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
U.S. Firm Zoom Ordered to Pay Japan Company Zoom for Trademark Infringement
A Tokyo District Court ordered Zoom Communications to pay roughly $1 million to Japanese audio firm Zoom Corp. for trademark infringement over similar logos, while NEC Networks, Zoom’s Japanese distributor, was fined about $100 k. The court stopped short of issuing an injunction, allowing Zoom to keep using its logo in Japan. Damages were calculated based on licensing fees up to June 2020, reflecting the court’s view that post‑COVID demand made the two brands distinguishable. The ruling follows Zoom Corp.’s 2006 trademark registration and claims of market confusion.
DTE Energy Seeks $474 Million Electric Rate Hike, Michigan's Biggest Since 2019
Detroit‑based DTE Energy announced a $474.3 million request to raise electric rates before the Michigan Public Service Commission, its biggest hike in six years. The utility says data‑center contracts will fund grid upgrades and forestall further hikes until at least 2028.
Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders Approve $81 B Paramount Merger, Paving Way for Media Mega‑Deal
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted to sell the company to Paramount for $31 a share, valuing the deal at $81 billion (about $111 billion with debt). The approval clears a major hurdle, but regulators, state attorneys general and Hollywood groups are already...
Proxy Advisors: New DOL Guidance Creates ERISA Fiduciary Risk
The U.S. Department of Labor issued Technical Release 2026-01, extending the White House’s executive order on proxy advisors by treating many of their services as fiduciary duties under ERISA. The guidance says proxy advisory firms that control voting policies or...
What Is The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)?
The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), enacted in 1970, is the cornerstone U.S. regulation for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud. It obligates banks and financial institutions to implement robust anti‑money‑laundering (AML) programs, appoint compliance officers, and conduct independent audits....
AI‑Driven Crypto Scams Cost U.S. Victims Tens of Billions, IRS Warns
Federal investigators say AI‑enhanced cryptocurrency scams have already drained tens of billions of dollars from U.S. investors, with the IRS highlighting a surge in “pig‑butchering” schemes. Law‑enforcement agencies warn the rapid evolution of AI tools is outpacing detection efforts.
Supreme Court Rules for Michigan in Its Fight to Shut Down an Aging Energy Pipeline
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Michigan’s lawsuit to shut down Enbridge’s Line 5 segment under the Straits of Mackinac will remain in state court, rejecting the company’s attempt to move the case to federal jurisdiction. Justice Sotomayor wrote that Enbridge...
Malatsi Still Awaiting ICASA Feedback on EEIPs
South Africa’s communications minister Solly Malatsi said the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) is still reviewing his policy directive that would allow equity‑equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) to satisfy the 30% historically‑disadvantaged ownership rule for telecom licences. The directive, issued in December,...
Chile Court Rules in Favour of Wom in Competition Lawsuit Against Claro
Chile's 24th Civil Court of Santiago has again ruled in favor of mobile operator Wom in its unfair competition lawsuit against rival Claro VTR, owned by América Móvil. The court upheld a November decision that found Claro engaged in practices intended...
UK Biobank Data of 500,000 Volunteers Listed for Sale on Alibaba
UK Biobank’s de‑identified health and genetic data for 500,000 volunteers appeared on the Chinese e‑commerce platform Alibaba. The breach, traced to three Chinese research institutions, prompted a parliamentary briefing, a temporary shutdown of the Biobank’s research platform, and renewed calls...
How Do Digital Signatures Work?
Digital signatures employ public‑key cryptography and certificates to provide tamper‑evidence and strong signer authentication, distinguishing them from basic e‑signatures that lack rigorous identity checks. Organizations reserve digital signatures for high‑risk, regulated or high‑value transactions such as real estate deals, loans,...
Enforcement: SCOTUS Hears Arguments on Limiting SEC’s Disgorgement Powers
The U.S. Supreme Court heard *Sripetch v. SEC*, a case that could resolve a split between the 2nd and 9th Circuits over the SEC’s ability to use disgorgement as an enforcement remedy. The agency relied on disgorgement to collect more than...
How Nigerian Firms Can Meet CBN’s AML Deadline
On March 2026, the Central Bank of Nigeria updated its Baseline Standards, making automated, real‑time AML/CFT/CPF solutions a legal requirement for all financial institutions. The new framework demands sub‑second transaction screening, near‑real‑time sanctions updates, and AI‑native architectures that can reduce...
A Lawsuit, A Banana, And A Token Chart that Looks Like a Ski Slope
Justin Sun, founder of Tron, has filed a $320 million lawsuit in a California federal court accusing World Liberty Financial (WLFI) of freezing his tokens, stripping voting rights and demanding an additional $200 million to mint its USD‑1 stablecoin. Sun invested $45 million...
2026 PAW: When Technology Meets Justice
Paris Arbitration Week 2026 highlighted artificial intelligence as a catalyst for faster, more accessible dispute resolution. Panels underscored that AI should augment, not replace, human judgment, with party consent defining its permissible scope in arbitration. Leading institutions such as the...
