Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Biden filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio interview, arguing the release would be improper. The action has sparked political commentary, including remarks from former President Trump.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Santa Marta Conference: Legal Experts Warn Governments Have 'Binding Obligations' To Phase Out Fossil Fuels
At the Santa Marta Conference, more than 250 climate‑law specialists warned that governments already carry binding obligations under several strands of international law to phase out fossil fuels. The experts cite the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, human‑rights conventions and emerging climate‑justice jurisprudence as legal bases for mandatory decarbonisation. Their joint statement precedes a high‑level meeting aimed at drafting a global roadmap away from coal, oil and gas. The warning seeks to translate legal theory into concrete policy commitments before the next UN climate summit.
Finally, Access: How Article 40 DSA Changes Platform Research in Practice
The EU’s Digital Services Act now grants independent researchers a legal right to access data from Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Search Engines serving at least 45 million EU users. Article 40 creates two routes: public‑data access beyond voluntary tools (40‑12)...
Baroness Harman to Speak at Conference on Impact of Employment Reforms on Legal Sector
Baroness Harman KC, former Labour deputy leader, will keynote the Change Management Present and Future Conference in London on May 5, focusing on the Employment Rights Act 2025’s new workplace harassment provisions. The Act introduces third‑party liability and obliges employers to take...
GSK/Tesaro Claim Denied in Jemperli Lawsuit with AnaptysBio
A Delaware court rejected GSK and its Tesaro unit's attempt to terminate the 2014 licensing agreement with AnaptysBio, preserving the existing royalty rate for the PD‑1 cancer drug Jemperli. The ruling affirms that AnaptysBio has not breached the contract, while...
Why AML Failures Cost More than Just Fines
UK firms face mounting AML costs as 87% would sever a partner after a single breach, turning compliance into a survival issue. Recent fines—including a £264.8m (~$335m) penalty in 2021 and a £107.8m (~$137m) fine the year before—highlight regulatory pressure,...
High Court Nixes Bid to Remove East London Pub’s Spirit for Resi Scheme
The High Court dismissed Pridewell Properties' appeal to redevelop the Railway Bell pub in South Woodford, allowing Spirit Pub Company to retain its tenancy. Pridewell had proposed three mews houses and a reduced‑size pub with six flats above, but the...
OpenClaw Reveals Hidden Security Risks of Agentic AI
OpenClaw, an open‑source platform that lets AI agents share system access, was exposed as a major security liability. A February report identified nearly 43,000 public control panels in 82 countries and a mis‑configured database leaking 1.5 million authentication tokens and 35,000...
Legal Implications of the Iran Conflict for Energy and Commodity Traders
The Iran‑region conflict that erupted on February 28, 2026 has sent crude, refined products and natural‑gas benchmarks into sharp volatility, while physical supply chains across the Middle East face material disruptions. Energy traders are now navigating not only commercial risk...
FINRA Is Still Following Off-Channel Enforcement Even If the SEC Isn’t Leading
The SEC has stepped back from aggressive off‑channel communication enforcement, but FINRA continues to levy penalties. Between 2021 and early 2025 the SEC and CFTC imposed hundreds of millions in fines, yet in 2025‑2026 FINRA fined Velox Clearing $1.3 million and...
Bill C-12 and the Changing Landscape of Asylum Access in Canada
On March 26, 2026, Canada’s Bill C-12—Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act—received Royal Assent, introducing sweeping changes to the refugee regime. The law imposes a strict one‑year deadline for filing asylum claims, redirects late claimants to the limited Pre‑Removal...
Lessons Learned From 3 Corporate Governance Failures
The article examines three high‑profile corporate governance collapses—Blockbuster, Washington Mutual, and Theranos—to illustrate how stagnant culture, weak board risk oversight, and inadequate expertise can doom even market leaders. Blockbuster’s refusal to embrace digital streaming caused its 2010 bankruptcy despite a $50 million...
