Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Joe Biden has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio recording of his interview. The action, reported by Axios and TIME, aims to keep the interview confidential amid political controversy.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
FCA Crypto Regulation: Guidance Sets Compliance Path Ahead of UK’s 2027 Regime
The FCA released a consultation on guidance for the United Kingdom’s cryptoasset regulatory regime, which will be fully implemented in October 2027. Firms can apply for FCA authorisation from 30 September 2026, covering stablecoins, trading platforms, custody, dealing and staking services. The framework seeks to improve market integrity, strengthen consumer protection and position the UK as a global hub for responsible digital‑asset innovation. Final policy statements are expected in summer 2026 with perimeter guidance due in autumn 2026.
Video Game Lawyer Implores Devs to Understand Ownership and Swerve Generative AI
At the London Game Festival, lawyer Nick Allan warned indie developers that without clear contracts, IP created by contractors remains owned by them. He urged studios to register trademarks and copyrights in key markets such as the UK, EU, and...
Musk’s ThornyQ
A court case set for April 27 will determine whether it was fraudulent for Elon Musk to invest $38 million in OpenAI under the premise that it was a not‑for‑profit entity, only to later benefit from its for‑profit arm that owns...
Apple Closes Three Stores, Including First Unionized Location, Fueling Labor Dispute
Apple announced the June 11 closure of three retail outlets, one of which is the company's first unionized store in Towson, Maryland. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers alleges the move is a targeted anti‑union action, while Apple...
Navigating the First Tax Season Under the OBBBA
April 15, 2026 marks the first tax filing season under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which made several permanent tax reforms for commercial real estate. The law codifies a 100% bonus depreciation deduction for qualifying assets placed in service after Jan 19 2025, and...
Hadrius Launches AI‑Native Compliance Platform, Redefining Legal Risk Management
Hadrius announced an AI‑native compliance infrastructure that rebuilds the compliance stack from the ground up. The platform, aimed at registered investment advisers and broker‑dealers, promises fewer false positives and faster manual‑review cycles. The launch marks a shift from retrofitting AI...
Google Secures 1 GW Power‑Distribution Licence for Vizag Data‑Center in India
Google has been granted a 1‑gigawatt power‑distribution licence by Indian regulators for a new data‑center complex in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. The approval enables the tech giant to source and manage electricity directly, underscoring its push for renewable‑heavy infrastructure in emerging...
AI Hallucinations Threaten Courts; Humans Must Own the Risk
Prosecutors are citing AI-generated case law that doesn't exist. Meanwhile 60% of federal judges say they're using AI tools. Nobody is checking the robots and the robots are making things up. This is not a tech problem. This is a "who owns the...
Commission Sends Meta Fresh Charge Sheet on Possible Interim Measures to Reverse Exclusion of Third-Party AI Assistants From WhatsApp
The European Commission has issued a Supplementary Statement of Objections to Meta, signalling its intent to impose interim measures that would force the company to restore third‑party AI assistants’ access to WhatsApp under the same terms that existed before the...
ECB Proposes Rules to Boost Cross‑Border Capital Mobility for European Banks
The European Central Bank announced new banking framework proposals that would let lenders move capital across borders more freely, aiming to improve resource allocation. The plan also revives a stalled push for a Europe‑wide deposit insurance system.
Story Idea, Article Elements, Wording 'Designed to Stick the Knife’ Into Shanmugam, Tan See Leng: Lawyer
Singapore’s Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng sued Bloomberg and reporter Low De Wei for a December 2024 article that they claim defamed them by suggesting their Good Class Bungalow (GCB) purchases were secretive, premium‑paying deals. The article cited...
The Presidential Records Act Is Constitutional
On April 1 2026 the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act (PRA) facially unconstitutional, arguing it exceeds Congress’s authority and infringes executive autonomy. The article rebuts this view, noting that Congress, the courts,...
