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
We're Getting Hit with Patel's Hangover
Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official, filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic, alleging the outlet’s report on his alleged alcoholism damaged his reputation. In a televised interview with Maria Bartiromo, Patel pivoted to claim that arrests related to the 2020 election interference are "imminent," attempting to shift public attention. The blog argues this move mirrors former President Trump’s pattern of filing outrageously high‑value suits that are later dismissed. It suggests Patel’s strategy is part of a broader playbook to use legal threats and election‑related rhetoric to deflect scandals and reinforce loyalty to Trump.
Amazon's MFN Isn't Collusion, Antitrust Claim Overblown
Stacy and the CA AG say this is "blatant price fixing." It's not. The framing is doing work the evidence doesn't. It's argument by winks and nods. Most of what's quoted is Amazon enforcing a de facto MFN. "Don't let us...
On the Rocks: Maine Court Finds Income Tax Nexus for Liquor Supplier with In-State Bailment Inventory
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a liquor supplier owed roughly $750,000 in state income tax, penalties, and interest for 2011‑2017. The court found nexus because the supplier retained title to liquor stored in a Maine bailment warehouse, creating...
EPA Rollback Eases Permit Requirements but Adds Risk
President Trump’s administration rescinded the EPA’s 2009 greenhouse‑gas endangerment finding, stripping the legal foundation for federal climate regulation. Construction attorneys say the rollback could ease permitting for large industrial and infrastructure projects by removing greenhouse‑gas analyses from the Prevention of...
UBS Set for Long-Awaited Clarity on Switzerland’s Capital Rules
Switzerland’s Federal Council will soon issue an executive order stripping software and deferred‑tax assets from UBS’s regulatory capital, a move that could shave roughly $11 billion off its CET1 metric. At the same time, a draft law would require the bank’s...
End of Endangerment Finding Bigger Than Iran War
On February 12, 2026 the EPA under the Trump administration repealed the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy. The finding had justified the Clean Power Plan, vehicle emissions standards, and the broader Green New Deal framework. Its removal...
TALKERS Books Announces Publication of Playing the Clip: The Digital Media Creator’s Legal Guide to Fair Use
TALKERS Books has released *Playing the Clip: The Digital Media Creator’s Legal Guide to Fair Use*, authored by media attorney Matthew B. Harrison. The book codifies the “Play the Clip” technique—presenting source audio or video rather than merely describing it—and...
Critics Demand Fixes Before Expanding Flawed ACP Program
“We updated the alternative compliance program single supplement and working with the class societies and allowing more ships to be regulated under the ACP,” Captain Compher, USCG Questions aren’t allowed, or I’d ask, before we expand this program, what’s been done...
Bad Investments, Not Bad Faith: Caremark Claims Have Limits
The Delaware Court of Chancery in Marchner v. B. Riley reaffirmed that Caremark claims are limited to situations where directors actually know of legal violations, not merely poor investment outcomes. The court dismissed a shareholder derivative suit because the plaintiff...
Professional Onboarding Builds Trust and Speeds Capital Flow
Professional onboarding is a trust signal. If you want capital to move, remove friction from the first step. Like this if you’re building a raise that feels organized. raisingcapital #secattorney #realestateinvesting #fundmanager #sethbradley
USPS Preps Phased Approach for New Package Dimension Reporting Rules
The U.S. Postal Service will expand its package dimension reporting to all shipments on July 12, 2026, but will postpone non‑compliance fees until a second phase early next year. Currently, only parcels over 1 cubic foot or 22 inches require dimensions, with...
Former FBI Official Proposes Terror Designations for Ransomware Hackers Targeting Hospitals
Former FBI cyber chief Cynthia Kaiser urged the House Homeland Security Committee to treat ransomware groups that hit hospitals as terrorists, citing the Bush‑era terror‑financing authority and Executive Order 13224. She also recommended that prosecutors consider felony‑murder charges when ransomware‑induced...
