Know What's Happening in Legal
Know What's Happening in Legal
Delaware Supreme Court lets insurers pursue contract claims against Blackbaud over ransomware breach
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed lower‑court dismissals, permitting insurers to bring breach‑of‑contract actions against Blackbaud for its 2020 ransomware incident. Blackbaud had previously paid a $3 million SEC fine and $49 million to state attorneys general for misleading breach disclosures.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Oil majors acquire $164M of Alaska oil leases
The episode examines a recent judicial reprimand of attorney Michael Policchio for filing briefs with fabricated, AI‑hallucinated citations, highlighting a broader pattern of similar errors in other cases. Judge Mark Dinsmore emphasizes that while technology can aid legal work, attorneys have an ethical duty to verify sources and cannot rely on machines to replace professional judgment. The discussion underscores the court’s recommendation of a $10,000 sanction and referral for further discipline, arguing that modest penalties have failed to deter careless citation practices. The host reflects on the tension between rapid tech adoption and the enduring responsibility of lawyers to provide value beyond what a machine can deliver.
ESMA’s MiFIR reporting page shows the test environment for schema v1.4.0 will open in February 2026, but exact dates remain unconfirmed. The new XML schema removes the separate FITRS quantitative reporting channel, shifting equity transparency calculations to transaction reporting data...
An Israeli civilian and an IDF reservist were indicted for allegedly exploiting classified military intelligence to place bets on the prediction‑market platform Polymarket. Authorities say the suspects used insider knowledge of operation timing to profit, prompting a joint Shin Bet, Defense...
A Senate‑staff report estimates that the Trump administration’s scaling back of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cost U.S. consumers roughly $19 billion in lost relief. The agency’s enforcement slowdown, abandoned overdraft‑fee caps and a blocked credit‑card‑late‑fee rule account for the bulk...
Geisinger Health Plan terminated case‑manager Amber Motko for chronic performance lapses, but a Third Circuit court refused to dismiss her disability discrimination claim because her supervisor repeatedly referenced her ADD diagnosis, including the phrase “ADD brain.” The court ruled Motko’s...
Reconciliation has become a strategic priority for financial services as hybrid work, AI‑generated messages and multichannel tools expand. Theta Lake’s latest report shows 92 % of firms struggle to capture communications in line with record‑keeping obligations, with native retention windows as short...
The MHRA has opened a public consultation proposing that CE‑marked medical devices be recognised indefinitely in Great Britain. Around 90% of devices used in the GB market currently carry a CE mark, and the agency aims to align transition timelines...
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has opened a public investigation that could overhaul how vessels call at Spanish ports and how Spanish‑flagged ships operate in foreign harbors. The probe follows Spain’s November 2024 decision to deny docking privileges to...
Recent SEC enforcement actions have spotlighted ineffective internal controls over financial reporting, emphasizing approval workflow and reconciliation gaps. Experts argue that robust control environments, paired with knowledgeable teams, shift compliance from a reactive task to a predictable process. As organizations...
A class‑action lawsuit against Eightfold AI has thrust data protection and personal data sovereignty into the spotlight of the recruitment‑tech sector. While the case mentions artificial intelligence, the core dispute centers on how candidate information is collected, stored, and shared....
The SEC is sharpening its enforcement focus on core misconduct such as insider trading, accounting and disclosure fraud, market manipulation, and adviser fiduciary breaches. Chairman Gary Gensler, echoing Acting Director Sam Waldon, has directed staff away from low‑harm record‑keeping investigations....
Indian chief negotiator Darpan Jain will lead a delegation to Washington next week to finalize the legal framework of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States. The interim agreement announced on Feb 7 reduces U.S. tariffs on Indian exports...
TikTok has joined the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) as a full digital member, aligning with 28 self‑regulatory bodies across Europe. The move underscores the platform’s push for responsible advertising, complementing its expanded TikTok Safety Suite and clear commercial‑disclosure settings....
