Today's Legal Pulse
UK pushes commonhold reform to boost housing supply
The Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill proposes abolishing leasehold and mandating new homes be sold as commonhold, tying the change to a target of delivering 1.5 million homes annually—the highest since 1968. The model remains untested, with fewer than 25 developments and unresolved issues around dispute resolution.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
EU Legislators Fail to Clinch Deal to Delay AI Law
European Union legislators could not reach an agreement to postpone key provisions of the Artificial Intelligence Act, leaving the high‑risk AI rules slated to take effect in August 2024 unchanged. The deadlock centered on a German‑backed proposal to exempt industrial AI, such as machinery and medical devices, from the AI Act in favor of sector‑specific regulations. Opposition from other member states and the centre‑left bloc prevented a compromise, and talks have been suspended with no new date set. The failure tightens the timeline for businesses to comply and raises the risk of legal uncertainty.
Time to Rethink and Revitalize Shareholder Proposals
Rule 14a‑8, the SEC’s eight‑decade‑old shareholder proposal rule, has become an over‑regulated, ineffective mechanism that rarely yields successful proposals. Since its inception, only two proposals have secured majority support, while the SEC’s merit‑based exclusions have hampered ESG and DEI initiatives....
The Hidden Debate Behind a €120 Million Fine
The European Commission imposed a €120 million (≈ $130 million) fine on X in December 2025 for breaching the Digital Services Act’s transparency rules, marking the first DSA penalty. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, denounced the sanction as censorship of...
Chuy García: Let’s Stop Letting Truck Companies Cheat Crash Victims
Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García re‑introduced the Fair Compensation for Truck Victims Act, aiming to raise the federal minimum liability insurance for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5 million and index it to inflation. The bill targets the 46‑year‑old cap that...
Arnold & Porter Discusses SEC Approval of Nasdaq Proposal to Expand Trading Hours
On April 10, 2026 the SEC approved Nasdaq’s request to extend its trading hours from the current 16‑hour schedule to a 23‑hour, five‑day week. The new framework consolidates the pre‑market, regular and post‑market sessions into a continuous Day Session (4 AM‑8 PM...
Thursday’s Headlines Fight for Your Rights
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling eroding the Voting Rights Act is set to advantage pro‑highway Republicans in districts that rely heavily on transit, especially in the South. Autonomous‑vehicle firms like Waymo face criticism after admitting they block bike lanes, undermining...
Cropmate Hires Top Lawyer, Signals Serious MACC Battle
Cropmate just appointed Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik to fight the MACC freeze. That’s not a routine legal move. That’s a company that knows exactly how serious this could get — and decided a general corporate lawyer wasn’t enough. The frozen...
The HR Podcast Ep 4: Trade Union Access, AI Agents, Fair Work Agency
Personnel Today’s HR Podcast episode 4, recorded April 24 2026, examines upcoming statutory trade‑union access rights set to take effect in October 2026, the growing influence of agentic AI and digital twins in HR, and the launch of the Fair Work Agency, which replaces...
BDO Managing Director Sues Firm, Says She Trained Men Who Got Promoted Past Her
Serena Wong, a former managing director at BDO USA, filed a lawsuit alleging gender and race discrimination after being passed over for promotion despite building a $3.5 million book of business and training male colleagues who later became partners. The complaint...
Disabled by Association: California Federal Courts Consider Whether FEHA Supports Workplace Accommodations Based on Another Person's Disability
In 2025 three California federal district courts—Acosta, Head and De Wit—held that the state Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) can require employers to engage in the interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations for employees who are caretakers of disabled...
DOJ Reclassifies Medical Marijuana to Schedule III: Key Implications for Florida and National Cannabis Operators
The U.S. Department of Justice has reclassified state‑licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, the most significant federal cannabis reform in five decades. The change applies only to FDA‑approved cannabis products and state‑run medical programs, leaving adult‑use and illicit markets...
