California Contractors Get a Much-Needed Break: SB 342 Softens the Harsh Consequences of Contractor License Lapses | The Construction Seyt Skip to content
Last week, a new term entered into the Canadian trade, economic, and political lexicon: “associate member of the European Union.” Never mind that there is no such status in the complex web of European Union external relations, and that all we have are three lines in a long “State of the Union” speech by the president of the European Commission; the term, and what it might imply, has since taken…
Financial Times has selected Seyfarth as a finalist in three categories for its 2026 Innovative Lawyers Awards North America, underscoring the firm's commitment to innovation and the development of solutions that help clients stay ahead in a legal market shaped by constant change. The firm’s finalist recognitions include: People & Skills: Partnerships with Harvard Law School and Finding Mastery for Leadership Development Under the leadership of Chair and Managing Partner…
Ceremony to mark the opening of the judicial year The Supreme Court of Canada held a ceremony today, Oct. 5, 2026, marking the opening of the judicial year, presided by the Chief Justice of Canada and attended by justice system leaders across Canada. The Court revived this tradition last year for the 150th anniversary of the Court. This morning’s ceremony took place at the Court’s new temporary home in the…
California has enacted three new laws governing employer use of artificial intelligence and automated tools in layoffs, workplace monitoring, discipline, and termination. These laws are separate from the California Consumer Privacy Act’s automated decisionmaking technology (ADMT) rules and apply more broadly to employers and public entities that are not covered by the CCPA. CCPA covered employers may need to integrate compliance with ADMT and Risk Assessment requirements (for sensitive personal…
Canada's energy transition is creating significant opportunities Canada is experiencing significant investment in traditional oil and gas infrastructure, electricity generation and transmission, LNG facilities, critical minerals and clean energy projects. In the face of geopolitical uncertainty, Canada is a reliable and competitive energy partner. Growing demand, decarbonization initiatives and a diverse energy and resource mix are creating opportunities for both domestic and international investors. Success often depends on understanding Canada's…
Quick Hits Germany’s Federal Labor Court held in a recent decision that if the body with authority to represent the company authorizes individual members to represent the company alone, the termination notice may be rejected if proof of that authorization is not attached. A rejection within one week is generally still considered prompt. The Case—Termination by Two of Three Supervisory Board Members The parties disputed the validity of two termination…
On Aug. 29, 2026, the federal government published two mandatory information-gathering notices under paragraph 71(1)(b) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA): Notice with respect to certain substances under the Chemicals Management Plan — 2026 Phase 1 Notice with respect to certain substances under the Chemicals Management Plan — 2026 Phase 2 (the CMP Notices) Key takeaways The CMP Notices are mandatory and cover 200 substances across two reporting…
The SMMC will provide a permanent physical gateway into the UK’s renowned advanced materials and manufacturing network. It will offer advanced materials and manufacturing businesses access to specialist space, facilities, expertise and the CEAMS national network of innovation support, helping them move from concept towards commercial application.The development of the SMMC building has received £15.2 million from the UK Government's Towns Fund, £15m from the GMCA’s Good Growth Fund and…
Quick Hits DHS is proposing a $70,000 fee for the first OPT recommendation for an F-1 student and a $30,000 fee for any subsequent OPT recommendation, including a STEM OPT extension. The SEVP-certified school would be responsible for paying the applicable fee before the designated school official could enter the OPT recommendation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, but DHS acknowledges that schools may pass the cost on…
What you need to know In Canada, prediction markets do not fit in one regulatory box. In Joint Staff Notice 91-307 (the Joint Notice), the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) have made clear that, unlike the U.S., sports- and entertainment-related event contracts should not be regulated under Canadian securities and derivatives legislation. The Joint Notice draws a line in the sand that securities regulators won’t…
Competing with the world, not each other A panel chaired by Fiona Tuck of Metro Dynamics asked what Britain’s innovation economy still lacks. Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, said the UK is too small to treat its regions as separate innovation ecosystems, with capital “stuck” in the places that are already well resourced. Harriet Gordon, Deputy Director at No. 10 North, said the UK’s real competition is…
Introduction On September 30, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a series of steps designed to open retail investor access to private funds. This announcement and the proposals it contained are the most significant movement in expanding retail investor access to private funds since President Trump's August 2025 Executive Order that addressed the President's directive to the Department of Labor (DOL) to coordinate with the SEC on expanding…
Quick Hits The DEA’s chief administrative law judge stayed marijuana rescheduling proceedings to consider adding a new GAO drug scheduling report to the hearing record and permit supplemental briefings concerning rescheduling all marijuana products, not just those approved by the FDA. Federal agencies must respond by October 13, 2026. After that, the judge will decide whether to admit the GAO report. Forty states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical marijuana,…
