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
Washington State Enacts Sweeping Ban on Noncompete Agreements
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155, banning virtually all employee and independent‑contractor noncompete agreements statewide. The ban applies retroactively, rendering existing covenants void as of June 30 2027, with a narrow sale‑of‑business exception. Employers must notify affected workers by October 1 2027 and face at least $5,000 penalties plus damages for violations. Non‑solicitation, confidentiality and trade‑secret provisions remain enforceable if narrowly drafted.
Rights Organizations Send Letter to Japan Prime Minister on Proposed National Security Legislation
Fifteen human‑rights groups, led by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International Japan, sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urging a rights‑respecting approach to the government’s proposed anti‑espionage law and foreign‑agents registration act. The letter stresses compliance with...
Homeschooling Has a Christian Nationalist Past. But that Doesn’t Have to Be Its Future.
The death of 12‑year‑old Eve Rogers in Connecticut has reignited a debate over homeschooling oversight. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that would require families to notify districts and clear parents against a child‑abuse registry before withdrawing children from public schools....
Evangelical Broadcasting Group Asks FCC to Investigate ABC over Jimmy Kimmel Joke
A coalition of evangelical broadcasters filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, urging an investigation into ABC over Jimmy Kimmel’s recent joke about First Lady Melania Trump. The FCC, whose chair was appointed by former President Donald Trump,...
FCA Board Appoints 2 New Members to the Regulatory Decisions Committee
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Board has appointed Jonathan Peddie and Raymond Cox KC as new members of its Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC). The RDC handles contested enforcement actions, making independent, evidence‑based decisions on behalf of the FCA. Both appointees bring extensive...
FCA Invites ESG Rating Providers to Join a Voluntary Reporting Pilot
The FCA has opened a voluntary pilot for ESG rating providers to test proposed reporting metrics ahead of a future regulatory regime. Interested firms must register by 13 May 2026, after which a representative sample may be selected. The pilot will evaluate...
Trust, Tradition and the Future of Mutual Growth
At the BSA Annual Conference, FCA deputy chief executive Sarah Pritchard outlined a regulatory overhaul aimed at making the rulebook more innovation‑friendly and outcomes‑centric for mutuals. She announced new support mechanisms, including a Mutuals Society Development Unit, a senior advisor...
Ed Empamano Discusses Evaluating Legal Technology Tools
Ed Empamano, a legal‑tech veteran, outlines his framework for assessing legal technology solutions in Bloomberg Law’s "Tips for Evaluating Legal Technology." He emphasizes probing product roadmaps, data security, and user experience during vendor demos. Empamano also highlights how firms are...
Cal. Court Says Employer’s Arbitration Win Precludes Representative PAGA Claim
The California Court of Appeal ruled that an arbitrator’s finding of no Labor Code violations precludes an employee from pursuing a representative PAGA claim. In Sorokunov v. NetApp, the court held the employee was no longer an “aggrieved employee,” barring...
Snowflake Helps Unlock Data Collaborations with Consent Signals From OneTrust
Snowflake and privacy‑governance leader OneTrust have teamed up to embed OneTrust consent signals directly into Snowflake’s Data Clean Rooms. The integration makes consent data actionable across analytics, activation and data‑sharing workflows, helping marketers ensure privacy‑first collaborations. OneTrust, used by more...
Marilyn Monroe’s Los Angeles House Was Saved From Demolition, But Its Owners Are Now Suing the City
The former Brentwood bungalow where Marilyn Monroe died was bought for $8.35 million in July 2023, and the new owners sought demolition. A unanimous City Council vote designated the property a Historic‑Cultural Monument, and a Superior Court judge upheld that status, halting...
A Motion Defeated by a Calendar, Not a Court: Why Notice Deadlines Matter in TCPA Motions
The Texas Court of Appeals ruled in Kotts v. M.A. Mills that the 2019 amendments to the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) apply to any claims added after the amendment’s effective date, regardless of when the original lawsuit began. Defendants’...
Ottawa Cracking Down on 21-Year Deemed Disposition Rule for Trusts: Lavery Lawyer
Canada’s federal government is tightening the 21‑year deemed disposition rule for trusts that hold private‑company shares. New reporting requirements force most express trusts to file T3 returns and disclose key parties, ending the secrecy that enabled last‑minute restructuring. The 2025...
Kalshi on Insider Trading: Not Just Regulators' Problem
Kalshi, a regulated U.S. prediction‑market exchange, is tackling insider‑trading concerns by deploying pre‑emptive engineering controls that block flagged participants before trades execute. The firm now automatically bars athletes from wagering on their own sport and cross‑checks users against the IC 360...
The Founder of Scholly Sold His Scholarship App to Sallie Mae. He Says They Fired Him for Asking Why They...
Sallie Mae bought scholarship‑matching app Scholly in 2023, gaining access to its five million users. Founder Christopher Gray has filed a Delaware lawsuit and an SEC whistleblower complaint, alleging he was fired after warning the acquirer about selling users' personal...
FCC Orders Early Renewal of Bridge News Stations
The Federal Communications Commission ordered low‑power broadcaster Bridge News to renew its TV station licenses ahead of schedule, citing an investigation into alleged unauthorized transfers of control. Bridge News, which operates stations formerly affiliated with the defunct NewsNet, must comply...
