PITTSBURGH, August 3, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Martell Covington as government relations associate in its Pittsburgh office.
August 10, 2026
Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James announced that New York has sued KalshiEX, LLC, alleging that the company is operating an illegal, unlicensed gambling platform through its prediction markets. The lawsuit seeks to stop Kalshi from operating without a state gambling license and require the company to forfeit allegedly illegal gains, provide restitution to affected users, and pay fines equal to three times the gains made through its operations. The State also alleges that Kalshi allows users ages 18 to 20 to participate despite New York’s minimum age of 21 for mobile sports betting.
New York City has begun implementing a new pied-à-terre tax on certain second homes, which was authorized as part of the state budget and is projected to generate more than $500 million annually. As part of the rollout, the City created a public database and sent notices to thousands of homeowners who may be subject to the surcharge, including some who said the properties were their primary residences. The City Council has scheduled an August 18 hearing to review the implementation, while the Administration has added staff to respond to inquiries and extended the exemption application deadline to September 18. A group of homeowners has also filed a lawsuit seeking to delay implementation, arguing that the rollout improperly places the burden on homeowners to demonstrate that they are exempt from the tax.
Speaker Julie Menin announced a September 30 hearing on e-bike and e-scooter safety in partnership with the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Consumer and Worker Protection, and Public Safety. The hearing will include oversight of the City’s enforcement of existing laws and consideration of more than a dozen legislative proposals. The Council cited a rise in e-bike-related incidents, with collisions up 31.7% this year compared with last year and more than 500 e-bike collisions reported in 2026. Proposals under consideration include measures related to delivery platform oversight, restrictions on certain high-speed e-bikes, traffic enforcement, moped registration, consumer protections, insurance requirements, and street design.
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
August 10, 2026
August 10, 2026
August 10, 2026
