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
It Is Improper and a “Perilous Shortcut” To “Outsource” Discovery Positions to A.I.
A federal court in Indiana held that Plaintiff’s counsel improperly relied solely on artificial intelligence to flag discovery deficiencies in White v. Walmart. The judge emphasized that AI‑generated lists do not satisfy the duty to meet and confer, and that attorneys must exercise independent judgment before raising disputes. While AI can aid e‑discovery, the ruling warns against outsourcing legal analysis to machines. The decision underscores that AI is a tool, not a replacement for competent lawyering.
SEC Seeks Public Comment on the Consolidated Audit Trail and Other Audit Trails and Data Sources
The SEC released a concept paper inviting public comment on the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) and related market data sources. The release asks for input on funding, governance, design, cybersecurity, privacy and the overall regulatory purpose of the CAT. Recent...
Cultivated Meat Now Has a Naming Problem
The EU will prohibit cultivated and plant‑based products from using traditional meat terms such as beef, chicken, pork or steak, limiting them to generic descriptors like burger, sausage and nuggets after a three‑year transition. Aleph Farms, a leading cell‑based meat...
OCC Plans to Preempt Illinois Interchange Law
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has submitted a draft executive order to preempt Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which is slated to take effect in July 2025. The Illinois law caps swipe fees for merchants and...
Maran Claims SpiceJet Owes over ₹400 Cr with Interest as Payment Dispute Lingers
Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran told the Delhi High Court that SpiceJet owes over ₹400 crore (≈$48 million) with interest, far above the ₹144.5 crore (≈$17 million) the airline claims. The court is reviewing SpiceJet’s petition to replace the cash deposit with a one‑acre Gurugram property,...
Ferrero Faces EU Antitrust Audit
The European Commission has launched an unannounced antitrust audit of Ferrero in two EU member states, probing possible violations of competition rules. Investigators are focusing on alleged market segmentation, restrictions on intra‑EU trade, and obstacles to multi‑country purchases. Ferrero confirmed...
Prosecutorial Mishaps Or Misconduct In FCPA Trials
Recent analysis highlights a pattern of Department of Justice (DOJ) missteps in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prosecutions, including the dismissal of the Rovirosa indictment for violating the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause. Notable cases such as the vacated Lindsey Manufacturing...
Senegal’s Draconian Anti-LGBTQ Law Is Starting To Affect Lives
In March 2026 Senegal’s parliament unanimously voted to double the maximum prison sentence for same‑sex relations from five to ten years, and the president signed the bill into law, raising fines to between 2 million and 10 million CFA francs (about $3,600‑$18,000)....
Why Does the Government Keep Showing up at the Supreme Court Uninvited?
The Trump administration has dramatically increased its use of uninvited amicus briefs, filing five such briefs in the past 13 months, including a high‑profile petition from a Colorado Catholic preschool challenging state nondiscrimination rules. Historically, the federal government filed only...
Boston Beer Faces $175.5M Fine in Packaging Dispute
Boston Beer faces a $175.5 million damages award after an Illinois jury found it breached a contract with packaging supplier Ardagh Metal Packaging by not meeting a minimum aluminum‑can purchase commitment for 2021‑2025. The brewer denies the breach, citing defective cans,...
FERC Orders American Efficient to Pay $1.1B for ‘Brazen Fraud’
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered American Efficient, its parent Modern Energy Group, and affiliated firms to pay roughly $1.1 billion for a massive fraud that spanned more than a decade. The agency said the company sold energy‑efficiency capacity it...
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Needs Five Members for Quorum
Bambo, there is a Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act that governs the day to day operations of the Commission… The Act defines what constitutes a Quorum. President @edmnangagwa was lenient, Ms Majome was offside… You need 5 Commissioners to form a quorum…....
ESG Round-Up: ISS Sues Indiana over ‘Onerous’ Proxy Adviser Legislation
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has sued the state of Indiana, challenging a new law it deems overly restrictive for proxy advisers. In parallel, Glass Lewis introduced a climate‑intelligence platform to sharpen ESG voting insights, while MassPRIM announced a physical climate‑risk assessment...
DOL Proposal Provides Immediate Opportunities for Advisors
The U.S. Department of Labor released a proposed rule on March 31 that redefines fiduciary duties when selecting designated investment alternatives for retirement plans. The regulation shifts focus to a process‑based standard, affirms product neutrality across asset classes, and introduces a...
Reveal: From Costs to Gains: Measuring Legal Efficiency with AI eDiscovery
Reveal’s latest article explains how AI‑driven eDiscovery can turn legal operations from a cost center into a measurable profit driver. By embedding analytics that track review speed, workflow efficiency and risk mitigation, the platform gives corporate counsel concrete ROI data....
David Pemberton, Everlaw: Digital Spoliation of Evidence: Risks, Rules, and Prevention
David Pemberton’s Everlaw article warns that electronically stored information (ESI) is vulnerable to digital spoliation—loss, alteration, or destruction once a preservation duty arises. He outlines how courts can impose sanctions on parties that fail to safeguard relevant data. The piece...
