Industrial Trends | Winter 2026 (Video)

If your Colorado compliance program is built around impact assessments, it is built for a statute that will never take effect. Senate Bill 24-205, the first comprehensive state AI statute in the country, was scheduled to take effect June 30, 2026. Colorado instead repealed and replaced it with Senate Bill 26-189, signed May 14, 2026, whose principal requirements apply to consequential decisions made on or after January 1, 2027.

California will become one of the first states to expressly regulate attorneys' use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on January 1, 2027. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 574 on September 30, 2026, codifying attorneys' professional accountability duties when using AI tools.

The Trump Administration has introduced a voluntary regulatory framework for artificial intelligence through the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, signed by six leading tech companies. This new approach emphasizes corporate self-policing with safety audits and board oversight, while simultaneously rebranding government AI terminology and establishing a new interagency coordination force. How will this light-touch regulatory strategy balance innovation with mounting safety concerns as AI capabilities

California Senate Bill 574 proposes a groundbreaking statutory framework that would prohibit attorneys from delegating legal practice to generative artificial intelligence, while imposing disclosure requirements and verification standards across litigation, arbitration, and court filings. The legislation raises fundamental questions about how traditional definitions of "the practice of law" apply to AI-augmented legal work, from document review to contract analysis. If signed by Governor Newsom, California

Contract lifecycle management has become the most widely adopted legal technology tool in corporate legal departments, addressing fundamental challenges around contract visibility, workflow automation, and risk management. Legal operations expert Jeff Reisner breaks down the CLM landscape, implementation considerations, and why this technology has emerged as the foundational piece most legal teams tackle first when modernizing their operations.

Legal departments are struggling with AI implementation, with failure rates as high as 95%. However, some organizations are achieving remarkable results by following five disciplined practices...

This collection of insights from Ankura explores critical challenges facing multiple industries in 2026, from cybersecurity threats targeting AI assistants to the evolving landscape of freight capacity, cryptocurrency enforcement, and healthcare compliance. The articles examine how organizations navigate regulatory complexity, operational constraints, and emerging risks across financial services, logistics, healthcare, and technology sectors.

As easy as it is to record a conversation today, doing so is not always legal. Michigan laws are less restrictive than laws in states like Florida...

A comprehensive study reveals that beauty, health, and wellness has transformed from discretionary luxury into an identity cornerstone, with young men emerging as the fastest-growing demographic and nearly 13,000 medspas now rivaling McDonald's locations across America. The research exposes a critical disconnect between what industry executives believe consumers want and what consumers are actually doing with their time, money, and trust.

Explore insights and analysis from Sheppard Mullin's legal professionals through their comprehensive collection of blog posts and podcasts covering current legal developments, industry trends, and practical guidance across multiple practice areas.

California's Starter Home Revitalization Act receives significant enhancements through Senate Bill 1116, expanding site eligibility criteria, limiting local zoning restrictions, and invalidating certain private deed covenants to accelerate small-lot residential subdivisions. The legislation introduces streamlined 60-day ministerial approvals while establishing new rules for lot size averaging, height restrictions, and concurrent permit processing that fundamentally reshape the pathway for starter home devel

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed multiple state housing bills into law that will take effect January 1, 2027, introducing significant changes to housing development regulations across the state. These new laws establish streamlined ministerial approval processes for various housing types, from high-density transit hub projects in major cities to townhomes and factory-built housing, while also reforming ADU regulations, permit processing requirements, and density bonus provisions. Will these legis

California has enacted comprehensive legislation requiring data center developers to disclose water usage and demonstrate supply adequacy before obtaining permits. These new laws impose water supply assessments, efficiency reporting, and drought contingency planning obligations that fundamentally reshape the regulatory landscape for data center development in the state.

Mechanic's liens pose significant challenges for property owners and developers in California construction projects, even when they have fulfilled their payment obligations. Understanding the strict procedural requirements, timing deadlines, and available remedies can help owners protect their projects from improper claims and efficiently resolve legitimate liens when they arise.

California voters will soon decide on Proposition 45, the Building an Affordable California Act (BACA), which promises to revolutionize CEQA environmental review for essential projects including housing, infrastructure, and renewable energy developments. The initiative would establish vested CEQA standards, accelerated review timelines, and significantly reduced litigation risks for qualifying projects. Will this landmark reform provide the certainty developers need, or will ambiguities in its broad provisi

Does a member of a limited liability company owe a fiduciary duty to the company and the other members? Section 17704.09(a) of the California Corporations Code states that a member owes a duty of loyalty and a duty of care.

The Bureau of Land Management has authorized the Pearl Geothermal Development Project using a controversial 14-day expedited environmental review process, marking the first new geothermal power plant approved under emergency permitting procedures implemented in response to President Trump's national energy emergency declaration. While the project underwent multiple phases of review over several years before final approval, questions remain about whether future projects conceived after these Alternative Arra

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued comprehensive new guidance that dramatically expands protection requirements for four candidate bumble bee species under the California Endangered Species Act. The 2026 guidance introduces strict survey timelines, seasonal construction restrictions, and mandatory onsite biological monitoring that will significantly impact project planning and budgets across the state. Project developers now face narrow construction windows, 60-day advance survey submis

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has approved sweeping housing reforms that dramatically reduce inclusionary affordable housing requirements and development impact fees. The legislation eliminates BMR obligations for projects under 25 units, slashes on-site requirements to 5% citywide, and cuts development impact fees by 67%, while a companion ballot measure seeks to expand the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to $125 million annually by 2036.

California's State Water Resources Control Board has implemented sweeping changes to water diversion measurement and reporting regulations, requiring rights holders to upgrade equipment, formalize methodologies, and submit standardized data through the new CalWATRS platform. With critical deadlines approaching in October 2026 and January 2027, water users face substantial compliance obligations backed by penalties of up to $10,000 per day for violations. What specific steps must diverters take now to ensure