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
JPMorgan Blasts Capital Proposals, Estimates 4% Increase
JPMorgan Chase says the latest Basel III and U.S. G‑SIB surcharge proposals would force the bank to hold roughly $20 billion more capital, translating to a 4% rise in its common equity tier 1 ratio. Executives argue the G‑SIB surcharge is miscalibrated, inflating the cost of credit for households and businesses. They request that regulators calculate each capital‑requirement component separately rather than embedding conservatism in methodology. CEO Jamie Dimon labeled portions of the reforms “nonsensical” and a disincentive to market‑making activity.
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All About Levies: Legal Seizures Explained
A levy is a legal seizure of property by tax authorities, most commonly the IRS, to collect unpaid taxes. The agency can target bank accounts, wages, vehicles, real estate, and even retirement assets, though certain income streams like Social Security...
EFF to State AGs: Investigate Google's Broken Promise to Users Targeted by the Government
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed complaints with the California and New York attorneys general accusing Google of violating its promise to notify users before handing over data to law‑enforcement agencies. The complaint centers on Amandla Thomas‑Johnson, whose ICE subpoena was...
The 7 Step Fraud Risk Assessment Framework
The article outlines a seven‑step fraud risk assessment framework that helps organizations identify, evaluate, and mitigate both internal and external fraud threats. It emphasizes tailoring the assessment to industry specifics, mapping controls to identified risks, and regularly updating the analysis....
Opening Pandora’s Interface: AI Assistants and the DMA
The European Commission has launched DMA Article 6(7) proceedings to define Google’s obligations for AI‑assistant features on Android, targeting hot‑word detection, screen‑content access, and audio‑output monitoring. This follows earlier Apple cases where the EU forced openness for NFC, Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth,...
Colo. Bans Arrests Based Solely on Colorimetric Drug Tests
Colorado enacted a law prohibiting arrests based solely on colorimetric drug test results for misdemeanor possession. Officers must now issue a court summons and inform defendants of false‑positive risks, offering confirmatory testing before any plea. The legislation passed unanimously and...
Group Challenges ESA Exemption For Oil And Gas Drilling In The Gulf Of Mexico
Defenders of Wildlife has filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit to overturn a March 31 decision by the Endangered Species Committee—often called the “God Squad”—that granted a blanket exemption from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for federal oil and gas...
Ontario Moves to Ban Uniform Fees
Ontario is proposing amendments to the Employment Standards Act to ban mandatory, employer‑specific uniform fees for large employers, targeting sectors like restaurants, hotels and retail where workers can pay $50 or more for branded apparel. The proposal also introduces the...
Foreign Ownership of US Trucking Firms Fuels Safety Crisis
I've argued that you should be an American citizen to own a trucking company. This is a requirement in almost every single commercial mode of transportation, except for trucking. The reason is simple: overseas actors will own trucking companies and...
Grenfell Inquiry Expert Witness Appointed as Building Advisory Committee Chair
The Building Safety Regulator appointed Grenfell Inquiry expert witness Barbara Lane as the first independent chair of its Building Advisory Committee (BAC), with Dr Hywel Davies named deputy chair. Lane, a senior engineering executive with three decades of experience, previously testified...
Lessons for a Warming Planet: A Vital History of U.S. Environmental Law
Law professors Alejandro Camacho and Brigham Daniels released “Lessons for a Warming Planet” on Earth Day, offering a sweeping history of U.S. environmental law. The book traces how 19th‑ and 20th‑century social movements turned scientific evidence into landmark statutes, from...
Remittance Tax Hits Payment Method, Not Sender Identity
1% Remittance Tax Targets How You Pay, Not Who You Are via @forbes https://t.co/qLUhrlx7yB #TaxLaw #IRS #RemittanceTax #CrossBorderTax #InternationalTax #GlobalFinance #MoneyTransfers #DigitalNomads #FinTech #TaxPolicy https://t.co/Ex3DMULX4V
Cumulus Speeding Toward Chapter 11 Exit
Cumulus Media filed a Modified Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization in Houston on April 13, seeking court approval. The plan would wipe out roughly $592 million of debt and transfer control to secured creditors. A new board of directors...
PTAB Petitioner Pushes Back on Contingent Amendment in IPR2025-00677
A petitioner has filed an opposition to a patent owner’s contingent motion to amend in PTAB case IPR2025-00677, arguing the substitute claims fail patentability and procedural standards. Contingent amendments allow owners to propose new claims only if the original set...
Questioning New ID Requirements for Crypto Purchases
I don’t there is an understanding of the operational impact of this change. Are you also going to have to produce your passport or birth certificate to buy crypto? Right now, banks rely on valid state & federally issued identification.
Key Tax Compliance Deadlines and Rule Changes
Comply Exchange’s March 2026 roundup highlights a shifted Form 1042‑S filing deadline to 17 April 2026 for entities that received a 30‑day extension, and outlines a second‑extension option via Form 8809. The IRS also issued proposed regulations allowing digital‑asset brokers to deliver Form 1099‑DA solely...