Penske Media Corp (PMC) filed a federal memorandum opposing Google’s motion to dismiss its antitrust lawsuit, alleging the tech giant broke the long‑standing “fair exchange” of search traffic for indexed content. The complaint says Google’s AI‑driven, zero‑click answers repurpose publisher...
Sony Group has created technology to identify copyrighted music embedded in AI‑generated songs. The system works by either connecting directly to AI model training data or by comparing generated outputs against existing catalogs. Sony AI aims to use the tool...
FinTechs and digital banks are witnessing exponential growth in compliance data, driven by 150% annual customer expansion and increasingly complex regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, compliance operations remain linear, relying on manual, siloed processes that cannot keep pace with the data surge....
Stillfront Group’s two largest shareholders, Laureus Capital GmbH and Knuth Capital LLC FZ, representing roughly 23% of voting rights, have formally requested an extraordinary general meeting to elect a new board and chair. They propose a six‑member slate led by Lars‑Johan...
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has signed an Exchange of Letters with India’s International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), the regulator for GIFT City. The pact commits both bodies to share regulatory knowledge and best‑practice insights, aiming to strengthen links...
The episode examines Epic Systems' recent courtroom setback in the CureIS litigation, focusing on the court's denial of a motion to stay discovery and the nuanced protective order regarding "Highly Confidential – Attorneys' Eyes Only" information. It highlights how Epic's...
The Texas district court granted BMW an anti‑suit injunction against Onesta’s German infringement suit, but the Federal Circuit stayed the order. The dispute centers on whether a US patent can be enforced in a foreign court, echoing the EU’s BSH...
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a December 2025 advisory opinion clarifying that employer‑integrated earned wage access (EWA) is not a loan under the Truth in Lending Act. This guidance removes a major regulatory uncertainty that has limited EWA adoption....
Law strategy coach Tea Hoffman outlines five actionable steps for lawyers to become sought‑after speakers. She stresses the importance of carving out a distinctive niche, honing delivery through deliberate practice, and curating a professional online presence with video clips and...
The European Commission has released a draft Digital Networks Act, aiming to replace fragmented national telecom rules with a unified market framework. The legislation targets spectrum harmonisation and introduces perpetual licences to reduce regulatory uncertainty. By standardising rules, the EU...
UK policymakers are considering extending the VAT deemed‑seller rules to cover both overseas and domestic sellers on online marketplaces. Amazon argues that the change would close a loophole exploited by fraudulent sellers, streamline VAT collection and generate roughly £700 million in...
DPP Link has launched its GS1‑integrated Shield platform to help exporters and manufacturers meet the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The solution automates product registration using GS1 Digital Link standards and tracks material composition with a ten‑year data...
International arbitration in the United States remained relatively quiet in 2025, but the Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not require a separate minimum‑contacts analysis for personal jurisdiction. The D.C. Circuit clarified...
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) remain the cornerstone of global AML frameworks, yet many institutions misunderstand their purpose, treating them as accusations rather than suspicion flags. Regulatory pressure and soaring transaction volumes have driven firms to prioritize filing speed over narrative...
Spreadsheets have long been the default tool for financial crime risk assessments, prized for their flexibility and low cost. However, they cannot enforce governance, version control, or audit trails required by modern compliance frameworks. As institutions expand across products and...
The Legal Cheek podcast episode delves into the daily reality of disputes lawyers, highlighting the blend of courtroom advocacy and behind‑the‑scenes negotiation. Hosts Julia Szaniszlo and Ryan Scott outline the tasks that trainees typically face, such as document review and...
Andrew Jonathan Milne, a 63‑year‑old solicitor, was found guilty of stalking after sending roughly 124 emails, voicemails and a birthday gift to legal blogger Daniel Cloake over five months. The court described the communications as aggressive, including threats of litigation...
Webber Wentzel has spun off its Fusion unit into a standalone limited‑liability subsidiary to meet rising regulatory, cost and AI challenges across Africa. The new entity will deliver a broader suite of services, including custom AI workflows, digital playbooks, contract...
