The recent announcements and imposition of tariffs on billions of dollars of goods imported by the United States, as well as reciprocal tariffs announced by countries and other governing bodies across the world, have created an uncertain future for many industries. The energy sector is not immune, as the Trump administration seeks to bring critical infrastructure manufacturing back home. At the same time, the Trump administration’s America-first policy initiatives present a unique opportunity for energy manufacturers to reposition themselves in both global and domestic markets. The solar energy industry is at a unique crossroads. Domestic solar production saw record-breaking growth in 2024, building on years of an expanding footprint. And although the American solar energy industry continues to rely on a globalized supply chain for components critical to the domestic manufacturing of solar panels, US manufacturers have made significant progress toward satisfying domestic solar demands.

Pennsylvania’s statute of repose, enacted in 1976, has long provided construction industry participants with finality by barring claims related to construction defects raised more than 12 years after the completion of construction. However, the bright-line application of the Pennsylvania statute of repose is now under review by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, holding that President Trump overstepped the authority provided by Congress under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs aimed at addressing drug trafficking, illegal migration, and international trade imbalances. The court deemed unlawful those tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China meant to curb the flow of illicit drugs and illegal migration, and reciprocal tariffs imposed on dozens of countries throughout the world to curb trade imbalances (collectively, the IEEPA Tariffs).

Register Here
Wednesday, September 10 • 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

Troutman Pepper Locke’s Washington DC office is excited to host a morning workshop, sponsored by the Society for Construction Law North America, focusing on domestic and international construction arbitration practices and procedures. We warmly invite you to join us for this event, where you can engage with industry leaders and colleagues to discuss pivotal issues shaping the domestic and international construction sectors.

On May 22, the Supreme Court in Kousisis, et al., v. United States,[1] affirmed the convictions of a painting subcontractor and its owner (defendants) under the federal wire fraud statute for conspiring to defraud the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) by exploiting the DOT’s disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program in connection with two Philadelphia construction projects.[2] As explained below, the Court resolved a divide among the circuits over the validity of a federal fraud conviction where the defendant did not seek to cause the victim net pecuniary loss. The Court held that where a fraudster seeks to induce the government into a transfer of its money or property, that loss is sufficient to sustain a fraud conviction, regardless of whether the government has suffered pecuniary loss.

Practice Recognized for Major Deals, Litigation Wins in 2024

Troutman Pepper Locke’s Construction Practice Group was recognized among Law360’s Practice Groups of the Year. Marking its third year receiving this prestigious recognition, the firm was among only five to receive the 2024 Practice Group of the Year designation in the Construction category.

In 2024, the solar energy generation industry experienced its largest-ever annual rise globally, fueled by China’s 44% solar output boost from January to November 2024.[1] Solar energy output also continues to expand domestically, with the U.S. generating approximately 283 terawatt-hours in 2024, comprising a 14.7% share of the global market. In fact, domestically, solar energy now accounts for more than half of all new electricity on the grid, and, with a continued focus on renewable energy, is projected to continue to grow.[2]

Like much of the western and southwestern U.S., California has experienced drought conditions on and off for decades. Fortunately, the regulatory landscape is starting to catch up with water treatment technology, paving the way for states and localities to effectively create a new and reliable supply of potable water.

Since…

Accreditation: An extract from Thomas Reuters Practical Law. The full document is available at https://content.next.westlaw.com/practical-law/document/Ia6598a02a95a11ee8921fbef1a541940/Discovery-Disclosure-in-US-Construction-Arbitration.

Troutman Pepper attorneys Albert Bates, Zach Torres-Fowler, and Jamey Collidge published a Practice Note explaining key issues in the discovery (disclosure) process of a domestic US construction arbitration, such as conducting disclosure in an…