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
Paramount Dismisses Former President Jeff Shell, Grants $60.7 Million Severance
Paramount removed Jeff Shell as president in April 2026 and approved a $60.7 million severance package, the largest executive payout at the studio in recent years. The ouster follows a high‑stakes gambling dispute that has drawn subpoenas for top agents and sparked a defamation lawsuit.
DOJ Drops Probe Into Fed Chair Powell’s $2.5 B Renovation, Clearing Path for Warsh Confirmation
The Justice Department announced it is ending its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the Fed’s inspector general will now handle the review, effectively removing the last major hurdle to...
Finance Minister Advocates ‘Anticipatory’ Regulation in Capital Markets
India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for a more sophisticated, anticipatory regulatory framework for capital markets, urging SEBI to lead with stronger surveillance, cybersecurity and investor‑protection measures. She highlighted the need for simpler, digital KYC, deeper corporate‑bond and municipal‑bond markets, and...
Rituals Confirms Data Breach Exposing Over 41 Million ‘My Rituals’ Members’ Personal Details
Dutch cosmetics giant Rituals disclosed that an unauthorized download in April exposed personal data of more than 41 million members of its “My Rituals” loyalty program. While passwords and payment information were not compromised, the breach includes names, email addresses, phone...
Arbitrum and Tether Freeze $415 Million in Assets, Raising Decentralization Questions
Arbitrum’s 12‑member Security Council froze roughly 30,766 ETH (about $71 million) after a KelpDAO exploit, while stablecoin issuer Tether locked $344 million of USDT on Tron following OFAC alerts. Both moves, executed off‑chain and with law‑enforcement input, have reignited criticism that crypto’s promised...
California Cities Seek to Bless Polyamorous Unions. Lawyers Warn It Will Get Messy in Court
California cities such as West Hollywood are drafting ordinances to recognize polyamorous domestic partnerships, aiming to extend housing, healthcare and parental protections to multi‑partner families. Current state law limits domestic partnerships to two adults, forcing poly families to rely on...
Nigeria Is Tightening Tax Enforcement. TaxStreem Wants to Automate Compliance.
TaxStreem, an AI‑powered tax compliance platform, launched in March 2026 to automate Nigerian businesses’ tax calculation, filing and invoicing. The solution reads real‑time transaction data from bank and fintech accounts, assigns the correct VAT, withholding or exemption, and files returns...
Most Lawyers Already Rely on AI Tools
I’d say that most lawyers are using at least one AI tool in their practice.
Ontario Passes Law Shielding Provincial Ministers’ Records From Information Requests
Ontario’s Legislative Assembly approved Bill 97, amending the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to add subsection 65(18) that excludes records held by ministers or their offices from FOI requests. The amendment was pushed through on third reading...
Phonorecords V and the “39 Steps” Problem: Time for the CRB to Fix Streaming Mechanicals
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) is revisiting the Part 385 streaming‑mechanical formula—known as the “39 steps”—as generative AI music challenges its underlying assumptions. AI‑generated tracks are not protected by copyright, raising questions about whether they belong in the Section 115 royalty pool...
2026 PAW: Construction Arbitration in Transition: Trends, Risks, and a Blueprint for Better Practice
Paris Arbitration Week 2026 underscored construction and infrastructure disputes as a core focus of international arbitration. Panels highlighted emerging trends such as ESG obligations, AI‑driven document management, and the geopolitical risks affecting projects in conflict‑prone regions. Istanbul Arbitration Center positioned...
Help Us UK Supreme Court, You’re Our only Hope (for Digital Replicas)
The UK Court of Appeal dismissed Tyburn Film Productions' claim that Lucasfilm unjustly enriched itself by digitally recreating Peter Cushing’s likeness in *Rogue One*. Tyburn argued that a 1993 agreement gave it a commercial veto right over any post‑mortem use of...
Why Opting for Family Mediation Can Be a Good Decision?
