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
Legal Innovators California Interview: Joy Sherrod, Intel
Intel’s Director of Discovery and Associate General Counsel Joy Sherrod told Legal Innovators California that in‑house lawyers must remain legal experts first, but they need to become fluent in AI tools. Intel has instituted a company‑wide training program to ensure attorneys can leverage technology for efficiency. Sherrod predicts contract drafting will be largely automated and patent analysis will accelerate, reshaping traditional legal work. She also warns that AI regulation will diverge globally, forcing multinationals to adopt region‑specific governance.
FCPA Scrutiny Of Methode Electronics Ends
Methode Electronics, a Chicago‑based supplier of engineered solutions, disclosed that the SEC’s investigation into potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations has concluded. The agency issued subpoenas in November 2024 and March 2025 covering foreign operations, accounting controls, executive compensation and...
Current Developments in Takeover Law and Practice
M&A activity surged in 2025, with U.S. deal volume topping $2.3 trillion—a 58% year‑over‑year jump—and global volume rising 42%. Megadeals worth $10 billion or more hit a record 68 transactions, highlighted by Union Pacific’s $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern and Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion...
FCA Targets Scaling Firms with New Support Unit
The FCA has opened applications for a new Scale‑up Unit aimed at solo‑regulated financial‑services firms that are expanding rapidly. The unit will assign each firm a dedicated regulatory contact and provide tailored guidance on product launches, market entry and technology...
Texas AG Ken Paxton Accused of Forum‑Shopping in Tylenol Lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, Kenvue Brands and Kenvue Inc. in Panola County, prompting drug‑maker lawyers to accuse the AG of forum‑shopping. The move revives criticism of Paxton’s litigation strategy and raises questions...
DSW Launches Legal Arm with Appointment of New MD
Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) has launched a new legal division, DSW Legal, appointing James Mallender as Managing Director. Mallender brings three decades of experience, having grown The Legal Director to roughly $9 million in turnover and a 50‑lawyer team. The new arm builds on...
Musk and the US Government Fought an AI Anti-Discrimination Law. The Arguments Don’t Hold up | Genevieve Smith
In April, the U.S. Department of Justice joined Elon Musk’s xAI in a lawsuit to overturn Colorado’s AI anti‑discrimination law, Senate Bill 205, which required bias audits and impact assessments for high‑risk AI systems. The federal challenge is part of...
The Cloud Attachment Problem: Why Modern Email Investigations Are Missing Critical Evidence
Modern email investigations increasingly encounter cloud‑hosted attachments that appear as hyperlinks to OneDrive, SharePoint, or Google Drive rather than traditional MIME files. Standard export workflows capture only the URL, leaving the actual document unretrieved and risking loss of the correct...
Your Law Firm’s Partner Compensation Plan Is Sabotaging Your Succession
Law firms often find their succession plans stalled because partner compensation structures reward retaining client ownership and billable hours rather than mentorship and client handoffs. The article highlights the origination credit trap, where senior partners keep credit for decades‑old clients,...
Womble Bond Dickinson Sees Off £50 Million Negligence Claim over Collapsed London Property Deal
International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) successfully defended a £50 million (~$63.5 million) professional negligence claim tied to a collapsed luxury property deal in Kensington, West London. The High Court found WBD did not breach any duty, that claimants failed to prove factual...
Philippines Top Court Rejects Senator’s Bid to Challenge ICC Warrant
The Philippine Supreme Court rejected Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s bid for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked enforcement of the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. The 9‑5‑1 decision leaves the warrant in force, though the court will issue...
The Claude-Pocalypse Bypassed Legal Aid; LawDroid’s New Plugin Remedies That, with 15 Targeted Skills
LawDroid introduced an open‑source plugin that integrates Anthropic’s Claude AI into civil legal‑aid workflows, delivering 15 targeted capabilities such as intake automation, eligibility screening, and document drafting. The move directly addresses the omission of legal‑aid tools in Anthropic’s recent rollout...
