Shale Insight 2025
2025-09-16 17:00 - 2025-09-18 13:45 (America/New_York) | Bayfront Conference Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA, 16507
Babst Calland joins the Marcellus Shale Coalition for Shale Insight 2025, September 16-18, 2025. Shale Insight offers participants an insider’s view from the nation’s foremost energy leaders and experts on shale development, environmental protection, pipeline investment, energy driven manufacturing and jobs in demand.
Attorneys Gina Buchman and Gary Steinbauer will serve as panelists for “Just Venting: Navigating the EPA’s Evolving Air Quality Standards for the Oil and Gas Industry.” In March of 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a sweeping deregulatory effort to advance President Trump’s Day One executive orders. Among the “31 actions” announced are regulations that affect the oil and natural gas industry, including the reconsideration of NSPS Part 60 Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc, the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules, and many others. This panel will discuss the current status of the deregulatory efforts that affect the oil and gas industry, anticipated effects of these actions, operator strategies and perspectives, and ways for industry to participate in the process.
Attorneys Moore Capito, Ben Clapp, Justine Kasznica, Blaine Lucas and Dave White will serve as panelists for “A Comprehensive Approach to Data Center Development and the Pivotal Role of Natural Gas.” Development of new data centers hinges on access to reliable power. Natural gas, in abundant supply from the Marcellus and Utica shales, positions this region well for these new projects, along with site redevelopment opportunities, experienced construction companies, R&D capabilities, and an available workforce. This panel will address the most pressing issues related to data center development – including development financing, project siting, land use, zoning, and construction considerations – and provide pathways forward for successful projects.
For more information, click here.
Gina Buchman
Gary Steinbauer
Moore Capito
Ben Clapp
Justine Kasznica
Blaine Lucas
Dave White

2025 PAAZO Fall Seminar
2025-09-18 09:00 - 15:30 | Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry, 2000 Garden View Lane, Cranberry Township, PA, 16066, United States
Municipal Attorney Max Junker will present “Zoning Enforcement Best Practices” at the 2025 PAAZO Fall Seminar on Thursday, September 18, 2025. This session will make sure that your municipality is conducting its zoning enforcement matters in the most efficient, but legally proper, ways. Attendees will be given the tools that they can implement – or enhance – to make their lives easier. For more information, click here.

EMLF Special Institute: Bridging Traditional and Renewable Energy Practice
2025-09-23 09:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
Babst Calland joins the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) for its Special Institute on Bridging Traditional and Renewable Energy Practice on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Attorney Jim Curry will present an “Update on Hydrogen and Carbon Capture.” This presentation will provide an update on federal hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) policies and how they may affect initiatives in Appalachia. Key challenges and opportunities in scaling CCS and hydrogen production and distribution across the region will also be discussed. For more information, click here.

41st PA Chamber Annual Dinner
2025-10-06 16:30 - 21:00 | Hershey Lodge
Babst Calland joins the PA Chamber of Business & Industry for its Annual Dinner on Monday, October 6, 2025. For more information, click here.

2025 EMLF Fall Symposium
2025-10-07 08:00 - 2025-10-09 12:15 | Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine Street, Lexington, KY, 40507, United States
Babst Calland joins the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) for its Annual Fall Symposium, October 7-9, 2025.
Employment and Labor Attorney John McCreary will present “The End of Prohibition: Marijuana Comes to the Workplace.” At least 33 states have authorized the use of medical cannabis. At least 18 states have “legalized” the recreational use of cannabis. To date, federal law continues to classify cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” The conflicting legal regimes create uncertainty for employers. This presentation will review state and federal laws relating to cannabis and discuss some noteworthy court decisions.
Litigation Attorneys Steve Silverman and Katerina Vassil will co-present “Legal and Practical Hurdles Surrounding Lithium: The Next Extraction Revolution.” As E&P companies explore participating in lithium extraction from produced water, they face many legal and business hurdles but recognize that the benefits may be tremendous. This program explores those hurdles, including overcoming title issues, lease language limitations, and other challenges by answering such fundamental questions as who owns the extracted lithium and the produced water where it resides. Just as importantly, it will address the state of extraction technologies and their current scalability and sustainability limitations.
For more information, click here.
John McCreary
Steve Silverman
Katerina Vassil

