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
Prosecutors Make Surprise Visit to Fed as Pirro Defends Investigation
The Justice Department, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, conducted an unannounced inspection of the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion renovation site, intensifying a criminal probe into Chair Jerome Powell. The probe coincides with President Trump’s campaign to replace Powell, naming Kevin Warsh as his successor. Senate Banking Committee scheduled a Warsh confirmation hearing, but Republican Senator Thom Tillis warned he will not move forward unless the DOJ drops the investigation. The confrontation raises doubts about the timing of a new Fed chair appointment.
Boasberg’s Contempt Proceedings Blocked, Again
The episode dissects the latest setback in Judge Bozberg’s criminal contempt case concerning the 2025 deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants. A three‑judge D.C. Circuit panel, led by two Trump appointees, granted a writ of mandamus that halts Bozberg’s contempt proceedings,...
“Hallucinations” By West and Lexis AI? A Cautionary Study and Cautions About the Study
A 2024 academic study, later published in the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, found that leading legal AI tools—Westlaw CoCounsel and Lexis+—produce hallucinations, with roughly one‑third of Westlaw’s answers containing false information. The Sixth Circuit’s U.S. v. Farris decision highlighted...
NIST Launches Development of Trustworthy AI Profile for Critical Infrastructure
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology has begun developing a Trustworthy AI in Critical Infrastructure profile, extending its AI Risk Management Framework to guide operators of power, water, transportation and other essential services. The effort, outlined in a...
FCA Bans CMC's Misleading Adverts
The FCA ordered claims management firm Conclusive Financial Ltd, trading as PCP Refunds, to remove or amend its advertising after it ran misleading claims about motor‑finance compensation. The adverts promised an average payout of £1,846 (about $2,300) without explaining the...
Thailand's OIC Proposes Mandatory E‑Delivery and Stricter Premium Rules for Insurers
Thailand’s Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has released parallel draft amendments for life and non‑life insurance, mandating electronic policy delivery as the default and imposing tighter premium‑collection guidelines. Stakeholders have until April 25, 2026 to comment, a move that could reshape...
Virginia Regulators Order Aflac to Cut Rates on 16 Policies, Saving $12.6M
Virginia's Bureau of Insurance has compelled Aflac to reduce premiums on 16 supplemental health policies by as much as 35%, delivering roughly $12.6 million in annual savings for more than 120,000 policyholders. The settlement also includes a $64,000 fine and highlights...
Fifth Circuit Ruling May Open Floodgate of Telemarketing Robocalls
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a decision that could expand the volume of telemarketing robocalls reaching consumers in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Consumer‑protection advocates warn the ruling undermines ongoing efforts by the FTC and...
Counsel Financial Secures $95 Million Credit Facility for Top Plaintiff Law Firm
Counsel Financial has arranged a $95 million interest‑only bank credit facility for a leading plaintiff law firm, boosting the firm’s borrowing power and illustrating the growing role of specialized legal‑finance underwriting.
Elite Unveils AI Billing Risk Detection Tool for Law Firms
Legal‑tech provider Elite introduced AI‑driven risk detection inside its Validate platform, alerting firms to billing anomalies before invoices are sent. The move expands Elite's AI roadmap across the entire work‑to‑cash cycle, promising faster realization and reduced friction for law‑firm finance...
DOJ Moves to Dismiss Jan. 6 Convictions Against Former Proud Boys and Oath Keepers
The Justice Department filed a motion on April 14, 2026 to dismiss the Jan. 6 convictions of twelve former Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, most of whom were found guilty of seditious conspiracy. The request seeks to erase the criminal judgments while leaving...
FOIA Files: DOJ Says Trump Need Not Comply with Records Law
The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a 52‑page opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act (PRA) unconstitutional and stating that former President Donald Trump does not have to turn over his White House records. The memo, released on...
Google and Apple Still Facing Antitrust Compliance Battles
Adam, you can’t actually be serious. Google and Apple are both fighting compliance with antitrust remedies v their app stores, and Google and Apple have 3 other active antitrust cases with Justice Dept. To suggest “all fixed” is nuts unless...
