The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) recently published a proposed rule updating the definition of “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”). Environmental attorneys Jennifer Cave and Jordan Lee briefly describe the proposed changes, why it matters, and the next steps in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.

Over the past few years, developments in artificial intelligence in the form of Large Language Models, or LLMs, have opened many legal doors for pro se litigants – some not to their benefit. Attorneys should be aware of how this technology can increase the difficulty of litigating against frivolous claims and defenses. Evan Elam and Shannon Sprinkle take a deeper look at what to look out for in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.

On November 12, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, into law, reopening the federal government. And while celebration for some is likely, not all will rejoice, particularly those states, businesses, and individuals involved in the hemp industry, which H.R. 5371 pointedly targets. Jennifer Cave and Jackson Hurst-Sanders take a look at  the changes in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.

On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a pre-publication copy of its proposed rule to significantly reduce the scope of its Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) reporting requirements under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  Most significantly, the proposed changes seek to exempt imported articles from the reporting requirement.  According to EPA, the proposed rule aims to make PFAS reporting under TSCA more practical and easier to implement by reducing unnecessary or duplicative requirements for businesses, while ensuring EPA continues to receive essential information on PFAS use and safety.