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
CHATBOT Act Introduced in Senate
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee introduced the Children’s Health, Advancement, Trust, Boundaries, and Oversight in Technology (CHATBOT) Act, aiming to shift control of AI chatbot use from tech firms to parents. The bill mandates family accounts, parental consent, and bans targeted advertising to minors while directing further research on chatbot‑related harms. Sponsors include Ted Cruz, Brian Schatz, John Curtis, and Adam Schiff, reflecting bipartisan concern over exposure to inappropriate content and addictive design. Critics argue the legislation stops short of imposing robust safeguards on AI providers.
The SEC And FCPA Enforcement
The SEC’s involvement in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has remained limited to disclosure enforcement, not direct anti‑bribery action. The agency’s last formal FCPA enforcement case occurred in December 2024, and its historic stance dates back to the 1970s when...
The ILFM Spring Conference 2026: A Day of Insight, Compliance and Connection at the Law Society
The Institute of Legal Finance and Management (ILFM) will host its Spring Conference on 21 May 2026 at the Law Society in London. The one‑day event targets legal finance and compliance professionals with sessions on AML supervision, client‑money rules, sanctions, fraud prevention...
Visa, Mastercard Defend Card Fee Settlement
Visa and Mastercard are defending a proposed interchange‑fee settlement that would cut rates by 10 basis points, set a 1.25% fee for standard consumer cards, and let merchants decline premium cards while adding surcharges or discounts. The deal aims to...
Safeguarding Your Privileged Construction Information With a Clawback Agreement
Construction contractors facing litigation risk waiving attorney‑client privilege when privileged documents are inadvertently disclosed during discovery. Federal Rule of Evidence 502(b) offers limited protection, but its vague standards make reliance risky. A court‑ordered clawback agreement can supersede FRE 502, defining...
Supreme Court Hears Case On How To Label Risks of Popular Weed Killer
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday over who should decide warning labels for the glyphosate‑based Roundup weed killer. The case pits the EPA’s authority to approve federal labels against state and jury efforts to require cancer warnings, a...
Trai Extends Deadline for Comments on Mobile Plan without Data at Lower Price to May 5
India’s telecom regulator TRAI has extended the comment deadline for its draft amendment to May 5, a week beyond the original April 28 cut‑off. The proposal would obligate operators to offer voice‑and‑SMS‑only mobile plans at lower prices than current bundled tariffs that...
Musk and Altman Go to Court
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, has officially gone to trial, centering on claims that OpenAI misused early AI research and funding. The Vergecast episode breaks down the case’s origins, the legal arguments, and why Musk appears...
Exploding Phone Battery Puts Amazon’s Liability in Question
The Minnesota Supreme Court has been asked to decide if Amazon can be held strictly liable for a nearly $4 million fire caused by a defective phone battery sold on its platform. The case, Berkley Regional Insurance Co. v. Amazon.com Inc.,...
FCC Probes Disney for Alleged Race, Gender Segregation
More from @BrendanCarrFCC last month on his enforcement investigation into DEI efforts at Disney telling @Reuters: "There's some real concerns with Disney. I mean, there's evidence out there that would suggest, and maybe Disney has counter evidence that they were...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Tanja Masson-Zwaan, Leiden University
The European Commission introduced the EU Space Act on June 25, 2025 to replace a fragmented set of national space laws with a single framework covering licensing, debris mitigation and spectrum coordination for all 27 EU members. Draft amendments by rapporteur Elena...
Jersey Regulator Introduces ‘Focus Examinations’ to Save Time
The Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) will roll out ‘focus examinations’ in early June, a streamlined audit method that requires only minimal documentation and a half‑day on‑site visit. The pilot will target firms’ compliance with financial sanctions, with firms notified...
FCA to Pilot Reporting Requirements for ESG Ratings Providers
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has invited ESG rating providers to join a pilot program testing a new reporting regime. The pilot follows the FCA’s December proposal, which outlines mandatory disclosures on rating objectives, methodology, scale, and coverage. Participants will...
Vanta Receives FedRAMP 20x Moderate Authorization
Vanta announced that its Government Cloud has received FedRAMP 20x Moderate authorization, making it one of the first cloud service providers to complete Phase Two of the pilot program. The 20x initiative leverages automation, machine‑readable validation and continuous control monitoring...
The "Kill" Switch
Congress’ 2021 infrastructure law mandates that new vehicles embed technology to detect impaired driving, turning cars into data‑collecting platforms. The system combines cabin cameras, steering sensors and emerging breath or skin‑based alcohol detectors, initially marketed as safety features but increasingly...
Australia Gives Google, Meta, and TikTok a Choice: Pay News Outlets or Pay a 2.25% Tax
Australia has drafted a "News Bargaining Incentive" that compels Google, Meta and TikTok to negotiate payment deals with local publishers or face a 2.25% levy on their Australian revenue. The levy applies to platforms generating more than A$250 million (about $165 million...