GEMI DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Reminds Gemini Space Station (GEMI) Investors of Securities Class Action Deadline on May...
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP issued a reminder that Gemini Space Station (NASDAQ:GEMI) investors have until May 18, 2026 to file a lead‑plaintiff motion in a federal securities class action. The lawsuit alleges the crypto‑focused firm misrepresented its business viability, international expansion plans,...
Japanese Lease Dooms SupplyCore’s Protest of Logistics Contract
The U.S. General Services Administration awarded a $77.8 million logistics support contract for more than 100 U.S. installations in Japan to Amentum, beating incumbent SupplyCore’s $81.4 million bid. Both firms earned identical technical and live‑test scores, but Amentum outperformed SupplyCore on operational...
When the King’s Lawyer Becomes the King’s Prosecutor: The Second Coming of the Comey Indictment
On April 28, 2026, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina issued a second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of making a “true threat” by posting an Instagram photo of seashells spelling...
STAT+: AIDS Group Sues Trump Administration over Undisclosed Agreement with Gilead
An AIDS activist group has sued the Trump administration for failing to disclose a research and development agreement that underpinned a 2025 settlement with Gilead Sciences over patents on HIV‑prevention drugs Truvada and Descovy. The settlement ended a lawsuit dating...
Get Probate Real Estate Right: Executor’s Roadmap
Executors are legally responsible for getting this right. Most don’t. Our Executor’s Roadmap breaks down exactly how to handle a probate real estate sale — step by step.
CPSC Schedules Toddler Bed Safety Subcommittee Meeting for April 28
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a hybrid meeting with the ASTM F15.18 Toddler Beds Subcommittee on April 28, 2026, to discuss the latest updates to the voluntary toddler‑bed safety standard. CPSC staff, led by Daniel Taxier, will join...
IRS Offers Extension Option for Taxpayers Facing ERC Claim Deadlines
The IRS announced a streamlined process allowing eligible taxpayers to extend the two‑year deadline for resolving employee retention credit (ERC) disallowances. By filing Form 907 before the deadline expires, taxpayers can gain additional time for administrative review or to file a...
TT&A Partners with Lucio to Embed Responsible AI in Legal Practice
TT&A announced a partnership with Lucio to integrate responsible AI tools into its practice, promising faster, more comprehensive legal work while addressing governance and ethical concerns. The move reflects growing pressure on law firms to adopt AI responsibly amid tightening...
UK Court of Appeal Sets ‘Sufficiently Serious’ Threshold for SRA Misconduct Cases
The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, ruled that a solicitor’s breach of SRA rules must be “sufficiently serious” to constitute professional misconduct. The judgment overturns a lower‑court approach that treated any breach as strict liability, and it remands...
California Employment News: Navigating ICE’s Updated I-9 Audit Guidelines: What Employers Need to Know
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released revised audit guidelines that tighten I‑9 verification standards for employers. The new rules reclassify several common documentation errors—such as missing signatures or outdated forms—as “material violations,” which can trigger higher fines and...
SEC and CFTC Unveil ‘New Day’ Token Taxonomy, Paving Way for On‑shore Crypto
SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Chair Mike Selig announced a joint token taxonomy and a supervised on‑chain sandbox at Bitcoin 2026, marking a coordinated regulatory reset for U.S. on‑shore crypto. The framework classifies digital assets into five categories and...
Connecticut House Passes Bell-to-Bell School Cellphone Ban
The Connecticut House approved a statewide "bell‑to‑bell" cellphone ban with a 117‑31 vote, sending the measure to the Senate. The bill would prohibit student phone use on school grounds during the school day, except for special‑education needs, while leaving buses...
Cite Checking to Find Hallucinated Cases Deemed Insufficient
Recent appellate opinions warn that relying on generative AI to draft legal briefs and then merely cite‑checking them is inadequate. In Williams v. Honl, the Oregon court likened the practice to abandoning the reflective judgment essential to law. A Seventh...
Where Was the Board? AI Copyright Infringement Moves to the Boardroom: Adobe, Meta, Anthropic—And the Google Precedent
A California shareholder has filed a derivative suit against Adobe, accusing its officers and directors of exposing the company to liability by training AI models on copyrighted books and other pirated content. The complaint centers on Adobe’s SlimLM model, which...
Schools Have Another Year to Make Websites Accessible. Why That Matters
The U.S. Department of Justice has pushed back the deadline for school districts to meet new web‑accessibility regulations until 2028, extending the original 2027 target for smaller agencies. The rule, issued under Title II of the ADA, mandates compliance with WCAG 2.0...
US Bill Would Require Warrants for Digital Surveillance, Biometric Searches
The House introduced the Surveillance Accountability Act (H.R. 8470), a bipartisan bill that would require a warrant for virtually all government searches of digital and biometric data, including facial recognition, license‑plate readers, cloud storage, and data‑broker records. The legislation amends...