Japan FSA Tables Corporate Governance Code Update
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has released an updated Corporate Governance Code aimed at strengthening transparency and stakeholder oversight. The revisions introduce stricter annual report filing requirements, new board diversity standards, and tighter controls on senior executive remuneration. Listed companies...
Serial Entrepreneur Martin Ringlein Raises $7.2 Million for Agree.com Digital‑agreement Platform
Martin Ringlein, the founder behind nclud and nvite, launched Agree.com and closed a $7.2 million seed round. The platform bundles contract drafting, electronic signatures and payment processing, aiming to cut friction for startups and enterprises alike.
Pebble Plaintiffs Rebut DOJ Veto Brief
Northern Dynasty Minerals filed a reply brief in Alaska federal court challenging the EPA’s 2023 Pebble mine veto. The brief argues the agency’s decision conflicts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Final Environmental Impact Statement, relies on a flawed...
EU Says WhatsApp AI Terms Update Fails to Resolve Antitrust Concerns
The European Commission has rejected Meta’s latest attempt to charge rival AI assistants for access to WhatsApp, saying the new pricing framework is effectively a ban and constitutes an abuse of its dominant position. Meta altered its WhatsApp AI terms...
Congress Grapples with FISA Section 702 Reauthorisation as Deadline Looms
U.S. Congress is debating a clean 18‑month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires on April 20. The program, credited with thwarting terrorist plots and aiding cyber‑security responses, faces bipartisan criticism over warrantless collection of Americans’ communications.
AI‑Driven Compliance Tools Redefine Crypto Regulation Landscape
Regulators worldwide are accelerating anti‑money‑laundering scrutiny, prompting crypto exchanges, DeFi protocols, wallets, bridges and DAOs to adopt AI‑driven compliance systems. The shift turns on‑chain surveillance into a live, algorithmic gatekeeper that decides which transactions pass and which are flagged.
Replimune Shares Tumble 64% After FDA Issues Second CRL on RP1 Vaccine
Replimune's shares dropped about 64% on April 10 after the FDA issued a second Complete Response Letter rejecting the RP1 vaccine. The setback forces the company into job cuts, raises questions about its pivotal IGNYTE‑3 trial, and slashes analyst price...
Sen. Tammy Baldwin to Introduce Bill Ensuring Sports Broadcasts Remain Accessible
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is set to introduce the “For the Fans” Act, legislation that would require professional sports leagues to make games available for free in each team’s local market via over‑the‑air TV or ad‑supported streaming. The bill builds...
SCOTUStoday for Wednesday, April 15
The Supreme Court signaled it may release new opinions on Friday at 10 a.m. EDT and will hold a private conference that same day to set the agenda for its April argument session. Senate Republicans announced they are prepared to confirm...
Undisclosed Promo Bots May Violate FTC and Copyright Law
As annoying as that probably was, this is quantifiably different. You know the Geffen rep works for geffen; you know the speaker has a strong financial interest in her success, you can use that information to analyze what they saying....
The Contract You Signed Before Your AI Agent Existed — And Why It Will Not Protect You
The post warns that most AI vendor contracts were drafted for passive software and now leave organizations exposed when autonomous agents execute transactions, form contracts, or cause third‑party harm. Vendors typically limit liability to a single month’s subscription fee, while...
Kenya Tightens Grip on Digital Lenders as CBK Approves 32 New Credit Providers
Kenya’s Central Bank announced in April 2026 that 32 new firms have been granted digital credit licences, raising the total of approved digital lenders to 227. The regulator stresses that only listed providers may legally offer loans, warning consumers against...
Is an IRS Audit Less Likely Amid Agency Cuts? Some Issues Are Still ‘Low-Hanging Fruit,’ Expert Says
The IRS’s workforce shrank by roughly 27% in 2025, dropping to about 74,000 employees, yet audit risk for taxpayers has not vanished. Automated systems still flag mismatches between reported income and information returns, generating CP2000 notices and correspondence audits that...