Drinking and Filing
FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic after the magazine published a story alleging his excessive drinking. The claim asserts that the report invaded Patel’s privacy and harmed his reputation. Michael de Adder’s cartoon, featured in...
Subsidiary Governance Risk: The Hidden Accountability Gap Inside UK Group Companies
UK corporate groups are confronting a growing subsidiary governance risk as new regulations demand real‑time evidence of decision‑making at the legal entity level. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 gives Companies House the power to block filings that...
Hong Kong Aiming to Curb Illicit Fuel Trade with Tougher Penalties: Source
Hong Kong is set to tighten penalties for illegal fuel trading, proposing up to HK$1 million (≈US$127,700) fine and one year jail for buyers, and a HK$3 million (≈US$383,000) fine with up to three years imprisonment for sellers. The changes amend the...
Key Tronic And Executives Resolve Non-FCPA, FCPA Enforcement Action
The SEC charged Key Tronic and two senior executives with violating the FCPA’s books‑and‑records and internal‑controls provisions after they falsified inventory entries at a Minnesota plant, inflating quarterly income by roughly $1 million. CFO Brett Larsen and SVP Nicholas Fasciana directed...
European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation on RTS Specifying the Measures and Safeguards to Be Implemented by ESG Rating Providers
On 21 April 2026 the European Commission adopted a draft Delegated Regulation that adds regulatory technical standards to the EU ESG Rating Regulation (2024/3005). The new standards require ESG rating providers to create distinct organisational structures for rating activities, submit regular self‑declarations,...
German Works Councils and Digital Platform Work
Germany’s Federal Labor Court ruled that digital platform work does not automatically qualify as an establishment under the Works Constitution Act, requiring an independent management layer for works‑council eligibility. The court rejected council elections in remote delivery zones managed solely...
HMT Issues Policy Note and Draft SI on Amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026
On 21 April 2026 HM Treasury released a policy note and draft statutory instrument amending the 2026 Cryptoassets Regulations. The draft removes UK‑issued qualifying stablecoins (UKQS) from the crypto‑dealing perimeter to smooth the path for payment‑service providers, while keeping lending and borrowing...
Kelly Haas and Hayley Stancil Join Jones Walker
Jones Walker LLP announced that Kelly Haas has joined its Houston office as a partner and Hayley Stancil as an associate in the firm’s nationally ranked Maritime Practice Group. Haas brings extensive experience representing vessel owners, shipyards, offshore operators and...
Senate Bill Floats Workaround for Hemp THC Beverage Ban
A bipartisan Senate bill, the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, would let states opt out of the federal ban on intoxicating hemp products slated for November 2026, allowing hemp‑derived THC beverages to remain legal under state rules. The bill mirrors recreational...
New Jersey Declines Rehearing, Eyes SCOTUS Petition Deadline
New Jersey will not be seeking rehearing of the Third Circuit decision affirming the preliminary injunction issued in favor of Kalshi. Deadline was yesterday. NJ has until July 6th to file a SCOTUS cert petition, although deadline can be extended...
In Regulating Digital Gold, India Should Look to Britain
India’s digital‑gold market surged to roughly ₹16,000 crore ($2.2 bn) in 2025, driven by the convenience of electronic gold receipts. SEBI’s current framework only covers platforms that issue EGRs, leaving major fintech apps such as Paytm, Google Pay and PhonePe unregulated. This...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About a Purdue Pharma Settlement, a Setback for Merck and Eisai, and More
Pfizer executive Andrew Baum, a former Citibank analyst who joined in June 2024, has left his EVP and chief strategy role but will stay on as an adviser to CEO Albert Bourla through the end of the year. His departure...
Family Trusts Cannot Sponsor Mutual Funds, Clarifies SEBI
India's securities regulator SEBI clarified that only body corporates, not family trusts, can act as sponsors of mutual funds. The guidance, issued in response to First Water Capital Advisory LLP, reaffirms the existing rule that a sponsor must be a...
