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
The Regulator’s Roadmap
The UK Financial Conduct Authority released a decade‑long roadmap to roll out open finance by 2030, extending data sharing beyond payments to mortgages, savings, investments and insurance. The plan prioritises real‑world pilots in 2026, focusing on SME lending and mortgage simplification, then moves to framework building from 2027 and full scaling by the end of the decade. By turning financial data into a portable asset, the FCA aims to unlock AI‑driven personalization, lower costs and greater innovation across the sector.
More Taxpayers Are Cheating. Here’s Why ‘The IRS Isn’t Going to Catch Me’ Is the New Strategy.
The IRS has shed 25,000 employees, slashing its audit capacity. Audits of taxpayers earning over $10 million fell 39% this year, marking the lowest enforcement level in two decades. Tax lawyers warn a growing “IRS won’t catch me” mindset among high‑income...
Why “Good Enough” Is No Longer Enough for AML Compliance
The FCA is set to assume direct oversight of anti‑money‑laundering (AML) compliance for UK law firms, shifting focus toward enforcement rather than merely drafting new rules. With an estimated £100 billion (≈$127 billion) laundered through the UK economy each year, regulators are...
Enhancing FIU Supervision: Financial Intelligence Unit Key Approaches to Tackling TBAML
Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) are central to detecting and disrupting money laundering and terrorist financing through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). Effective supervision of FIUs enhances their ability to share intelligence with law‑enforcement agencies both...
Oklahoma Advancing Bill Allowing Captive Conversions
Oklahoma lawmakers are moving forward with House Bill 2955, which would let owners of captive insurance cells convert those cells into a variety of standalone captive structures. The bill requires prior written approval from state regulators before any conversion can...
From Diagnostic to Implementation: An Update From Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has moved anticorruption reforms from diagnostic to implementation, enacting legislation such as a Proceeds of Crime Act, amendments to the National Audit and Companies Acts, and launching a digital beneficial‑ownership register on March 31, 2026. The reforms were catalyzed by...
Russia Appears to Block Social Media Platform Bluesky Amid Wider Internet Restrictions
Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has added the decentralized social network Bluesky to its registry of banned websites, extending a crackdown that has already targeted Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Signal and Viber. The move comes as the Kremlin tightens online controls amid...
Why Drone Detection Is Essential to Comply with the Critical Entities Resilience Directive
The EU’s Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive obliges designated critical‑infrastructure operators to demonstrate measurable resilience by May 2027, with a ten‑month compliance window after identification. Drone‑related threats—unauthorised flights, surveillance, hazardous payloads—are now recognised as a key risk that could breach that...
BetMGM CEO Backs Kentucky’s 21+ Betting Age
FWIW, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt supports Kentucky raising its minimum sports betting age to 21
Virginia Poised for 2027 iGaming Despite Legislative Deadlock
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt noted Virginia as a leading iGaming legalization candidate in 2027; both the state House and Senate passed iGaming bill this year, but the full legislature did not agree to differences between the two versions
Justices to Hear Argument on Right to Jury Trial in FCC Proceedings
The Supreme Court will hear FCC v. AT&T, examining whether the FCC’s in‑house forfeiture orders that impose fines violate the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. The case follows the Court’s 2024 SEC v. Jarkesy decision that struck down...
Law.com Issues Legal Guide to Help Parents Talk to Kids About Divorce
Law.com published a 16‑minute legal guide on April 13, 2026, offering parents evidence‑based advice on how to tell children about divorce. The piece highlights the psychological impact of the disclosure and provides practical, legally informed steps to protect children’s well‑being...
Wis. Sheriff Sues Woman, Alleging She Falsely Claimed to Be Detained by ICE in His Jail
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt filed a federal civil suit seeking $1 million in damages from Summer Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison and ten unidentified John Does. Schmidt alleges the plaintiffs fabricated claims that Naqvi was illegally detained...
Federal Grand Jury Indicts 16‑Year‑Old Stepbrother as Adult for Murder on Carnival Horizon
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that a 16‑year‑old stepbrother has been indicted as an adult for first‑degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of 18‑year‑old Anna Kepner on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. The indictment marks...
Hagerty Director Laurie Harris Sells 5,531 Shares for $61,000
Laurie Harris, a director at specialty insurer Hagerty, sold 5,531 shares for roughly $61,000 on April 7, 2026, reducing his direct ownership by 13.1%. The transaction was executed automatically under a Rule 10b5‑1 sell‑to‑cover plan, not as a discretionary market...
Spain’s Temporary Worker Workaround Runs Into EU Wall
Spain’s Supreme Court sought EU guidance on its “indefinite” temporary‑contract workaround, but the EU Court of Justice rejected the approach, stating that capped compensation and hybrid contracts do not meet EU labor‑law standards. The ruling emphasizes that temporary contracts may...
Federal Judge Allows Mail-Order Mifepristone Abortions to Continue, Signals Challenge to FDA
U.S. District Judge David Joseph ruled that the FDA's mail-order mifepristone rule will remain in effect, granting the agency a pause but noting Louisiana's lawsuit has standing and is likely to succeed. The decision keeps medication abortions accessible while pressuring...
