Navigating EPR in the U.S.: Deadlines, Reporting, and the Fresh Produce Focus Town Hall 

David Carpenter
Sidley Law Firm
Partner

David is the head of Sidley’s West Coast Appellate practice and co-leads Sidley’s Regulatory Litigation group. David’s practice spans substantive areas of law and industries and includes: 

 - Appeals and writs in federal and state appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court and California Supreme Court.
 - Acting as embedded appellate counsel at trial, working with trial counsel to prepare key motions, trial briefs, and jury instructions, and to craft strategy and preserve issues for appeal.
 - Litigation challenging federal and state executive and agency actions, and local government regulatory actions.

David is a member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and is ranked by Chambers USA for California Litigation: Appellate (2022–2025), with clients remarking that he “is a first-rate lawyer” (2024), “his writing is fantastic” (2023), and that he has “phenomenal subject matter expertise and is very responsive” (2022). David was also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation (2025). Prior to joining the firm, David clerked for the Honorable Chester J. Straub of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and for the Honorable John G. Koeltl of the Southern District of New York.

Gail Delihant
Western Growers
Senior Director, CA Government Affairs

Gail Delihant has been the Director of Government Affairs for Western Growers Association since December 2008. She is well known for her knowledge on water quality and agricultural issues in California and actively lobbies legislators and agency officials on the various concerns facing growers today.

From 2003-2008 she served as Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton) managing his capitol and district offices and coordinating his legislative package as well as handling committee and constituent concerns. Prior to this, she was an aide to former Assembly member and State Senator Dave Kelley, serving as his Legislative Assistant for many years until his retirement in 2003. She began her service in the State Capitol in 1987, starting in the secretarial pool under then-Speaker Willie Brown.

Born in Sacramento and the graduate of local public schools, Delihant taught pre-school, and physical education at a private elementary school before beginning her Capitol career. An active member of the community, she has served on several local commissions, including the Vineyard Planning Council, the Cordova Planning Council, the South Sacramento County Ground Water Forum and the local Children’s Commission.