California courts are increasingly steering divorcing couples toward family mediation as a cost‑effective alternative to traditional litigation. Studies show mediated settlements often yield more favorable outcomes than court rulings, which can be costly and time‑consuming. Mediation offers privacy, faster resolution,...
Microsoft (MSFT) Must Face a UK Lawsuit Over Cloud Computing Licenses
Microsoft faces a UK class‑action lawsuit alleging it overcharged roughly 60,000 businesses for Windows Server licenses on rival cloud platforms such as Amazon, Google and Alibaba. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed the case to proceed, with potential damages estimated...
Malaysia Gets New Anti-Corruption Chief as Protests Mount Against Outgoing Head
Malaysia appointed former High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman as the new chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission, effective 13 May, amid a scandal involving outgoing chief Azam Baki. Allegations link Azam to a share‑ownership controversy and a purported corporate‑mafia network, prompting...
Exclusive: OneCard May Restart Issuance as RBI Appoints Firm for Unified Audit
OneCard, the fintech arm of FPL Technologies, is poised to restart co‑branded credit‑card issuance after the Reserve Bank of India appointed an audit firm to conduct a unified review of its partnership and data‑sharing framework. The audit will examine compliance...
Pas Hopes New MACC Chief's Appointment Will Lead to Significant Reforms
PAS has praised the appointment of former High Court judge Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman as the new chief commissioner of Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), hoping his tenure will spark substantive reforms. The party’s information chief, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, emphasized...
Court of Appeals Freezes Romualdez Assets, Bank Accounts
Manila’s Court of Appeals issued a 20‑day freeze on a luxury Makati estate and dozens of bank accounts linked to former House speaker Martin Romualdez and businessman Jose Raulito Enoy Paras. The order, based on probable cause of violations of the Anti‑Money Laundering...
Hyper TPRM: Rethinking Third-Party Risk for Scale, Speed, and Confidence
Third‑party risk management (TPRM) is straining under exploding vendor ecosystems and fragmented risk signals. A new framework called Hyper TPRM replaces questionnaire‑driven reviews with data‑first intelligence, AI‑accelerated assessments, and community‑validated data. The model delivers continuous, risk‑based monitoring while retaining human...
Tax Evasion, AI Use and an Irish Sprinter’s Bikini Photos: Specsavers ‘War’ Reaches the High Court
A High Court judge has urged Specsavers and Sean Power, co‑owner of its Ennis store, to end a protracted legal "war" that spans tax‑evasion claims, alleged expense fraud, AI‑generated filings, and the use of sprinter Ciara Neville's bikini photos in...
Homeowners Arrested After Cowboy Builder Claims They 'Harassed' Him over 'Unsafe' Rear Extension
A self‑employed builder in Essex left a £44,000 rear extension unfinished and unsafe, prompting Basildon Council to halt the work. The homeowners were briefly arrested after accusing the builder of harassment, but were released with an apology. A magistrates’ court...
![[Video] Betting the Game: From Taboo to Business Model: How Gambling Entered the Sports Mainstream](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.2237_4849.jpg)
[Video] Betting the Game: From Taboo to Business Model: How Gambling Entered the Sports Mainstream
The "Betting the Game" podcast, a ten‑part series launched in April 2026, examines how sports gambling has shifted from a fringe activity to a core revenue driver for professional and amateur leagues. Hosted by compliance experts Tom Fox and Mike...
US Grants Maduro Access to Funds for Defense in Criminal Case
U.S. officials have reversed a prior restriction, allowing former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to use Venezuelan‑origin funds to pay legal counsel in their New York drug‑trafficking case. The change eliminates the financial roadblock that had stalled the...
Forged Document Enables $128M Offshore Magic Trick
RM128,340,000 moving to an offshore account in a single day isn't just a financial transaction; it is the final act of a corporate "magic trick" where a massive infrastructure project disappears while the money stays visible. While the headlines focus on...
