Pye-Barker Fire & Safety acquires Hartford Sprinkler to expand Connecticut services. July 16, 2026 L-R: Dana Good, Pye-Barker; Kevin Kita, owner of Hartford Sprinkler and Jay Strickland with Pye-Barker. Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired Hartford Sprinkler Co., Inc., expanding its fire protection capabilities in Connecticut and strengthening its integrated life safety services across the state. The transaction adds a long-established fire sprinkler specialist to Pye-Barker's existing security and alarm operations, enabling the company to deliver a broader portfolio of fire protection solutions to commercial and residential customers. Founded in 1933, Hartford Sprinkler has built its business around the installation, inspection, testing and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems throughout Connecticut. The company also provides fire alarm services, fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, backflow testing and fire pump testing, giving Pye-Barker additional technical expertise across multiple life safety disciplines. The acquisition supports Pye-Barker's strategy of expanding through established regional providers with strong customer relationships and specialized technical capabilities. By combining Hartford Sprinkler's sprinkler expertise with its existing security and life safety operations in Connecticut, Pye-Barker expects to offer customers a more comprehensive suite of services through a single provider while expanding its presence in the state's fire protection market. Hartford Sprinkler President Kevin Kita said the company has spent more than 90 years focused on delivering high-quality fire sprinkler services to its communities. He said joining Pye-Barker will allow the business to introduce additional services for customers while creating new career development opportunities for employees. Pye-Barker Chief Executive Officer Bart Proctor said Hartford Sprinkler's history as a second-generation family-owned business aligns closely with Pye-Barker's culture and long-term growth strategy. He noted that the Connecticut company's reputation for customer service and technical expertise has established a strong foundation that the combined organization will continue to build upon. Hartford Sprinkler has earned a reputation for helping customers navigate complex fire code compliance requirements while maintaining systems designed to protect people and property. Its experience serving both commercial and residential clients complements Pye-Barker's nationwide platform, which continues to grow through acquisitions of established regional fire protection and security businesses. As part of the transaction, Hartford Sprinkler's technicians will continue serving customers throughout Connecticut, maintaining local operations while gaining access to the broader resources and service capabilities of the Pye-Barker network. The acquisition further expands Pye-Barker's national footprint as the company continues investing in regional fire protection businesses that enhance its ability to provide integrated fire, life safety and security services. Headquartered in the United States, Pye-Barker operates more than 250 locations with approximately 9,000 employees and has grown into one of the country's largest providers of fire protection and security solutions through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP served as legal counsel to Pye-Barker in the transaction.

Nelson Mullins strengthens Products Liability practice with addition of Los Angeles partner. LOS ANGELES - Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is pleased to announce that Cristina Ciminelli has joined the firm as a partner in its Los Angeles office. Ciminelli joins from California-based litigation boutique Yukevich Cavanaugh and brings extensive experience defending manufacturers, employers, and other businesses in high-stakes litigation. Ciminelli focuses her practice on defending product liability and general negligence claims. She has represented manufacturers and businesses in matters involving automobiles, tires, industrial equipment, helmets, swimming pools, and amusement park rides. Her experience spans all phases of litigation, from early case assessment and discovery through trial preparation and resolution. "Cristina brings extensive experience handling complex product liability and commercial litigation matters," said Mike Brown, leader of the firm's Products Liability team. "She is a strong addition to our growing practice and will further enhance our ability to serve clients nationwide." In addition to her product liability practice, Ciminelli has defended rideshare companies, contract disputes, employment disputes, consumer class actions, Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) claims, habitability matters, and defamation actions. Her broad litigation experience enables her to counsel clients facing a wide range of complex legal challenges. "I am thrilled to join Nelson Mullins. The firm's collaborative culture, deep industry experience, and commitment to delivering exceptional client service make it an ideal platform for my practice," said Ciminelli. "I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues to help clients navigate complex litigation and achieve successful outcomes." Established in 1897, Nelson Mullins is a full-service Am Law 100 firm of more than 1,000 attorneys, policy advisors, and professionals with offices across the United States. For more information, go to www.nelsonmullins.com.

Ballard Spahr strengthens antitrust bench as competition work intensifies. By CPI | June 16, 2026 Ballard Spahr is deepening its investment in antitrust and competition law, adding experienced talent in Washington as businesses navigate an increasingly aggressive enforcement environment shaped by heightened scrutiny from federal regulators. The firm recently hired antitrust attorney John D. Taladay from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, bolstering its capabilities in a practice area that has become one of the legal industry's fastest-growing sectors. Taladay brings experience from both private practice and government service, including his previous role as a trial attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. According to Bloomberg Law, Ballard Spahr's latest hire reflects the growing demand among law firms for attorneys with significant antitrust experience as companies confront more complex merger reviews, investigations, and competition-related litigation. The publication reported that Taladay will join the firm's Washington office, where he is expected to advise clients on merger clearance matters, government investigations, and high-stakes antitrust disputes. The move comes at a pivotal moment for antitrust practitioners. Federal agencies including the FTC and the Department of Justice have adopted a more assertive approach toward enforcement in recent years, challenging major mergers and scrutinizing conduct across sectors ranging from healthcare and technology to consumer goods and financial services. Although the regulatory landscape continues to evolve under shifting political leadership, businesses remain focused on mitigating antitrust risks before transactions are finalized. Justice Department backs xAI in environmental lawsuit over Mississippi data center. By CPI | June 16, 2026 The U.S. Department of Justice has stepped into a closely watched environmental lawsuit involving Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, siding with the company as it battles allegations that it violated federal clean air laws at a Mississippi data center. The legal dispute centers on xAI's Southaven, Mississippi, operations, where the NAACP and environmental groups allege the company installed and operated dozens of natural gas turbines without obtaining the permits required under the federal Clean Air Act. According to reporting by The New York Times, federal attorneys argued that the lawsuit raises broader concerns involving national interests tied to the country's rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure. The government's intervention marks a significant escalation in a case that has become a flashpoint in the debate over balancing technological growth with environmental protections. The lawsuit was filed by the NAACP, represented by Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, against xAI and its subsidiary, MZX Tech. The plaintiffs contend that emissions from the turbines threaten nearby communities, including predominantly Black neighborhoods in the Memphis metropolitan area. They argue that pollutants released by the generators can contribute to respiratory illnesses and other health problems. xAI has denied wrongdoing and maintains that its operations comply with applicable laws. The company has argued that Mississippi regulations allow temporary mobile turbines to operate under certain conditions without the permits cited in the lawsuit. The Justice Department's involvement underscores how the federal government increasingly views artificial intelligence infrastructure as a strategic asset. Attorneys representing the administration argued that allowing private citizens to pursue certain enforcement actions could interfere with executive branch authority over matters affecting national priorities. Environmental advocates sharply criticized the move, saying it risks weakening one of the nation's most important environmental safeguards. They maintain that communities living near major industrial facilities deserve the same protections regardless of the technologies being developed there. The case arrives as demand for computing power continues to surge amid the AI boom. Data centers require enormous amounts of electricity, prompting companies across the industry to seek new energy sources to support increasingly powerful systems. That expansion has generated growing concerns about air quality, water consumption, and the disproportionate impact industrial projects can have on neighboring communities. A federal judge will ultimately decide whether the lawsuit proceeds and whether the Justice Department's arguments should limit the claims brought against xAI.