Who, What, When, and Why of Authority Rules and Regulations
2025-10-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Webinar
Municipal Attorneys Betsy Dupuis and Morgan Madden will present “Who, What, When, and Why of Authority Rules and Regulations” to the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Most municipal authorities in the Commonwealth have some iteration of rules and regulations to govern and guide the use of equipment, services provided, and authority-owned facilities. Sometimes these regulations simply cover the basics including fees for tapping, services, etc., and yet other municipalities have more robust regulations that dictate, for example, how repairs are to be completed and who is responsible for costs associated with the same. As a general rule, authorities should regularly review their rules and regulations and ensure that those rules and regulations are sufficient and enforceable based upon current operations and services, and ensure both the system and the authority are protected from unauthorized actors and a constantly evolving legal and regulatory landscape. This presentation will discuss the source of municipal authorities’ authority, the framework within which municipal authorities can and should develop rules and regulations and further discuss basics and best practices for promulgating and enforcing sensible authority rules and regulations.
Learning Objectives:

Provide an overview of the statutory and regulatory rules around authority creation and governing instruments for each authority.
Emphasize the importance of the underlying relationship between authorities and the entities that created them.
Underscore the importance of understanding an authority’s infrastructure– who owns it, who manages it and who pays when it needs replaced.
Review best practices for how to develop internal rules and procedures for authority operations, personnel and municipal relationships.
Deliver tips and best practices for developing authority rules and regulations for customers and constituents.

For more information, click here.
Betsy Dupuis
Morgan Madden

2025 PA Chamber’s Annual Environmental Conference
2025-10-28 08:00 - 15:30 | Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey
Environmental Attorney Gary Steinbauer will co-present “Federal and State Policy Changes in Environment and Energy” at the PA Chamber of Business and Industry’s Annual Environmental Conference on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. This Conference brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to provide critical updates on environmental policy in the Commonwealth. It also explores insights and aspirations for the future of energy and infrastructure investment in Pennsylvania, as well as what that future holds for the state’s emerging policy landscape. For more information, click here.

2025 PIOGATech - Air Quality Training
2025-12-17 09:00 - 15:45 | Shakespeare’s Restaurant & Pub at Olde Stonewall Golf Course, 1495 Mercer Road, Ellwood, PA, 16117, United States
Environmental Attorney Christina Puhnaty will present on the “Implementation of Pennsylvania’s Existing Source Rule” at the PIOGATech – Air Quality Training on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the factors that influence air emissions, an overview of the regulations as they relate to oil and gas operations, compliance, and testing methods. For more information, click here.

PACA January Members Forum Meeting
2026-01-08 11:00 - 12:00
Babst Calland joins the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) on Wednesday, January 8, 2026 for its January Members Forum Meeting. Environmental Attorneys Kevin Garber, Tim Bytner and Christina Puhnaty will provide an overview of new developments to be expected from DEP in 2026 including some TGD revisions, the penalty policy, new EJ developments, and a new case. For more information, click here.
Kevin Garber
Tim Bytner
Christina Puhnaty

2026 OOGA Annual Meeting
2026-03-04 10:00 - 2026-03-06 13:00 | Hilton Columbus at Easton, 3900 Chagrin Dr. , Columbus, OH, 43219, United States
Attorneys Justine Kasznica and Max Junker will present “A Comprehensive Approach to Data Center Development and the Pivotal Role of Natural Gas” at the Ohio Oil and Gas Association’s (OOGA) Annual Meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. For more information, click here.
Justine Kasznica
Max Junker

PA Chamber of Business and Industry's 2026 Human Resources Conference
2026-03-05 08:00 - 15:45 | Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, business leaders from across the Commonwealth will gather for the PA Chamber of Business and Industry’s 2026 Human Resources Conference to tackle one of today’s most pressing employer challenges: how to operationalize AI responsibly, effectively, and with confidence.
Babst Calland Employment and Labor Attorney Alex Farone will join Denise Turley, Vice President of Corporate Systems at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to present “Operationalizing AI in the Workplace”. As artificial intelligence becomes a day-to-day workplace tool, HR leaders play a critical role in guiding how it is used responsibly, effectively, and in compliance with evolving laws and expectations. This presentation will explore how organizations can move beyond theory to develop clear AI policies, governance frameworks, and workforce guidance that empower employees to leverage AI while managing risk. For more information, click here.

