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
Consequences of the SAVE America Act
The SAVE America Act, passed by the House in February 2026, expands the earlier SAVE Act by demanding documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for anyone registering to vote or changing registration. The bill would require passports, certified birth certificates, or equivalent documents and eliminate mail‑in registration, forcing in‑person verification at election offices. Proponents argue the measures protect election integrity, while opponents warn they could disenfranchise millions and impose costly administrative burdens on states. The legislation is now under Senate debate and could be signed into law if it clears that chamber.
State Lease Looted: Botha Mine Faces US$40M Claim
A sworn affidavit from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines confirms that Mining Lease 21, a 1,586‑hectare state‑owned asset, remains fully valid, while Botha Mine’s four certificates cover only 31 hectares. Botha Mine has been operating on roughly 160 hectares of the state lease, allegedly...
Online Food Platforms Fined in China
Chinese regulators have fined seven major e‑commerce platforms for food safety breaches linked to ghost‑kitchen operations. The State Administration for Market Regulation imposed total penalties of 3.6 billion yuan (about $530 million), ordered the removal of illegal listings, and suspended new shop...
US Seafood Sector Raises Issues with EU CATCH Requirements
Alaska’s commercial fishing sector warns that the EU’s digital CATCH traceability system, slated for full enforcement in July 2026, could effectively block salmon exports to Europe. The regulation requires vessel‑level signatures, gear details and end‑use data for every catch, a...
Federal Agencies Reach Agreement on Privacy and Online Safety
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation on privacy and online safety. The agreement builds on existing initiatives, linking the social‑media minimum‑age rule with robust privacy safeguards....
Legora Acquires Swedish AI Legal Research Start-Up Qura
Legora has completed the acquisition of Swedish AI legal‑research start‑up Qura, adding its 10‑person team and proprietary semantic search engine to Legora’s platform. The deal follows Legora’s recent $550 million Series D round that valued the company at $5.5 billion and its earlier...
Insights From Case Reviews with an Immigration Lawyer (Part 1)
In a recent case‑review session, immigration attorney Gabriela Urizar of Manifest Law dissected the EB‑1A “extraordinary ability” green‑card pathway. She clarified that applicants must satisfy three USCIS criteria but advised targeting four to strengthen the petition. Emphasizing a niche‑focused strategy,...
Haryana Minister Recommends Probe Into Irregularities at Transport Offices
Haryana transport minister Anil Vij has asked the state vigilance bureau to investigate alleged irregularities in vehicle registrations, including cases where Tamil Nadu addresses were used in Ambala. The probe will encompass all regional transport offices across the state. Vij also...
"Sotomayor Drops The Ball on Obamacare" And The Shadow Docket
Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an emergency stay on Dec. 31 2013 that temporarily blocked enforcement of the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate against the Little Sisters of the Poor. The order, limited to a single religious nonprofit, contrasts sharply with the sweeping...
Sam Bock, Relativity: 3 Adversaries You Might Meet Negotiating an AI-Friendly ESI Protocol
Sam Bock’s Relativity piece warns that an AI‑friendly ESI protocol can make or break an e‑discovery project. He outlines three typical adversaries—opposing counsel, IT teams, and data custodians—who can complicate negotiations. The article stresses early collaboration between clients and technologists...
Reveal: Advanced ESI Analysis: Metadata, Timelines & Insights
Reveal’s guide stresses that effective electronic stored information (ESI) analysis starts with a clear investigative question, not indiscriminate data collection. It outlines a disciplined workflow: define custodians, date ranges, and sensitive categories, then preserve source data to protect metadata integrity....
Doomsday Predictions About Jarkesy Just Don’t Add Up by Mitchell Scacchi
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in *SEC v. Jarkesy* reaffirmed that defendants in agency‑initiated fraud actions are entitled to a jury trial in an Article‑III court. The decision targets only the small slice of cases involving private rights—roughly 1‑2%...