NFL Media Rights Spark Growing Regulatory Scrutiny
The NFL's push to open its media rights deals--along with its ongoing relationship with the streamers--has opened it up to a wave of regulatory inquiry. But is the scrutiny more than just a headache? @eriqgardner walks us through it all. https://t.co/93JdDEnQhd
The Fight Against Facial Recognition Isn’t over – Support the Appeal
Big Brother Watch is backing an appeal after a court ruled the Metropolitan Police’s live facial recognition system lawful. The Met scanned 4.2 million faces last year, the highest volume among Western democracies, and has recently tightened its watchlist policy while...
Key Trends and Developments in White Collar Litigation and Investigations
The 2026 white‑collar litigation outlook highlights a surge in individual accountability, AI‑driven enforcement, and heightened scrutiny of cryptocurrency, sanctions and ESG disclosures. Federal agencies are deploying advanced analytics to detect fraud while prosecutors push cooperation credits tied to swift individual...
Insiders Sell Over $3.4 Million in Shares at Adaptive, Vita Coco, Revolve and Global‑E
Julie Rubinstein of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Martin Roper of Vita Coco, Michael Mente of Revolve Group and Shahar Tamari of Global‑E each filed SEC Form 4 reports showing sales ranging from $414,000 to $1.25 million. The combined transactions total roughly $3.4 million and were executed...
Target Secures 72 New Minnesota Licenses to Expand THC‑Infused Hemp Drinks
Target has obtained 72 additional Minnesota licenses, allowing the retailer to stock THC‑infused hemp drinks in every state store. The move is part of a broader turnaround plan under new CEO Michael Fiddelke to win back shoppers after a 1.7%...
Mabwell’s T‑mab Subsidiary Clears First‑Time GMP Inspection in Jordan, Boosting Middle‑East Push
Mabwell announced that its subsidiary T‑mab successfully passed a Jordan Food and Drug Administration on‑site GMP inspection, earning a “Compliance” rating for its denosumab biosimilars. The milestone, the company’s first approval from a PIC/S member country, is expected to accelerate...
Class of 2026 Faces Tougher Federal Student Loan Rules, Fewer Repayment Options
The federal government is tightening student‑loan repayment for the Class of 2026, restricting new borrowers to the Standard Repayment Plan or a new Repayment Assistance Plan and extending forgiveness timelines to 30 years. Average debt of $30,000 and a $304...
Julie Brill Joins Manatt Boston, Boosting Hybrid Lawyer‑Consultant Model
Former FTC commissioner Julie Brill has joined Manatt’s Boston office, citing the firm’s unique blend of legal and industry consulting expertise. Her move underscores a growing trend toward hybrid advisory models that combine regulatory insight with sector‑specific strategy.
iust.ai Launches AI Platform to Digitize Legal Advice Across Europe
iust.ai, built by Swiss firm Federli Informatik, rolled out its AI‑powered legal‑information platform in April 2026 across the DACH region, Italy and Benelux. The service lets consumers ask questions in everyday language, upload documents for instant analysis and pay as...
Harvey Weinstein's New York Rape Retrial Begins with Opening Statements
Opening statements are set for Tuesday in Harvey Weinstein's New York rape retrial. A freshly empaneled jury of seven men and five women will hear the case that could shape future #MeToo jurisprudence.
RBI Eases Rupee NDF Curbs but Banks Stay Cautious as NDC Trading Resumes
The Reserve Bank of India has partially withdrawn its April 1 curbs on rupee non‑deliverable forwards, permitting cancellation, rollover and back‑to‑back trades while keeping a $100 million net‑open position cap. Despite the easing, major banks remain hesitant to offer NDF contracts,...
Environmental Groups Sue Over BP's $5 Billion Ultra‑Deepwater Gulf Drilling Plan
Five environmental NGOs sued the U.S. Interior Department on the 16th anniversary of Deepwater Horizon, seeking to overturn approval of BP's $5 bn Kaskida ultra‑deepwater drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit argues the plan threatens marine life, public...