Solar & Storage Industry Statement on U.S. Court Order Blocking Interior Memo Slowing Permitting of Solar & Storage Projects
A federal judge has blocked the Department of the Interior’s memo that slowed permitting for solar and storage projects, a move hailed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). SEIA interim CEO Darren Van’t Hof called the ruling a win...
[Video] AI in Healthcare: Five Healthcare AI Stories You Need to Know This Week - April 24, 2026
The weekly AI‑in‑Healthcare briefing highlighted five pivotal developments. UnitedHealth announced a $1.5 billion investment to embed AI across its payer and provider services. Merck unveiled a new AI‑driven commercial strategy aimed at deepening engagement with physicians, while Hartford HealthCare showcased a...
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Understanding Section 1250: Taxation of Depreciated Real Property
Section 1250 of the Internal Revenue Code forces ordinary‑income tax on gains from the sale of real property when accelerated depreciation exceeds what straight‑line depreciation would have allowed. The rule applies mainly to commercial and residential assets that were depreciated using...
Bahraini Supreme Court Accepts the Applicability of “Foreign” Jewish Customs in a Succession Case Involving Bahraini Jews
Bahrain’s Supreme Court ruled that foreign Jewish inheritance customs can govern a domestic succession dispute involving Bahraini Jews. The court relied on Article 1 of the 2001 Civil Code, which permits applying the customs of a religious community, including external customs,...
Ripple’s Escrow Gift Secures US Control, Underscores XRP Neutrality
There is a legal provision allowing Ripple to gift escrow to the US Treasury with a significant tax benefit. The US wants that supply controlled domestically. They also deliberately built XRP as a neutral asset nobody can freeze or claw...
Feds Say Hawaii Crime Boss Orchestrated His Own Death to Shield Millions in Assets
Federal prosecutors argue that Honolulu crime boss Michael Miske engineered his own fentanyl overdose to conceal more than $20 million in assets, prompting a novel civil forfeiture claim. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson rejected the government’s request to stay all civil...
FCC Expands Router Ban to Portable Hotspots, Grants Conditional Exemptions to Netgear and Adtran
The Federal Communications Commission announced that its foreign‑made consumer router ban now includes portable hotspot devices, while smartphones with hotspot capability remain exempt. The agency also issued conditional approvals for Netgear and Adtran routers, leaving most other brands in limbo.
Ninth Circuit Revives $162 Million Umbrella Policy Fight Over Aggregate Limits
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a district court on April 23, 2026, holding that the annual aggregate limit in three legacy umbrella policies does not apply to property‑damage claims. The decision could expose the insurer to as...
Goodwin and Cooley Earn Spot on Cybersecurity Docket’s Incident Response Elite 2026
Goodwin and Cooley secured placements on Cybersecurity Docket’s Incident Response Elite list for 2026, with three Goodwin partners and four Cooley partners recognized. The selections underscore the growing premium placed on data‑breach response capabilities across global law firms.
Ex-Orrick Partner Withdraws Data‑Breach Suit Hours After Filing
Joseph Casillas, a former Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe employee, voluntarily dismissed his data‑breach lawsuit against the firm just hours after filing. The move leaves the case open for re‑filing in another venue and highlights the difficulty of pursuing negligence claims...
IBM Pays $17 Million as DOJ Expands FCA DEI Enforcement for Federal Contractors
IBM settled a $17.1 million False Claims Act case over alleged discriminatory DEI practices, marking the Department of Justice's first civil‑rights‑fraud enforcement action. The settlement follows a March 26, 2026 executive order that embeds DEI compliance into federal contracts, exposing contractors...
Intel CFO David Zinsner Takes on Principal Accounting Officer Role After CAO Exit
Intel announced that Chief Financial Officer David A. Zinsner will also serve as principal accounting officer after the immediate resignation of Scott Gawel. The change, filed on April 24, 2026, consolidates financial reporting authority under Zinsner and underscores the company's...