When LLC Amendments Go Too Far: Delaware Court Enforces Member Consent Rights
The Delaware Court of Chancery in Lehr v. Aspen Power Partners upheld member‑consent rights despite a broad amendment clause in the LLC agreement. Aspen’s Fifth Amended and Restated LLC Agreement altered the distribution waterfall and pre‑emptive rights without the required...
Bitcoin Black Sheep, Stablecoin Favorite Child Under Revised Crypto Bill
On March 26, 2026 Congressmen Steven Horsford and Max Miller released a revised draft of the bipartisan Parity Act, a crypto tax bill that builds on earlier proposals. The new version lets passive stakers elect a five‑year deferral of staking income, while...
FTC’s New HSR Rules Vacated, Allowing for Reversion to Prior Submission Requirements
Federal courts have nullified the FTC’s 2024‑2025 overhaul of the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino pre‑merger notification rules, restoring the pre‑2025 filing format. The U.S. District Court in Texas ruled the agency exceeded its authority, and the Fifth Circuit refused to stay the decision,...
Profits Interests with a Conversion Requirement on Termination: Why Some Sponsors Are Adopting It and How They Work
Sponsors of private‑equity‑backed management equity plans are increasingly adding a conversion requirement that forces terminated employees to exchange vested profits interests for capital units. The conversion price equals the participation threshold minus prior capital distributions, plus tax‑distribution add‑backs, and must...
The Antitrust Scrutiny Continues: FTC Launches New Healthcare Task Force
On April 28, 2026 the Federal Trade Commission announced a new Healthcare Task Force designed to unify its Competition, Consumer Protection, Economics, Planning and Technology bureaus. The task force will focus on antitrust risks in health‑care consolidation, pricing practices and...
Religious Accommodations in the Post-Groff Era: Navigating the Supreme Court’s “Substantial Increased Cost” Standard
The Supreme Court’s 2023 *Groff v. DeJoy* decision overhauled the undue‑hardship test for religious accommodations, demanding proof of "substantial increased costs" rather than the old "more than de minimis" standard. Lower courts have since applied this heightened threshold, emphasizing fact‑specific...
Kirkland, Skadden, Freshfields Guide €29.4bn Deal for Germany’s TK Elevator
Finnish lift maker Kone is set to acquire Germany's TK Elevator in a €29.4bn ($32bn) takeover, one of Europe’s largest recent deals. The transaction will involve $5.5bn in cash, $16.3bn of Kone shares and the assumption of roughly $10bn of...
OFAC Uncovered: Safeguarding Your Business Against Financial Risks
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers and enforces U.S. economic sanctions targeting countries, terrorist groups, narcotics traffickers and weapons‑of‑mass‑destruction proliferators. Violations can result in civil penalties of several million dollars or criminal fines up to $1 million and up...
UK Set To Join Australia In Booting U16s Off Social Media
The UK government announced plans to restrict or ban social‑media access for children under 16, following Australia’s December 2025 rollout. Education Minister Olivia Bailey told Parliament that a public consultation launched in March will shape the mechanism, after the House of Lords...
Jimi Hendrix Bandmates’ Heirs Lose U.K. Royalties Fight Against Sony Music, Hendrix Estate
A London High Court judge ruled that the 1966 recording agreement signed by Jimi Hendrix, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell gave producers worldwide copyright ownership, denying the heirs’ claim to royalties. The court affirmed that the Hendrix estate,...
Karnataka Deploys Statewide Digital Litigation Management System with Mandatory SOP
The Karnataka government has rolled out a Litigation Management System (LMS) backed by a standardized SOP that forces every department to upload court case details within 48 hours and digitise all litigation records. The platform links directly to the e‑office...
Government Accountability Office to Investigate DOJ Handling of Epstein Files
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has opened an investigation into the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, focusing on how the agency reviewed, redacted, and released the documents. The probe follows a bipartisan letter from senators, led by...
