Legal Experts Unpack Executive Orders, Regulations, and Laws

Legal experts at Lathrop GPM, host of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City’s annual Legal Update earlier this month, reported the legal landscape for agribusiness is always undergoing change.  What is considered innovation one year, noted Jay Felton, head of Lathrop’s ag litigation team, may be attacked with litigation a year later. But the firm has a strong history of involvement with the farming industry, and is uniquely equipped to address the legal challenges its agricultural clients face. Felton, a fifth-generation farmer himself, said, “We’re doing our best to feed the world.”  

Keynote speaker Kurt Schaefer, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said the state is at a pivotal moment where decisions must be made to reshape its energy landscape in a significant way that will define Missouri for the rest of the century. That means nuclear technologies, he emphasized.  Capitalizing on the renewed interest in and momentum of nuclear energy now, he pointed out, will show that Missouri could be an innovator and a leader in promoting nuclear technologies. “Otherwise, Missouri could lose out on the monumental amount of private-sector investment and jobs up for grabs that succeed in delivering a carbon-free and reliable energy landscape.”

Schaefer also spent time describing the DNR’s mission. It is responsible for protecting and managing the state’s natural, cultural, and energy resources. It oversees various divisions, and provides technical expertise and financial assistance through programs like the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which supports farmers and ranchers in conservation efforts. He also noted the DNR is at odds with other states regarding water management. It is taking steps to protect Missouri’s water resources from being exported to other states. It is a delicate situation considering drought conditions and water shortages in the western states. Lawmakers in Missouri have introduced legislation to prohibit exportation of water from the state without authorization. DNR’s efforts to regulate water exports are part of a broader strategy “to ensure that Missouri’s water resources are not mismanaged or depleted by other states.”

In her presentation, Kathleen Fisher Enyeart, Lathrop GPM’s Litigation Group, introduced Ag Business Council members to the intricacies of white-collar defense, litigation, healthcare, and corporate compliance. She provided Council members with a deep dive into the complexities of governance standards. Enyeart also stressed the importance of developing forward-thinking approaches and strategies to navigate complex and often critical legal challenges.