California AG Accuses Amazon of Pressuring Brands to Raise Rival Prices
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a new antitrust complaint alleging Amazon coerced vendors into raising prices at rival retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot. The filing, part of a lawsuit first brought in 2022, seeks to bar Amazon...
EU Clears RTL Group’s $538 Million Sky Deutschland Acquisition
The European Commission has given unconditional clearance for RTL Group’s €527 million (≈$538 million) purchase of Sky Deutschland, allowing the deal to close on June 1, 2026. The merger will combine RTL’s entertainment assets with Sky’s sports and streaming platforms, creating a DACH‑wide...
Luminance and LexisNexis Unite AI Tools to Streamline Contract Lifecycle Management
Luminance and LexisNexis announced a strategic alliance that embeds LexisNexis Protégé and Lexis+ research capabilities inside Luminance’s contract workflow platform. The integration gives corporate legal departments instant access to a combined data set of over 200 billion legal documents, aiming to...
US Treasury Secretary Presses Senate To Pass Crypto Market Structure Legislation
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, urging lawmakers to pass comprehensive crypto market‑structure legislation. He framed the bill as essential for preserving the dollar’s reserve‑currency status and bringing digital‑asset activity under AML/KYC rules. The push...
Fourth Circuit Bars Employers From Contractually Shortening Federal Discrimination Deadlines
On March 4, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held in Thomas v. EOTech, LLC that employers cannot enforce contract clauses that shorten the statutory filing periods for Title VII and ADEA claims. The ruling curtails a...
Sullivan & Cromwell Apologises After AI Hallucinations Taint Court Filing
Sullivan & Cromwell issued a formal apology to Chief Judge Martin Glenn after an emergency bankruptcy motion contained about 40 AI‑generated citation errors. The firm acknowledged lapses in its AI review protocol, highlighting growing concerns over generative‑AI reliability in legal...
U.S. House Introduces PACE Act to Open Fed Payment Rails to FinTechs
The U.S. House of Representatives unveiled the Payments Access and Consumer Efficiency (PACE) Act, creating a federal registration pathway that would allow non‑bank fintech firms meeting strict criteria to connect directly to the Federal Reserve’s core payment systems. The bill...
Lawyer Drafting RM1 Billion Will Unaware of Its Value
The lawyer who drafted the will that handed over RM1 billion said she had no idea what it was worth. She (the lawyer) said that.
Top-Tier Startup Lawyer with Founder Experience and $1B Deals
Top shelf pro for helping startup founders Move fast Respond quickly 10+ years as a startup lawyer 2x software founder, both VC backed and bootstrapped $1B in deal value generated via raises and exits And I’ll bet I’m the coolest attorney you’ve ever met.
Cutting Casual Employee's Hours Was an Unfair Dismissal
The Fair Work Commission ruled that cutting a casual pharmacist’s schedule from five fortnightly shifts to a single three‑hour Saturday shift constituted an unfair dismissal. The employer justified the change by hiring a part‑time pharmacist with vaccine certification, a skill...
Advocacy Group Sues Kalshi, Calling Market a Betting Pretext
The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has filed a class action lawsuit against Kalshi in Massachusetts Superior Court, alleging that the “prediction market” structure "is a pretext designed to disguise" unlicensed sports betting as federally-regulated "financial trading." https://t.co/AZ10RQA0ZN
Hard-to-Cancel Subscriptions May Violate Consumer Law
Question @RobertFreundLaw Isn't it illegal to make unsubscribing from an automatic billing service difficult like this? No way to cancel besides speaking to a chat rep - but they're never available... https://t.co/wdxnAyz21e
Virginia Judge Halts Redistricting Referendum Certification for Now
Virginia voters approved a mid‑decade redistricting referendum by a 50.7% margin, with 1.37 million yes votes. Rural Circuit Judge Jack Hurley Jr. temporarily voided the certification, ruling the ballot language misleading and unconstitutional. The decision favors the National Republican Congressional Committee...