OKX has obtained a Payments Institution (PI) licence in Malta, bringing the exchange into compliance with the EU’s upcoming Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) regulation and the revised Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The licence authorises OKX to offer stablecoin‑linked payment...
Legal Cheek’s Monday round‑up highlights a wave of high‑profile legal developments across the UK and beyond. Key stories include the chief barrister’s warning that Lammy jury reforms will not ease case backlogs, the UK prosecutor’s reminder that no one is...
In this Accountancy Age episode, the hosts walk listeners through the two‑step Companies House identity verification process that directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must complete before filing confirmation statements. They explain how ACSPs report verifications, obtain the 11‑character...
Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows a global decline in clean governance, prompting compliance leaders to look inward. The article proposes building a corporate‑level corruption perception index to gauge how employees view ethical standards and misconduct. It outlines the...
The Federal Circuit Court ruled that being subject to an apprehended domestic violence order does not provide protection from adverse action under the Fair Work Act. Judge Lisa Doust dismissed the employee’s claim, finding no reasonable prospect of success. The...
A new comparative study finds crypto‑derivatives regulation is highly fragmented across major financial hubs, despite the products mirroring traditional derivatives in structure and risk. Regulators have forced crypto‑derivatives into existing regimes, leading to divergent rules based on settlement method, underlying...
I’ve said this many times and I will say it again…if ✨🪩 current events 🪩✨ have you inspired to go to law school and you want to talk to a practicing attorney, my door is always open. DM us or...
Australia’s largest supermarket chain, Coles, faces a consumer‑law case over alleged fake discounts. The ACCC alleges the retailer used high‑low pricing to mislead shoppers about price cuts. The lawsuit was sparked by a wave of Reddit‑driven outrage that highlighted questionable...
we’re at this part of the awareness of the IP issues surrounding training AI and the national economic and security issues that flow from the decisions US courts will make in the coming months and years
The FDA has opened submissions for its PreCheck Pilot Program, targeting new U.S. drug‑manufacturing facilities that will begin construction by the March 1 2026 deadline. Eligible sites must be stand‑alone plants, located in the United States or its territories, and commit to...
Saudi Arabia intensified its labour compliance drive, arresting more than 21,000 individuals in a single week across construction sites, housing compounds and transport hubs. The crackdown targets undocumented foreign workers, Saudi citizens who shelter them, and firms that fail to...
Sun Capital has extended its ownership of serious‑injury firm Fletchers through a continuation fund, committing another four to five years of capital. The firm’s EBITDA surged from £8 m to £38 m and case volume rose 60%, prompting a large recruitment drive...
Senior solicitor‑coroner Chinyere Inyama was struck off after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found he deliberately downplayed rape and sexual assault allegations, describing them as “touching up”, to the Chief Coroner’s Office. The tribunal labeled his conduct the “most serious form...
On 16 February 2026 the House of Lords voted to scrap the statutory ‘general’ legal qualification for Crown prosecutors, allowing CILEX lawyers and other non‑solicitor practitioners to apply. Justice Minister Baroness Levitt described the previous rule as an unnecessary barrier...
The Law Society has urged the Legal Services Board (LSB) to tighten oversight of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after the collapses of Axiom Ince and SSB Group exposed regulatory gaps. It highlighted concerns about the SRA’s ability to supervise...
CIPD’s Labour Market Outlook warns that the Employment Rights Act 2025 will curb permanent hiring, with 37% of UK employers planning to reduce such recruitment. Overall hiring intentions are at their lowest level since the pandemic, while 74% foresee higher...
SA Law introduced the legal director role in 2025 as a formal alternative to partnership, with Clare Mackay becoming its first appointee. The position provides seniority, strategic influence, and professional gravitas while avoiding the capital investment and personal risk associated...
"I’ve wanted Marc Elias to be wrong for seven years, or six years, for as long as he’s been coming on my show. I have wanted his warnings to be wrong, but every single one of them has been either...
Unsure whether this will be because they're in the money or via an out-of-court restructuring