Compliance as a Competitive Edge in FinTech
FinTech executives gathered in Toronto to discuss how compliance is evolving from a regulatory checkbox into a strategic differentiator. The roundtable highlighted the rise of “compliance by design,” urging firms to embed regulatory controls early in product development to avoid...
FAA Targets Lithium Battery Breaches
The FAA has issued enforcement notices proposing roughly $430,000 in civil penalties across three firms for hazardous‑material violations. Verizon faces a $70,500 fine for misdeclared lithium‑ion batteries, World Event Promotions a $260,000 penalty after a smoking package was found, and...
Anthropic’s AI Agent-to-Agent Marketplace Experiment: The Legal Frameworks Don’t Exist
Anthropic unveiled Project Deal, a prototype marketplace where autonomous AI agents negotiate, sign, and execute contracts on behalf of users. The experiment demonstrated that agents can draft agreements, verify counterparties, and fulfill obligations without human intervention. However, the trial exposed...
EU’s Largest Measures Against Russia yet Include Escalation of Crypto Sanctions Evasion
The European Union unveiled its most extensive sanctions package against Russia in two years, imposing a blanket ban on Russian cryptocurrency providers, platforms, the central‑bank digital ruble and the RUBx stablecoin. The measures also target 20 Russian banks, four foreign...
Nine Make the Grade in Simmons’ Latest Partner Promotions Round
Simmons & Simmons announced nine new partners, five of whom are women, fulfilling its 2026 target of 50% women in partner promotions. The promotions cover seven global offices, with London receiving the most new partners. Financial markets and real estate...
Titan AM Overturns Tavistock’s Counterclaim in Ongoing Legal Battle
Titan Asset Management secured a Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed Tavistock's counterclaim seeking roughly $37.5 million in damages. The dispute stems from the early termination of a ten‑year strategic partnership that Tavistock ended after three years, citing unacceptable performance. Titan...
China Blocks Meta's $2 B Acquisition of AI Startup Manus
Meta Platforms' $2 billion bid to acquire AI startup Manus was ordered cancelled by China's National Development and Reform Commission, citing compliance with domestic laws. The move underscores Beijing's tightening grip on foreign takeovers of firms with Chinese ties and puts...
Supreme Court Weighs Fourth Amendment Limits on Geofence Warrants in $195,000 Bank Heist Case
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the legality of geofence warrants—court orders that compel tech firms like Google to reveal location data of anyone within a virtual perimeter. The case stems from a Midlothian, Va., bank robbery that netted...
The Legal Tech Giants Powering ICE, Part 1 — How Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis Helped Support America’s Immigration Surveillance Machine
Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis, the two dominant legal‑research platforms, have entered multi‑year contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to supply immigration case data and real‑time detainee records. The agreements, valued in the millions, enable ICE to automate risk‑scoring...
Google Settles Android Data‑usage Lawsuit for $135 Million
Google has agreed to a $135 million settlement to resolve a class‑action lawsuit alleging its Android operating system transmitted users’ cellular data without permission. The deal could cover as many as 100 million Android owners, with a deadline to opt out by...
Jury Awards Six‑Figure Verdict Against Citizens Property Insurance, Boosting Florida Policyholders
A Fort Lauderdale jury awarded plaintiffs a six‑figure sum, plus interest, in a lawsuit against Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state's largest property insurer. The verdict, delivered by The People's Law Team, signals heightened exposure for carriers facing flood and...
Missouri Supreme Court Stays Suspension of Lawyer Who Used Racial Slur
The Missouri Supreme Court stayed a six‑month suspension for defense attorney Scott Campbell, who called Platte County Assistant Prosecutor Lynnette Lockhart the N‑word, opting instead for a six‑month probation. The decision has ignited discussion about the adequacy of disciplinary measures...
Waymo Says Avoiding Bike Lanes Is Unrealistic as Customers Demand Drop‑offs There
Waymo told cycling advocates that expecting its robo‑taxis to stay out of bike lanes is "too high a bar" because riders want to be dropped off there. The comment follows a 2024 lawsuit alleging a Waymo vehicle blocked a bike...