As Climate Disasters Create an Insurance Crisis, a California Bill Seeks to Make Fossil Fuel Companies Pay
California Senate Bill 982, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act, would empower the state attorney general to sue fossil‑fuel companies for climate‑related damages and channel any settlements into a new fund. The fund is intended to shore up the state’s...
Surgeon Calls PowerPort Catheter Infection Warnings Inadequate in Federal Trial
An expert radiologist testified that Bard’s PowerPort catheter instructions downplay infection risk, classifying it as a “possible complication” without stating the roughly 14% infection rate. The plaintiff, Robert Cook, suffered sepsis after his implanted port became infected, delaying his colorectal...
What Does DOJ’s New Corporate Enforcement Policy Mean for the FDA- and DEA-Regulated Industry?
The Department of Justice released its first department‑wide Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self‑Disclosure Policy (CEP), establishing a uniform framework for prosecuting corporate crime. The policy lets companies obtain a declination of charges if they voluntarily disclose misconduct, fully cooperate, remediate...
B.C. Decision Highlights Risks of Casual Employment Practices in Hospitality
A British Columbia Supreme Court decision in DeCarlo v. Black + Blue awarded the former server $90,000 for wrongful dismissal, highlighting the financial danger of informal HR practices in hospitality. The court found the restaurant’s termination clause ambiguous, triggering a 14‑month common‑law...
Proposed Smartphone Ban for California Schools Changes Tone
California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s AB 1644, originally proposing a bell‑to‑bell smartphone ban for K‑12, was softened after committee pushback. The revised bill now mandates a ban for transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, while high schools receive a strong encouragement rather than a...
FCC Proposes New Numbering Rules to Thwart Illegal Robocalls
The Federal Communications Commission unveiled a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would extend robocall certification, disclosure and wholesale reporting to every voice service provider that receives numbers from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator and its resellers. The move aims...
Registrar Corp Acquires Dell Tech to Bolster Canadian Regulatory Consulting
Registrar Corp announced the acquisition of Dell Tech, a niche consultancy specializing in Canadian chemical regulatory compliance. The deal adds more than 30 regulatory experts to Registrar’s 300‑plus staff, strengthening its global advisory platform for food, cosmetics, medical devices and...
Asda Adopts Definely’s AI Contract‑review Tool to Modernise Legal Workflows
Asda has begun deploying Definely’s AI‑driven contract‑review solution across its in‑house legal team, targeting faster, more accurate handling of complex agreements. The move highlights a growing trend of large retailers turning to specialist LegalTech to cut manual review time and...
Agiloft Launches Free‑tier Astra Contract‑AI Platform to Democratize Enterprise CLM
Agiloft introduced Astra, a contract‑AI platform that provides enterprise‑grade analytics with a free‑to‑start tier, aiming to cut the $2 trillion annual revenue leakage caused by poor contract management. Backed by KKR, FTV Capital and JMI Equity, the move targets the 22%...
Pet Insurance Complaints to UK Ombudsman More Than Double in Three Years
Pet insurance complaints lodged with the UK Financial Ombudsman have more than doubled over the last three years, signalling growing consumer dissatisfaction. The surge puts pressure on insurers to address product and service shortcomings as the market expands.
A Republican Judge Just Voided 2.3 Million Virginia Ballots
Virginia trial judge Jack Hurley Jr. ruled that the constitutional amendment approved by 2.3 million voters—allowing mid‑decade redistricting—was void from the start. The decision, the third of its kind, contradicts two unanimous Virginia Supreme Court reversals and was filed in a...
UK Tribunal Certifies £2 Bn Class Action Over Microsoft’s Windows Server Cloud Licensing
A London Competition Appeal Tribunal has certified a £2 bn (≈$2.5 bn) collective action against Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of overcharging UK businesses for Windows Server licenses on non‑Azure cloud platforms. The ruling clears the way for a trial involving roughly...