The Importance of Clearing Title for Public Acquisitions
Public agencies often focus on negotiating purchase price while neglecting title issues, leading to costly surprises. Riverside Unified School District discovered a 19‑year cell‑tower lease after buying land for a new elementary school and agreed to pay nearly $1 million to...
Kirkland & Ellis Appoints Wachtell Star as Nemecek Successor
NEW: Kirkland & Ellis hires Wachtell star to replace Dave Nemecek. From @mroliverbarnes and me: https://t.co/4sYasj7toe
Arbitration in the Fifth – March 2026
In March 2026 the Fifth Circuit and several Texas and Louisiana district courts issued a series of rulings that reinforced the enforceability of arbitration agreements, even when embedded in clickwrap contracts or mandatory training modules. The Fifth Circuit in Quintas...
NLRB Maintains McLaren Severance Agreement Standard for Now, But Board Nomination Signals Potential Shift
On April 7, 2026 the National Labor Relations Board upheld the 2023 McLaren standard in the Prime Communications case, confirming that overly broad severance‑agreement confidentiality or non‑disparagement clauses can violate the NLRA. The Board could not overturn the precedent because it lacked...
Criteria to Consider When Assessing Borrowing Base Credit for Participation Interests
The April 2026 legal update outlines criteria warehouse lenders should apply when granting borrowing‑base credit for participation interests. It highlights that participations introduce legal uncertainty—recharacterization risk, insolvency exposure of the lender of record, limited transferability, and reduced liquidity—prompting tighter haircuts and...
Mlex: Only Daily Source for DC Lawsuits
💯 mlex is the only news source that I’m aware of that consistently shows up every day for these lawsuits and the antitrust suits in DC. Now at great risk of me having now insulted any of our DCN members....
Central Government yet to Notify Selection Panels for Data Protection Board
The Indian government has still not formed the search‑cum‑selection committees needed to appoint a chairperson and four members to the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI), five months after the board’s statutory creation under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP)...
Selling Wellness in the UK Under the Advertising Standards Authority’s Rules
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is tightening enforcement of wellness advertising, using an AI‑driven monitoring system that flagged 94 % of the ads it later amended or withdrew in 2024. Brands must substantiate every claim, avoid medicinal language for non‑MHRA‑registered...
New York Bars Employers From Considering Consumer Credit History in Employment Decisions
Effective April 18, 2026, New York State will prohibit employers from requesting or using consumer credit history in hiring, compensation, promotion, or retention decisions, mirroring New York City’s 2015 ban. The amendment to the State Fair Credit Reporting Act applies...
Canada Revenue Agency Advises Law Firms of Changes to Taxpayer Information Request Process
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that, effective April 15, 2026, it will no longer process one‑time taxpayer‑information requests submitted by lawyers or law firms. All requests for income statements, notices of assessment, and benefit details must now be filed by the...
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Addresses if Agency Aims to ‘Influence’ NFL Rights Negotiations
The Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into the NFL’s exemption under the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, prompting heightened scrutiny from the FCC. Chairman Brendan Carr told CNBC the agency is reviewing the exemption and may advise Congress...
Legal Groups Push for Independent Immigration System as More Immigration Judges Fired
The Trump administration has fired six additional immigration judges, bringing total dismissals to over 100 in its second term. The firings have contributed to a roughly 25% reduction in the immigration judiciary, leaving many courts with skeleton crews and two...
Whistleblower Sparks Investigation Into Health New Zealand’s Medical Scanning Services
A protected disclosure by consultant radiologist Dr. Bryan Wolf has triggered an independent inquiry into Health New Zealand’s radiology services, led by former Solicitor‑General Michael Heron KC. The board confirmed the investigation after earlier reports revealed patient harm from outdated...
They Just Erased the Convictions. What That Actually Means — And Why It’s Bigger Than January 6th.
