Hodgson Russ LLP

David Wilks and Erica Chiodo authored “Looking Beyond the E-2 to Start a Business in the U.S.” for Law360 Canada in March 2025. They explain that Canadian businesses seeking U.S. expansion encounter complexities within the immigration system, especially when selecting appropriate visas. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4j0eWtM

Daniel Spitzer will take the stage at Solar Media Limited (part of Informa Markets)'s Energy Storage Summit USA 2025 in Dallas, Texas, from March 26-27. Sessions include a Panel Discussion on “The Future of Grid-Scale Portfolios: Battery Economics, Political Updates and the Power Market” and “New York: An Energy Storage Roadmap.” Read more about the summit here: https://bit.ly/3tGlmGm #RenewableEnergy #BatteryEconomics #EnergyStorage

A Hodgson Russ Immigration Alert: https://bit.ly/4iApgcd President Trump issued an Executive Order which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens uphold their duty to register with the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA"). The administration will treat failure to comply with the registration requirement as a civil and criminal enforcement priority. If you have questions about new alien registration, please reach out to Meghan Carrig, Erica Chiodo, Chelsea N. Latta, David Wilks, or any member of our Immigration Practice Group.

Patricia Piskorski Heer and Danielle Holmes from Hodgson Russ joined Joseph Rossi of Modern Advocacy LLC this week to discuss key considerations for New York cannabis businesses looking to transfer ownership. https://bit.ly/43J7cbc Follow Cultivated Media for more on the topic, including this ongoing webinar series.

A Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Alert: https://bit.ly/4isniui Recently enacted freshwater wetlands regulations, which have the potential to substantially expand the area off-limits to developers, have created significant uncertainty for the solar industry. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservations (“DEC”) has now proposed a draft general permit for Community-Scale Solar Energy Installations in State-regulated freshwater wetlands. These draft permits were developed to help streamline the application process and provide consistency and direction to an industry vital to the State’s energy transition goals. For further information, please contact Daniel Spitzer, Michael Hecker, Michael Boncardo, or any other Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy Practice member.

Hodgson Russ was thrilled to connect with Albany Law School's first-year students at their inaugural career exploration program on March 6th. This initiative allowed us to introduce the firm, discuss the changing legal hiring landscape, and engage with talented students before the summer recruiting season. Christian Soller, Managing Partner of our Albany and Saratoga Springs offices, is pictured interacting with the students in attendance. Amy Hayes Atkinson Ed.M.

Partners Chris Doyle, Peter Godfrey and retired partner Kenneth Friedman participated in the firm-sponsored Lawyers for the Arts fundraiser this past weekend. Other firm lawyers (Timothy Noonan, Henry A. Zomerfeld, Zoe Peppas, Mario Caito) were in the audience. Lawyers for the Arts is hosted by Arts Services Inc., which empowers the region’s artists and arts organizations with connections to funding, learning opportunities, and community access to the arts. Thanks, and congratulations to Ken for chairing this year’s event, which raised over $55,000 for youth music programs. Read more about the event and ASI here: https://lnkd.in/gqqZ5wjr

Hodgson Russ attorneys Patricia Piskorski Heer, Danielle Holmes, Adam W Perry, Sera Yoon, and James Zawodzinski, Jr. successfully defended against a temporary restraining order brought against the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and the firm’s client, a provisionally approved cannabis dispensary applicant. The requested relief sought to preclude the agency from continuing to issue licensing approvals to the dispensary applicant. The Hodgson Russ team immediately opposed the injunctive relief, appeared at an emergency scheduled hearing, and successfully contested the proposed order. The court rejected the injunctive relief, allowing the dispensary applicant to continue moving unhampered through the state’s licensing process.

Hodgson Russ proudly marked International Women’s Day by hosting a “Women in Leadership: Leading with Impact” panel featuring Christina Orsi, President of the John R. Oishei Foundation, Lauren Schellinger, Vice President and New York State Regional Relationship Manager at Impressia Bank, Sarah Washington, Senior Counsel at National Fuel, and Tracy Sendor Woodrow, Chief Administrative Officer at M&T Bank. The panel was moderated by Carol Fitzsimmons, Co-Chair of the Firm and Partner. Afterward, we continued the celebration with a networking happy hour. Photographed: Marla Waiss (Partner), Cristin Murray (Partner), Pietra Zaffram (Partner), Erica Chiodo (Associate), Gabriella Alfano (Associate), Chelsea Reinhardt (Associate), Zoe Peppas (Associate), Chelsea N. Latta (Partner), Sarah Washington #internationalwomensday #IWD

Hodgson Russ sponsored and attended the 2025 DRI Products Liability Conference from February 19-21 in Miami. DRI is the largest international organization of member attorneys, defending the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation. Claire Wells, Christian Soller, Michael Maxwell, Ryan Lucinski, and Fallon Martin attended. #DRICommunity #DRILawyer #DRIProducts