Hillhouse‑Backed Ascentium Acquires Dezan Shira to Ride $174 Billion China Outbound Surge
Ascentium, the Hillhouse‑backed business‑services platform, announced the acquisition of Dezan Shira & Associates, adding offices in Guangzhou and Tianjin and doubling its Vietnam footprint. The deal positions Ascentium to capture China’s $174 billion outbound investment surge and the growing demand from...
CoSN 2026: When Legislators Talk ‘Safety,’ Schools Hear ‘Restriction’
At the CoSN 2026 conference, experts warned that a surge of nearly 20 federal bills aimed at children’s online safety is blurring the line between safety and privacy. Legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and proposed COPPA...
DIFC Declares Itself World’s First AI‑Native Financial Hub, Targeting $3.5 Bn Boost and 25,000 Jobs
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced today that it will operate as the world’s first AI‑native financial hub. The plan projects $3.5 bn in economic benefits and the creation of 25,000 jobs by embedding artificial intelligence into legal, regulatory, talent...
Gibson Dunn Remains One of Few Biglaw Litigation Advocates
1/ This move makes sense: @GibsonDunn is one of a shrinking group of Biglaw firms that still cares about litigation (as GDC partner @OrinSnyder told me in our podcast interview).
Tenure Means Never Having To Say Sorry — See Also
Above the Law released a "See Also" roundup that aggregates a dozen recent legal‑industry stories in one place. The links cover Jonathan Turley's controversial remarks, Kash Patel's stalled $250 million lawsuit, the NBCE’s revised mental‑health questions, record‑high associate departures, and a...
Prison Heat Crisis Worsens as Temperatures Rise
A coalition of civil‑rights groups and former inmates has sued the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, claiming that the lack of air‑conditioning in state prisons violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The federal trial began in...
Agents’ Confidence Falters Under Scrutiny of Renters’ Rights Changes – Claim
A new renters’ rights act is shaking confidence across the private rental sector. A Goodlord survey shows 82% of landlords are concerned, with 75% saying regulation makes portfolio expansion unlikely. Nearly half of landlords plan to sell or scale back...
Law Requires Powell to Remain Acting Fed Chair
“That’s the appropriate legal understanding.” NEC Director Kevin Hassett tells Bloomberg’s @SalehaMohsin he agrees with Fed Chair Jay Powell’s view that the law “calls for” him to stay on as the Fed’s acting leader if a successor isn’t confirmed by May...
FCC Media Bureau Launches Probe Into TV Ratings System
The FCC’s Media Bureau has opened a formal inquiry into the voluntary TV ratings system, seeking public comment on its effectiveness for modern audiences. The probe follows a wave of parental complaints that shows aimed at children increasingly include gender‑identity...
Groups Sue Alaska Election Officials, Allege the Sharing of Voter Data with DOJ Was Unconstitutional
Voting and civil‑rights groups filed a state‑court lawsuit in Alaska alleging that the state’s transfer of its full voter registration list—including birth dates, driver’s‑license numbers and partial Social Security numbers—to the U.S. Department of Justice violates the Alaska Constitution’s privacy...
26-328 - Amin V. Noem Et Al
On February 17, 2026 a magistrate recommended that the defendants’ motion to dismiss or transfer be granted in part, prompting the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma to move the case from Minnesota. The court adopted...
25-044 - Barlow Et Al V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
The federal court, presided over by Judge David L. Russell, has repeatedly denied the plaintiffs' attempts to remand the Barlow et al v. State Farm Fire and Casualty case to another jurisdiction. An April 2025 order dismissed claims against Brent Hagar...
Leading National Firm Fined £160k for Accounts Rule Breaches
Taylor Rose, a national alternative business structure law firm, was fined $203,000 after the Solicitors Regulation Authority found multiple accounts‑rule breaches, including holding client residual balances for up to seven years and failing to self‑report. The violations largely originated from acquisitions...