The Justice Department, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, filed a motion to vacate the seditious conspiracy convictions of twelve January 6 defendants—eight Oath Keepers members, including founder Stewart Rhodes, and four Proud Boys members. The request seeks to erase the...
New York’s FAIR Act Update: Governor Hochul Signs Chapter Amendment SB 8811 Refining the New UDAP/UDAAP Framework
On March 27, 2026 Governor Kathy Hochul signed SB 8811, amending New York’s FAIR Act. The amendment repeals the standalone purpose‑and‑intent clause, refines the “substantial injury” prong by anchoring it to the FTC Act definition, and extends the Attorney General’s pre‑suit notice...
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Howard Stern's Ex-Assistant Seeks 'Right to Speak Freely' Via Lawsuit, with $2.5 Million Valuation
Former executive assistant Leslie Kuhn has filed an amended lawsuit against Howard and Beth Stern, seeking a court declaration that her confidentiality and non‑disclosure agreements are void. The complaint, filed in New York Supreme Court, assigns the case a minimum...
FDA Sends Letters to 2,200 Sponsors, Demanding Public Trial Results
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has formally notified more than 2,200 drug developers that they must post pending clinical trial results on ClinicalTrials.gov, highlighting that nearly 30% of mandated studies remain unpublished. The agency warns of civil penalties and...
Senate Advances Bill to Ban Mega‑Investors From Buying Single‑Family Homes
The U.S. Senate voted 89‑10 to advance a housing bill that would bar institutional investors owning 350 or more single‑family homes from purchasing additional properties. Backed by Sen. Tim Scott and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the measure aims to boost homebuilding...
FINRA Investor Education Foundation Examines Effects of Social Media “Finfluencers”
FINRA’s Investor Education Foundation released a brief on April 2, 2026 analyzing retail investors who follow social‑media “finfluencers.” The study shows these followers are typically younger, male, hold smaller portfolios and include a higher share of racial minorities. While they report stronger...
Establishing a Business Entity in Australia (Updated)
International Lawyers Network released an updated guide on April 14, 2026 for establishing a business entity in Australia. The piece explains the country’s three‑tier regulatory framework—federal, state/territory, and local—showing how legislative authority can overlap. It cautions investors that statutes differ across jurisdictions...
CFTC Weekly Swaps Report Triggers Debate Over Fintech Swap Platforms
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly swaps report omitted event‑contract swaps, sparking criticism from market participants and former chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo. The gap highlights regulatory uncertainty as fintech firms roll out bank‑grade swap services, while the EU‑registered Abaxx Exchange...
California Bar Charges Two Lawyers Over Generative AI Misuse, Adds Third to Discipline Queue
The State Bar of California has filed disciplinary charges against attorneys Omid Emile Khalifeh and Steven Thomas Romeyn for submitting false court filings generated by generative AI, while a third lawyer, Sepideh Ardestani, faces a disciplinary stipulation. The actions underscore...
Ohio Nursing Home Discharges Patient to Homeless Shelter, Triggering CMS Probe
The Eastland Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Columbus placed a diabetic, fracture‑stricken resident at a city homeless shelter, prompting a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) inspection. Regulators say the case reflects a growing pattern of nursing homes off‑loading...
TCS Suspends Seven Senior Staff Over Harassment FIRs at Nashik Facility
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has suspended seven senior employees, including a female HR manager, following nine FIRs that allege sexual harassment, workplace misconduct and forced religious conversion at its Nashik site. The arrests and a Special Investigation Team probe underscore...
FCA Unveils Open Finance Roadmap Aiming for Full Data Sharing by 2030
The Financial Conduct Authority released a detailed open‑finance blueprint that aims to let UK consumers and small firms share banking data via APIs by 2030. The roadmap seeks to boost competition, improve credit access and spark innovation, while regulators warn...