The Most Commonly Missed Risk in Cleaning Contracts
Facility managers frequently sign cleaning contracts without probing how vendors classify their workforce, exposing them to joint‑employer liability. Misclassification—labeling workers as independent contractors—lets cleaning firms shave 15%‑30% off bids by evading payroll taxes, workers’ compensation and benefits. State labor agencies...
EU Commission Raids “Chocolate Confectionery” Company in Suspected Anti-Trust Breach
The European Commission carried out unannounced inspections at an unidentified chocolate confectionery firm in two EU member states, suspecting breaches of Articles 101 and 102 of the EU competition treaty. Investigators are probing possible cartels, market segmentation and abuse of a dominant...
Claim That U Texas Engaged in Viewpoint Discrimination in Forbidding 2024 Palestine Solidarity Committee Protest Can Go Forward
A federal judge in Texas has allowed the claim that the University of Texas at Austin engaged in viewpoint discrimination by canceling a 2024 Palestine Solidarity Committee protest to proceed. The case stems from student Ahmad Qaddumi’s three‑semester suspension after...
Who’s Liable when Banking Bots Act Autonomously?
Agentic Banking: Permissioned Autonomy vs. Regulatory Requirements Meow's model: humans set rules (spending limits, vendor whitelist, transaction thresholds), agents execute within guardrails (transfers, card issuance, invoice processing). Autonomy scope: 24/7 transaction data access, real-time vendor payments, card issuance without per-transaction approval....
Acting AG Claims He'll Hide Epstein Files for Trump
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says he will break the law and cover up the Epstein files for Trump https://t.co/huK7cyjEJ1
Top Israel Court Hears Petitions to Oust Far-Right Minister
Israel’s High Court began hearing four petitions, backed by Attorney‑General Gali Baharav‑Miara, seeking the removal of hard‑line National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for allegedly undermining police independence. The petitions argue Ben Gvir abused his authority to influence police appointments and investigations,...
Bohm V. Bohm: Potential Shift in Athlete Money Control
In law, it's been said you never like to see a case caption where the plaintiff and defendant share the same family name. Enter Bohm v. Bohm & Bohm, which could be a game-changing case on athletes and family control over...
Non‑collectively Bargained NCAA Rules Vulnerable to Antitrust Suits
Any NCAA eligibility rule not created through collective bargaining can face antitrust lawsuits by excluded players. NCAA could argue a 5-year window after HS graduation or turning 19 is reasonable, but judges would need to agree. So, yes, more lawsuits:...
Gujarat HC Sends Notices To Google, Meta, X Over Deepfake
The Gujarat High Court issued notices to Meta, Google, X, Reddit and Scribd, demanding responses to a public‑interest litigation seeking tighter regulation of AI‑generated deepfake content. The bench set a May 8 deadline and ordered the platforms to join the SAHYOG...
Ramaphosa Issues Detailed Reply to Musk on Investment Rules
President @CyrilRamaphosa has given a COMPREHENSIVE response to @elonmusk following his social media posts about South Africa’s requirements for foreign investment…. https://t.co/WviFIHT03F
Regulatory Chaos Is Coming. AI Agents Are Already Ahead of It
The article highlights a rapidly fragmenting AI regulatory landscape, with 45 U.S. states introducing over 1,500 AI‑related bills and cities adding their own hiring rules. It explains how compliance‑focused AI agents can flag potential violations while leaving final decisions to...
Corporate Report: Competition Act 1998: Public Register of Decisions
The Competition Act 1998 public register of decisions, first published in March 2014, has been continuously updated with new investigations and decisions. The most recent entries, added on 15 April 2026, involve housebuilders and energy firm SGN, while earlier updates in 2025 covered...
Former Raffles United Holdings Managing Director Fined S$430,000 for Manipulating Market to Inflate Share Price
Former Raffles United Holdings managing director Gilbert Teo was fined S$430,000 (about $318,000) after a court found he manipulated share trading to prop up the company’s price between June 2017 and April 2018. He used a brother‑owned trading account and directed an employee...
