NEWS

Managing IP Recognizes Whiteford and Two Partners Among its 2026 “IP STARS”

Whiteford is pleased to announce that Managing IP has recognized the firm as Highly Recommended for Intellectual Property in 2026, and has recognized two of the firm's intellectual property partners for their patent work in the publication’s 2026 IP STARS rankings.

ARTICLE

Client Alert: D.C. Circuit Rulings Strengthen Enforcement of Investment Treaty Awards Against Foreign Sovereigns in U.S. Courts: Key Takeaways for Cross-Border Investors

The Bottom Line

U.S. courts are among the most reliable venues in the world for enforcing investment treaty awards against foreign governments. Recent D.C. Circuit decisions—NextEra Energy Global Holdings B.V. v. Kingdom of Spain (D.C. Cir. August 2024)[1] and Stabil LLC v. Russian Federation (D.C. Cir. February 2026) and Russian Federation v. Stabil LLC/JSC DTEK Krymenergo (February 2026) [2]—make clear that foreign sovereigns cannot easily use complex treaty or jurisdictional arguments to avoid U.S. court proceedings before investors receive a hearing on the merits. For EU investors holding Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) awards that cannot be enforced within the EU, the message is simple: what blocks enforcement in Europe does not necessarily block enforcement in the United States.
 
This alert outlines a practical protocol the D.C. Circuit's rulings suggest for investors pursuing post-judgment discovery against sovereign assets, and identifies the investors, developers and companies most likely to be affected by these decisions.

ARTICLE

Employment Law Update: New Virginia Employment Laws Now in Effect — What Employers Need to Know

As of July 1, 2026, several new Virginia employment laws are in effect. These changes impact hiring practices, employee agreements, wage and hour rules, and more.

ARTICLE

Client Alert: UPDATE: Virginia Enacts Energy Consumption Tax on Data Centers and Signs Broader Energy Affordability Package

Executive Summary

This update supplements our April 29, 2026, client alert on Virginia’s data center tax reform. On June 22, 2026, the Virginia General Assembly passed budget legislation (HB 30) that resolved the sales tax exemption dispute that had deadlocked the two chambers since March. The compromise preserves the existing sales tax exemption but imposes a first-of-its-kind energy consumption tax of $0.011 per kilowatt-hour on data center electricity usage, expected to generate up to $600 million annually. Governor Spanberger signed the budget into law on June 30, 2026, ahead of the June 30 constitutional deadline, and the new tax took effect July 1, 2026.