Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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…

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…

When Commercial AI Meets Defense Data: Privacy, Security, and Data Rights Considerations | The Global Privacy Watch Skip to content

Seyfarth Synopsis: King County Executive Girmay Zahilay proposed funding for a new Office of Labor Standards focused on unincorporated King County. The proposal does not itself create new substantive workplace requirements, but employers with operations in those areas should monitor the budget process and the office’s development. What the Proposal Would Do The proposed office would be housed within King County’s Department of Local Services and would initially focus on…

A growing wave of class actions is testing whether routine employment policies can trigger liability under Washington’s Noncompetition Covenants Act. Plaintiffs' position is that compliance depends not just on what these provisions say, but also on how they are communicated to employees. Previous class actions challenged the substance of everyday workplace policies related to conflicts of interest, outside-employment, confidentiality, and moonlighting. The new lawsuits argue that employers either failed to…

On September 16, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), introduced the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, proposed federal legislation that would significantly restrict common management services organization (MSO) and “friendly physician” structures used in physician practice arrangements. According to a press release issued by Representative Ocasio-Cortez, the proposed legislation would:…

Growth Concentrates in Data Centers and Industrial While Office Recovery Continues 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: AI continues to drive commercial real estate demand, particularly in Boston and San Francisco, where technology investment is supporting data…

Seyfarth Synopsis: Recent litigation is reshaping the No Surprises Act (NSA) federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) landscape in ways that matter directly to group health plan sponsors and their claims administrators. While the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury (the “Departments”) have finalized operational rules for the federal IDR process (the “Final Rule”), the more significant story may be the litigation over who can enforce…

The UK Financial Conduct Authority, ("FCA"), has issued its first dedicated Handbook guidance on the application of the Conduct Rules and fitness and propriety framework to non-financial misconduct. The guidance applies across banks and non-banks. A separate rule change expands the scope of the Conduct Rules for non-bank firms. Both took effect on September 1, 2026. For U.S.-headquartered financial services organizations, a concern reported through a global hotline or investigated…

A federal district court in Massachusetts has temporarily postponed the effective date of a DHS rule that would have replaced the longstanding “duration of status” (D/S) admission framework for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with fixed periods of admission. The rule was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, but the court issued a preliminary injunction preventing DHS from implementing it while litigation continues. As a result, F-1 students,…

September 16, 2026 - Seyfarth Shaw LLP has further boosted its Labor & Employment practice and trial capabilities with the move of veteran trial lawyer, employment litigator and counselor Carmen Cole to the firm as a partner based in its Los Angeles (Century City) office. Cole offers more than 20 years of experience representing employers in complex employment litigation, workplace disputes and investigations, executive mobility, compliance counseling, and business strategy. She…

U.S. employers operating in the UAE frequently approach employment terminations with the same instincts they apply domestically. The assumption is often that an underperforming or redundant employee can be terminated quickly with minimum financial exposure, provided there is no discriminatory motive. However, this is not quite the story in the UAE. The concept of at-will employment that governs most employment relationships in the U.S. does not apply, therefore care needs…

The US Tax Court is currently considering a case, Rogovy v. Commissioner, that could have an enormous impact on cryptocurrency holders. The primary issue under consideration is whether a Bitcoin "hard fork" that results in a taxpayer receiving a new digital token generates taxable income. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says yes and has assessed Benjamin Rogovy and Carol Castellon Miranda $25.5 million in tax deficiencies and penalties. The couple…

UK employment law reform: the next phase UK employment law is undergoing one of its most significant periods of reform in decades. The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a broad programme of changes intended to strengthen employment protections and modernise workplace rights and industrial relations. The changes are being implemented in phases throughout 2026 and 2027 and affect most stages of the employment relationship, from family leave and sickness absence…

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Legislature concluded the second year of its 2024-2026 session on September 1, 2026, and sent the last of its approved bills to Governor Newsom for consideration. The Governor has until September 30 to approve or veto fewer bills than we’ve seen in years, but those that remain will still impact employers in California. On September 1, 2026, the California Legislature sent the last of its approved bills…

September 8, 2026 - Seyfarth Shaw LLP advised Links Car Wash, LLC, the express car wash operator controlled by Ryan Hanks, in connection with the multi-phase acquisition of the "Woodie's Wash Shack" car wash platform from WWS Enterprises, LLC and related seller parties. The acquisition is being carried out through the client's affiliated buyer, Links Car Wash Management, LLC. The transaction involves the acquisition of the entire "Woodie's Wash Shack" platform, comprising…