DailyPay Pushes Back Against NY AG
DailyPay is fighting a New York Attorney General lawsuit that accuses it of violating state usury laws by offering high‑interest earned‑wage‑access loans. The company argues it is merely an adjunct to employer payroll systems, providing on‑demand pay that already belongs...
Orbital Founder Launches Farringdon, UK's First AI‑Driven Conveyancing Firm
Orbital co‑founder Ben Boulle announced the launch of Farringdon, the United Kingdom’s first AI‑powered conveyancing firm, which will begin taking instructions in May with an initial team of six lawyers. Backed by Orbital’s recent $60 million funding round, the venture aims...
UK Regulators Convene Emergency Session on Anthropic AI Model Threat to Financial Systems
The Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury met with the National Cyber Security Centre and leading insurers to discuss urgent risks posed by Anthropic’s new Claude Mythos AI model, which has flagged thousands of software vulnerabilities. The...
Google, Microsoft, Meta All Tracking You Even When You Opt Out, According to an Independent Audit
An independent audit by webXray examined traffic on more than 7,000 California websites and found that Google, Microsoft and Meta routinely set advertising cookies even when users sent a Global Privacy Control (GPC) opt‑out signal. Google ignored the signal on...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About an FDA Push for Trial Transparency, a Novo-OpenAI Deal, and More
The FDA has dispatched reminder letters to more than 2,200 companies and researchers, warning that failure to post required clinical trial results to the federal database could trigger fines. An internal review found that nearly 30% of studies likely subject...
Cloudy Logic: The DMA’s Search for a Gatekeeper
The European Commission launched investigations into Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) even after acknowledging that no cloud provider meets the law’s gatekeeper thresholds. The article argues that cloud computing is a B2B infrastructure,...
Wan Ahmad Faris: Negligence Suit over Death Set for Trial Next Year
A negligence lawsuit filed by the family of Wan Ahmad Faris, a former tahfiz student who died in a hostel toilet in 2013, will proceed to a full trial at the Kota Baru High Court. The court rejected a bid by...
The Scope of Personal Liability for Trust Fund Tax in the State of New York
The article outlines how New York State imposes personal liability for trust fund taxes, including payroll withholding and sales taxes. It explains that the state mirrors the federal “willfulness” test for payroll tax, while sales tax liability does not require...
The Need for Speed: FERC Must Exempt Transmission Projects From Regulatory Bottlenecks
ITC Holdings and the Grid Acceleration Coalition have lodged a complaint with FERC urging exemptions from Order 1000 for time‑sensitive transmission projects. They argue that the existing solicitation rules add 16‑20 months of delay, inflating costs and slowing the interconnection of...
Morning Docket: 04.14.26
Law firms made headlines this week as DLA Piper was vindicated in a pregnancy‑discrimination lawsuit, while the high‑profile merger between Perkins Coie and Ashurst received partner approval. A Financial Times analysis warned that growing client use of generative AI could lift...
High Testing Costs Under QCOs Risk Squeezing MSMEs, Says GTRI
The Global Trade Research Initiative warns that India’s expanding Quality Control Order (QCO) regime is driving testing and certification costs to as high as Rs 20 lakh ($21,500) per import, threatening the viability of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These costs...
Paul Hastings’ Partner on Increased Importance of Cross-Border Tax for REITs
Chris Mangin Jr., a tax partner at Paul Hastings, told Nareit’s REITwise 2026 conference that cross‑border tax considerations are becoming pivotal for REITs seeking overseas capital to fund infrastructure, AI and data‑center projects. Public‑market constraints are pushing REITs toward private equity,...
$200M Corporate Welfare for Organic Farmers the Latest 'Rainy Day' Fund Raid
Maine lawmakers are moving $200 million from the state’s Budget Stabilization (rainy‑day) Fund into a new “Agriculture Bond”‑style program, LD 299, that would funnel money directly to organic farms and related NGOs. The proposal sidesteps the two‑thirds supermajority normally required for rainy‑day...
Florida Hotel Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Caused Extensive Damage When Sprinkler System Went Off
A Fort Lauderdale hotel sued Southwest Airlines for more than $215,000 after a flight attendant allegedly triggered the sprinkler system, flooding her room, several other guest rooms and communal areas. The lawsuit, filed by the Renaissance Hotel, claims the attendant...
Kalshi Wins Courts, Shifts Battle to Montana
Kalshi has had the winning hand in court of late and now takes its legal battle to Montana. More on the state-by-state fight over prediction markets, federal preemption, and state gambling and sports betting laws: https://t.co/xz2Ll0GUHR.
California Law Restricts Naming Abortion/Gender-Affirming Care Providers/Patients (+ Soon Immigration Support Services Providers?) …
California’s Gov. Code §6218 now prohibits publicly posting the name, image or personal data of abortion providers, gender‑affirming care providers, their staff or patients, even when the poster has no intent to incite violence. The statute grants victims the right...