Harvey Launches ‘Command Center’ for Managing Enterprise AI Adoption, and Partners with DeepJudge on Institutional Knowledge
Harvey unveiled Command Center, a dashboard‑style platform that lets law firms track AI usage, costs, compliance and performance in real time. The tool also enables governance policies and reporting for senior leadership. Simultaneously, Harvey partnered with DeepJudge to embed a...
When Legal Terminology Is Correct But the Answer Is Still Wrong
Legal AI can generate text that uses perfectly correct terminology yet convey the wrong legal meaning, especially across common‑law and civil‑law systems. The article highlights how liquidated damages and penalty clauses appear interchangeable but have divergent enforceability rules. This gap...
Competition Commission of India Says It Won’t Allow ‘Winner-Takes-All Tyranny’ of Big Tech Firms in Digital Markets
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) announced it will prevent dominant Big Tech firms from creating winner‑takes‑all ecosystems in the country's digital markets. CCI member Sweta Kakkad highlighted AI‑driven pricing algorithms and digital ecosystems as emerging challenges that require balanced...
Arbitrators: Umpires or Epistemic Fact-Checkers?
The article contrasts "umpire arbitrators," who remain passive, with "epistemic fact‑checkers," who actively investigate facts. Although ICC and IBA rules empower arbitrators to gather evidence, most act as umpires because big‑law counsel prefer control, tribunal chairs resist inquisitorial methods, and...
Lavern the Agentic ‘Law Firm’ Has Arrived
Antti Innanen announced the open‑source release of Lavern, an ambitious legal‑tech platform built over six months with 155,000 lines of code. The Apache 2.0‑licensed repository bundles 67 specialist agents, eight end‑to‑end workflows, and a domain‑agnostic orchestration engine that can be repurposed for...
Chipotle Yanked Job Offer After Pregnancy Disclosure, Crew Member Alleges
Chipotle Mexican Grill rescinded a crew‑member job offer a day after a pregnant Ohio applicant disclosed her pregnancy and a doctor‑ordered lifting limit. The employee, Tara Griffin, filed a lawsuit alleging violations of Title VII, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and...
Former Senior Manager Sues Gibson Dunn over Accent Mocking and Denied Accommodations
Flor Gonzalez, a senior manager at Gibson Dunn’s Dallas office, filed a federal lawsuit alleging discrimination, retaliation, and denied medical accommodations spanning 2023‑2025. She claims the firm passed over less‑tenured white colleagues for promotion, mocked her Guatemalan accent, and ignored ADA‑required...
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Margaret Thornton on the Landmark Tickle v Giggle Transgender Case
The Federal Court ruled that transgender woman Roxanne Tickle was unlawfully excluded from the women‑only app Giggle for Girls, finding a breach of the Sex Discrimination Act. The decision follows a 2024 judgment and marks the first Australian case addressing...
‘Scamming’ Landlord Libel Claim Thrown Out as Lammy Promises Legislation on SLAPPs
A libel claim against Mill Media journalist Cormac Kehoe was dismissed as an abuse of process, and a related High Court suit was also struck out, with the judge calling the dual actions a SLAPP. The publisher is left with...
Help Name Canada’s Leading Litigation Boutiques
Canadian Lawyer has launched its eighth Top Litigation Law Boutiques survey, inviting legal professionals to vote for the firms that most influence Canada’s litigation landscape. The voting window runs from May 20 until June 12, after which the 2026‑27 rankings—backed by financial‑services...
Federal Court Intensifies Probe Into Sunken Mosaic Brands
The Federal Court of Australia has granted special permission for liquidators to broaden their document search into the collapsed Mosaic Brands group. The court also upheld a $25 million AUD fine (approximately $16.5 million USD) for breaches of Australian Consumer Law. Investigators...
CM Murray Appoints Former Hill Dickinson Chief Executive as a Strategic Adviser
CM Murray, a London boutique legal consultancy, has hired former Hill Dickinson chief executive Peter Jackson as a strategic adviser on a consultancy basis. Jackson, who spent over four decades at Hill Dickinson and stepped down as CEO in April 2024,...
