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 Client Service Protocols: Tips to Ensure Things Don’t Slip Through the Cracks
Law firms risk slipping into “autopilot” when handling repeat matters, potentially overlooking critical details. Sally J. Schmidt advises establishing client service protocols—intake information sheets, regular status‑reporting, and scheduled check‑ins—to keep attorneys engaged and clients informed. She also recommends using checklists and visual tools like Gantt charts to track progress and prevent gaps. These practices aim to improve client satisfaction and reduce operational errors.
Terror Ban Appeal
The Home Secretary is appealing a High Court decision that lifted the terrorist‑organisation ban on Palestine Action. A five‑judge panel, the strongest possible Court of Appeal bench, will hear the case, including the Lady Chief Justice and the Master of...
Australia to Charge Big Tech Companies Two Percent Levy Unless They Strike Local News Deals
Australia announced a "News Bargaining Incentive" that would impose a 2.25% levy on the local Australian revenues of Meta, Google and TikTok unless they strike commercial agreements with domestic news publishers. The tax, slated to begin in the 2025‑26 financial...
Federal Court Enjoins Company From Excluding Shareholder Proposal
A U.S. District Court in Massachusetts granted an injunction that forces a company to keep a shareholder proposal on deforestation risk in its proxy statement, rejecting the company’s attempt to exclude it under Rule 14a‑8(i)(7). The judge ruled the proposal...
Loper Bright and Preemption
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, where a $1.25 million jury verdict against Bayer’s Roundup product is being challenged on the ground that the EPA’s pesticide regulations preempt state‑law claims. The justices’ questioning revealed a split...
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Taylor Swift Files to Trademark Her Voice, Likeness to Ward Off AI Deepfakes
Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect both her spoken voice and a distinctive onstage image. The filings list her TAS Rights Management as the owner of the audio clips and photograph,...
ATO Offers Free Small Business Masterclasses Ahead of Tax Time
Australia’s tax authority, the ATO, is offering a series of free, online masterclasses aimed at small‑business owners ahead of the upcoming tax season. The seven weekly webinars, running from 13 May to 24 June, cover topics such as business setup, record‑keeping, cash‑flow...
Same Payee Triggers AML Freeze for Shoe and Fertiliser Firms
Two listed companies. Same law. Same day. Both blame external parties. MACC froze 21 bank accounts at Padini and an undisclosed number at Cropmate on April 24 — both under Section 44(1) AMLA, both in completely different industries. One makes fertiliser....
Regulating Digital Surveillance of Workers
A recent breach exposed 21 million screenshots of employee computers, revealing passwords, emails and other sensitive data. The leak underscores the rapid expansion of digital surveillance tools—ranging from automatic screen captures to wearable motion trackers—used by employers. Scholars Pauline Kim and...
Bill Would Give FDA Permission to Provide States with Food Safety Information
Representatives Deborah Ross (D‑NC) and Michael Rulli (R‑OH) introduced the bipartisan Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026. The legislation would grant the FDA authority to share proprietary food‑safety data with state health agencies, data that is...
Hong Kong Anti-Graft Watchdog Charges 2 Men for Inciting Election Boycott, Blank Votes in ‘Patriots only’ Legislative Polls
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Hong Kong has charged two men, both security guards, for using social media to urge a boycott and to cast blank ballots in the 2025 “patriots only” Legislative Council election. One defendant is...
Capital Gains Discounts Were Meant to Usher in an Australia of ‘Shareholders’ – Not Property Speculators | Saul Eslake
The Australian government is expected to amend the 50 percent capital gains tax (CGT) discount in the May 12 budget, a policy originally intended to foster a shareholder economy but that has instead boosted property speculation. Since its 1999 introduction, the...
Taylor Wessing Adds Product Liability Specialist From Cooley in London
Taylor Wessing has added Jamie Humphreys as a partner to its London disputes team, recruiting him from Cooley to strengthen its product liability and safety practice. The move comes as the firm prepares to merge with Winston & Strawn, creating the combined...
“223. The Revealing Summary Reversal in LULAC: Monday’s One-Paragraph Order in the Texas Redistricting Case Is Both a Procedural Anomaly...
The Supreme Court issued a one‑paragraph order that abruptly overturned a 160‑page Texas redistricting opinion, signaling a rare use of the shadow docket to dismiss a case deemed likely unconstitutional. At the same time, Virginia’s high court is hearing arguments...
Why AI Isn't Like a Law Clerk
The author argues that AI‑generated legal scholarship differs fundamentally from a law clerk’s work because judicial opinions are institutional messages, while scholarly articles express individual viewpoints. In courts, the judge’s name is a convention and the opinion’s authority stems from...
Monthly Financial Habits That Keep Law Firms Profitable
Law firms that adopt five core monthly financial habits—reviewing key reports, monitoring accounts receivable, reconciling trust accounts, tracking billable hours, and evaluating expenses—can spot problems early and protect profit margins. The article highlights how fragmented data systems slow these reviews,...
