As the “backbone” of digital infrastructure, data centers are becoming more and more critical in meeting the demands of the modern digital world. With advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the increased reliance on computing by people all over the world, demand for data centers is outpacing supply. In their recent article in the OnRamp Magazine, Justine Kasznica and Moore Capito discuss the increased demand for complex data centers and the infrastructure and legal challenges facing developers in the region. To read the full article, click here.
Anna Jewart will be a panelist for the Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event on March 26 from 4 – 6 pm. This event celebrates Women’s
History Month by showcasing women driving sustainability in four fields – business, healthcare, law, and technology. The event will also offer an opportunity to network with the panelists.
Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and anyone interested are invited.
For more information, click here.
On March 8, 2025, we observe International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s theme for IWD is #AccelerateAction. This theme emphasizes the importance of taking swift and influential steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. At Babst Calland, we are proud of our incredible group of women attorneys and professionals who bring their unique perspectives and skills to the Firm. We celebrate you, and to all women everywhere, we see you, we support you, and we stand with you.
For more information on IWD, click here.
Environmental Attorney Mackenzie Moyer, along with Robert Stonestreet, will present an “Overview of NEPA and PFAS, Two Federal Environmental Issues Impacting the Oil and Gas Industry” at the Ohio Oil & Gas Association’s (OOGA) Annual Meeting, March 5-7, 2025. For more information, click here.
Attorney Janet Meub has been selected as the recipient of the Neighborhood Legal Services Association Partner in Justice Award for her essential and noble legal work for Pittsburgh communities and her leadership in involving Babst Calland attorneys to volunteer in representing victims of domestic violence.
Babst Calland supports Neighborhood Legal Services in their commitment to provide equal access to justice for all residents in the region. Neighborhood Legal Services Association offers civil legal services to low-income individuals and families who are unable to afford a private attorney. The types of services include full legal representation, advice, assistance in self-representation or brief service/limited legal assistance.
In their recent alert U.S. EPA Approves Class VI Injection Well Primacy in West Virginia with Jim Curry, Kip Power, and Gary Steinbauer, Gina Falaschi Buchman and Alex Graf discuss on February 26, 2025, the US EPA published a notice in the Federal Register approving West Virginia’s application for Class VI injection well primary enforcement authority (primacy) pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) underground injection control (UIC) program. West Virginia is the first state in the Eastern U.S. to receive primacy. Primacy gives West Virginia the responsibility of overseeing and implementing a Class VI permitting program. To view the alert, click here.
In their recent alert BOI is Back: Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Reinstated with Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell, Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper discuss the recent developments for the reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN has announced a 30-day deadline extension for reporting companies. The new deadline for the majority of reporting companies to file an initial, updated, and/or corrected BOI report is March 21, 2025. FinCEN has also indicated that it will assess the need for further modifications to the reporting deadlines during this 30-day extension period, with a focus on lower-risk entities. Babst Calland will continue to monitor regulatory and judicial updates. To view the full alert, click here.
Francesca C. (Cella) Iovino recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Ms. Iovino’s experience encompasses all phases of litigation from initial pleadings through trial and appeal in the state and federal courts. She has handled a variety of complex commercial disputes, involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, shareholder disputes and oppression claims and business torts. Ms. Iovino also has represented clients in financial servicing issues, debt collection and lender liability matters, trade secret misappropriation and restrictive covenants. In addition, her experience includes handling estates and trusts litigation, real estate matters, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and domestic and international arbitrations. Ms. Iovino also has a background representing clients in complex employment disputes related to discrimination claims, harassment claims, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, and unionization.
Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Iovino was an associate at Jackson Lewis P.C. and formerly an associate in the commercial litigation group with Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe. She is a 2017 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
In a recent case, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court found that the use of an attestation may negate the need for a full privilege log when responding to a Right-to-Know Law request where there are redacted privileged documents and an attestation providing context for the privilege. In her recent article Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Update: The Death of the Attorney-Client Privilege Log? with Michael Korns, Anna Hosack provide this Pennsylvania RTKL Update.
The new presidential administration’s efforts to prioritize immigration law enforcement has resulted in increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and an uptick of questions from employers about how to handle ICE investigations. In their Alert, “Employer Guidance for Workplace Interactions with ICE,” Alex Farone and Steve Antonelli provide guidance to employers for potential interactions with or inspections by ICE at the workplace, including preliminary actions, suggested steps during an ICE visit (whether announced or unannounced), and follow-up recommendations. To read the full alert, click here.
In her recent article Help the Clerk to Help Your Case: Writing Insights from a Federal Career Clerk Turned Litigator Stefanie Mekilo shares writing insights and practical tips gleaned during her time in chambers to help get and keep the judge’s law clerk on your side. To read the full article, click here.
On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued a suite of Executive Orders and memoranda signaling a dramatic shift in American energy and environmental policy. Collectively these actions, among a historically large array of “Day One” orders issued by the administration, aim to stimulate domestic energy production (with a focus on oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical minerals, and nuclear energy resources), expand energy transmission infrastructure, enlarge refining capacity, and streamline environmental permitting and review requirements for energy production and infrastructure projects while canceling Biden-era domestic climate policies, disengaging from international climate agreements, and curtailing leasing and permitting for offshore and onshore wind energy projects. Additional actions by President Trump on energy and environmental issues are expected, and legal challenges are practically certain as federal agencies take concrete steps to implement these directives. Babst Calland is tracking these matters closely and will issue future Alerts as significant developments arise. As always, Babst Calland attorneys are available to provide guidance on how these actions affect your business. To read the alerts, click here.
In their recent alert PFAS: A New Four-Letter Word in Environmental Law? Updates from 2024 and Predictions for 2025 with Joseph Schaeffer, Sloane Wildman and Jessica Deyoe discuss some of the more significant PFAS-related developments from the past year and considers what might happen in 2025 and beyond. To read the full alert, click here.
In recent weeks, significant developments have unfolded regarding the implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act and its beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which remain subject to a nationwide injunction. The ongoing legal challenges have left the status of the BOI reporting requirement in flux. For the time being, unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the nationwide injunction is likely to remain in place through at least March 25, 2025, the scheduled date for oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit. Businesses that have not yet complied with the reporting requirements should remain alert to any changes. Babst Calland will continue to closely monitor developments on this matter. To read the full alert author by Chris Farmakis, Susanna Bagdasarova, Kate Cooper, and Dane Fennell, click here.
Babst Calland announced the lateral move of established West Virginia attorney Ramonda C. Marling who will be joining as a Shareholder in the firm’s office in downtown Charleston.
Effective today, Ms. Marling is joining forces with Babst Calland senior-level legal counsel in its Litigation and Energy and Natural Resources practice areas. Ms. Marling primarily represents clients in litigation and commercial matters. She has extensive experience in complex, high-dollar commercial litigation matters representing natural gas producers, midstream companies, coal companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, tobacco companies and other corporations.