Court Gives Judgement in Aldi Pest Control Case
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that repeated signs of rodent activity alone constitute a breach of EU food‑hygiene regulations. The judgment arose from a lawsuit against Aldi over pest‑control failures in its stores. The court clarified...
Westall V. Google Update: The Fight Moves Forward — And Google Wants It in Their Backyard
Sarah Westall’s lawsuit against Google and YouTube, alleging antitrust violations, defamation, coordinated censorship and government overreach, has entered a critical briefing stage. Google has filed a Motion to Transfer the case from the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to...
Hire a Lawyer: Founder Hits Effectiveness Ceiling
Being your own biz + tax lawyer is impossible. At a minimum it’s not effective. If you are emotionally invested - you can’t also be detached & logical which is 100% needed in biz + tax. And...
State Prediction Market Bills Are Premature Legal Time‑Wasters
"Wallach described state prediction market bills as misguided and premature 'time-wasters' because the federal preemption fight remains unresolved. “Once enacted into law, these bills become automatic tickets to federal court,” Wallach presciently wrote. https://t.co/VqYcJMgYbU
Why AI Indemnities Are Shrinking and What to Ask for Instead
AI indemnities are contracting as vendors recognize they cannot underwrite open‑ended risks tied to evolving models and probabilistic outputs. The shift drives contracts to embed tighter governance obligations, audit rights, and escalation procedures as the primary mechanisms for risk allocation....
States Must Challenge CFTC’s Ignored Gaming Contract Ban
States should be keying in on the CFTC's failure to enforce Rule 40.11(a)'s ban on gaming contracts. A government agency's failure to enforce its laws is contrary to the public interest--a key inquiry on a motion for preliminary injunction. My...
No More Tax Audits for Trump
The Justice Department announced a settlement that permanently bars the federal government from pursuing any tax‑audit claims against former President Donald Trump, his businesses, and family members. The agreement extends a prior deal that created a $1.8 billion anti‑weaponization fund for...
Court Rejects First Amendment Claims Against NYPD Commissioner Brought by "Most Wanted CEOs" Card Makers
A federal judge dismissed the First Amendment retaliation lawsuit filed by the creators of a "Most Wanted CEOs" playing‑card deck against NYPD Commissioner Tisch. The court found the cards and related social‑media statements did not constitute a true threat or incitement,...
Biglaw’s Growth Game Comes With Cuts, Too
Sidley Austin’s management chair Yvette Ostolaza told Bloomberg Law the firm is pursuing aggressive growth while simultaneously pruning practices and markets that no longer fit its long‑term vision. The strategy reflects a broader trend in biglaw: firms add headcount and...
Public-Interest Groups Urges D.C. Circuit to Halt Nexstar/Tegna Merger
A coalition of public‑interest groups has asked the D.C. Circuit Court to halt the FCC’s approval of the Nexstar‑Tegna merger, arguing the order is unlawful and shields the deal from judicial review. The brief contends that Nexstar’s acquisition would give...
Turns Out The ABA’s Gatekeeping Role Actually Does Something
A new empirical study spanning 35 years (1984‑2019) finds that alternative pathways to law licensure—apprenticeships, non‑ABA schools, and correspondence programs—produce dramatically lower bar‑pass rates and poorer career outcomes than ABA‑accredited routes. Non‑ABA graduates pass the bar at roughly 20‑30% versus...
Sherlocq Launches First AI‑Native Regulatory Intelligence Platform for Global Finance
Sherlocq announced the public launch of an AI-native regulatory intelligence platform for global financial services, covering more than 30 jurisdictions and integrating live connectors for Claude and ChatGPT. The tool promises to cut hours of manual research to seconds, targeting...
Illinois Human Rights Dept Issues First AI Hiring Regulations
The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) announced formal regulations governing the use of artificial intelligence in hiring and other employment decisions. The rules, released on May 18, 2026, mark the first state‑level mandate aimed at curbing bias and ensuring...