Malaysia Picks a Former Judge to Lead Its Anti-Graft Agency
Malaysia has appointed former High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman as the next chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission, succeeding embattled Azam Baki. Halim will take office on May 13, following a government statement that aims to restore the...
Procedural Ghost Undermined RM200B Infrastructure Deal
A RM200,000,000 "regional infrastructure dream" is rarely a business failure when the foundations were never actually laid—it’s a 14-year countdown to a Monday morning in court. While the market sees a standard MACC arrest of a former director in his 70s,...
Powell Already Ordered Fed IG Probe, Piro Not Starting New
Also, Powell asked for the Inspector General at the Fed to investigate last July, so Piro is not starting a new investigation there https://t.co/69DrLkUpjT
U.S. Regulators Ban Banks From Outsourcing Judgment to AI Algorithms
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve released revised model risk management guidance that prohibits banks from delegating judgment to AI algorithms. The guidance demands real‑time validation, auditable decision trails...
Sixth Circuit Upholds State Power Over Sports Betting
Game, set and match for Ohio? The Sixth Circuit stated the presumption against preemption applies because this is a gambling case. The States have won every case where it applies (e.g., MA, MD, NV & OH). Reason: No "clear and manifest" statement...
JD Vance's Task Force Fails to Halt Trump's IRS Lawsuit
I thought JD Vance's fraud task force was going to put a stop to Trump's I.R.S. lawsuit.
FAA Grounds Blue Origin’s New Glenn After Satellite Mis‑orbit
The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket after its upper stage placed AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite into an off‑nominal orbit on April 19, 2026. The incident cancels the first reuse of a New Glenn booster and triggers a mandatory...
SEC Staff Expands Broker‑Dealer Exemptions to Digital Asset Interfaces, Shaking DeFi Compliance
On April 13, the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets issued staff guidance that for the first time outlines conditions under which a crypto user‑interface provider can operate without registering as a broker‑dealer. The rule defines a “Covered User Interface”...
Crypto Advocacy Groups File Joint Petition Urging SEC to Launch DeFi Rulemaking
On April 6, 2026, a coalition of crypto advocacy groups submitted a joint petition to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, demanding a formal notice‑and‑comment rulemaking process for decentralized finance. The filing seeks clear definitions and compliance pathways for DeFi participants,...
Patent Case Summaries | Week Ending April 17, 2026
The Federal Circuit issued three notable opinions this week. It reversed a district court’s summary‑judgment of non‑infringement for Intel, finding the extraterritoriality stipulation and the doctrine‑of‑equivalents analysis were misapplied. It affirmed the on‑sale invalidity of Definitive Holdings’ patent against Powerteq,...
CFPB's New Fair Lending Rule Is Out – No Surprises But Big Changes
On April 22, 2026 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a final rule amending Regulation B, the ECOA implementing regulation. The rule narrows prohibited discrimination to intentional acts, eliminates disparate‑impact liability, tightens the discouragement provision, and bars for‑profit special‑purpose credit programs...
DEA Reschedules FDA-Approved Marijuana Products and State-Licensed Medical Marijuana to Schedule III
On April 22, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed a final order moving FDA‑approved marijuana products and state‑licensed medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. The change eliminates the Section 280E tax disallowance for medical operators and creates an expedited DEA...
Judge Grounds Flyers’ Attempt to Undo Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Merger
U.S. District Judge Micah Smith dismissed a six‑plaintiff antitrust suit seeking to unwind Alaska Airlines' $1.9 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines. The judge ruled the complaint failed to define a geographic market or prove that the merger caused higher prices or...
Medspas on Alert: The FDA Says You’re a Dispenser Too
On April 1, 2026, the FDA issued its first warning letter to a “dispenser” of prescription drugs, targeting Texas‑based medspa Pure Indulgence Aesthetics for violations of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. Inspectors cited use of unauthorized Botox suppliers, failure to provide...