Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by David Hackett
The Concession Golf Club Gets Its Star Turn With the Senior PGA Championship
In 2006, two years after opening to acclaim as the best new private course in America, The Concession Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch was fighting for its survival. Its clubhouse was still a double-wide trailer. Lunch was prepared on a George Foreman grill. And even though the club had pared its initiation fee to $25,000, it had just 50 members. The subprime crisis was taking hold, and housing prices were falling.
Is Your Business Ready For The EU AI Act?
The EU AI Act - the world's first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence - is already in effect across the EU, with its provisions being implemented in phases. Provisions concerning prohibited AI practices and AI literacy have been in force since 2 February 2025. On 2 August 2025, additional provisions will take effect, including those related to general-purpose AI (GPAI) models and penalties. As businesses navigate this transformative regulation, understanding its requirements is crucial.
Global: Key Outcomes and Looking Ahead to COP30
The 29th annual conference under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan, concluded with significant strides in climate finance and policy. Billed as the “Finance COP,” there was much anticipation as to whether a new collective goal on climate finance would be set and if the Article 6 rulebook would be finalized. Read insights from our Global Climate Change Practice Group to learn more.
United States: Sustainability under scrutiny - the CFTC spearheads a novel fraud action against a voluntary carbon credit developer
Acting with other US regulators, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC“or “Commission”) recently issued two consent orders(“CFTC Orders”) and filed a complaint (“CFTC Complaint”) alleging fraud and false, misleading, or inaccurate reports relating to voluntary carbon credits (“VCCs“)1.
Navigating Industrial Decarbonization, Carbon Markets and ESG Challenges
With only 17% of the UN Global Compact Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 on track, Climate Week NYC 2024 centered on the theme "It's Time," renewing the call to urgently address climate change. As the SDGs go hand in hand with the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 28 goals, the events at Climate Week NYC 2024 set the scene to strengthen commitments at the upcoming COP29.
Global Compliance News
Author Sarah Julia Rodrigue Browsing Sarah J. Rodrigue is an associate in the Firm's North America Transactional Practice Group based in the Houston office. Ms. Rodrigue regularly advises on a wide variety of corporate and securities matters including public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions and other strategic cross-border transactions and investments. Sarah began her career with the Firm as a summer associate in both 2018 and 2019.
Data Diaries - March 2024
In 2024, the French data protection authority, CNIL, increased enforcement actions, imposing 42 fines, including a €32M fine to Amazon for intrusive employee monitoring. Meanwhile, the EU Data Act introduced new regulations for data access and reuse, and the EU AI Act set new AI regulations. In contrast, the UK is considering mandatory measures for AI safety and transparency.
United States: A closer look - Key components of the SEC's long-awaited final rules on climate disclosure and where to go from here
In brief On March 6, 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") adopted final rules ("Final Rules") that enhance and standardize the disclosure of climate-related information in registration statements and Exchange Act reports.
GMAP 2.0: Revised guidance for a rapidly changing world
Today’s business decisions are influenced by a rise in remote working, the emergence of digital business models, automation, and data analytics, and the growing importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Much has changed since AICPA & CIMA issued the first Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAP) in 2014. The second edition reflects these changes.
United States: New California Law Mandates Disclosure about Voluntary Offsets and Climate Claims
Author David P. Hackett David Hackett advises senior management, legal departments and boards of major corporations and nonprofits on compliance, risk, environmental and sustainability matters. He has exceptional experience managing US and international compliance and environmental projects, including the evaluation and development of effective compliance and sustainability programs. He also has extensive experience litigating major civil and criminal environmental matters.
Global: COP28 - key outcomes and where to next?
Renata Campetti Amaral joined the firm in 2002 and became a partner in 2013. She is the head of the firm’s Climate Change, Environmental Law and Sustainability group in Brazil, and the leader of Ablfs McKfnzif’s global climate change group in Latin America. Is also the coordinator of the sustainability initiatives conducted by the office’s B-Green Committee.
United States: New California Law Mandates Disclosure about Voluntary Offsets and Climate Claims
In brief Much of the focus around climate legislation coming out of the latest California legislative session has been on new, far-reaching requirements pertaining to disclosure of climate data and climate-related financial risk. However, California also adopted a third law related to climate change last year – AB 1305 - which has received somewhat less attention but may well have a wider and more immediate effect.