MrBeast Production Companies Hit with Gender Harassment Lawsuit Over Maternity Leave Termination
A former employee has filed a lawsuit against MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC, claiming gender‑based harassment and retaliation after returning from maternity leave. The complaint alleges she was fired three weeks after her return, spotlighting workplace‑culture challenges in rapidly...
DOL Proposes Uniform Joint‑Employer Rule, Raising Compliance Stakes for HR
The U.S. Department of Labor unveiled a proposed joint‑employer rule on April 22, aiming for a single nationwide standard based on four control factors. Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling says the rule will give businesses confidence while clarifying employee rights, but labor...
Trump DOJ Filed Truth Social Post in Federal Court Demanding US Taxpayers Pay for Trump’s Ballroom
In July 2025 former President Donald Trump pledged a 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom on the White House East Wing, touting a $200 million price tag with “zero cost to the American taxpayer.” By December the projected cost had ballooned to $400 million, and the...
Privacy Watchdog Clears Jollibee’s Christmas Ads
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) cleared Jollibee Foods Corp. and Rakuten Viber of violating the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act after a probe into the 2025 Holiday Gems Christmas campaign. The investigation found the stickers were delivered via on‑device keyword matching, with...
86 47 - Todd Blanche's Press Conference
The Department of Justice filed a second indictment against former FBI director James Comey, alleging that an Instagram post of seashells spelling “86 47” constitutes a threat to President Donald Trump. Prosecutors argue the image is political speech that incites the...
Tether Freezes $344 Million in USDT Tied to Iran, OFAC Expands Sanctions
Tether, in coordination with the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, froze more than $344 million in USDT linked to Iran’s Central Bank. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis mapped the complex network of brokers, intermediary wallets and DeFi bridges used to...
EU's 20th Sanctions Package Bans Russian Crypto Exchanges, Stablecoins and Digital Ruble
The European Union unveiled its 20th sanctions package, imposing a total sectoral ban on Russian crypto exchanges, prohibiting ruble‑pegged stablecoins and the nascent digital ruble. The measures hit 20 Russian banks, four third‑country entities and a Kyrgyz exchange linked to...
Revised NHVR Master Code of Practice Offers Practical Support for Stock Transport
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has launched a revised 2026 Master Code of Practice aimed at improving safety in livestock transport. The code consolidates fragmented guidance into a single, industry‑focused document that details hazards, risk controls, and safe access...
Cross-Border Hiring Trends: TN Visa Rules Every HR Team Should Know
The article explains that TN visa eligibility depends on matching a job to the USMCA‑listed professions, not merely having an offer. It details the essential elements of a strong employer letter and outlines when HR can manage the filing versus...
SC Restores SBI-Led Lenders' Rights in Reliance Infratel
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a State Bank of India‑led consortium, restoring its status as financial creditor of debt‑laden Reliance Infratel. The apex court ordered the resolution professional to reconstitute the Committee of Creditors, adding six banks and...
Judge Thwarts Trump Administration’s Attempt to Access Arizona Voter Rolls
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking Arizona’s detailed voter registration list, marking the latest defeat in the administration’s nationwide push to collect voter data before the midterm elections. Judge Susan Brnovich ruled that Arizona’s voter rolls are...
Rebel Wilson Accused of Dumping Her Mobile to Avoid Handing over Key Texts
Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson is on trial for defamation after lead actress Charlotte MacInnes sued her over alleged false social‑media posts and a fabricated takedown website. During cross‑examination, Wilson’s lawyer was challenged when a prosecutor suggested she had deliberately discarded her...
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Purdue $5.5B sentence clears way for $7.4B settlement and bankruptcy exit. Legal exposure shifts to claims; recoveries will be constrained and reputational risk endures. Trade: reduce exposure to legacy opioid-linked pharma. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Rebel’s Yell: Anatomy of an Alleged Smear Campaign on Trial
Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes has filed a defamation lawsuit against Rebel Wilson and the director of the stalled musical comedy *The Deb*. The claim alleges Wilson falsely portrayed MacInnes as a victim, damaging her reputation. The case highlights the clash between U.S.‑style #MeToo...