2026 Environmental Compliance Navigator Conference
2026-03-17 12:00 - 2026-03-19 16:00 | NOPSI Hotel, 317 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112
Environmental Attorney Gary Steinbauer will present “Navigating the Federal–State Dynamic in Air Permitting and Enforcement: Practical Strategies and Tips for EHS Professionals” at the Environmental Compliance Navigator Conference on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Air emissions permitting and enforcement actions often require facilities to navigate complex and sometimes disjointed relationships between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and delegated state or local air permitting and enforcement authorities. Differences in regulatory interpretation, permitting timelines, public participation requirements, and enforcement priorities can create uncertainty and operational risk for regulated entities—particularly when permits are modified, renewed, or challenged and when agencies’ policy priorities conflict.
In this session, Gary will explore how EPA and state air agencies interact under the Clean Air Act, where points of friction commonly arise, and how those challenges can impact facility operations and compliance obligations. Drawing on real-world permitting and enforcement experience, the presentation will highlight common pitfalls EHS managers encounter in air permitting and enforcement, including coordination issues with regulatory authorities, evolving regulatory requirements, and compliance vulnerabilities.
The session will conclude with practical strategies EHS professionals can use to better manage air permits, communicate effectively with federal, state, and local regulators, and proactively reduce air-related compliance risk.
For more information, click here.

2026 Appalachian Land Institute
2026-04-02 08:00 - 2026-04-03 12:00 | Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe, 1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg, PA, 15317, United States
Babst Calland joins the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) for its 2026 Appalachian Land Institute, April 2-3, 2026. Attorney Robert Stonestreet will present on “General Litigation Update” and Attorney Nik Tysiak will present on “West Virginia State Tax.” For more information, click here.
Robert Stonestreet
Nik Tysiak

The AI Playbook - Strategizing Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice
2026-04-10 08:00 - 18:00 | Rivers Casino
Attorneys Don Bluedorn and Ethan Johnson will present “The AI Playbook – Strategizing Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice” at the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s (ACC) Draft-ing Day on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the legal profession, much like how NFL teams draft, strategize, and execute on the field. This CLE program provides attorneys and in-house counsel with an “AI playbook” designed to help understand, implement, and manage artificial intelligence technologies while maintaining compliance, ethical integrity, and risk mitigation.
Don and Ethan will discuss GenAI products for use in the legal practice, focusing on available products, how the products can be most effectively used in the legal practice, and best practices to avoid GenAI-related pitfalls (both for lawyers using GenAI and for lawyers supervising others who are using GenAI).
For more information, click here.
Don Bluedorn
Ethan Johnson

2026 PSATS Educational Conference and Exhibit Show
2026-04-19 08:00 - 2026-04-22 12:15 | Hershey Lodge
Babst Calland joins the PA State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) for its Annual Educational Conference and Exhibit Show, April 19-22, 2026. This Conference offers unparalleled training and networking opportunities for township officials and employees and is the biggest municipal exhibit show of its kind in Pennsylvania.
Municipal Attorneys Betsy Dupuis and Morgan Madden will present “Best Management Practices for People, Politics & the Public.” This workshop will focus on navigating high-conflict scenarios that may arise in the management of a township. The presentation will include discussion on managing personnel issues, wayward elected officials, and passionate members of the public.
Morgan will also present “Don’t Shake on It.” This workshop will focus on crafting and enforcing strong written documents for personnel management. The presentation will cover job descriptions, performance evaluations, discipline, separation, and employment agreements. The session will be tailored to suit the needs of both union and non-union employers.
For more information, click here.
Betsy Dupuis
Morgan Madden