Vashon school board must challenge superintendent
With the recent discovery of a third secret legal settlement agreement signed by Vashon Island School District Superintendent Slade McSheehy, any remaining trust in McSheehy and the existing school board is unwarranted. Since late August 2022, as reported in The Beachcomber, McSheehy has secretly signed three separate settlement agreements with teachers credibly accused of misconduct with students.
Global Compliance News
Author Daniel R. De Deo Browsing Daniel De Deo is a partner in the Firm's Transactional Practice Group and serves on the Firm's Steering Committee for Global Climate Change. Daniel began his career with the Firm as a summer associate in the Chicago office in 2008. He previously worked on secondment with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London as legal counsel to their carbon trading desk.
David Hackett Named Chair of the Riddle HealthCare Foundation
David Hackett, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Labor & Employment Department, has been named the chair of the Riddle HealthCare Foundation. For the last six years, Dave has served on the foundation’s board of directors. In accepting the role, Dave said, “For my wife and I, Riddle Hospital has played an important role by providing quality health care throughout our lives. It is where both of our kids were born.
David Hackett Named Chair of the Riddle HealthCare Foundation
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 David Hackett, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Labor & Employment Department, has been named the chair of the Riddle HealthCare Foundation. For the last six years, Dave has served on the foundation’s board of directors. In accepting the role, Dave said, “For my wife and I, Riddle Hospital has played an important role by providing quality health care throughout our lives. It is where both of our kids were born.
Redevelopment for Who? How TIF Redistributes Public Funds to the Wealthy
If you’re standing on any street corner in Chicago, there’s a one in three chance you’re standing in a TIF district. TIF, short for Tax Increment Financing, is a strategy to spur redevelopment in areas that are “blighted”, i.e., an area that has experienced significant economic decline. Typically, these areas have a lot of shuttered businesses, abandoned homes, and deteriorating infrastructure.
COP27: Key Outcomes and What They Mean for 2023 and Beyond
Skip to content COP27 held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt was anticipated by many as an "Implementation COP" to build on the agreements reached at COP26 in Glasgow. In this 45-minute webinar, we will discuss the key outcomes from COP27 and what we expect the key trends and developments to be in 2023 and beyond.
After Nearly 12,000 Years, Coyotes Return to Florida-and Sarasota
When mange-stricken coyotes began wandering the streets and yards on Venice island last summer, something close to hysteria took hold. Some residents wanted to put bowls of food out for the animals, whose eyes had become so damaged by the mange, a skin disease caused by parasites, that they could not hunt at night. Others, fearing packs of coyotes would attack pets and people, suggested shooting them. A town meeting at City Hall in September brought out nearly 250 residents. Venice is hardly unique.
Green Technology Might Just Be Enough to Save Us
Plenty of reasons for optimism emerged from this year’s COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. The United States is back in the Paris Agreement, both China and the US have pledged to reduce carbon emissions (Friedman 2021), and many other countries have made additional pledges, including cutting methane emissions and phasing out gas-powered vehicles (Plumer and Friedman, 2021). Still, getting countries to both agree to and follow through on these pledges is difficult.
International: COP26 - Mandatory climate risk disclosures announced amidst focus on finance
In brief Major developments in disclosure of risks relating to sustainability have been announced in the past week. In particular, the United Kingdom will require most large firms and financial institutions to disclosure how they will be impacted by the risks and opportunities arising from climate change. And the IFRS Foundation announced the creation of a special body to crack down on "greenwashing" and to promote consistent, high-quality disclosures relating to sustainability.
COP26 - Mandatory Climate Risk Disclosures Announced Amidst Focus on Finance
Major developments in disclosure of risks relating to sustainability have been announced in the past week. In particular, the United Kingdom will require most large firms and financial institutions to disclosure how they will be impacted by the risks and opportunities arising from climate change. And the IFRS Foundation announced the creation of a special body to crack down on "greenwashing" and to promote consistent, high-quality disclosures relating to sustainability.
International: What will the future of energy look like in the US under a Biden administration? (Webinar) | Lexology
Click here to watch the video.