Hobart Appeals Judge’s Ruling Over Oneida Nation Tax‑Roll Dispute
The village of Hobart, Wisconsin, has appealed a Dec. 2, 2025 decision by U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach that barred the Oneida Nation from moving 21 parcels—totaling 499 acres—off the municipal tax rolls. Hobart argues the Indian Reorganization Act is...
India's Ministry of Labour Enforces New Industrial Relations Rules for 20‑Plus Worker Firms
India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2026, requiring every establishment with 20 or more workers to form a Grievance Redressal Committee and lowering the union‑recognition threshold to 30%. The rules took effect on May 8,...
Lexroom Secures $50M Series B to Expand Legal AI Across Europe’s Civil Law Markets
Lexroom, the Milan‑based legal‑tech startup, closed a $50 million Series B round led by Left Lane Capital, bringing its total funding to over $73 million. The capital will fund expansion into Spain and Germany, targeting the under‑served civil law market in Europe. Investors...
Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods Settle Lawsuit Over Unpaid Sports Bar Wages
Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods have agreed in principle to settle a lawsuit filed by two bartenders at their Manhattan venue, T‑Squared Social. The employees alleged the bar retained tips and miscalculated overtime, prompting a federal filing on May 18. The...
Blanche Faces Senators on New Trump 'Weaponization' Fund, Epstein, Budget Cuts
The Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion “Anti‑Weaponization Fund” to compensate Trump allies who claim they were unfairly targeted, a settlement that ends Trump’s IRS‑leak lawsuit. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee, fielding bipartisan questions on...
Valve Moves to Dismiss Counter-Strike Gambling Lawsuit in New York
Valve has filed a 42‑page motion to dismiss the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit that accuses Counter‑Strike 2 loot boxes of illegal gambling. The AG claims skins sold on Valve’s marketplace can fetch as much as $1 million and is seeking treble...
Cooley Extends Run as #1 Ranked Global, US Advisor to Venture-Backed Companies
Cooley was again named the #1 law firm globally and in the United States for representing companies raising venture capital, according to PitchBook’s Q1 2026 Global League Tables and LSEG’s review. The firm also led in deal count and overall deal...
U.S. Alleges Chinese Shipping Container Giants Rigged Global Supply During COVID Crisis
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted four of the world’s largest Chinese shipping‑container manufacturers and seven senior executives for allegedly orchestrating a global cartel that limited production and doubled container prices from 2019 to 2021. Prosecutors say the scheme...
How In-House Teams Are Using AI Agents—Without Letting Risk Run Wild
In-house legal departments are rapidly deploying generative AI agents to automate routine tasks such as contract drafting, e‑discovery, and regulatory research. Companies like Super.com are granting agents limited permissions while instituting guardrails to prevent unintended actions, such as file deletion....
Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer: Protecting Your Rights After a Serious Crash
A Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer helps victims of serious crashes navigate complex insurance claims and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The article outlines common causes of collisions—distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving—and explains how...
Takeda Engaged in Antitrust Scheme to Delay Generic Constipation Drug: US Jury
A Boston federal jury found Takeda Pharmaceutical liable for an antitrust scheme that delayed the generic version of its constipation drug Amitiza, awarding roughly $885 million in damages. The award could triple under federal law, potentially reaching $2.47 billion. The case centers...
Nexstar Accused Of Having It Both Ways In Dueling Court Fights
Public interest groups, led by Democracy Forward Foundation and Free Press, have asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to unwind the pending Nexstar‑TEGNA merger. They allege the FCC is deliberately stalling its statutory duty to review Media Bureau orders...
California Fines Yotta $1M for Deceiving Savers
California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation fined Yotta Technologies $1 million for falsely marketing its prize‑linked savings accounts as fully FDIC‑insured. Internal communications reveal Yotta executives privately doubted the reliability of Synapse, the banking‑as‑a‑service partner that held customer funds, yet...