2026 PAAZO Spring Seminar
2026-04-19 09:00 - 15:30 | Hershey Lodge
Municipal Attorney Morgan Madden will present “Zoning Strong: Enforcement Strategies that Stick and Appeals You Can Win” at the 2026 PAAZO Spring Seminar on Sunday, April 19, 2026. This one-hour presentation will provide practical strategies and tips to strengthen zoning enforcement practices and set municipalities up for zoning appeal success. Morgan will cover best practices and the requirements of the MPC and aim to better equip zoning officers with the tools to consistently enforce zoning ordinances and defend those actions with confidence. For more information, click here.

Ensuring Local Governments Comply With the Law - Pennsylvania Guide
2026-04-21 09:00 - 16:00 | Webinar
Babst Calland joins the National Business Institute (NBI) for its “Ensuring Local Governments Comply With the Law – Pennsylvania Guide” webinar on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. This webinar will cover current legal challenges faced by municipalities, including open meeting laws, public contract disputes, employment policies, ethical considerations in public disclosures, budget committee issues, and government immunity. Experienced faculty will share strategies for preventing and resolving these issues, helping participants stay up to date on evolving government law.
Alyssa Golfieri will present “Open Meeting Laws.” This presentation will provide an overview of the law and whom it applies to; required content of meeting notices; exceptions to the rule; and email communications.
Alex Farone will present “Human Resources Issues.” This presentation will cover new developments in employment law; conducting successful employee investigations; protecting your employees’ privacy rights; and improving your personnel policies.
Harley Stone will present “Ethics.” This presentation will provide an overview of priviliged vs. public commmunications; conflicts of interest; whistleblowing; and reprsentating clients after public service.
For more information, click here.
Alyssa Golfieri
Alex Farone
Harley Stone

PBI’s 2026 Environmental Law Forum
2026-04-22 08:45 - 2026-04-23 16:15 | Harrisburg Hilton & Towers, One North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Babst Calland joins the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) for its 2026 Environmental Law Forum, April 22-23, 2026. The following attorneys will be presenters:
Don Bluedorn – “How to Get Started with AI”
Robert Bereschak and Don Bluedorn will discuss GenAI products for use in the legal practice, focusing on products that are available, how the products most effectively can be used in the legal practice, and best practices to avoid GenAI-related pitfalls (both for lawyers using GenAI and for lawyers supervising others who are using GenAI).

Ben Clapp – “Buying a Business”
This session will provide an overview of strategies for identifying, evaluating and mitigating potential environmental liabilities and risks arising in connection with the purchase and sale of a business and/or real property. The discussion will cover the full arc of a transaction, commencing with the signing of a letter of intent and progressing through deal closure, with the panel addressing CERCLA and state-equivalent statutes, environmental due diligence considerations, innocent landowner protections, environmental compliance risks, the drafting and negotiation of environmental provisions in asset purchase agreements, environmental requirements of lenders, and environmental insurance. The presenters will provide insights into challenges that often arise in transactions, and approaches commonly employed by buyers and sellers to minimize their exposure to environmental risks.

Kevin Garber – “Planners’ Roundtable: Energy, Exigency, and Ethics”
Emergencies can suspend the ordinary ways in which environmental law applies. From highway collapses to energy emergencies to national security issues, we have been operating under what appear to be an increasing number of governmentally-declared exigencies. What are the implications for our practice on behalf of regulated clients, governments, and NGOs? Is there an ethical dimension to promoting or opposing an emergency suspension of the usual rules or advising clients when the facts are contested?

Anna Jewart (presenter) and Blaine Lucas (moderator) – “Land Use and Zoning”
Development in Pennsylvania, including most projects involving environmental issues, is governed by the Municipalities Planning Code and local zoning and other land use ordinances. The application of local land use ordinances frequently involves their interplay with state and federal law. This session will review significant land use cases decided over the last year in Pennsylvania, with a focus on review standards, standing requirements, preemption doctrine, and constitutional law. This session will also examine ordinance trends regarding traditional energy sources, renewables, and data centers. This area of the law is continually evolving, and this session is designed to better understand how zoning and land use ordinances could impact your next project.