On Oct.14, 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) will hear Cold Ocean Salmon Inc. v. Nova Fish Farms Inc., a commercial contract appeal about when delayed performance permits termination. The SCC will consider whether a standard “time is of the essence” clause can make an open-ended obligation, such as acting “as promptly as practicable,” essential to a commercial bargain. The appeal has practical implications for contract termination, specific performance,…
Companies seeking to fill job openings are increasingly “drinking through a fire hose of applications,” in the words of one hiring expert, with some popular postings receiving 1,000 applications in a single weekend.Amid this surge, some companies have begun using artificial-intelligence tools, including large language models (LLMs), to help identify promising candidates. And it isn’t just hiring: Under pressure to find needles in mounting haystacks, venture capital firms reviewing startup…
As firms eagerly scramble to integrate AI into their workflow, it can feel a bit like throwing spaghetti at the wall. Maybe AI will improve customer service? Maybe it can focus on low-level work? Maybe it will help with analysis, streamline supply chains, or write better executive talking points? This experimentation to see what sticks can end up being frenetic and unproductive—and can sometimes go very badly. Just ask the…
Quick Hits A dental assistant for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) alleged she faced whistleblower retaliation and constructive discharge after reporting safety concerns. The Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court’s decision that individual supervisors cannot be liable for retaliation under state law. The Court of Appeal overturned the lower court’s dismissal of the retaliation claim against the state and the CDCR. Farzana Chaudhry, a dental assistant…
8 October 2026By Daniela Arlia and Rachele RizzoClimate change and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy do not affect everyone equally. This blog explores how the distributional effects of climate change and the transition can become relevant for price and financial stability.The consequences of climate change and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy are not the same for all households, sectors and regions. Droughts, for example, can drive up food…
Quick Hits Employers need to keep track of two diverging regulatory tracks: the EU AI Act, with transparency obligations enforceable as of August 2, 2026, and further high-risk AI restrictions from 2 December 2027; and the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. The EU AI Act is a floor, not a ceiling: individual member states layer their own obligations on top. U.S. state-by-state AI related employment laws in Illinois,…
It was Bahr who devised, in 1963, the so-called Ostpolitik (“Eastern Policy”), which wagered on drawing the USSR closer to the West rather than polarising against it, writes Marco Fernandes. Late in life, Bahr called the Western choice of confrontation the “mistake of the century”, and said that NATO had become “an instrument serving the hegemonic strategy of the United States”. On the evening of 1 October, before the closing plenary…
Quick Hits The obligations included in Mexico’s NOM-035 are contingent on the number of employees in the workplace; however, in all cases, employers must ensure the prevention of psychosocial risks through a policy. Employers that fail to comply with NOM-035 may be subject to fines ranging from $29,327.50 Mexican pesos ($1,623.06 USD) to $586,550.00 Mexican pesos ($32,464.37 USD). Employers’ Main Obligations Under NOM-035, employers must comply with, and keep evidence…
Quick Hits A California law taking effect on January 1, 2027, will allow employers to obtain TROs covering conduct directed against a workplace or employees generally, broadening the existing law that only allowed employers to apply on behalf of specific employees who suffered a credible threat of violence. The new law allows employers to seek TROs on behalf of a “reasonably identifiable group or class of employees” without being required…
Forbes has recognized four Seyfarth lawyers on its select 2026 America's Top Lawyers list: firm chair and managing partner Lorie Almon, Litigation department chair Giovanna Ferrari, and Labor & Employment partners Camille Olson and Gerald Pauling. The list spotlights 250 of the nation’s most accomplished attorneys — leaders who have built elite reputations guiding complex, high-stakes matters across courtrooms, boardrooms, and beyond. Honorees were selected through a rigorous evaluation process…
Quick Hits Dismissals following an employee’s refusal to accept a unilateral, far-reaching relocation of the workplace may count toward the thresholds for mass dismissals, the European Court of Justice held in a June 2026 decision. Whether a workplace relocation is equivalent to a dismissal depends on the circumstances of the individual case, in particular the distance involved, the permanence of the change, and any compensatory measures offered. In the event…
For Lomax, the crucial word is early.He has spent much of his career investing in early-stage technology companies and has seen first-hand how a relatively small amount of money at the right moment can make a difference to an idea becoming a successful business.One investment he describes has since reached a valuation of billions of dollars. But four years earlier, the company needed just $150,000 to get started.“If it didn’t…