X Stop Guessing. Start Deciding with Precision.
Legal teams are adopting AI platforms that can review contracts in minutes, but the tools stop at flagging issues without prescribing actions. Recent RFPs and procurement failures reveal a missing “judgment layer” that defines who decides on high‑risk clauses and...
What’s Wrong With the SAVE America Act?
The U.S. Senate is debating President Donald Trump’s SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship before a person can register to vote. Proponents argue the measure strengthens election integrity, while opponents warn it could...
FCC Affirms First Amendment Protects Unpopular Government Criticism
From the @FCC website: The First Amendment "protects broadcasts that criticize or ridicule established customs and institutions, including the government and its officials. The Commission recognizes that, under our Constitution, people must be free to say things that the majority...
Third-Party Marketing Lists Are Never Soft Opt-In Compliant, New Guidance Warns
A new regulatory guidance released for UK charities clarifies that third‑party marketing lists can never meet the soft‑opt‑in criteria under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. The guidance explains how charities may lawfully use newly granted direct‑marketing powers to contact...
Oman’s New Tourism Rules, Explained
Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has introduced a comprehensive licensing framework that requires every tourism‑related business to obtain a government permit. The decree expands regulation beyond adventure‑tourism to include hotels, travel agencies, tour guides, entertainment groups and business‑tourism organizers....
A Texas Two-Step on Franchise Tax: Lessons From NuStar and American Airlines
The SALT Shaker Podcast breaks down two pivotal Texas franchise‑tax rulings. In NuStar Energy LP v. Hancock, the Texas Supreme Court held that receipts from tangible personal property are sourced to Texas based on the delivery point, rejecting an ultimate‑use...
Bipartisan Bill Targets Deepfakes, Tightens AI Regulations
Lawmakers are moving to address AI risks more directly. A new bill would impose stricter penalties for distributing deepfakes and establish clearer standards for AI systems, with bipartisan backing. It reflects a broader shift. Regulation is starting to catch up with the...
FMI Condemns Federal Regulators’ Overriding of Illinois Swipe Fee Law
The Food Industry Association (FMI) sharply criticized the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for issuing interim rules that nullify Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and block other states from adopting similar measures. The Illinois law, set to...
No Right to a “Hit Report” For Facially Overbroad Search Terms?
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in United Farm Workers v. Noem rejected a blanket entitlement to “hit reports” when a party proposes facially overbroad search terms. While acknowledging that early hit reports can aid term...
Sony Defeats UK Suit Over Performers’ Rights for Classic Hendrix Albums
Sony Music won a London High Court case that dismissed claims by the estates of Jimi Hendrix’s bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. The court held that the 1966 contract the band signed covered all present and future methods...
Lawsuit Accuses Former N.C. EMT of Taking Photos of Dying Patient
A North Carolina lawsuit filed on April 23 alleges former Onslow County EMT Megan Jenkins photographed a critically injured patient on Aug. 25, 2025, and later shared the images. The complaint claims the county ignored protocols by not securing Jenkins’ phone or investigating...
Microsoft Blames Slack’s Growth on ‘Inferior Capabilities’ Amid Recent Lawsuit
Salesforce and Slack have filed a lawsuit in London’s High Court accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive bundling of Teams with its Office suite. The complaint argues that the practice limits customer choice and gives Microsoft an unfair advantage in the workplace‑collaboration...
Union Pacific Settles Dispute with Rail Supplier, Reaches 7-Year Agreement
Union Pacific Railroad settled a legal dispute with Rocky Mountain Steel Mills by signing a new seven‑year contract to source domestic steel rails. The agreement keeps the Pueblo, Colorado mill as a key supplier and coincides with a $1 billion investment...
Clear Roles Beat Seniority; Restructure, Don’t Mature
Stop calling it 'legal ops maturity.' You don't mature out of a misaligned operating model. You restructure out of it. A junior team with clear roles will outperform a senior team without them. Every time.
Legal Risks of Sports Gossip and Prediction Markets
NEW PODCAST: The legal implications of the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini story — and the legal questions surrounding the sports prediction market. The guest is @McCannSportsLaw. https://t.co/ldSOoKDIvD
SEC Private Equity Fraud Case - How Investor-Money Controls Can Fail
The SEC filed a civil fraud action on April 24, 2026 against Jay S. Lucas and his firm Lucas Brand Equity, LLC, alleging that the unregistered adviser misrepresented investments and misappropriated more than $50 million across three private‑equity funds. The complaint...
FDA Accuses Amgen of Data Manipulation; Erasca Falls
FDA claims Amgen drug data were ‘manipulated’; Erasca slides despite ‘home run’ results https://t.co/UbftjXwEwa $AMGN $ERAS - 53% $RCKT $JANX
Statutory Cure Period Lets Owners Fix Issues Before Lawsuits
The answer is a statutory cure period: Business owner gets a shot at fixing the issue identified and lawsuit can only proceed if s/he doesn't. This would fix the problem ~instantly.