Kevin Garber also served as a member of the planning team for this Forum. For more information, click here.
Don Bluedorn
Ben Clapp
Kevin Garber
Anna Jewart
Blaine Lucas

2026 ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference
2026-04-22 12:00 - 2026-04-24 13:00 | Hilton Boston Park Plaza
Babst Calland joins the American Bar Association (ABA) for its 2026 Litigation Section Annual Conference, April 22-24, 2026. This Conference brings together top litigation professionals from across the U.S. to discuss timely legal issues and the latest in trial advocacy, litigation strategy, and case management.
Litigation Attorney Joseph Schaeffer will serve as the moderator for the session “Litigating in the Age of AI: Navigating Algorithms, Deepfakes, and Data Overload.” Subject-matter experts on the use of AI will be joined by a member of the judiciary to discuss the effective use of AI in pretrial and trial practice, focusing on navigating algorithms, deepfakes, and data overload.
For more information, click here.

West Virginia - Wired for Growth: Data Center Trends Unplugged
2026-05-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar
Attorney Anna Jewart will present “West Virginia – Wired for Growth: Data Center Trends Unplugged” to the Women’s Energy Network’s West Virginia Chapter on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. This virtual discussion will explore the rapid growth of data centers, emerging industry trends, and the evolving intersection of technology and energy. Anna will provide valuable insights and unpack key developments, opportunities and considerations shaping the future of the energy landscape. For more information, click here.

EMLF’s 47th Annual Institute
2026-06-14 13:30 - 2026-06-16 12:00 | Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King Street, Charleston, SC, United States
Babst Calland joins the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) for its 47th Annual Institute, June 14-16, 2026.
Attorney Anna Skipper Jewart will serve as a panelist for “Navigating Community Impact in Data Center Development.” This fireside discussion lets you join a data center developer and its land use counsel to explore how successful data center projects are planned with community impact front and center. The conversation will focus on practical strategies for addressing local concerns around land use, infrastructure, environmental impacts, and long-term community compatibility. Panelists will share real-world perspectives on early engagement, navigating entitlements and approvals, and building trust with stakeholders to move complex projects forward responsibly and efficiently.
Attorney Don Bluedorn will present “Getting Started with AI.” This topic will discuss how GenAI products effectively can be used in the legal practice, and best practices to avoid GenAI-related pitfalls (both for lawyers using GenAI and for lawyers supervising others who are using GenAI).
For more information, click here.

Best Management Practices for People, Politics, and the Public
2026-06-16 10:00 - 2026-06-17 14:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Exton, 720 Eagleview Blvd., Exton, PA, 19341, United States
Municipal Attorney Morgan Madden will present “Best Management Practices for People, Politics, and the Public” during PA State Association of Township Supervisors’ (PSATS) Secretary/Manager Summit, June 16-17, 2026. This session will focus on navigating high-conflict scenarios that may arise in the management of a township. The presentation will include discussion on managing personnel issues, wayward elected officials, and passionate members of the public. For more information, click here.

Best Management Practices for Legal and Effective Procurement
2026-06-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Webinar
Municipal Attorneys Betsy Dupuis and Morgan Madden will present “Best Management Practices for Legal and Effective Procurement” to the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. This one-hour webinar will provide a practical overview of procurement fundamentals, legal requirements, and common pitfalls to avoid. Participants will explore key topics like bid thresholds, bidding versus obtaining a quote, and how to navigate unique circumstances like emergencies or last-minute changes to bid specifications. The discussion will cover post-bid processes, including contract management, handling change orders, bonding requirements (performance and payment), and how to best address delays or penalties in project completion. Finally, it’ll review best practices for common issues like responding to Right-to-Know Law requests, conducting compliant bid openings, and adapting to evolving bid advertising practices in a landscape with fewer traditional print outlets. For more information, click here.
Betsy Dupuis
Morgan Madden
