All Perspectives

On July 16, a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri returned a five-count indictment against Philip LeVota, the interim Jackson County executive, accusing him of various bribery-related offenses.

Compliance Fox keeps compliance professionals up to date on shifting regulations, enforcement priorities, and the developments shaping today’s compliance landscape.

The wellness and longevity industry is booming, and many brands are branching into supplements. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and consumer class action lawyers judge your product the same way: What does it promise, and can you back that up? A lawsuit can arrive before the FDA ever does.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Mitesh Patel, senior attorney in ArentFox Schiff’s Intellectual Property practice, will speak serve as a panelist for “Tools of the Trade: AI Automation of IP Applications & Enforcement” at the 8th Annual AI & Robotics National Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law on October 12.

AFS Partner Sara Judge will moderate a panel at the 2026 NADC Fall Conference, taking place October 11 - 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

California has enacted new legislation addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticides. On September 27, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1603, which directs the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to identify registered pesticide products containing intentionally added PFAS ingredients and provide greater public visibility into their use.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and US Department of the Treasury released their 2026–2027 Priority Guidance Plan on September 29, outlining the topics they intend to prioritize for formal guidance during the federal fiscal year running from October 1 of this year through September 30, 2027.

The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in UEC Holdings, Inc. v. Hatcher vacated a preliminary injunction that had required a competitor to stop working on a contract with one of the plaintiffs’ key customers.

Agriculture & AgTech Industry Group Leader Karen Carr will participate in a Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) panel discussion examining how the United States can move agricultural technologies and innovation systems from scientific research and discovery into real-world impact on October 7, 2026.

International Trade Partner James Kim was quoted in a recent newsletter discussing a legal challenge to US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) method of calculating tariffs on steel imports.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to have represented Peakline Partners LLC in its recently-announced acquisition of Kalon Capital LLC, a specialty finance company focused on equipment financing solutions for middle-market businesses. 

On September 18, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Empower Pharmacy, a Houston-based compounding pharmacy that was producing GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (semaglutide and tirzepatide) at high volume.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Effective October 1, through a final rule, the US Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has officially removed Syria from the list of countries subject to a license review policy of denial under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) contained in § 126.1 of the ITAR. Exports of defense articles and services to Syria will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

On September 30, the Illinois Supreme Court agreed to review Tate Road Solar 1, LLC v. County of Winnebago, an appellate decision that deepened uncertainty about county permitting authority over commercial solar energy projects in Illinois.

ArentFox Schiff secured another victory for STIIIZY in an expedited Rule 177 proceeding before US Customs and Border Patrol, where PAX alleged infringement of four patents covering leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges.

On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 690 (SB 690). The bill ends private lawsuits under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) for pen register and trap-and-trace claims under Penal Code Section 638.51 when those claims arise from conduct on a website, online application, or mobile application.

ArentFox Schiff Partner Thorne Maginnis will moderate “Building Winning Products Under Very Different Rules” at TiECon East 2026 on October 2, 2026, at the Boston Marriott Burlington. The session will explore how companies are building and scaling products in rapidly evolving AI markets, creating durable competitive advantages, translating AI capabilities into meaningful customer value, and driving product-led growth, adoption, and retention.

One of the FBA’s longstanding Public Policy Core Principles affirms “the importance of the independence of the judiciary, recognizing that judicial decisions are not immune from scrutiny, but are to be made solely on the basis of the law.” Judicial independence in decision-making is essential. But independence does not mean isolation. In practical terms, the judicial branch depends on the legislative and executive branches in several important respects.

ArentFox Schiff advised Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, in its all-cash acquisition of Harvest Hosts, a membership company for RV travelers. The deal is valued at about $130 million. Choice acquired 100% of Harvest Hosts from Stripes, a growth equity firm based in New York, and other shareholders.

ArentFox Schiff is now accepting applications from second-year law students for its 2L Summer Associate Program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews taking place throughout early fall. Interested students are encouraged to apply early.

US Congress has passed legislation with the potential to significantly expand the availability of subchapter V, the streamlined and less expensive version of Chapter 11 reorganization created for “small businesses.”

Solar project developers seeking the domestic content bonus credit under 26 U.S.C. §§ 45Y and 48E should exercise heightened vigilance regarding the origin of the aluminum and steel frames on the photovoltaic (PV) modules they purchase.

Fashion brands could face broader wage and supply-chain liability under the newly reintroduced FABRIC Act.