BC Supreme Court Stays Review of Legal Fees in Injury Suit Amid Pending Lawyer Negligence Claim
The British Columbia Supreme Court ordered a stay of the Legal Profession Act fee review in the personal‑injury case Simpson v. League and Williams Law Corp. until the plaintiff’s professional‑negligence lawsuit against his former lawyers is resolved. The injury claim...
Over 80 Percent of Alberta Lawyers Rate Their Substantive Law Competence Highly: Survey
A Law Society of Alberta survey of 265 legal professionals shows strong self‑assessment of substantive law competence, with 87% rating their knowledge of statutes and case law (“what”) and 83% rating their practical application (“how”) at the top of a...
Appeals Court Orders Judge to End Contempt Investigation of Trump Administration Deportation Flights
A three‑judge panel of the D.C. Circuit ordered Chief Judge James Boasberg to halt his criminal contempt investigation into the Trump administration’s March 2025 deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. The majority, written by Trump‑appointed Judge Neomi Rao, held that...
Event Announcement: GovCon Roundup Live, Teaming Agreements, April 15, 2026
GovCon Roundup Live’s Episode 9, hosted by Carroll Bernard and Steven Koprince on April 15, 2026, will dive into the intricacies of teaming agreements in the federal marketplace. Federal contracts attorney Nicole Pottroff joins the discussion to clarify what “team‑ing” means for agencies and contractors alike....
Agency Heads Cash Multi‑Million Lobbying Jobs From Regulated Firms
This has nothing to do with "the vast majority of normal people." This is about heads of agencies who take multi-million-dollar do-nothing lobbying jobs with the entities they used to regulate -- and it is actually a problem
Remember When the Ninth Circuit Rejected Classpass’ TOS Formation? About That…–Blackburn V. Classpass
The Northern District of California ruled that Classpass successfully formed its Terms of Use through a series of sign‑in‑wrap screens, despite the Ninth Circuit’s earlier rejection in Chabolla. The court applied the three‑part sign‑in‑wrap test—conspicuous notice, transaction context, and manifestation...
Tour Tech Teams Up With NIVA On All Things PRO
TourTech, founded by entertainment‑law veteran Tobi Parks, has introduced SARA, a Setlist Aggregator & Royalty Application that lets artists submit setlists to every performance rights organization in one step. The startup is currently in a beta phase, inviting a select...
One Law, Many Borders: EAC Targets Trafficking Loopholes
The East African Community has revived the Counter Trafficking in Persons Bill 2026, now before the East African Legislative Assembly. The draft seeks to standardise penalties—minimum 15 years, up to more than 30 years for severe offences—and create a coordinated...
Am Law 100 Lights the Way Through Dark Periods to Turn Out a High-Growth Year
The Am Law 100 collectively posted a 13% rise in revenue and a 16.3% jump in net income for 2025, underscoring resilience amid a turbulent macro environment. Leading firms posted standout gains: Kirkland reported $10.5 billion in revenue with a 20%...
Don’t Let Misinformation Derail Safety
The Railway Safety Act faces criticism that its stricter standards are a union‑driven jobs program, but evidence shows the measures address genuine safety gaps. A 2017 Transportation Technology Center study identified 15‑mile hot‑bearing detector (HBD) spacing as optimal, and the...
Michael Shvo Notches Another Legal Win Against Core Club
A Manhattan judge ruled that the members‑only Core Club violated a court order to verify visitor IDs, holding the venue in contempt. Michael Shvo, who sued the club, is seeking a $250 daily fine that could total $13,000, along with...
SEC Chair Carr Signals Approval for Amazon‑Globalstar Deal
Brendan Carr is on CNBC saying he'll approve the Amazon-Globalstar deal that was announced today.
Big Difference in E.U., U.S. Return Rules
The European Union enforces a statutory 14‑day right of withdrawal for online purchases, obligating merchants to process refunds within that window and reimburse original delivery costs. In contrast, the United States lacks a federal return law, allowing retailers to craft...
The 2026 Am Law 100: Ranked by Gross Revenue
The 2026 Am Law 100 ranking, based on gross revenue, shows a mixed landscape for big‑law firms. Winston & Strawn posted an 8% revenue increase and a 15% profit boost as it prepares for a merger with Taylor Wessing. Across the board,...
The TBAML Governance: Understanding Roles and Responsibilities
The TBAML governance framework establishes a top‑down compliance culture to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The board of directors sets the tone at the top, approves AML/CFT policies, and creates a Board Compliance Committee (BCC) for oversight. Senior management,...
Ross Intelligence Secures Strong Fair Use Precedent Pre‑Argument
“ROSS Intelligence could not have asked for a better fair use precedent handed down before its oral argument.” 👀
FCA Publishes Open Finance Roadmap
On 14 April 2026 the UK Financial Conduct Authority released an Open Finance Roadmap outlining its vision for a smart‑data future through 2030. The plan emphasizes boosting competition, delivering inclusive outcomes for consumers and SMEs, and driving economic growth by...
Jackson Lewis Named to 2026 Am Law 100 for Gross Revenue Ranking
Jackson Lewis was added to The American Lawyer’s 2026 Am Law 100, which ranks the nation’s top 100 law firms by gross revenue. The firm’s inclusion reflects its expanding labor and employment practice and strong top‑line growth. Being listed alongside the country’s...