US: President Biden's Environmental Agenda Comes into Focus
President Biden was officially sworn in on 20 January and has taken swift action to reverse or pause many of the policies of the Trump Administration and set a new course.
United States: Recorded Webinar- What Will the Future of Energy Look Like in the US Under a Biden Administration? | Lexology
Click here to watch the video.
The broken promise of Spring reopening
The UF administration promised students there will be face-to-face teaching this Spring. You will soon discover this is not quite the case. In order to please our state’s leadership and assure continued funding, President Kent Fuchs and Provost Joseph Glover have mandated that there will be as many face-to-face classes this Spring as last Spring. However, because of social distancing guidelines, about 15% of the seats in these classes will be live while the rest will be online. It gets worse.
Biden victory ushers in 'race to the top' on climate change
A new global paradigm for global climate action President Elect Joseph R. Biden comes to office with what has, correctly, been called a "transformational" plan for action to curb climate change and to cope with its unavoidable consequences.
Employer Back to School Guide | JD Supra
Employees with school-aged children are quickly learning that back to school will not be a return to normalcy. Most schools are implementing modified education plans to provide for student and teacher safety in light of COVID-19 concerns. Plans include mandatory and optional remote learning and hybrid models of in-person and remote learning.
Employers Must Vigilantly Evaluate WARN Obligations As Pandemic Continues | JD Supra
American employers are in their fifth month of dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Government limitations aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus and drops in product demand due to the coronavirus pandemic have forced many employers to take action that has adversely impacted their employees.
United States: Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Seeking to Expedite Environmental Reviews for Infrastructure Projects | Lexology
On June 4, 2020, President Trump signed a new Executive Order (“EO”) aimed at accelerating the initiation and completion of infrastructure projects to spur on the United States’ economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sarasota Will Require Residents to Wear Masks in Public
Hoping to slow the spread of COVID-19 as the number of those with the virus in Florida has exploded, the Sarasota City Commission on Monday voted to move forward with an ordinance requiring individuals to wear masks when they are in public. The city is the latest local government to pursue such a measure. The towns of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria on Anna Maria Island have recently adopted similar rules.
Young and Homeless in the Land of Affluence
Last year Jason Whittenburg, 22, lived with his mother on the streets of Sarasota. They were among nearly 2,000 homeless people in Sarasota. Then a Venice family offered Whittenburg a temporary home. Since then, he’s worked 70-hour weeks at a fast-food restaurant, purchased a car and is saving to get an apartment for himself, his mother and his younger brother, Jordan, who has Asperger’s syndrome. “I graduated from Sarasota High School in 2013. I had a pretty stable upbringing.
United States: Reopening safely - Guidelines for relying on EPA and state polices providing relief from environmental compliance during COVID-19 | Lexology
In brief Companies must be diligent to ensure that any facility restart is being implemented in compliance with applicable environmental requirements. While there has been some guidance at the federal and state level providing enforcement discretion for non-compliance and identifying circumstances where noncompliance will not be punished, compliance with permits and environmental regulations is expected even when circumstances have made it difficult because of COVID-19.
Activists Launch Petition to Rename Journalism School After Sarasota Resident
Award-winning journalist and civil rights pioneer Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Few living Americans have been greater witnesses to the civil rights movement, here and abroad, than Charlayne Hunter-Gault. But she was far more than a bystander. In 1961, Hunter-Gault was the first black student to integrate the University of Georgia. She later became a star reporter with The New Yorker and the first Harlem bureau chief for The New York Times.
How COVID-19 is Impacting People on the Edge
United Way Suncoast says that even before COVID-19, more than one-third of Florida households had so little income and savings that they were one emergency away from financial ruin. The acronym “ALICE” sounds benign, perhaps conjuring an image of the beloved housekeeper on The Brady Bunch. Its meaning is anything but that. ALICE stands for “Asset Limit, Income Constrained, Employed.” It encompasses millions of working Floridians who in the recent boom times were still barely making it.
After Nearly 12,000 Years, Coyotes Return to Florida
When mange-stricken coyotes began wandering the streets and yards on Venice island last summer, something close to hysteria took hold. Some residents wanted to put bowls of food out for the animals, whose eyes had become so damaged by the mange, a skin disease caused by parasites, that they could not hunt at night. Others, fearing packs of coyotes would attack pets and people, suggested shooting them. A town meeting at City Hall in September brought out nearly 250 residents. Venice is hardly unique.