Evergrande Founder Pleads Guilty, Symbolizing China’s Property Collapse
Founder of Fallen Chinese Property Giant Evergrande Pleads Guilty to Fraud—Onetime billionaire helped fuel boom and bust of China’s property market @ByChunHan https://t.co/9tYhzZZBpD https://t.co/9tYhzZZBpD
Professor Sues University of Winnipeg, Faculty over Student’s Complaint
Psychology professor Jeremy Frimer, a tenured faculty member at the University of Winnipeg, has filed a civil lawsuit against the university and its faculty association after a student complaint alleged he presented data linking genetics to lower Black IQ scores...
State Lawmakers Seek to Regulate Employer Use of AI for Wage Decisions
State legislators across California, Colorado, Illinois and Texas are moving to curb algorithmic wage setting by imposing AI transparency and anti‑discrimination rules. The Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act, Illinois amendments to the Human Rights Act, Texas Responsible AI Governance Act and...
State Lawmakers Seek to Regulate Employer Use of AI for Wage Decisions
State legislators across the United States are moving to curb the use of artificial intelligence and automated decision tools in setting employee wages. Lawmakers argue that opaque AI models can embed bias, leading to discriminatory pay outcomes. Proposed bills would...
Four Supermarket Chains Hit by Fraud over the Origin of Their Fruit and Vegetables
On 7 April 2026 France's consumer‑protection authority DGCCRF ordered Carrefour, Leclerc, Aldi and Lidl to halt misleading practices around fruit and vegetable origin labeling and, in some cases, promotional pricing. The regulator found origin information hidden in catalogs, using tiny fonts, ambiguous...
Residents Win Right for Judicial Review Against Chinese ‘Super Embassy’ Approval
The High Court has scheduled a June hearing to consider a legal challenge by local residents against the approval of a Chinese “super embassy” near Tower Bridge in London. The proposed 620,000 sq ft compound would be the largest diplomatic base in...
JT/DL: Leaving the Bardo
Jason Warner announced he will leave the JT/DL "bardo" to become the National Center for State Courts’ director for technology, data, and knowledge management starting in May. The new role places him at the helm of modernizing state court infrastructure,...
Garlinghouse: Peak Frustration Spurs Compromise, Clarity Act Likely
NEW: Brad Garlinghouse said he’s optimistic the Clarity Act will pass, adding "When people are at their peak frustration, that’s when they finally compromise and it gets done. I think we’re there." https://t.co/wkthp8sW41
RBNZ Opens Consultation on Draft Changes to Insurance Prudential Legislation
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has opened a 12‑week public consultation on a draft Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Amendment Bill, set to close on 7 July. The proposal seeks to modernise insurance regulation by adopting a clearer, rules‑based framework and introducing...
Kalshi Rides Legal Winning Streak Into Montana
Kalshi filed a petition in a Montana federal court seeking an injunction to stop state officials from enforcing gambling laws against its event‑contract exchange. The firm argues that the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction, pre‑empting state regulation...
The FDA Said NO to a New Vaccine; Then Suddenly Said YES; and the Guy Who Said NO Was Gone.
The FDA initially refused to review an experimental RNA flu vaccine, then abruptly reversed its stance after apparent pressure from the White House. The agency’s vaccine chief left the organization shortly after the policy shift, fueling speculation about internal conflict....
Fuel Protesters Appear in Court over Alleged Dangerous Driving on M1 in Co Louth
Two truck drivers were brought before Louth District Court in Drogheda on Tuesday, charged with dangerous driving after a fuel‑protest blockade on the M1 in County Louth. The incident, which occurred Monday evening, is the first court case linked to...
EHRC Amends Code of Practice Ready for Approval
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has amended its updated code of practice for services, public functions and associations and resubmitted it to the government for approval after receiving feedback from women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson. The revised...
Old Republic Wins Coverage Dispute over Land Borrower Legally Owned
The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a lower‑court ruling that Old Republic Title Insurance is not liable for land under a stone wall that, while legally owned by the borrowers, fell outside the insured description. The court held that the state’s...
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Commends Stay in Alberta Separation Referendum Process
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench issued a stay on the chief electoral officer’s decision to certify a second separation referendum petition, pending judicial review by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Blackfoot Nations. The stay blocks any further procedural...
France’s New Restitution Law Passes Final Vote
The French parliament voted unanimously on 13 April 2026 to adopt a framework law governing the restitution of cultural objects taken during the colonial era. The legislation requires a state‑initiated request and a bilateral scientific committee to certify that items were...
Eimskip Cleared as Prosecutor Files Charges Against Company
Iceland’s District Prosecutor has ended the investigation into Eimskip’s chief operating officer concerning the sale of two vessels, lifting his defendant status. Simultaneously, the prosecutor filed indictments against the corporate entities Eimskipafélag Íslands hf. and Eimskip Ísland ehf., seeking convictions and legal...