Brabners Advises London Creative Studio on Transition to Employee Ownership
London‑based creative production studio Knock Knock has completed a transition to employee ownership, with its 12 employees now holding the equity. The move was structured by Brabners’ specialist EOT team, which reported more than £250 million (≈ $317 million) of deals in 2025. Knock Knock,...
U.S. Special Forces Soldier Indicted for $410K Insider Bet on Polymarket
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a 38‑year‑old Army special‑forces operative, was indicted for using classified details of Operation Absolute Resolve to place winning bets on the crypto‑based prediction market Polymarket, netting more than $409,000. The case brings the first federal insider‑trading...
What Should Victor Do if His Uncle Says There Is a Will but Refuses to Produce It?
Victor’s father died in British Columbia and his siblings began probate without locating a will. Their uncle claims a handwritten will from 2011 leaves the estate to him but refuses to produce the document. Under BC law, anyone asserting a...
Who’s Responsible If Your Benefits Vendor Drops the Ball on ADA Leave?
The EEOC has filed a lawsuit against a North Carolina turkey processor, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act after an employee undergoing chemotherapy was terminated for attendance violations. The complaint says the employer directed the worker to a...
Transparency and Disclosure: Updating Our General Guidance
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a consultation to withdraw its CC7 guidance on the disclosure of information in CMA work and to replace it with an updated CMA6 document. The revised CMA6 will consolidate all transparency...
The FTC Is Ramping Up to Target Transgender Rights
The Federal Trade Commission has begun treating gender‑affirming care for minors as a consumer‑protection issue, issuing civil investigative demands (CIDs) to leading nonprofits such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, WPATH and the Endocrine Society. The agency hired senior lawyers...
The Difficulty of the Search Question: More Thoughts on Chatrie
The Supreme Court’s upcoming Chatrie v. United States argument spotlights the thorny question of what constitutes a “search” under the Fourth Amendment. The author argues that the Court has repeatedly sidelined the amendment’s full text—persons, houses, papers, and effects—focusing instead...
China Bars Unapproved US Tech Investment After Meta Deal
China to Curb US Investment in Tech Companies After Meta Deal Agencies including the National Development and Reform Commission have told several private firms they should reject capital of US origin in funding rounds unless explicitly approved https://t.co/2vTEIkjAgp
Uncovering the Elements of Customer Identification Program (CIP) for Anti-Money Laundering
Financial institutions must deploy a Customer Identification Program (CIP) to meet BSA and USA PATRIOT Act mandates and to anchor their anti‑money‑laundering (AML) defenses. A robust CIP blends clear written policies, reliable identity‑verification methods—such as biometric and document checks—and rigorous...
The Fiduciary Rule Is Gone (Again): Why Your Retirement Safety Net Just Shrank
A federal court in Texas has vacated the Biden administration’s 2024 Retirement Security Rule, effectively dismantling the expanded fiduciary protections for one‑time retirement advice. The decision restores the original 1975 ERISA five‑part test, meaning advisers are not automatically required to...
TRAI Recommendations on 600MHz Band to Ease Device Ecosystem Challenges: AK Lahoti
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended extending the validity of the 600 MHz spectrum to 24 years and delaying rollout obligations for four years to ease early‑stage device‑ecosystem development. The move is part of a broader spectrum strategy...
Landmark Research Project to Map Transformation Trends in the Welsh Legal Sector
Legal News Wales, the largest independent network for Welsh law firms, has teamed with legal‑software provider Osprey Approach to launch the Welsh Legal Sector Transformation Report 2026. The flagship research will survey firms of all sizes on business performance, workforce sustainability,...
Advocate General Emiliou’s Opinion on Case C-799/24: Res Judicata Effect Applies Despite Breach of Art 31(2) Brussels Ia
On 23 April 2026 Advocate General Emiliou issued an opinion in Case C‑799/24, concluding that an interim decision declaring a court’s international jurisdiction qualifies as a “judgment” under Article 36(1) of the Brussels Ia Regulation. The opinion mandates recognition of such decisions even when...
Coworking Operator Takes Business Rates Dispute To Landmark Judicial Review
Flex‑office operator Fisheries London has secured a judicial review of a back‑dated business‑rates charge of £500,000 (about $635,000). HMRC’s Valuation Office re‑rated the Hackney building as a single property, inflating the bill by 150% and threatening insolvency. The case challenges...
Nasdaq Increases Initial Listing Requirements for SPACs
Nasdaq announced new listing rules that raise the bar for special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). To list on the Nasdaq Global Market, a SPAC must now have at least $100 million in market value of listed securities. On the Nasdaq Capital...
EU’s Social Media Age-Gating Still Avoids User Accountability
On April 16 the European Commission unveiled an open‑source age‑verification app designed to help platforms meet Digital Services Act obligations while preserving user privacy. The tool lets users prove their age with official IDs or trusted third‑party sources, then discards...
SFM Accuses Warshaw of Withholding Key Docs in Audacy Suit
Soros Fund Management (SFM) has asked a court to compel Jeff Warshaw to produce communications it says he withheld in a discovery fight over an alleged oral agreement for a chief executive role or a 5% profit share from SFM’s...