RBNZ Unveils Draft IPSA Amendments, Opens 12‑Week Consultation on Proportional Rules
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has published an exposure draft to amend the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010, adding explicit proportionality rules and a two‑tier solvency structure. A 12‑week consultation runs until July 7, with the bill slated for parliamentary...
Federal Prosecutors Conduct Surprise Inspection of $2.5 B Fed Renovation Project
Two federal prosecutors and an investigator from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office attempted an unannounced tour of the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation site. The visit, rebuffed by the contractor and redirected to Fed attorneys, underscores a politically charged investigation...
Bank of England Adds U.S.-backed Bail‑in Tool to Bank Resolution Playbook
The Bank of England has revised its resolution guidance to introduce a provisional rights mechanism (PROPPs) for bail‑in scenarios, backed by a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission no‑action letter. The change, driven by lessons from Credit Suisse and Silicon Valley...
BRP Halts 2027 Outlook as New U.S. Tariffs Add $365M Cost Hit
BRP Inc. withdrew its fiscal 2027 earnings guidance after a U.S. tariff amendment imposed a 25% levy on the full value of imported snowmobiles and most off‑road vehicles, creating an estimated C$500 million ($365 million) cost increase. The announcement triggered a 35%...
Ohio Finfluencer Sentenced to Six Years for $23 Million Real‑Estate Ponzi Scheme
Columbus‑based social‑media promoter Tyler Bossetti received a six‑year federal prison term and more than $12.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire and tax fraud. Prosecutors say his “Boss Lifestyle” scheme raised over $23 million and left investors with losses exceeding...
Community Benefits Aren’t Impossible – They Just Take Work
California is moving toward its 2045 net‑zero goal by advancing offshore wind projects, and a new Statewide Strategy for the Coexistence of California Fishing Communities and Offshore Wind Energy outlines how community benefits funds will mitigate residual impacts on fishermen,...
Restrictive Covenants: A Covenant?, Used and How Affect Homeowners
Restrictive covenants are legally binding obligations recorded on a property’s title deeds that limit how land or buildings can be used, and they run with the land for all future owners. Breaching a covenant can result in court injunctions, demolition...
French Regulator Fines Organic Food Retail Groups for Price Collusion
France’s competition authority fined four organic retail groups a total of €12.7 m ($14.7 m) for orchestrating a price‑collusion scheme that kept organic brands separate between specialist stores and supermarkets. The regulator said the arrangement, lasting over seven years, forced members to...
ESMA Launches a Call for Evidence on Restricted Subscription and Private Credit Ratings
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has opened a call for evidence on restricted subscription and private credit ratings, seeking stakeholder input on their purposes, market practices, and associated risks. The regulator asks for data on the characteristics, users,...
Maine’s Plug-In Solar Law Takes Effect in July and some Companies Are Already Selling Products in the State
Maine’s new plug‑in solar law, LD 1730, becomes effective July 15, 2026, allowing residents to install portable solar systems up to 420 W on their own or up to 1,200 W with a certified electrician. The legislation requires UL 3700 certification or...
Kenya’s LOLC Microfinance Bank Directors Risk Prosecution in Data Enforcement Case
Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has recommended criminal prosecution of directors at LOLC Microfinance Bank after the lender ignored a formal request to justify publishing a former employee’s personal data. The regulator found the bank unlawfully processed...
CYBERUK ’26: UK Lagging on Legal Protections for Cyber Pros
The UK’s 1990 Computer Misuse Act (CMA) is increasingly seen as an obstacle for cyber‑security professionals who need to conduct authorised hacking as part of their work. Ahead of the CYBERUK conference, the CyberUp Campaign released a report urging Westminster...
Sens. Warren and Blumenthal Investigate NLRB Decision to Drop Charges Against SpaceX for Retaliatory Firings
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have opened an inquiry into the National Labor Relations Board after it dismissed charges that SpaceX illegally fired employees who criticized Elon Musk’s leadership. The NLRB said it lacked jurisdiction and transferred the case...
Regulators,
■ @Outkick @NFL Sports Columnist: ‘America is Rooting for @BrendanCarrFCCr’ ■ @center_amrights @DanielSuhr: 60 Minutes Aired “One‑Sided Hit Piece’ on Catholics and Iran War ■ @FCC Seeks Comment on Overhauling USF Supervisor USAC ■ A3SA Leader Defends DRM in NextGen TV Standard ■ House...
Ripple CEO Signals Imminent CLARITY Act Passage
LATEST: ⚡️ Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says "the CLARITY Act window is open" and "now is our moment to act," while a JPM report says negotiations are down to a few remaining issues and the bill is "very close." https://t.co/h1ukTaNAB0
Referral of the Proposed Subsidy to EP Lynemouth Power Limited by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has proposed a Low‑Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference (LCD CfD) for EP Lynemouth Power Limited, covering 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031. The deal would provide a strike price of £110 /MWh (about $140 /MWh) and an estimated...
Deregulation Driving Airline Failures, Not FTC Action
First, it’s not the FTC who challenged the deal. Second, Spirit was asked specifically if they were in trouble by the judge. They said no. Third, JetBlue is going under as well because of its high debt load. Deregulation needs to...
