United States: Construction & Planning

The Court of Appeals has resolved a longstanding split among New York's Appellate Division circuits regarding whether Industrial Code Section 23-4.2(k) creates vicarious liability for construction site owners under Labor Law § 241(6). The decision clarifies the critical distinction between broad safety concerns and specific statutory commands that can impose nondelegable duties on property owners in construction accident cases.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue has issued a revised version of Revenue Information Bulletin No. 25-023, originally published in August 2025, to provide additional procedural guidance on how general contractors...

The term “piggybacking” in public contracting refers to a municipality using another government’s existing contract instead of running its own competitive bid. In Daniel J. Lynch, Inc. v. Board of Education...

As the commercial real estate (CRE) lending market adjusts to tighter credit conditions, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, commonly known as “C-PACE,” has emerged as an increasingly prevalent component of the CRE capital stack. Cumulative originations reached a record ~$13 billion in 2025, and 40 states now have active programs.

Write-in candidates offer a unique pathway to public office in Illinois, but success requires navigating strict procedural requirements and tight deadlines under the Illinois Election Code.

The environmental permitting landscape for data centers is shifting rapidly, with federal and state regulators often pulling in opposite directions. The Trump Administration has moved to accelerate federal environmental review and to open federal lands for data center siting, while states and localities have responded by tightening scrutiny of the energy, water, and land use impacts of these facilities.

The Appellate Division's recent ruling in Lynch, Inc. v. Board of Education addresses a critical question for New York municipalities and school districts: Can the "piggybacking" exemption under General Municipal Law § 103(16) be used to award public works construction contracts?

In California, if certain statutory requirements are met, public entities can be afforded immunity from liability arising from the design of a public works project. However, public entities should be aware that the rise of alternative delivery methods may impact the availability of the design immunity defense.

Pennsylvania is emerging as a strategic hub for data center and AI infrastructure development, offering a unique convergence of manufacturing capacity, energy resources, and regulatory frameworks. The Commonwealth's position as the largest net exporter of electricity in the United States, combined with its robust industrial supply chain and skilled workforce, creates compelling advantages for developers and investors navigating this rapidly evolving market.