How Estate Agents Can Tackle Identity Fraud and Financial Crime
The UK property market remains a prime target for money laundering, identity fraud and sanctions abuse, prompting tighter AML and KYC obligations for estate and letting agents. HMRC now classifies agents as “relevant firms” for sanctions reporting and expects five‑year...
Marijuana Reclassified To Schedule III
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on April 24, 2026 that moves FDA‑approved and state‑licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, fulfilling President Trump’s 2025 executive order. The decision removes a key barrier to...
AI-Generated Content Poses Confidentiality and Compliance Risks for Law Firms
Law firms are turning to generative AI for marketing content, attracted by faster drafting, summarisation, and cross‑channel repurposing. While AI can improve readability and SEO, it also produces "hallucinations"—confidently incorrect legal references—that risk regulatory breaches. The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires...
The Long Arm Of OFAC: Secondary Sanctions, Facilitations
The article explains how the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) enforces secondary sanctions and facilitation rules, illustrating the risk of indirect violations through foreign subsidiaries. It highlights that OFAC can target both U.S. persons and non‑U.S. firms that...
Trump's Missed AI Deadlines
President Trump’s December executive order set March 11 deadlines for three agency actions aimed at curbing state AI regulations. The Federal Trade Commission, the Commerce Department, and the Federal Communications Commission have all missed those deadlines, leaving guidance, evaluations, and...
EEOC Provides Guidance on Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation
In February 2026 the EEOC issued FAQs clarifying that telework can be a reasonable accommodation under the ADA only when it effectively enables an employee to perform essential job functions. The guidance, aimed at federal agencies, also applies to private...
US Justice Department Blocking Met Police Investigation Into Mandelson, Reports Say – UK Politics Live
The U.S. Department of Justice has refused to hand over evidence from the Jeffrey Epstein files, forcing the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into former Business Secretary and ex‑U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson to stall. DOJ officials are insisting on a formal Mutual Legal...
Five Critical Tax Reporting Realities Every Financial Institution Must Face
The IRS is retiring the FIRE system and launching the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS), forcing banks to overhaul tax reporting. A joint Sovos‑TCS BaNCS webinar highlighted five critical realities: fragmented data across dozens of platforms, false assumptions about state...
UPERC Slaps Notice on UPPCL over Delay in Restoring Power to Prepaid Smart Meter Users
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued a show‑cause notice to UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), proposing a penalty of ₹1 lakh (≈$1,200) per day for failing to restore power to prepaid smart‑meter customers within the mandated two‑hour window....
EC Ups Pressure over Google Gemini AI Features
The European Commission is close to issuing formal requirements under the Digital Markets Act that would force Google to give rival AI assistants equal access to Android features currently reserved for its Gemini service. The draft could compel Google to...
FCA Continues Illegal ‘Finfluencer’ Crackdown
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) led an international “week of action” targeting illegal financial influencers, or “finfluencers,” who promote high‑risk products such as crypto and forex without authorization. The crackdown secured a guilty plea from TV personality Aaron Chalmers...
Malatsi Runs Out of Patience with Icasa on BEE Reform
Communications minister Solly Malatsi has publicly pressed the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to act on his BEE policy direction, which calls for the regulator to recognise equity‑equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) as an alternative to the 30% black‑ownership...
A2 Milk Wins Copycat Case in Australia Court
The A2 Milk Company won a Federal Court trademark lawsuit against rival infant formula maker Care A2 Plus, which used the “Care A2+” brand. The court concluded that the “A2/A2+” branding is likely to mislead consumers into believing a connection...
Registration as a Tax Adviser: What Legal Advisers Need to Know and Do
HMRC’s new tax‑adviser registration rule, effective 18 May 2026, obliges conveyancing firms that submit SDLT returns to register as tax advisers. The requirement applies if a firm interacts with HMRC on a client’s tax affairs and receives payment, regardless of whether a...
NFT Trends to Watch, Erin Dragotto Director of Museum of Art & Light
The Museum of Art + Light (MoA+L) opened in Manhattan, Kansas in November 2024, featuring a 21,500‑sq‑ft, 188‑million‑pixel immersive projection space called The Mez. Executive Director Erin Dragotto, who brings over two decades of museum leadership, discussed the museum’s mission to...
FLASH FRIDAY: PDT Rule Overhaul Sparks Industry Debate
The SEC has approved FINRA’s overhaul of the Pattern Day Trader rule, scrapping the long‑standing $25,000 equity minimum and replacing it with intraday margin standards that assess risk throughout the trading day. Webull and Interactive Brokers welcomed the change, saying...
Signit Closes $15M Funding Round to Expand AI-Powered Contract Management Across Saudi Arabia
Signit, a Saudi digital‑signature and contract platform, closed a $15 million Series A led by Raed Ventures. The round also included STV, Seedra, Takamol and Suhail Ventures. With more than 700 customers across government, finance, healthcare and enterprise, Signit is expanding into...
42BR Barristers and 4 Brick Court to Combine
42BR Barristers will merge with 4 Brick Court this summer, adding 34 of the latter's barristers and their pupils to its existing 60‑member team. The combined set will operate as a single‑site chamber of over 150 members, retaining current clerking...