In United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, the Eleventh Circuit vacated a district court decision that had declared the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act (“FCA”) unconstitutional under the Appointments Clause. The panel held that private relators who bring FCA suits on behalf of the government are not “Officers of the United States” because they do not occupy a “continuing” position, and therefore need…

Executive Summary The oil agreement announced by the United States and Venezuela on August 28, 2026, together with OFAC’s August 27 amendments to several Venezuela-related General Licenses, signals a potentially significant new phase for investment in Venezuela’s energy sector. Publicly disclosed terms indicate a 25-year framework covering 17 strategic oil fields, a production objective exceeding 1.5 million barrels per day, and approximately US$100 billion in contemplated private investment. Venezuelan authorities…

Seyfarth Synopsis: The IRS has issued another round of guidance on Trump Accounts, this time addressing employer contributions to Trump Accounts and eligible investments in which Trump Account funds may be invested. While the new guidance answers many of the questions we have all been asking since these investment accounts were originally announced, there are still operational and administrative challenges that remain unresolved. Employers considering whether to contribute to Trump…

In a move that could dramatically alter the economics of hiring foreign talent in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new $103,265 filing fee for H-1B cap-subject petitions. If implemented, the fee would apply to all H-1B petitions filed under the annual cap, including those eligible for the advanced-degree exemption, and would be charged in addition to all existing filing fees. While the proposal…

By: Mecole Tate and Chelsea Hoffman Seyfarth Synopsis: San Francisco just delivered a bundle of joy for new parents. The city reduced the employment tenure requirement under its Paid Parental Leave Ordinance from 180 days to 90 days, meaning eligible employees can start accessing employer-paid supplemental compensation benefits faster. Covered employers may want to start baby-proofing their policies now, ahead of phased-in compliance beginning January 1, 2027. New parents in…

Seyfarth Synopsis: San Francisco just delivered a bundle of joy for new parents. The city reduced the employment tenure requirement under its Paid Parental Leave Ordinance from 180 days to 90 days, meaning eligible employees can start accessing employer-paid supplemental compensation benefits faster. Covered employers may want to start baby-proofing their policies now, ahead of phased-in compliance beginning January 1, 2027. New parents in San Francisco have a reason to…

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued a final rule substantially revising the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Most notably, the rule rescinds the longstanding 7% disability utilization goal under 41 C.F.R. § 60-741.45 and the disability-related data collection requirements under 41 C.F.R. § 60-741.44(k). The rule reflects the DOL's opinion that the prior framework created tension with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”),…

On August 11, 2026, the Colorado Department of Law released a single set of proposed rules  substantially building out two 2026 statutes: the Automated Decision-Making Technology Act (“ADMT Act”) and the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Service Operator Requirements (the “Chatbot Safety Act”). Both laws take effect January 1, 2027, and the proposed rules would become effective the same day. The Rules are not yet final – for covered organizations and interested parties the weeks until September…

After years of rulemakings, filing deadlines, court challenges, injunctions, extensions, and client alerts, the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) appears to have reached its conclusion for most US businesses. On August 11, 2026, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) released a final rule adopting, with limited changes, the March 2025 interim final rule narrowing the CTA’s BOI reporting requirements. Most importantly, the final rule permanently removes BOI reporting requirements for US…

Just hours after publication of our earlier alert, USCIS issued updated guidance confirming that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Burma (Myanmar) and South Sudan is terminated effective August 7, 2026. USCIS stated that TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under categories A12 and C19 for beneficiaries from both countries are no longer valid, and employers must reverify affected employees who previously presented those documents. The announcements supersede all prior…

Understanding Louisiana’s New Workplace Violence Law: Behind the Counter | Workplace Safety and Environmental Law Alert Blog Skip to content

The pace of change in employment authorization policy has long been relentless, but the developments of the last several days have been particularly significant. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated guidance, courts permitted several Temporary Protected Status (TPS) terminations to proceed, and a stay was denied in litigation challenging the TPS provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Judge Lifts Haiti Stay; USCIS Issues Additional Guidance…

