Alerts

On October 30, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA). CRGA makes significant updates to Illinois’ current statewide siting and zoning framework for renewable energy projects and creates a statewide standard for energy storage projects.

The US Supreme Court has fast-tracked challenges to President Trump’s unprecedented use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose wide‑ranging tariffs, and based on recent oral argument, it is unclear how the Court will decide the case.

At the end of October, the Illinois legislature passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), an omnibus energy bill creating various incentives for renewable energy and storage projects, modifying the project siting process, and creating a new siting process for energy storage systems.

A high‑stakes test of presidential tariff power took center stage on November 5 when the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard consolidated arguments in Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump and V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump over sweeping, worldwide tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to address “reciprocal” trade‑deficit measures and fentanyl trafficking.

US Congress tucked a big change into the latest government spending bill: a federal crackdown on intoxicating hemp-derived products.

In the environmental space, there is perhaps no more closely watched issue than how the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the Clean Water Act term, “waters of the United States.”

Now in its 13th year, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) remains a central forum for resolving patent validity disputes.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Welcome to the November 2025 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 Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently launched the Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program — a new initiative designed to expedite patent examination for eligible patent application by advancing them out of turn until the issuance of a first Office Action.

On October 30, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), an omnibus energy bill creating incentives for energy storage projects.

The plaintiff, BDO USA, P.C. is an accounting and professional services advisory firm. The defendants are Ankura Consulting Group, LLC, Ankura’s CEO Kevin Lavin, and Phuoc Vin Phan.

On June 12, 2023, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, owner of the UGG brand, sued Quince, an affordable fashion e-commerce company, alleging that Quince’s shearling lined boots infringed Deckers’ unregistered trade dress and one design patent (US Patent D927,161) (the “’161 Patent”) covering one of its most popular boots, the Classic Ultra Mini Boot.

On October 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule announcing changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), effective on or after January 1, 2026.

The last legislative session in California brought with it a wave of changes to California employment law.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the products hospitals and health systems use, make, or study. As health system innovations increasingly leap quickly across service lines, regulatory obligations can shift in real time.

A recent European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision on the obligations of European states to study carbon-intensive permitting decisions crystallizes how global climate commitments may be beginning to harden into justiciable standards in some jurisdictions.

The decision concerns eight patents owned by Stellar, LLC that were the subject of Motorola Solutions, Inc.’s inter partes review (IPR) petitions.

In the fourth episode of “Tax Stuff You Should Know,” hosts Bob Pluth and Gene Magidenko delve into the concept of profits interests, a valuable tool for partnerships and limited liability companies to reward service providers without triggering immediate adverse income tax consequences.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Ford is considering discontinuing its electric F‑150 Lightning after racking up roughly $13 billion in EV losses since 2023, reflecting broader industry headwinds for large electric pickups as demand cools, costs remain high, and incentives fade.

On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency and instructed federal agencies to use emergency procedures to facilitate domestic energy production. On October 29, the US Army Corps of Engineers issued its first Clean Water Act Section 404 permit under the president’s energy emergency declaration and its emergency procedures.

In the midst of a record-setting government shutdown, partisan divisions are deep, and legislating can appear zero-sum.

The Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (MNAA) took effect in October 2018, imposing certain statutory requirements for noncompete provisions to be enforceable. When the statute became law, many eagerly awaited case law guidance on how to interpret some of the murkier requirements.

As the automotive retail world turns, the Fall Conference for the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) did not fail to provide some key insights for franchised dealers.