Google DeepMind and Microsoft Research Unveil Agentic Risk Standard to Anchor AI in Finance
Researchers from Google DeepMind, Microsoft Research, Columbia University, t54 Labs and Virtuals Protocol introduced the Agentic Risk Standard (ARS), a settlement‑layer framework that imports financial risk‑management methods into AI agent transactions. The ARS aims to boost trust, accelerate fintech adoption...
FTC Nears Settlements in Ad Boycott Probe as Brands Keep Advertising on Social Platforms
The Federal Trade Commission told a DC Circuit appeals court it is negotiating settlements with the targets of its ad‑boycott investigation, signaling imminent announcements. Brands, however, have largely stayed on platforms such as X, underscoring the tension between regulatory pressure...
Advertise Across EEA with Confidence: Unity Becomes One of the First In-Game Ad Networks to Join IAB Europe's Transparency &...
Unity has become an approved participant in IAB Europe’s Transparency & Consent Framework, making it one of the first in‑game ad networks to join the standard. The move enables advertisers to reach European mobile gamers through Unity’s TCF‑verified pipelines, ensuring...
Major-US-Lender-Takes-Issue-with-New-Capital-Rules
JP Morgan has publicly challenged the Federal Reserve’s latest capital‑rule proposal, arguing that the changes will raise its funding costs and erode profitability. The Fed’s revised Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) and risk‑weight adjustments target large, complex banks, potentially increasing their...
ECB-Residual-Value-Rule-Changes-Show-Limited-Impact-on-Auto-ABS
The European Central Bank has revised its residual‑value guidelines for auto‑asset‑backed securities, tightening the way lenders calculate the future worth of leased vehicles. The new rule aims to reduce uncertainty for investors by standardising residual‑value assumptions across the Eurozone. Rabobank’s...
OCC Proposes Stablecoin Regulations
The OCC released a proposed rulebook to implement the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin framework, outlining reserve‑diversification options, a strict ban on interest or yield payments, and a $5 million minimum capital floor for new issuers. The proposal also clarifies brand‑multiple issuance, foreign‑issuer...
Massachusetts Federal Court Tees Up Broader Preliminary Injunction of ACTS Survey
A Massachusetts federal court issued a new temporary restraining order that pushes the compliance deadline for the Education Department’s ACTS survey to April 24, 2026 for a coalition of higher‑education associations and independent colleges. The order follows a prior preliminary injunction that...
Closing the Gaps: Managing Operational Risk in the Consumer Products Industry
Consumer‑products manufacturers face mounting operational risk as state‑level regulations, aggressive product‑claim litigation, and ESG‑related securities actions outpace traditional federal compliance. Plaintiffs now scrutinize the alignment of regulatory interpretations, sourcing practices, and marketing claims, targeting gaps in “Made in USA,” “pure,”...
Ripple's 11-Year Fight Leads to CLARITY Act Momentum
Yesterday, I celebrated 11 years at Ripple. Back then, I couldn’t have predicted that we’d still be fighting for regulatory clarity. The fight has been worth it. After a day in DC having great conversations with @SenatorHagerty, @berniemoreno, @SenatorTimScott, @JohnBoozman and...
NYC Mayor and DCWP Commissioner Announce First-In-The-Nation Municipal “Click to Cancel” Rule
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DCWP Commissioner Samuel Levine announced a proposed “Click to Cancel” rule aimed at eliminating subscription traps. The rule, issued under Executive Order 10, would require businesses to provide a one‑click cancellation method for any...
Court Affirms A Finding Of Forgery But Reverses Awards Of Remedies Because There Was No Informal Fiduciary Duty Owed By...
The Texas Court of Appeals affirmed that a deed recorded by Darrell was forged, declaring it void ab initio and removing the cloud on title to the family ranch. The court also held that no informal fiduciary duty existed between...
Democrat Judge Bans Maine Mom From Taking Daughter to Church: Video
In December 2024 a Portland District Court judge in Maine modified custody, giving father Matthew Bradeen sole authority over religious decisions for their 12‑year‑old daughter. The order bars mother Emily Bickford from taking the child to Calvary Chapel, reading the...