Government Cracks Down on Sales of Nangs; Dairy and Vape Store Large-Canister Sales Now Deemed Illegal
The New Zealand government announced a crackdown on the sale of large‑canister nitrous‑oxide “nangs,” classifying any canister over 10 grams as a psycho‑active substance. Dairies and vape stores in Hawke’s Bay are now prohibited from selling up to 3.3‑litre canisters, which...
The Phantom Bribe: Red Flags in the Trade Federation
The article uses the Trade Federation from *Star Wars: The Phantom Menace* to illustrate how failure to vet politically exposed persons (PEPs) and shadow directors can lead to illegal actions like blockades. It highlights the FCPA’s broad definition of bribery...
Endeavor Sues Stagwell Subsidiary Over $350,000 in Alleged Unpaid Invoices
Endeavor Business Media LLC filed a New York Supreme Court complaint accusing Stagwell’s subsidiary Crispin, formerly MMI, of withholding roughly $356,000 for ad placements run between January and October 2023. The publisher says the agency received payments from its clients...
Marketplace Facilitator Rules and CDTFA Audits
California treats registered marketplace facilitators as the retailer for sales tax, but sellers must still prove each transaction’s facilitator status in a CDTFA audit. The audit focus shifts from the existence of the rule to whether sellers can separate marketplace...
Massachusetts Proposes up to 5% Streaming Fee to Fund Community TV
Massachusetts legislators are drafting a bill that would impose a fee of up to 5% on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. The revenue would replace shrinking cable franchise fees and keep more than 250 community‑media outlets on the...
Wren Kitchens Files Chapter 7, Closes All 15 U.S. Stores Amid Housing Slump
Wren Kitchens filed for Chapter 7 liquidation on April 24, instantly closing its 15 U.S. retail locations and in‑store studios inside Home Depot. The filing lists $100 million‑$500 million in assets and has triggered a WARN‑Act class‑action lawsuit, leaving employees and customers...
Clio Adds EDGAR‑Based Research to Vincent AI, Giving Law Firms Instant SEC Filing Answers
Clio has integrated an EDGAR‑based corporate research tool into its Vincent AI platform, enabling lawyers to ask natural‑language questions across more than three decades of SEC filings and receive source‑grounded answers in seconds. The move expands Clio’s AI suite into...
Australia Launches Tripartite Forum to Govern Workplace AI
Australia's Albanese government has inaugurated the AI Employment and Workplaces Forum, a tripartite body that brings together unions, major employer groups and the government to set guardrails on AI use in workplaces. The inaugural meeting in Adelaide this week marks...
U.S. News Unveils 2026 Best Law Firms to Work For, Shaping Recruitment Landscape
U.S. News & World Report announced its 2026 Best Companies to Work For: Law Firms rankings, evaluating firms on pay, benefits, work‑life balance and professional development. The list, compiled with SurePoint Technologies and Revelio Labs, requires at least ten Glassdoor...
Pa. Supreme Court Orders 2020 Records for DHS Conspiracy Theorist
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that election officials in Lycoming County must hand over 2020 voting records to Heather Honey — an election conspiracy theorist currently serving in a leadership role at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/court-gives-dhs-conspiracy-theorist-access-to-2020-election-data/
Imagined Courtroom Sketch Shows Trump at OpenAI‑Elon Trial
Trump did not testify in the openai vs elon trial today, but if he did, he would have been drawn like this by the courtroom artist https://t.co/dxHVVaYI3I
FTC Settlement Compels Express Scripts to Offer Cheaper Insulin Options
The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Cigna's Express Scripts, the first of three major pharmacy benefit managers to be sued over insulin pricing. The agreement obligates the PBM to place the lowest‑cost drug on patients' formularies, though it...
Reindorf Claims Legal Loophole to Erase Gender Reassignment Protection
Reindorf thinks she's found a legal way of eliminating the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. Cc @speakoutsister