Key Takeaways Governor Greg Abbott has directed the PUCT and ERCOT to pause pending data center interconnection requests until each project completes a comprehensive audit. The audit will examine project power demand and generation strategy, water use, public incentives, community impacts, and ownership. ERCOT’s existing Batch Zero schedule calls for initial project classifications by August 7, but neither ERCOT nor the PUCT has publicly announced how the new audit will…

August 6, 2026 -  Seyfarth Shaw LLP continues to extend its litigation and investigations platform with the addition of nationally recognized trial lawyer Nathan Muyskens as a partner in Washington, DC. Muyskens will serve as co-chair of Seyfarth's White Collar practice and as a key member of the firm's national Trial team. Muyskens’ arrival at Seyfarth follows months after another preeminent trial lawyer, Marc Mukasey, moved to Seyfarth along with…

August 4, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP has significantly boosted its Seattle Labor & Employment practice with the addition of partner Meg Burnham and six other lawyers, building on the firm's recent additions of leading employment litigators Kathryn (Katie) Rosen and Devin Smith. Burnham is being joined in Seyfarth’s Seattle Labor & Employment practice by senior counsel Scott Prange and Darrah Hinton, counsel Rebecca Lynch, and associates Katie Gould, Kathleen…

Thursday, August 6, 20262:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mountain11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific About the Decoding Data Privacy Series Data privacy and cybersecurity have become critical business risks for companies as they increasingly rely on technology to collect, store, monitor, and manage employee and customer information. From biometric data, workplace monitoring tools, marketing-based communication systems and connected tracking technologies, and AI-enabled…

The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) landscape continues to evolve rapidly. On July 29, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance for Haiti and Syria stating that TPS and associated employment authorization have terminated effective July 27, 2026. USCIS also instructed employers to reverify employment authorization for affected TPS beneficiaries from Haiti, Syria, and Yemen. On July 30, 2026, USCIS issued updated guidance for Ethiopia and Burma (Myanmar).The…

July 31, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP represented Torq Consulting in its combination with Sendero Consulting, bringing together two Dallas-based, founder-led consulting firms with complementary strengths in digital transformation, data analytics, and AI-enabled business solutions. The combination creates a larger platform positioned to help clients navigate increasingly complex business and technology challenges while preserving the entrepreneurial culture and client-first approach that have driven the success of both organizations. The transaction…

Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 23, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed regulations that would significantly expand the ability of group health plans to furnish required ERISA disclosures electronically (“Proposed Rule”). The proposal would create a new electronic disclosure safe harbor for group health plans modeled largely after the DOL’s 2020 electronic disclosure framework for retirement plan notices.  For too long, plan administrators  have been required to comply with…

Venezuela’s legal and commercial environment is entering a new phase. Recent hydrocarbons reforms and implementing regulations have expanded opportunities for private participation across the oil value chain, while the United States has issued a series of general licenses permitting defined categories of energy, minerals, financial-services and investment-related activity. These developments may create meaningful opportunities for Venezuelan businesses seeking foreign capital, technology, services, financing and access to international markets. They do…

In a July 21, 2026 decision, the D.C. Circuit struck down the National Labor Relations Board’s “successor bar” doctrine, holding that it is inconsistent with the National Labor Relations Act. In doing so, the majority opinion in Hospital Menonita de Guayama v. NLRB relied on Loper Bright and the court’s obligation to independently interpret statutes rather than to defer to an agency’s own interpretation of its statutory authority. The decision…

WASHINGTON – Several nonprofit solar grantees have now filed claims against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Court of Federal Claims, challenging the agency’s decision to break grant agreements that had been awarded competitively under a nationwide program, Solar for All, meant to accelerate deployment of solar on residential homes and slash energy bills for millions of Americans. The Southern Environmental Law Center, Lawyers for Good Government, Seyfarth…

July 20, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP has further expanded its world-class Real Estate department by adding Chris McCoy as a partner in the firm’s growing Charlotte office. McCoy is the 12th Real Estate partner who has made a lateral move to Seyfarth since January 2025 – and the fifth partner since the beginning of 2026 to join Seyfarth’s Real Estate group, which ranks among the largest in the United…

By: Alison Silveira, Lilah Wylde, and Natalie Costero The House settlement was expected to bring long-awaited structure to college athletics. Instead, it has marked the beginning of a new phase of litigation, regulatory disputes, and legislative activity  that will shape how Universities implement revenue sharing, manage NIL programs, and interact with third-party partners. For Universities now one year into the effectiveness of House, the challenge is no longer simply preparing…