Paper Manufacturer that Allegedly Fired Worker Who Obtained Protective Order Settles with EEOC
Sofidel America Corp., a U.S. paper manufacturer, agreed to pay $80,000 to settle EEOC claims that it tolerated sexual harassment and retaliated against a 22‑year‑old employee who obtained a protective order. The settlement, part of a three‑year consent decree, requires...
SPLC Tipped Off Feds to Charlottesville Risks and Planned 'Terrorist Attack,' Filings Reveal
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed motions revealing it supplied the FBI with a 45‑page dossier on extremist participants ahead of the 2017 Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally and a tip that neo‑Nazi Conor Climo was planning a major terrorist...
China’s Environmental Contradiction: Regulating PFAS and Microplastics While Expanding Coal Power and Waste Incineration
China’s Environmental and Ecological Code, effective 15 August 2026, introduces a monitoring and control system for PFAS and microplastics, marking the country’s first comprehensive downstream regulation of these persistent pollutants. At the same time, China commissioned 78 GW of new coal‑power capacity in...
CFTC Accused of Aggressive Forum‑shopping Across Districts
The CFTC filed its federal lawsuit vs. Wisconsin in the ED WI even though the 3 removed PM lawsuits are in the WD WI (home of the state capital). It's almost as if the CFTC is forum-shopping to ensure two...
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Argue Over Expert Witnesses as Trial Looms
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are headed to trial next month over a dispute stemming from their 2024 film *It Ends With Us*. At a pre‑trial conference, Lively’s lawyers pushed to admit expert testimony estimating her reputational and economic losses...
Drone Pilot Makes US Rescind No-Fly Zones Around Unmarked, Moving ICE Vehicles
After a series of protests in Minneapolis, the FAA issued a sweeping temporary flight restriction in January 2026 that barred drones from flying within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet vertically of any moving Department of Homeland Security vehicle, even if unmarked....
The Fiduciary Vacuum: AI Adoption, Trust Law Erosion, and the Governance Gap in Family Enterprise Succession
The article coins the term “fiduciary vacuum” to describe the emerging gap where AI‑driven decision‑making collides with eroding fiduciary duties in U.S. trust law. Surveys show over 80% of single‑family offices plan AI investments within three years and AI usage...
My AI Obsesses Over Elon‑Sam Courtroom Drama
It's always interesting to see what my AI wants to focus on after reading thousands of posts from AI community here three times a day. Right now it is seeping in the courtroom drama between Elon and Sam: https://t.co/8L5xphk0qQ I might...
Speculation Swirls Over Upcoming Indictments for Griffith, Trump Sand‑Thrower
When is Kathy Griffith’s indictment coming? Should we expect a federal indictment for the kid who threw sand at Trump in 3rd grade?
FCC Orders Early Review of Disney’s ABC Licenses Amid Trump-Kimmel Feud / Netflix Renews Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 /...
The Federal Communications Commission has ordered an accelerated review of the eight ABC broadcast licenses owned by Disney, a move that comes amid President Trump’s public feud with late‑night host Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC says the review focuses on ABC’s...
Jones' Plea Could Shorten Sentence and Incriminate Co‑defendants
Damon Jones cutting a plea deal in the NBA sports betting prosecutions will mean a shorter prison sentence. It could also mean he agrees to share evidence that is then used against other defendants and he testifies against them. That...
US Drops Probe Into WhatsApp‑Meta Chat Visibility Claims
The US has abruptly ended its investigation into claims that WhatsApp chats were visible to Meta. https://t.co/f1WXpQz58J
Is Termination Pay Required? Worker Leaves Before End of Working Notice
An Alberta Labour Relations Board hearing concluded that a worker who gave one‑week notice, failed to return on Monday and emptied his locker had abandoned his job, eliminating the employer’s obligation to provide termination pay. The board overturned a July 31, 2025...
State AGs Question ESG Influence on Credit Downgrades
A group of state attorneys general wrote to the US SEC and major credit-rating firms, raising concerns about the use of environmental, social and governance factors in downgrade decisions https://t.co/YAjBFb3EC0
Court Won't Revive Lawsuit Against Meta Over Rohingya Genocide
A three‑judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to revive a class‑action lawsuit that accused Meta’s Facebook platform of fueling the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. The appellate court dismissed the case on the basis that Section 230 of the...
Vail Resorts Under Investigation by New Hampshire for Charging Sales Tax
Vail Resorts is facing an investigation by New Hampshire after the state learned the company plans to add a sales‑tax surcharge to its multi‑resort Epic and Northeast Value passes. New Hampshire, one of the few U.S. states without a sales...
Alpine to Appeal Latest Defeat in Challenge of FINRA's Constitutionality
Alpine Securities lost a federal court ruling that rejected its constitutional challenge to FINRA, and the firm announced it will appeal the decision to the D.C. Circuit. Judge Beryl Howell emphasized that FINRA is a private self‑regulator whose disciplinary actions...
Commission Opens In-Depth Investigation Into Proposed Joint Venture Between UPM and Sappi
The European Commission has launched a Phase II in‑depth investigation into the proposed joint venture between Finland’s UPM‑Kymmene and South Africa’s Sappi. Both firms are the EU’s largest producers of communication paper, and the merger would create a market leader in...