores how high-performing football organisations create alignment, accountability and resilience, and what leaders in any sector can learn to build cultures that drive sustained performance and success. Reading time: 4 minutes In performance environments, culture is the edge​ From podcasts to…

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New Jersey Appellate Court Questions Whether Firm’s Workplace Investigation Docs Are Privileged

Quick Hits A New Jersey appellate court ruled that employers may be able to claim privilege over certain law firm investigation documents from an investigation initiated prior to a lawsuit under New Jersey law. The court noted that timing of an investigation does not negate privilege if the investigation aims for legal advice or litigation preparation. The court stated that raising an affirmative defense may waive privilege over certain relevant…

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Trademark scams: How to spot them, avoid them, and protect your brand

Trademark scams are becoming increasingly common in Canada. Both the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA) have warned that business owners and trademark holders are being targeted by phishing emails, calls, and texts from people pretending to be intellectual property lawyers, agents, service providers, or even CIPO itself. These messages often use details taken from public records, create urgency, and pressure…

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New survey of 610 businesses shows major prize from aligning business, universities and policy

The findings also present a significant opportunity – the UK has world-leading universities, strong research capability and businesses operating at the technological frontier. The UK can build on these by strengthening talent pipelines, improving collaboration and aligning policy with business needs.Talent and skillsBusinesses reported that the constraint on talent and skills is largely one of availability, not quality.Survey responses indicate that around one in five businesses (19%) are currently experiencing…

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The Sanctions Paradox

Paradoxically, the more sanctions are employed, the stronger the incentives become for targeted states, and even neutral ones, to develop mechanisms for bypassing them, Lorenzo Maria Pacini writes. Between theory, promises and reality Following the launch of Russia’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the United States, the European Union, and their allies imposed the most extensive package of economic sanctions ever levied against a major power. The…

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New Jersey Court Revives Whistleblower Claims Based on Continuing Violations

Quick Hits A New Jersey appellate court reversed a trial court’s dismissal of five CEPA counts, finding the plaintiff’s retaliatory termination claim was timely because CEPA’s one-year statute of limitations runs from the date of actual discharge, not from prior retaliatory acts. The court held that, under the continuing violation doctrine, the plaintiff’s hostile work environment claim accrued within the limitations period because acts of retaliation occurring within the statute…

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Canada’s new AI for All strategy: A business outlook on AI governance, adoption, and data sovereignty

Canada’s release of its national artificial intelligence strategy, AI for All, marks a substantive shift in federal policy, signalling how the government intends to govern AI for the foreseeable future. The strategy’s most significant feature is what it is not: as previously announced, it does not revive the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), the proposed omnibus AI statute that stalled in Parliament and was effectively abandoned following the change…

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Wisdom of the Few? Prediction Markets Are Driven by a Small Number of Skilled Traders

Characters in fairy tales rely on crystal balls to see into the future. In 2026, the world has prediction markets, in which traders bet on the likelihood of real-world events such as election outcomes or the winner of the Eurovision song contest—often with surprising accuracy.The founders of these markets, which have grown by orders of magnitude in just the past two years, attribute their accuracy to the wisdom of crowds,…

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Q5 appoints Juliet Scott-Croxford to lead North America growth

Bringing global leadership experience in transformation, brand growth, and organizational effectiveness Juliet Scott-Croxford has joined Q5 as President, North America, bringing extensive leadership experience across the consumer, media, retail, and mobility sectors. Formerly President of the Americas at Brompton Bicycle, she will lead Q5’s North America business, helping clients navigate transformation, growth, organizational effectiveness, and AI-driven change. Reading time: 4 minutes As organizations across North America grapple with AI disruption,…

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Need a U.S. Visa Faster? New $750 Expedited Interview Option Launches on July 1

Quick Hits Starting on July 1, 2026, B-1 and B-2 visitor visa applicants can pay a $750 fee to secure a consular interview appointment within ten business days at select U.S. embassies and consulates. The expedited option aims to help business and tourist travelers who need faster access to visa appointments due to short-notice travel needs. The State Department will announce participating consular posts before the program takes effect on…

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Valdai Club to Discuss Lessons and Challenges of Migration

On June 30 at 14:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host an expert discussion titled “Migration 2026: Lessons of the Past and Challenges of the Present.” In Russia, a new Concept of State Migration Policy for 2026–2030 has entered into force. Meanwhile, for the first time in nearly three decades, the European Union is fundamentally revising its rules on refugee admission. The United States is consistently tightening its…

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Hindu Nationalism: A Century-Long Path to Political Dominance

The 2010s demonstrated that Hindu nationalism was far more successful in adapting to contemporary challenges than India’s various “secular” political movements, writes Ilya Spektor. In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a historic victory, became the country’s dominant political force, and retained that position ever since. Hindu nationalism is a political doctrine holding that Hindu identity coincides with Indian national identity. This is its fundamental distinction from the “geographical”…

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Federal Court Vacates $100,000 H-1B Fee Requirement

Quick Hits A federal district court vacated the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee requirement. The court found that the fee exceeded presidential authority and violated the APA. The government is expected to appeal, and USCIS has not yet announced how it will implement the ruling. Background On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Proclamation 10973, invoking Sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to impose…

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When Abstract Problems Take Shape

Magic Eye books from the 1990s hid three-dimensional images in what looked like a swirl of dots and colors. At first glance, you see only noise. Change your focus, and suddenly a shape appears. Carnegie Mellon University mathematician Florian Frick(opens in new window) studies something similar in mathematics. His work explores how problems related to fairness, arrangements and patterns can reveal hidden geometric structure when viewed from the right perspective. “Mathematics is a…

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Carnegie Mellon Artists Contribute to Pittsburgh’s Cultural Identity

The Pittsburgh arts scene thrives on a unique spirit of community collaboration, a fabric into which Carnegie Mellon University’s creative community is tightly woven. Rather than creating in isolation on the Oakland campus, CMU’s alumni, faculty and students actively engage with the city's public spaces, grassroots initiatives and community partnerships, ensuring their work both shapes and is shaped by the city’s vibrant arts scene.Perspectives and projects from the College of Fine Arts(opens…

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Study warns unequal access to NHS social prescribing could reinforce inequalities

A major new study has found patients living in England’s most deprived communities are significantly less likely to be offered ‘social prescribing’, an NHS scheme designed to connect people with community support such as exercise groups, debt advice, arts activities and social clubs.Researchers from The University of Manchester analysed primary care records from more than 12 million NHS patients, and found referrals to social prescribing services were disproportionately concentrated among…

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