USAA, State Farm Win as Court Narrows Cooperation Statute Scope
The Colorado Supreme Court issued a 6‑1 opinion that narrows the reach of the state’s failure‑to‑cooperate statute. The court held that the statute’s notice‑and‑cure requirements apply only to general cooperation clauses, not to specific conditions‑precedent such as medical‑release authorizations. It...
Senate Urges Trump to Ban Chinese Car Factories in U.S.
We first reported Senate letter calling on Trump to bar Chinese automakers from building vehicles in US (But no we did not tag the story exclusive) https://t.co/OTaYqFRbuf
FCC Warns Early License Renewals Unlikely, Cite First Amendment Concerns
Here's our @AGomezFCC responded to chance of speeding up license reviews: "Early-renewal attempts are exceedingly rare, and the process is so demanding that any effort would almost certainly fail, especially given the well-documented First Amendment violations underlying these moves." https://t.co/u0j1LGMTg4
Albertsons Hit with BOGO Deals Lawsuit
Washington Attorney General filed a lawsuit accusing Albertsons’ Safeway, Haggen and Albertsons banners of overcharging consumers in more than 3 million buy‑one‑get‑one transactions between 2019 and 2024. The complaint alleges the retailer artificially raised prices before BOGO promotions, generating roughly $19.7 million...
FCC May Accelerate TV License Renewals Despite 2028 Deadline
.@Reuters first reported last month that @FCC could speed up broadcast license renewals (Remember no broadcast TV licenses are up until October 2028) https://t.co/OevSp8KKaZ
Clear, Balanced Crypto Regulation Needed for US Growth
🚀 Patrick Witt, Executive Director, President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, said the US needs balanced, clear crypto regulation so the industry can grow and "take off like a rocket ship." https://t.co/bheWWRTkdJ
Time to Agree a Europe-Wide Legal Definition for Rape, MEPs Say
The European Parliament has called on the EU Commission to create a bloc‑wide legal definition of rape that hinges on the absence of freely given, informed consent. Current national statutes vary, many still require proof of force or threat, leading...
Florida Delays KidCare Expansion, Leaving 40,000 Children Uninsured
Florida has postponed the rollout of its KidCare expansion, which would extend coverage to more than 40,000 children. The delay, tied to a legal fight over a federal rule that treats CHIP as an entitlement, leaves many families without affordable...
Hogan Lovells Advises Adenes Italia on Sogesa Acquisition
Adenes Italia is acquiring Italian services group Sogesa with legal counsel from Hogan Lovells and Tonucci & Partners. The transaction, announced on April 27, 2026, highlights the continued appetite for cross‑border M&A activity in Italy, even as deal terms remain...
Nebraska Enforces Medicaid Work Requirement Early, Impacting 70,000 Enrollees
Nebraska will begin enforcing work, volunteer or education requirements for new Medicaid applicants on Friday, eight months before the federal deadline. The rollout targets roughly 70,000 expansion enrollees, with 20,000‑28,000 expected to submit proof of compliance. Advocates warn the rapid...
US Regulators Lift Veil On Digital Assets
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission released a joint 68‑page interpretation that classifies most major cryptocurrencies as digital commodities rather than securities. The guidance addresses staking, mining, airdrops and token wrapping, offering a clear...
What Schools Are Required to Do for Students with ADHD (But Often Don’t)
The U.S. Department of Education’s 2016 Dear Colleague Letter clarifies that public schools must evaluate any student suspected of ADHD, regardless of grades or crisis. Eligibility for a 504 plan hinges on functional impact—how ADHD interferes with executive‑function tasks such as...
Consultwebs Forecasts 2026 Digital Marketing Shift: GEO, E‑E‑A‑T and AI‑Driven Search Volatility
Consultwebs released its 2026 Digital Marketing Forecast, warning that Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI‑driven search will make “zero‑click” prompts the norm. The report urges law firms and broader marketers to double down on E‑E‑A‑T, first‑party data and human‑centric content...
FAA Proposes $0.25‑per‑Pound User Fees for U.S. Rocket Launches, Capped at $30,000
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a draft rule to levy user fees on commercial rocket launches and reentries, starting at $0.25 per pound of payload in 2026 and rising to $1.50 by 2033, with a $30,000 cap per flight. The...
EU Commission: Blame Berlin and Paris for Red Tape, Not Us
The European Commission announced a sweeping overhaul of its Better Regulation guidelines, blaming member‑state “gold‑plating” for much of the EU’s red‑tape problem. Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the plan will cut the regulatory burden by 25% and save about €37.7 billion (roughly...
How to Turn Tax Law Changes Into Advisory Opportunities
The “One, Big Beautiful Bill” enacted on July 4 2025 introduced sweeping tax changes that have already generated client confusion and a flood of questions. Rather than reacting during tax season, the article urges advisors to use the interim period for proactive,...