A Conversation with MI Attorney General Nominee Eli Savit
In this episode, Michigan Attorney General nominee Eli (Ellie) Savit discusses her diverse legal background—from teaching and civil‑rights litigation to environmental and consumer protection work—and how it shapes her vision for the AG’s role as the state’s “people’s lawyer.” She...
CFTC Countersues New York Over $3.4B Prediction Market Claim
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued New York State, rejecting a $3.4 billion damages claim against Coinbase and Gemini. CFTC Chair Mike Selig said the agency holds exclusive jurisdiction over prediction‑market exchanges, intensifying a clash between federal regulators and state gambling...
Can a $2 Billion Company Claim a $1,700 Accommodation Is Too Expensive?
A $2 billion threat‑detection equipment maker denied a $1,700 custom hearing‑protection request, then demoted the employee who sought the accommodation. The EEOC sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act, alleging discrimination and retaliation. The case settled for $100,000, with the consent...
NEXA's Kortas Vows Countersuit in loanDepot Trade Secret Row
loanDepot sued NEXA Lending in Mississippi federal court, alleging two loan officers stole its trade secrets and used them to win clients for NEXA. NEXA CEO Mike Kortas called the suit “pathetic” and said a countersuit is forthcoming. Both companies...
Much-Maligned Small-Business Data Rule Close to Finish Line
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is set to finalize the long‑delayed Section 1071 small‑business data rule, a "significant" regulatory action that triggers an OIRA review due to its $100 million‑plus annual impact. The Trump‑appointed acting director Russell Vought scaled back the proposal,...
A SoCal Store Paid $14,000 After Being Sued. The Plaintiff Had Filed 1,800 Other Disability Lawsuits Before
Serial ADA plaintiff Anthony Bouyer, represented by Manning Law, filed his 231st lawsuit in Los Angeles County this year, targeting a small Mexican restaurant that settled for $14,000. The plaintiff has filed roughly 1,800 ADA suits statewide, leveraging California’s Unruh...
The Law Firm Productivity Myth That’s Burning Lawyers Out
Law firms equate productivity with longer hours and higher output, but this model fuels cognitive fatigue and burnout among attorneys. Cognitive science shows continuous mental effort without recovery degrades decision quality and increases errors. Karen Skinner advocates a new productivity...
June D-Day Set for £100m Judgement in Isle of Man Investor Compensation Case
British and expatriate investors are awaiting a £100 million (≈$128 million) judgment in an Isle of Man compensation case involving Friends Provident International and Utmost. The acting deemster has set a new hearing date of June 8, marking the seventh postponement since the...
FCA Market Soundings Review Puts Pre-Deal Controls Under Scrutiny
The FCA’s multi‑firm review examined 63 UK equity capital‑market transactions from January 2023 to June 2025, including fifty accelerated book‑builds (ABBs) worth roughly £32 billion (≈ $40.6 billion). About 90% of the deals employed market soundings, confirming the practice as a standard pre‑announcement tool. The...
482 Visa Refusal: Mistakes & How to Avoid
Australia’s Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa is a primary pathway for employers to bring skilled overseas workers, but refusals remain common. Most denials arise from weak documentation, mismatched occupation codes, and insufficient sponsorship justification rather than outright ineligibility. The...
Philippine Court Order over Marcos’ Health Raises Constitutional Question
The Philippine Supreme Court gave President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a 10‑day deadline to comment on a petition demanding public disclosure of his health. The petition, filed by allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, invokes Article VII, Section 12 of the constitution, which...
William Bernhardt on Comics, Superman, and the Legal Drama Behind an Icon’s Creation
Attorney‑author William Bernhardt’s new nonfiction book *The Superman Wars* revisits the decades‑long legal battle over Superman’s ownership, incorporating fresh material from the 2016 settlement and interviews with the creators’ heirs. He details how Siegel and Shuster sold the rights for...
China Obstructs Meta Platforms’ $2 Billion Purchase AI Firm Manus
China’s National Development and Reform Commission ordered the termination of Meta Platforms’ $2 billion acquisition of AI agentic startup Manus, citing violations of rules on foreign capital and technology exports. The deal, announced in December, had already seen Manus staff and...