White House Exposes Stablecoin Yield Ban Wouldn’t Help Banks, Raising the Stakes for CLARITY in the Senate
The White House released an economic study that finds prohibiting stablecoin yield products does little to protect bank lending, but would restrict consumers’ ability to earn returns on digital cash. The findings undercut the primary argument used by Senate opponents...
Trump Poised for Third Legal Clash with Federal Reserve
A potential third courtroom battle looms between Trump and the Fed. The administration has so far not succeeded on its subpoenas or firing of Lisa Cook
Lawsuit by Muslim Group, Over Alleged Public Pressure Campaign That Caused Cancellation of Conference, Dismissed
The South Florida Muslim Federation (SFMF) sued Atrium TRS I and several advocacy groups after a hotel cancelled its Jan. 12, 2024 conference, alleging a public‑pressure campaign. The federal court dismissed the case, finding SFMF lacked standing for injunctive relief under the...
Ex-Connecticut Tax Preparer Gets 18-Month Prison Sentence for Filing $1.06M in False Returns
Former Connecticut tax preparer Diana Miller‑Lloyd received an 18‑month prison term after pleading guilty to filing false returns that sought $1.06 million in fraudulent refunds between 2016 and 2021. The scheme targeted high‑income clients, many earning over $500,000, by fabricating charitable...
Browning Attorney Fined $100,000 for Making a False Statement to Federal Law Enforcement
A Browning, Montana attorney, Nathan Nicholas Johnson St. Goddard, was sentenced to four years of probation and a $100,000 fine after a jury convicted him of making a false statement to federal law enforcement during a sexual abuse investigation. The...
Administrators Chase Project Bank Account Funds to Pay Fees
Administrators of the collapsed modular specialist ESS Modular have asked a Northern Ireland court to allow the £1.3 million (≈ $1.65 million) Project Bank Account (PBA) to cover their £154,000 (≈ $195,000) fee claim. The PBA, set up for four Ministry of Justice prison projects,...
FCC Chairman Probes Broadcasters' Undisclosed Conflicts, Targeting Kimmel
D.C. Memo: FCC Chairman @BrendanCarrFCC Looking at Undisclosed Conflicts by Broadcasters, a Review That Could Snare @JimmyKimmel https://t.co/bBBhcj60fP
Cooley Shortlisted for Four Awards at ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2026
Cooley has been shortlisted for four honors at the Asian Legal Business Southeast Asia Law Awards 2026, including International Deal Firm of the Year, Private Equity and Venture Capital Law Firm of the Year, and SE Asia Law Firm of the...
HMRC’s Labour Crackdown Calls for Action to Ensure Compliance
HMRC has stepped up scrutiny of the Construction Industry Scheme, focusing on how contractors classify and pay subcontractors. Recent enquiries demand detailed evidence of employment status, including contracts, payment histories and timesheets. The tax authority’s forensic approach means firms risk...
From No‑Action to Court Action: Rule 14a‑8 Exclusions Face Legal Scrutiny
The SEC’s Division of Corporate Finance announced it would no longer issue substantive no‑action letters for Rule 14a‑8 shareholder‑proposal exclusions, allowing companies to rely on a simple representation of a reasonable basis. This shift has sparked a wave of lawsuits in...
The £100,000 Fix for Britain's Big Money Problem
In March, Prime Minister Keir Starmer introduced a £100,000 (≈$128,000) cap on political donations from Britons living abroad, targeting foreign‑funded influence. Two weeks later, crypto billionaire Ben Delo announced a £4 million (≈$5.1 million) contribution to Reform UK and plans to relocate...
How Germany’s Regulatory Reset Changes Investor Engagement and What It Means for The Market
Germany’s securities regulator BaFin announced on 20 March 2026 a narrowed definition of “acting in concert,” limiting attribution to binding, long‑term agreements on issuer policy. The change follows a CJEU ruling that deemed the previous broad interpretation incompatible with EU law. As...