Cisco’s Real Stakes: Digitally Aiding and Abetting
On April 28, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Cisco Systems v. Doe I, a case that asks whether a U.S. corporation and its CEO can be sued under the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act...
The Paradox of China’s Crypto Regulation and Capital Going Global (Part 2)
China’s crypto crackdown has not eliminated domestic capital but forced it offshore, where platforms like Binance, Huobi and OKCoin now serve a majority of international users. The regulatory “September 4th Ban” of 2017 and subsequent 2021 patching eliminated RMB on‑ramps...
Franklin Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Filing False Tax Returns
Nael Jabbar, a 47‑year‑old owner of Hot Spot Super Market in Milwaukee, pleaded guilty on April 14, 2026, to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. From 2021‑2024 he defrauded the SNAP program...
Previously Deported Alien Sentenced in Largest Cocaine Seizure in Green Bay History
On April 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Byron B. Conway sentenced 51‑year‑old Ruben Salgado‑Espinoza to 169 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and illegally re‑entering the United States after two prior deportations. The sentencing follows a Green...
Justice Department Announces Settlement to Combat Antisemitism in Massachusetts School District
The U.S. Justice Department reached a voluntary settlement with the Concord‑Carlisle School District in Massachusetts to address a series of antisemitic incidents reported between 2023 and 2025. The agreement resolves a Title IV civil‑rights investigation into harassment based on religion, race...
Ottawa Tables Draft Regulatons Around French Language in Federally Regulated Workplaces
The Canadian government has tabled draft regulations to enforce the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act. The rules will initially apply to Quebec and, two years later, to other regions with significant Francophone populations. They set employee...
SEBI Extends Not-for-Profit Registration Validity for Social Stock Exchanges
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has eased rules for Social Stock Exchanges by extending the registration validity for not‑for‑profit organisations (NPOs) to three years without requiring immediate fundraising, up from two years. It also lowered the minimum...
Agent Washing: Disclosure Risks in the Emerging Market for AI Agents
The article introduces “agent washing,” a new disclosure risk where companies label ordinary automation as autonomous AI agents or exaggerate agents’ capabilities and business impact. Overstated claims make firms vulnerable to regulator, plaintiff, and investor scrutiny because specific agent functions...
Sponsor-Designated Lenders’ Counsel
Borrower‑designated lenders’ counsel has become the norm in U.S. leveraged‑buyout financing, allowing a single law firm to represent all potential lenders during the financing auction. The practice, praised for efficiency, also gives sponsors significant influence over lender counsel, aligning lawyer...
FCA Takes Next Steps Toward Enforcement Action Against Hartley Pensions and an Individual
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued warning notices to Hartley Pensions Limited and a senior individual, signalling the next phase of potential enforcement. The regulator alleges the pension firm supplied false information and withdrew customers' SIPP funds without...
FCA Introduces Clearer and Simpler Short Selling Rules
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has finalized a streamlined short‑selling regime that replaces individual seller disclosures with aggregated net‑short data. The new rules extend the reporting timetable, giving firms more time to calculate positions, and simplify market‑maker notifications to an...
Year 2 Consumer Duty Board Reports: Progress and What Comes Next
The FCA’s second‑year Consumer Duty board reports reveal that firms are tightening governance, with boards formally reviewing and signing off on outcomes and action plans. Data usage has broadened, incorporating both quantitative trends and qualitative insights, especially for vulnerable customers....
EBA Proposes Major Simplification of ESG Supervisory Reporting Requirements for Banks
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has unveiled a draft overhaul of its ESG supervisory reporting framework, stripping out several EU Taxonomy templates and introducing a three‑tier, proportionality‑based regime. Large banks (assets over €30 billion) will retain most Pillar 3 disclosures plus two...
AIFMD & UCITS Directive — New Obligations for Fund Managers From 16 April 2026
The EU’s AIFMD II and updated UCITS Directive become mandatory on 16 April 2026, harmonising rules for alternative investment funds across member states. Key measures include a EU‑wide loan‑origination framework, mandatory liquidity‑management tools for open‑ended AIFs, expanded delegation requirements and enhanced investor disclosures....
Thursday Radio Prep
An appeals court ordered a federal judge to stop a contempt investigation into Trump‑era deportation flights, effectively ending Judge Boasberg’s personal probe of the former administration. The same ruling was framed by critics as a rebuke of what they called...
New AI Policy in South Africa Stresses Corporate Liability for Agentic Systems
South Africa’s new AI policy treats autonomous, or “agentic,” systems as delegated decision‑makers and places full corporate liability on the deploying organisation. The Companies Act 71 of 2008 and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 require board‑level...
Why Were These Two US Immigration Judges Fired? | Seth Stern
The Justice Department fired immigration judges Roopal Patel and Nina Froes after they ruled against deportations of immigrant journalists and activists, signaling a shift toward politicized adjudication. Both judges upheld First‑Amendment protections for non‑citizens, while Judge Blake Doughty avoided dismissal...