Shedding Light on Tax Administration Through FOIA
Tax Notes' Investigations Editor Lauren Loricchio discussed the firm’s historic push for tax transparency on the SALT Shaker Podcast. The conversation highlighted the 1972 lawsuit that forced the IRS to release private letter rulings and introduced the new monthly FOIA...
OFSI Extends Deadline in Relation to the Call for Evidence on the Ownership and Control Test in Financial Sanctions Regulations
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has pushed back the response deadline for its call for evidence on the Ownership and Control Test in UK Financial Sanctions Regulations from 13 April to 20 April 2026. The one‑week extension gives businesses, NGOs and...
Court Bars Spirit From Keeping Unused Security Taxes
Spirit Airlines Can't Keep Security Taxes When Travelers Don't Fly — Appeals Court Rules - View from the Wing https://t.co/o3gnm674nv
Form 8.3 LondonMetric Property Plc & Schroder REIT Limited
Rathbones Group Plc filed a Rule 8.3 disclosure on 14 April 2026, revealing its holdings in the consortium of LondonMetric Property plc and Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Limited. The filing shows Rathbones controls 85.36 million LondonMetric 10p ordinary shares (3.64% of the issue)...
Bogus “Antifa” Designations and FBI Warrantless Access to Americans’ Communications
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which lets U.S. agencies collect foreign communications and incidentally sweep up Americans’ data, is set to expire on April 20 unless Congress reauthorizes it. The FBI currently can query the database for...
Bondi Dodges Epstein Grilling Days After Melania's Surprise Statement
Pam Bondi was slated to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee on April 14, 2026 as part of its investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. She failed to appear, citing her recent removal by President Trump two weeks earlier, even...
Risk Analysis Definition
Risk analysis, also known as risk assessment, evaluates the likelihood and impact of adverse events on investors, market orderliness, and financial stability. The board of directors holds ultimate responsibility for approving risk‑management strategies and ensuring independent audits. Core markets‑compliance risks...
Reversing the Burden: Legal Experts Weigh In on France's Ambitious AI Copyright Bill
France’s parliament is advancing a controversial AI copyright bill that creates a statutory “presumption of use” for cultural works employed by generative‑AI systems. The measure places the onus on AI providers to prove they have secured rights, rather than on...
Ad Law Reading Room: “Protecting Perkins: Removal, Supervision, and Article II,” By Amy Wildermuth and Peyton Baker
Wildermuth and Baker’s new article revisits the 1886 *United States v. Perkins* decision, arguing that Congress can lawfully restrict removal of inferior officers when their appointments are vested in department heads. The authors trace Perkins’ doctrinal lineage through landmark cases...
Relativity and Wickard.ai Partner to Bring Hands-On Legal AI Training to U.S. Law Schools
Legal data intelligence firm Relativity has partnered with AI education specialist Wickard.ai to deliver hands‑on legal AI training to U.S. law schools. The collaboration integrates Relativity’s RelativityOne platform into Wickard.ai’s curriculum at no cost to participating institutions, covering AI application,...
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TRIAL TACTICS: Danny Jordaan and His Fraud Co-Accused Play Cat-and-Mouse with Legal System
South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan and finance chief Gronie Hluyo have filed a second Section 342A application, seeking a court‑ordered investigation into alleged delays in their fraud trial. Their earlier 342A request was dismissed by Magistrate Sheron Soko‑Rantao,...
City of Davis Decides You Should Be the One to Maintain the Sidewalk in Front of Your Home
The Davis City Council voted unanimously to transfer responsibility for front‑yard sidewalk repair and maintenance to individual homeowners. The policy applies to roughly 12,000 properties, many valued at over $1 million, and aligns the municipal code with state statutes that already...
Delaware Supreme Court Reinforces the Importance of Precision in Drafting ADR Provisions in Merger Agreements
The Delaware Supreme Court upheld that an arbitration clause covering earn‑out calculations also encompasses bad‑faith claims about those calculations in the Fortis Advisors v. Stillfront merger dispute. The case involved Stillfront’s 2019 $90 million acquisition of Kixeye, with an earn‑out tied...
Exclusive: IManage Set to Announce Platform Evolution “as Significant as the Cloud”
iManage announced that its next‑generation platform will add an AI‑driven inference layer that supplies contextual insight for legal data. The rollout is slated for the company’s ConnectLive 2026 conference, with events in Chicago in May and London in June. CEO...
Maryland General Assembly Passes Rate Relief Measure to Lower Utility Bills by $150/Year
The Maryland General Assembly approved the Utility RELIEF Act, targeting a minimum $150 annual reduction in residential electric and gas bills. The legislation trims utility energy‑efficiency spending, lowers carbon‑emissions‑reduction targets, and forces investor‑owned utilities to join PJM, eliminating a 0.5%...
Senator Tillis to Draft Clarity Act for Stablecoin Yield Dispute
🚨 THIS WEEK: Senator Thom Tillis says he may release a draft Clarity Act proposal to resolve stablecoin yield dispute