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to Sign First U.S. Ban on Grocery Surveillance Pricing
Maryland Governor Wes Moore is set to sign the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act, the nation’s first law banning surveillance pricing in grocery stores and certain delivery platforms. The rule, slated to take effect on Oct. 1, 2026, will require retailers to...
Harvard Study Shows AI Slashes Junior Lawyer Task Time, Puts Partner Role in Question
Harvard Law School researchers report that 58% of attorneys using AI tools complete work faster, rising to 65% among premium users. The speed gains are offset by a perceived gap in deep legal reasoning, prompting senior partners to reassess their...
Illumend CEO Calls for Compliance‑First AI in COI Tracking
illumend chief executive Kristen Nunery told industry leaders on April 27 that AI‑powered COI tracking should be measured by its ability to improve compliance decisions, not merely by how fast it processes documents. Her comments highlight a growing split between...
OCC Issues Interim Final Rule Preempting Illinois Interchange Fee Ban
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released an interim final rule and order confirming that federal law preempts Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The actions protect national banks and federal thrifts from a state‑level ban on tax‑ and...
RBI Rolls Out Expected Credit Loss Framework for Banks, Effective April 2027
The Reserve Bank of India announced that its Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework will take effect on April 1, 2027, requiring banks to fair‑value their entire loan books and adjust impacts through retained earnings. The move tightens asset classification and...
Corruption Cases Fall to 68 in 2025, Lowest on Record: CPIB Report
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau reported that Singapore recorded only 68 new corruption cases in 2025, the lowest figure ever. The bureau received 160 corruption‑related reports, 56 of them anonymous, and prosecuted 90 individuals, 84 from the private sector. A...
Mercury Secures OCC Conditional Approval to Launch Full-Service Mercury Bank, N.A.
Mercury announced it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish Mercury Bank, N.A., a national bank that will let the fintech deliver full-service banking under federal oversight. The move follows four years...
SEC Issues Warning For US Investors On Phishing, Smishing, & Vishing Scams
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an April 23 alert warning investors that fraudsters are increasingly using phishing, smishing and vishing tactics to steal personal and financial data. The agency cited the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, noting more...
Feds Clear to Use Tear Gas, Chemicals at Portland ICE Facility
Federal appeals judges in the Ninth Circuit cleared ICE agents at Portland's detention facility to use tear gas, pepper balls and other chemical munitions after overturning two district‑court injunctions. The panel ruled that plaintiffs lack a constitutional right to bodily...
Humm Group Denies Takeovers Panel Warning, Calls Article Misleading
@ejohnno extremely disappointing and misleading article re $HUM.AX Humm Group in the Australian today. Surprised you published without even seeking my comment or seeking to check 'facts' as your article contains numerous errors. I believe fact-checking or offering subjects the...
Yukon Case Puts Domestic Violence Leave – and Manager Bias – in Spotlight
A Yukon University researcher was terminated the day after returning from a five‑day domestic‑violence leave, prompting a human‑rights tribunal that found the dismissal discriminatory. The case spotlights inconsistent domestic‑violence leave provisions across Canadian provinces and territories, as well as managerial...
The Pro-Alberta Case For Holding Weak Oil & Gas Operators Accountable
The Alberta Energy Regulator halted MAGA Energy’s operations in April 2026 after the firm failed to pay roughly $185 million USD in municipal taxes and fell behind on multiple regulatory fees. The company, which operates 581 wells, 108 facilities and 801 pipeline...
U.S. Opens Process to Cut Section 232 Steel, Aluminum Tariffs for Mexico and Canada
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a new tariff‑adjustment procedure that could slash Section 232 steel and aluminum duties on qualifying imports from Mexico and Canada by up to 50%, but not below a 25% floor. Relief is conditioned on suppliers’...
Cozen O'Connor Issues Playbook to Cut AI Pilot Fatigue in Law Firms
Cozen O'Connor’s chief strategy and innovation officer, Andrew Woolf, unveiled a playbook that sets clear criteria for AI tool pilots, aiming to eliminate the firm’s growing ‘pilot fatigue.’ The guide stresses defined success metrics, workflow integration, and scalable roll‑outs for...
MHRA Develops Adaptive AI Framework to Accelerate NHS Clinical Deployments
Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is drafting a new regulatory framework for adaptive artificial‑intelligence tools that evolve with real‑world data. The guidance, focused on lifecycle oversight, seeks to streamline NHS adoption while ensuring continuous safety, performance and...
DOJ Secures First DEI-Related False Claims Act Settlement, IBM Pays $17.1 Million
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that IBM will pay $17.077 million to resolve allegations it falsified diversity, equity and inclusion compliance on federal contracts. The settlement is the first False Claims Act action targeting DEI practices, signaling a new enforcement...
Netherlands Delays EU Pay‑Transparency Directive to 2027, Extending Compliance Gap
The Netherlands has postponed the national rollout of the EU pay‑transparency directive to 1 January 2027, six months after the EU‑wide deadline of 7 June 2026. The delay leaves Dutch employers in a legal limbo and could trigger infringement proceedings, while companies across Europe...