Lessons From Past Pandemics Can Provide a Road Map for the Future
Looking through the prism of history for perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, eyes have focused on the Spanish Flu of 1918-19, which infected one-third of the world’s population and killed 50 million people, including 675,000 Americans. But two other pandemics, both nearly forgotten, offer both striking parallels and sharp distinctions to our current plight.
Is an Economic Shutdown Worse Than COVID-19? A State Economist Weighs In
The toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has generally been measured in rates of infection, hospitalizations and death. But Sean Snaith, one of Florida’s best-known economists, says “self-inflicted” damage to the economy has become more devastating than the virus itself. “We’ve bulldozed the economy,” says Snaith, the director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting. “Twenty-six million Americans have lost their jobs in the span of five weeks.
Tipping: Let’s support grocery workers, too
Grocery store staff are taking life-and-death risks during this pandemic to make sure their communities have food. The service they are providing is essential. I want to show my appreciation by leaving a tip to be shared by all staff who interact with customers. That includes checkers, cleaners, shelf stockers, butchers, cart wranglers and more. If restaurants can add a tipping opportunity on their charge-card bills, then I'm sure grocery stores can do so also. No touching required.
Wondering About Your Unemployment Benefits? So Are a Lot of Other Floridians
Wondering about your unemployment benefits? So are a lot of others. Economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is being compounded in Florida by the state’s failure to deliver legally mandated relief to hundreds of thousands of desperate residents.
A Former Navy Rear Admiral Is Behind Plans for the Nation’s Largest Pickleball Academy
Pickleball is having its moment, and Brian and Valerie McCarthy intend to seize it. The McCarthys are principal investors in a $1 million-plus project to convert the shuttered Stardust Skate Center across from Ed Smith Stadium into the region’s first pickleball academy.
COVID-19 – U.S. Environmental Update: EPA Issues New "Temporary" Enforcement Policy | Insight | Baker McKenzie
|
Earlier this week, we provided guidance on the development of an “Environmental Action Plan” to address potential environmental regulatory and compliance challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis.
By David Hackett, JOhn Watson, John Watson Verified, Jessica Mitchell Wicha, Catherine Yang Verified
|
bakermckenzie.com
Managing Environmental Compliance Amidst COVID-19 Operational Disruptions
The ever-evolving COVID-19 crisis continues to pose significant challenges for industrial enterprises across the United States. Until very recently, the engines of industry continued to hum while the broader world wrestled with this unprecedented public health crisis.
The Ultimate Guide to Spring Training
We’re a baseball family. You can tell from our World Series T-shirts and Tervis tumblers, our beagle’s leash, the 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of Nats Park I got for my birthday and our MLB Network subscription that enables us to watch every single team’s every single game—all 162 of them—from April through September.
WBCSD Sustainability Board Governance Report
In today’s complex and uncertain world, focusing on near-term shareholder value alone is no longer enough to ensure long-term business success. Sustained value creation requires companies to manage business performance to ensure that sustainability matters that affect business value are addressed.
What's Next for Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters?
On the day in late October when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to begin impeaching President Donald Trump, Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and one of the people most responsible for Trump’s 2016 Florida victory, settled into a chair at a small Greek restaurant in Venice. Gruters, 42, has a thatch of gray hair that contrasts with a cherubic face. In political style, he is nearly the antithesis of the president he admires.
Release Notes
Below you will find the release notes and Known Issues for RenderMan and the various supported plugins.
David Hackett, CEO of MLC Life Insurance, is the 2019 CEO of the Year
David Hackett, CEO of MLC Life Insurance, accepts the CEO of the Year award at The CEO Magazine’s 2019 Executive of the Year Awards. VIDEO Read more about David here.
How to build an award-winning company with the CEO of Winning Group
The CEO Magazine Our talented editorial team, led by Editor-in-Chief Susan Armstrong, brings a wealth of experience to the inspiring stories you read in The CEO Magazine.
Inside the luxury event for Vivid
The CEO Magazine Our talented editorial team, led by Editor-in-Chief Susan Armstrong, brings a wealth of experience to the inspiring stories you read in The CEO Magazine.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with David
Contact David, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack