The California state legislature, local government entities, and state and federal courts are constantly changing the environment in which our clients operate on a daily basis and plan their future strategic direction. Staying abreast of new laws, regulations and other legal developments – and analyzing the impact on clients – is what makes our attorneys standout as go-to experts. We share breaking-news information through the timely distribution of Client Alerts, and we encourage you to sign up to receive these updates by completing the subscription information in the left column. Our most recent Client Alerts are provided below, alphabetized by area of law. Prior alerts are available in the annual archives in the left column or via the search function on our website.
- Air Quality Modeling Given the Trump Administration’s Clean Air Act ActionsJuly 14, 2026The Regulatory Backdrop Air quality modeling often requires assumptions about future motor vehicle emissions standards. However, these assumptions have been complicated by (1) the 2025 revocation of California’s Clean Air Act waivers, which previously allowed California to adopt motor vehicle emissions regulations on its own, and (2) the 2026 federal rescission of the GHG ... read more
- CEQA Water Supply Analyses: Court Clarifies Disclosure RequirementsJuly 14, 2026Vallejo v. City of American Canyon (2026) 117 Cal.App.5th 1112 This case is a helpful guide for practitioners involved in the preparation of water supply analyses and the disclosure of water supply uncertainty. The Court’s Analysis Petitioner first asserted the WSA was inadequate for failing “to disclose amount of water actually purchased—as ... read more
- Appellate Decision Clarifies Scope of Programmatic EIR Analysis for Housing Element SitesJuly 14, 2026The Committee for Tiburon LLC v. Town of Tiburon (2026) 118 Cal.App.5th 259. Why This Matters This appellate decision may be one of the most interesting cases from 2026 for individuals preparing programmatic EIRs. The question presented to the Court was “if a local government is updating its general plan and housing element site inventory and no specific housing ... read more
- Three Lawsuits, Fifteen Years, One Project: Court Draws the Line on Successive CEQA ChallengesJuly 14, 2026Bair v. California Department of Transportation (2026) 119 Cal.App.5th 579 Why This Matters This decision offers important guidance on how claim preclusion doctrines apply to successive CEQA challenges arising from the same project, and reflects the courts’ growing impatience with serial litigation strategies. Background Bair is the ... read more
- California Supreme Court Clarifies “Negligible Expansion” Under the Class 1 CEQA ExemptionJuly 7, 2026Sunflower Alliance v. California Department of Conservation (Case No. S287414.) Why This Matters After two years without weighing in on a CEQA case, the California Supreme Court has issued a significant decision clarifying the scope of CEQA's Class 1 categorical exemption for minor alterations to existing facilities. For practitioners and agencies who rely on this commonly ... read more
- Failure to Comply with Claims Presentation Requirement Cannot be Cured After Lawsuit is Served on a Public EntityJune 9, 2026In a published opinion issued on June 2, 2026, the Second Appellate District affirmed the importance of the Government Claims Act’s claim presentation requirement. The Court held that a plaintiff’s failure to present the claim to the public entity before filing and serving a lawsuit was a fatal defect that could not be cured. read more
- Neighbor Disputes in High-Value Commercial and Residential Real EstateFebruary 26, 2026Whether your neighbors are adjacent businesses in a commercial complex, or the family who lives on the other side of the wall in your backyard, neighbor disputes can easily turn into the most stressful and cumbersome aspect of one’s life. Getting early guidance from an experienced attorney familiar with land use and real estate disputes may avoid some of the worst outcomes. For those with ... read more
- Proposed New Federal Rule Regarding AI-Generated EvidenceFebruary 18, 2026Evidence generated by artificial intelligence (“AI”) is making its way into courtrooms. As a result, the U.S. Judicial Conference’s Advisory Committee has proposed a new rule “to regulate the admissibility of machine evidence that is introduced without the testimony of any expert.” The proposed rule marks an important effort to address concerns raised by the use of AI in courts of law ... read more
- Workplace Know Your Rights Act (SB 294) Addresses Immigration & Workers Comp ConcernsJanuary 9, 2026California employers face new compliance requirements in 2026, including written employee notices and emergency-contact procedures tied to significant fines. By February 1, 2026, employers must provide a written notice to each employee of certain workplace rights, including, among other things, workers compensation and notice requirements related to inspections conducted by ... read more