Disgraced LA County Assessor John Noguez Finally Sees Day in Court
Former Los Angeles County Assessor John Noguez, arrested in 2010 on bribery charges, finally went on trial after a 13‑year delay. Prosecutors claim he and two co‑defendants manipulated property assessments, costing taxpayers about $12 million and securing campaign contributions. Noguez faces...
Xi Blocks Meta Deal, Echoing CFIUS’s Power
Xi Tests China’s Reach by Blocking Meta Deal That’s Already Done Just like CFIUS has done for many years... https://t.co/iPzbSXPGRE
JPMorgan, BNY Mellon Deploy Deposit Tokens, Lobby Against Non‑Bank Stablecoins
JPMorgan and BNY Mellon rolled out tokenized USD deposit tokens on public and permissioned blockchains, while simultaneously lobbying Congress to prohibit passive yield on non‑bank stablecoins. The moves come as banks invest hundreds of millions in the technology and a...
The Sovereignty Mandate: Why Open Hybrid Cloud Is the Boardroom’s New Risk Frontier
Executives across APAC are confronting digital sovereignty as a board‑level risk, moving beyond data‑residency checklists to a strategic framework that demands control over data, infrastructure, and operations. The article outlines four hard truths—transparency versus AI black boxes, speed versus maintenance...
Cox Pole Attachment Complaints Lives On
Cox Communications has kept its FCC pole‑attachment complaint against Oklahoma Gas & Electric alive after the agency’s Enforcement Bureau rejected OG&E’s motion to dismiss. The complaint, filed in December, alleges that OG&E’s annual pole‑rental rates are unreasonable and that the...
D.C. Circuit Rejects Nexstar-Tegna Emergency Stay—For Now
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied an emergency stay sought by a coalition opposing the Nexstar‑Tegna merger, ruling the petition was premature because the FCC had not yet finished reviewing the Media Bureau’s order. The court...
MAHA’s Perfect Villain
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Monsanto v. Durnell, weighing whether Bayer, the owner of Roundup, should be shielded from state lawsuits alleging the herbicide’s cancer risk. Outside the Court, the MAHA coalition staged a high‑profile rally near the...
My Tenant Owes £15,000 in Rent, but I Can't Get Them Out of the Property
A 57‑year‑old accidental landlord in south‑London is owed roughly $19,000 in rent after her tenant stopped paying and now refuses to leave. Although a court order granted her possession, only bailiffs can enforce eviction, a process that could stretch up...
Court Decides to Hear Additional Case Next Term, Turns Down Petition From Parents Challenging School Gender-Identity Policy
The U.S. Supreme Court granted the Department of Labor’s petition to review a lower‑court ruling that limited the agency’s power to impose penalties on Sun Valley Orchards for H‑2A visa violations. The New Jersey farm was fined more than $500,000...
Jurisdiction Clauses Claim Competence, Courts Often Disagree
Court of competent jurisdiction clauses in agreements make me laugh because I’ve been in courtrooms and thought to myself… this is DEFINITELY a court of INCOMPETENT jurisdiction
Lawsuit Now Moot over Surprise Inspections for California Falconers
A federal judge declared a lawsuit by California falconers and the American Falconry Conservancy moot after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the language permitting unannounced, warrantless inspections from the state’s falconry licensing certification. The plaintiffs had argued the...
DC Circuit Restores Pentagon Escort Requirement for Journalists
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay that temporarily reinstates the Pentagon’s escort‑required press policy while the Department of Defense pursues a full appeal. The three‑judge panel, split 2‑1, concluded the escort provision is likely procedurally valid,...
Agents ‘Instrumental’ in Helping Landlords Navigate Legislative Changes, Says Ombudsman
The Property Ombudsman warned that the new Renters Rights Act will require letting agents to help private landlords meet updated notice periods, possession grounds and anti‑discrimination rules. The legislation bans no‑fault evictions, caps rent‑increase limits and prohibits charging more than...
Agency Wins Tribunal Challenge Against Selective Licensing Conditions
AST Lettings Ltd successfully challenged Charnwood Borough Council’s selective‑licensing conditions at the First‑tier Tribunal, arguing they exceeded the Housing Act 2004. The tribunal agreed, leading to a March 2025 settlement that requires the council to amend or drop several disputed licence clauses....
I Had £20,000 Stolen and Had to Fight a 13-Month Fraud Reporting Rule to Get It Back
A UK pensioner lost about $25,000 in an investment fraud that remained hidden for 17 months. Under the Payment Systems Regulator’s Mandatory Reimbursement Requirement, banks must be notified within 13 months of the last payment, otherwise refunds are limited. Lloyds...
Claimant Law Firms Launch Consumer Legal Association
Claimant law firms representing consumers have launched the Consumer Legal Association (CLA), a trade body designed to showcase the sector’s $7 bn‑plus economic contribution. The CLA will succeed the Association of Consumer Support Organisations and will conduct research on the industry’s...
New Residential Conveyancing Firm Seeks Estate Agency Partners
Farringdon, a new London‑based residential conveyancing firm, has officially entered the UK market and is recruiting estate‑agency partners to refer home‑sale clients. The firm has already secured early referral agreements with JLL and Streets Ahead as it builds a nationwide...