Insights

On November 8, 2021, Governor Murphy signed Assembly Bill A3352 (the “Bill”) requiring all new warehouses containing 100,000 square feet or more to reserve at least 40% of its roof space for the future installation of a solar facility. The Bill, which takes an important step towards achieving the 2019 Energy Master Plan goal of having 50 percent of New Jersey’s energy generated by renewable sources by 2030, addresses the pressing need for more renewable energy generation in New Jersey.  

Congress is considering certain tax law changes which may adversely impact your ability to pass assets to your family in a tax-efficient manner in the future. While in general the tax proposals are wide-ranging and cover many areas of taxation, a few proposals relate to the Federal estate and gift tax – and potentially prompt a meaningful reconsideration of tax minimization strategies. These proposals are:  

Ever wonder how patent eligibility challenges are faring in the “Mother Court”? Two recent SDNY decisions offer an indication.  

Join CSG’s Francis J. Giantomasi on Tuesday, November 30, from 4:00 – 5:45 PM, as he presents "Setting Yourself Up for Success: Attorney Well-being and the Duty to Provide Competent Representation in Challenging Times" – a virtual program hosted by the Essex County Bar Foundation. Frank and the group of esteemed panelists will discuss the importance of prioritizing one’s health and well-being and how firms can incorporate this type of care into company culture.  

Shirley U. Emehelu will serve on a panel discussing "Anti-Money Laundering Trends: The Use of Domestic Money Laundering Tools to Target Foreign Corruption and U.S. Professionals" at the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("PACDL") 2021 Virtual White Collar Practice Seminar on Thursday, November 11, from 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM. She will be joined by moderator Peter Hardy, and co-panelist Jonathan R. Barr for what will surely be an insightful conversation. CLE credit available!  

Join Sam Della Fera, Jr. and Robert E. Nies, Co-Chairs of CSG’s Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Group, as they present a timely virtual discussion, "Your supplier/vendor has declared bankruptcy: What can you do? What are your rights?," on Tuesday, October 26, from 9:00 – 10:00 AM EDT. This program, hosted by ROI-NJ, will provide a look at steps that can be taken to protect your organization, including:  

Wendy R. Stein and Donald R. Bunton were recently published in the New York Law Journal with an article examining patent eligibility-related cases, exclusively out of the “Mother Court."  

Patricia Costello, Managing Member-Elect, shares more insight into her new role and plans for the firm with Law360. In a wide-ranging Q&A, she talks about the impact of her appointment as the firm’s first female leading executive and the encouraging trend it signals for women in law, the importance of compassion and flexibility as we navigate the return to work at CSG, and how her experience as a former Superior Court judge guides her vision in this new leadership capacity, among other topics.  

Samuel Newbold and Caroline Murphy were published in the New York Law Journal with an article offering a look at global talent acquisition strategies U.S. employers should consider as they navigate labor management and procurement challenges driven by a tight domestic labor market. While these strategies broaden the pool of talent for employers, they are not without risk – and Sam and Caroline share insight into the regulatory challenges that may arise when pursuing these alternative means of talent procurement, as well as hurdles to clear even when hiring domestically following the current period of largely remote work.  

On October 13, 2021, the Biden Administration announced its plan to develop seven major offshore wind farms on the East and West coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. These projects are part of President Biden's plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, which would generate enough electricity to power more than 10 million homes. Officials said the projects could avoid about 78 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions, while creating up to 77,000 jobs.

On September 24, 2021, Governor Murphy signed a new law, effective immediately, that will allocate $10 million for lakes in New Jersey impacted by harmful algal blooms (P.L.2021, c.225). The law calls for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") to make a supplemental appropriation of $10 million for grants for lake management for conservation and recreational purposes.

On August 5, 2021, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") issued updated guidance on how remediating parties and Licensed Site Remediation Professionals need to address Contaminants of Emerging Concern ("CECs"). The guidance documents address timeframes for addressing CECs, include frequently asked questions regarding CECs, and provide a list from the EPA of industry sectors believed to have used perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). NJDEP also updated its CEC web page.