Supreme Court Reviews Police Use of Cell Location Data to Find Criminals
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday challenging the use of geofence warrants, which allow police to collect location data from all cellphones near a crime scene. The case stems from a 2019 robbery of Call Federal...
New York Keeps Getting Hotter. Utilities Can Still Cut Off the Power.
New York State unveiled a policy that restricts utility power shutoffs to the hottest days of a heat wave, but the rules are weaker for New York City residents. The change follows intense lobbying by utilities that collectively hold more...
EU RoHS Compliance in 2026: What to Expect
EU RoHS compliance in 2026 will focus on tightening lead exemptions, revised thresholds, and a wave of expiry dates. Delegated directives adopted in November 2025 become effective on 1 July 2026, requiring manufacturers to track exemption changes, submit renewals, or substitute restricted substances....
The Quiet Expansion of Stablecoin Exposure
Stablecoins are moving from niche crypto assets into core business processes, prompting firms to embed them in vendor, payment and treasury operations. The U.S. GENIUS Act now sets reserve, redemption and reporting standards, forcing issuers and intermediaries to adopt institutional‑grade...
How Compliance Teams Are Tackling the RegTech Surge
Regulatory change is accelerating, leaving many financial firms overwhelmed as 58% still rely on manual, spreadsheet‑driven compliance processes. AscentAI’s 2026 benchmark survey shows only 16% have reached an advanced, automated maturity level, but that cohort is projected to more than...
ESMA Reviews Use of Private Credit Ratings Amid Growing Regulatory Scrutiny
Regulators are tightening scrutiny on private‑credit ratings as ESMA initiates a formal review, signaling heightened oversight for the fast‑growing sector. Meanwhile, private‑equity firms are accelerating capital deployment: Blackstone’s secondaries arm breached $100 bn AUM, Apollo is close to a $1.5 bn acquisition...
Top Law Firms Push for UAE Office Returns as Fragile Ceasefire Holds
International law firms operating in the United Arab Emirates are ordering lawyers back to the office after roughly two months of remote work triggered by the US‑Israeli war with Iran. Jones Day has asked its Dubai attorneys to return immediately,...
Official Statistics: MOD Common Law Compensation Claims Statistics 2024/25
The Ministry of Defence has published provisional statistics for the 2024/25 fiscal year covering common‑law compensation claims, excluding contract disputes. The data, first released in June 2025 and updated on 27 April 2026, will be formally issued in June 2026. The figures...
UK Property Assets Held Offshore Increasingly at Risk, Lawyers Warn
Lawyers warn that UK property owned through offshore companies is increasingly becoming ownerless as holding firms dissolve or are struck off their registers. When a company is dissolved, the freehold can escheat to the Crown, forcing owners into costly legal...
China Blocks Foreign Takeover of Manus Project
Whoa Office of the Working Mechanism for Security Review of Foreign Investment (NDRC) Issues a Security Review Decision on the Foreign Acquisition of the Manus Project The Office of the Working Mechanism for Security Review of Foreign Investment (NDRC), in accordance with...
Tesla Registers 303.96M Restricted Shares for Elon
The S-8 SEC filings this morning Tesla is registering the 303,960,630 restricted stock so they can be legally issued to Elon from the 2018 CEO Performance Award, based on the Implementation Agreement we saw in the 10-Q. Nothing new.
Where Legal AI Becomes Legal Work
LexisNexis South Africa unveiled Protégé™ Workflows in March 2026 as part of the global Lexis+® with Protégé™ platform. The solution embeds AI directly into structured legal workflows, aiming to replace fragmented tools with a single, end‑to‑end environment. By integrating content, validation...
Beijing Blocks Manus-Meta Deal, Marking First Chinese CFIUS Action
Welp, Beijing blocks Manus-Meta deal - appears to be the first time of Chinese CFIUS in action: https://t.co/4PNJWvf0qC