Drake Pushes Back on UMG at Appeals Court, Says Judge Improperly Dismissed ‘Not Like Us’ Case
Drake’s attorneys filed a reply brief with the Second Circuit, contending that the district court erred in dismissing his defamation suit over Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us.” The brief argues the judge relied on evidence outside the complaint, misapplied the...
Peloton SCA Dismissed: Product Safety Allegations and D&O Exposure
Peloton Interactive successfully had a securities class action alleging product‑safety misstatements dismissed by the Eastern District of New York. The plaintiffs claimed the company concealed defects in bike seat posts and misled investors about recall exposure, but the court found...
QVC Group Files for Bankruptcy, Highlighting Amazon Prime and TikTok Shop Dominance
QVC Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure roughly $5 billion of debt, aiming to shed up to 80% of its $6.6 billion liabilities. The filing spotlights the accelerating migration of consumers from televised home‑shopping to Amazon Prime and...
How PI Firms Can Strategically Leverage Legal Finance Solutions to Manage Expert Costs and Grow Their Practices
BridgePoint Financial’s Expert Access program finances expert reports for personal‑injury contingency firms, allowing repayment only after settlement and offering up to two years interest‑free. The service also includes an online portal that matches lawyers with hundreds of vetted Canadian experts...
DeepJudge + Epiq Advisory Partner For KM Implementation
DeepJudge, an AI‑driven knowledge‑management startup, has teamed up with Epiq Advisory, the consulting arm of legal‑tech conglomerate Epiq, to deliver structured AI implementation and governed workflow adoption for law firms. The partnership promises to translate DeepJudge’s enterprise search and AI...
New England States Urge FERC to Advance $1.5B in Ratepayer Refunds
New England governors and utility regulators asked FERC to reject a stay request by Eversource and Avangrid that would postpone roughly $1.5 billion in ratepayer refunds. The refunds arise from FERC’s decision to lower the allowed return on equity for transmission...
FCA Sets Out Good and Poor Practice in Relation to Managing Potential Risks From Inactive Appointed Representatives
On 21 April 2026 the FCA published a review outlining good and poor practice in supervising inactive appointed representatives (ARs). It flagged gaps in reporting AR regulated revenue, insufficient engagement with dormant ARs, lax monitoring of consumer‑facing materials, and non‑compliant...
Agentic AI Liability: Managing Accountability in Autonomous Legal Workflows
Agentic AI is moving legal work from discrete, human‑driven tasks to autonomous, end‑to‑end workflows that can research, draft, and file without constant supervision. While firms retain full professional liability, the risk profile shifts from isolated output errors to systemic failures...
Kenyan Authorities Freeze some Binance Accounts in Widening Crackdown
Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations has frozen an undisclosed number of Binance user accounts as part of a broader crackdown on crypto‑linked fraud, money‑laundering and terrorism financing. The freezes affect users primarily engaged in peer‑to‑peer (P2P) trading, the main channel...
Union Workers Take Legal Action Against Build A Rocket Boy over Alleged Privacy Violations
Unionized Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) employees have filed legal action alleging that the studio installed the Teramind surveillance suite on work devices without consent, tracking keystrokes, screen activity and microphone audio. The IWGB Game Workers Union says the software...
The Meta Oversight Board’s Advisory Opinion on Global Community Notes Rollout: Another Check on Platform Power?
On March 26, Meta’s Oversight Board issued an advisory opinion on the planned global rollout of Community Notes, the platform’s crowdsourced fact‑checking tool. The Board warned that a uniform rollout could cause real‑world harms in conflict zones, repressive regimes, and...
Tribunal Claims Backlog Growing in Number and Complexity
The Employment Tribunal in England and Wales is facing a rapidly expanding backlog, with single claims rising 60% from 7,800 to 12,500 per quarter and the backlog projected to top 60,000 cases by late 2026. Open‑track, complex cases now make...
Three Deferral Likely Applies Starting in 2026
The IRS has introduced a Section 1062 four‑installment, three‑year deferral for gains on qualifying farmland sales, but it only applies to transactions occurring after July 4, 2025 and to taxable years that begin after that date. Consequently, taxpayers filing a calendar year 2025...