On October 14 at 12:00 noon, the Valdai Club will host an expert discussion in Moscow, titled “Results of the German State Elections: A New Political Reality?” In September, elections for regional parliaments took place in three German states. The “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) party secured a decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In Berlin, the party finished third, trailing behind The Left and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).…
6 October 2026By Ana Sofia Cianfarani, Paola Di Casola, José Ramos and Dennis ZanderAI has the potential to reshape the euro area economy. This ECB Blog post explores how AI investments are being financed, focusing on the current financing mix of the most AI-intensive sectors and the consequences for monetary policy.Euro area firms are taking part in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. And, as discussed in a previous ECB Blog…
Poverty is often studied as a chronic condition that affects a person or a household uniformly day to day and season to season. But in agrarian areas across the developing world, hundreds of millions of subsistence farmers and landless families experience regular cycles of seasonal deprivation. During a lean season that occurs between planting crops and harvesting them, work grows scarce, wages decrease, and food becomes more expensive. Some families…
Planning for Manchester as a centre for inclusive innovation A panel chaired by Elvira Uyarra, Professor of Innovation Studies at Alliance Manchester Business School and Executive Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, asked how the University’s ambition for Europe’s most inclusive innovation ecosystem might translate into delivery. Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, framed inclusion around three questions—innovation for whom, by whom, and…
Seyfarth Synopsis: A recent Washington Supreme Court decision gives employers a new reason to pay close attention to how they document and defend personnel decisions. In Earl v. Campbell, No. 104495-0, 2026 WL 2603639 (Wash. Sept. 3, 2026), the court ruled that a negligent retention claim may move forward even when an employer acknowledges that it may be responsible for an employee’s conduct within the scope of employment. Importantly, the…
Quick Hits Federal contractors encounter agency guidance at nearly every stage of contract performance. DOJ’s revised policy distinguishes between agency guidance that tracks binding regulations and guidance that is purely advisory. Under DOJ’s revised policy, noncompliance with agency guidance, standing alone, cannot establish an FCA violation. A contract that requires compliance with agency guidance can make that guidance enforceable or “material,” so the source of the obligation matters. DOJ may…
Pregnancy-Related Breast Cancer, diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly afterwards, occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000 pregnancies in the general population. Among women at very high risk of breast cancer, such as BRCA gene carriers, rates have been reported as high as 1 in 50 pregnancies. Between 35-50% of breast cancer cases in women under 55 years of age are within 10 years of having a baby and 5% of breast…
When Commercial AI Meets Defense Data: Privacy, Security, and Data Rights Considerations | The Global Privacy Watch Skip to content
Quick Hits A federal district court in California has blocked USCIS, CBP, and the State Department from enforcing or implementing policies related to the proclamation-based $100,000 H-1B payment requirement. The California ruling represents another adverse federal district court decision involving the $100,000 payment, which is already blocked pursuant to a separate federal district court decision in Massachusetts that is currently on appeal. The court order does not affect the U.S.…
Dans un arrêt unanime rendu le 22 septembre 2026, la Cour d’appel du Québec confirme la décision de l’honorable Enrico Forlini, j.c.s. dans l’affaire PG4 c. Énergir, 2024 QCCS 4179, aux termes de laquelle une somme de 15 670 101 $ a été octroyée à l’entrepreneur en raison de conditions de sol et de roc imprévues. Le plus haut tribunal de la province rappelle au passage que les droits contractuels…
In Panasonic Canada Inc. v. XL Specialty Insurance Company, 2026 ONCA 633, the Ontario Court of Appeal held that a ransomware endorsement applied to losses arising from a ransomware attack, even though the insured did not pay a ransom and sought coverage under other coverage grants in the base policy. The decision underscores that endorsement wording may govern ransomware-related losses based on the nature of the loss, regardless of the…
Quick Hits On September 29, 2026, the SBA removed disparate impact liability and race-conscious affirmative action requirements from 13 CFR Part 112, effective immediately, without prior notice and comment. The revised rule states Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits only intentional discrimination and rests on the same legal authorities as the earlier agency rescissions, Alexander v. Sandoval, Loper Bright, Students for Fair Admissions, and Executive Order…
On Sept. 17, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador’s House of Assembly, sitting in a special session, voted to move forward with a definitive cooperation and implementation agreement dated Aug. 17, 2026 (the DCIA)1 between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (NLH), Hydro-Québec (HQ), and Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited (CF(L)Co). The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Hydro-Québec and the Federal Government first announced the agreement on Aug. 17, 2026. The agreement provides the…
2 October 2026By Annalisa Ferrando, Sara Lamboglia, Judit Rariga, and Maurice SchmidtAI can reshape our economies. The ECB Blog explores the financing of AI investment in two posts. In this one we show that firms expect to rely overwhelmingly on their own resources to finance the transition. Based on the Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises, 72% of firms planning to invest in AI expect to use internal…