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
Sequence Identities and Functional Definitions - Where Is the Limit? (T 0137/24)
The EPO Board of Appeal in T 0137/24 upheld a cannabis‑producing yeast patent by ruling that selecting a higher amino‑acid sequence identity from a convergent list does not add matter. The board found the claim’s functional definition of enzyme activity sufficient, dismissing arguments that non‑working variants required undue experimentation. It confirmed that lists ranging from 65 % to 100 % identity are convergent, allowing narrower identity thresholds without new disclosure. The decision remanded the case for maintenance of the amended patent.
What to Expect as Ohio Utility Corruption Trial Heads for a Do-Over
A Ohio judge declared a mistrial after a hung jury in the criminal case against former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and senior VP Michael Dowling, prompting a retrial set for Sept. 28. The state charges center on a $4.3 million bribe to...
Building Reputation and Opportunity as a Modern Lawyer
Josh Hodges, partner at Kruger & Hodges, left a high‑paying big‑law job in 2017 to build a solo practice in Hamilton, Ohio. He leveraged low‑cost web development, aggressive SEO, and social‑media outreach to grow from a handful of cases to...
A Narrow Resolution on Geofence Warrants?: A Thought on Chatrie
On April 27, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Chatrie v. United States, a case that challenges the Fourth Amendment legality of geofence warrants. The author, who filed an amicus brief, argues the Court is likely...
When Scientific Debate Steps Into Custody Cases
Professor Ben Hine, who endured parental alienation as a child, now champions the concept as a legitimate psychological phenomenon. His research links alienation to long‑term harms such as anxiety, depression and identity disturbances, yet the term is fiercely disputed by...
How To Avoid The Pain of Estimated Tax Payments in Retirement #301
In episode 301 of Retire with Ryan, host Ryan Morrissey explains why underpayment penalties for estimated taxes are soaring—$1.3 billion in 2024, triple the 2021 amount—and how retirees can avoid them. He outlines the IRS’s safe‑harbor rules (paying 90% of the...
Borrowers With Disabilities Sue Trump Administration Over Denied Debt Relief
Federal law requires the Department of Education to discharge federal student loans for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities. Two women—Nicole Coe, diagnosed with lupus, and Mary Anderson, with a terminal heart condition—filed discharge applications in late 2024 and early...
MPs Demand FCA Inquiry over Hidden Credit Liabilities Claims
British MPs are urging a judge‑led, statutory inquiry into the Financial Conduct Authority’s handling of alleged hidden credit‑line liabilities tied to complex derivative products sold to small‑and‑medium enterprises. The All‑Party Parliamentary Group claims thousands of SMEs were mis‑sold interest‑rate swaps...
Trump Media Company Drops Defamation Suit Against The Guardian After Legal Setback
The article outlines a market shift toward low‑VOC paints, non‑porous engineered quartz surfaces, and performance‑driven furniture to boost indoor air quality and hygiene. Brands such as Nippon Paint, Specta Quartz, Orange Tree and Century Ply are launching certified eco‑friendly lines....
Context Is Not A Feature, It Is The System
Alex Zilberman argues that AI in legal cannot rely on isolated prompts; true value comes from embedding multi‑layered context—document, transaction, institutional, workflow, and access—into the system. He notes that most tools only capture fragments, leading to clever but unreliable outputs....
Hollywood Begehrt Gegen Den Paramount-Warner-Deal Auf
An open letter signed by roughly 1,500 Hollywood producers, actors and industry professionals opposes Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger, still awaiting antitrust clearance, is being scrutinized by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state regulators....
Hong Kong Suspends Plans to Legalise Basketball Betting Amid Concerns About Prediction Markets
Hong Kong’s Home and Youth Affairs Bureau announced it is suspending the planned legalisation of basketball betting, citing the rapid expansion of prediction‑market gambling. The bureau highlighted that prediction‑market trading volume surged to about US$64 billion in 2025, a three‑fold increase...
Consultation Breach Turned Genuine Redundancy Into Unfair Dismissal
The Fair Work Commission ruled that a genuine redundancy can become an unfair dismissal if the employer fails to consult employees properly. In a case involving a CDNI Care disability support worker, the employer claimed financial hardship and rushed the...
Leegality Crosses Rs 80 Cr Revenue in FY25, Profit Jumps over 2X
Leegality, the Gurugram‑based digital documentation and e‑signature platform, posted FY25 revenue of Rs 81.1 crore (≈$9.8 million), a 2.4‑times increase from FY23. Operating revenue grew 30% YoY to Rs 81.08 crore, while total revenue reached Rs 86.6 crore including other income. Profit surged to Rs 3.7 crore (≈$445 k), more...
Bill Reintroduced to Hike Insurance Minimum to $5 Million
Congress reintroduced the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act, seeking to lift the federal liability insurance floor for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5 million and tie it to inflation. The bill, now backed by five co‑sponsors and safety...
Building Safety Regulator Enhances Digital Processes
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced a digital upgrade to speed remediation of high‑risk buildings. A new online portal will give applicants real‑time visibility of submission status. Enhanced data sharing with funders such as Homes England will improve monitoring of...
Google Faces Mass Arbitration by Advertisers Seeking Billions
Google is confronting a wave of mass arbitration claims from advertisers after two federal judges ruled its search and advertising‑technology businesses illegal monopolies. Lawyers have already signed up a sizable group of advertisers, with the first filings expected this week....
Hong Kong Lawyer Faces New Charges After Second Victim Accuses Him of Indecent Assault
Hong Kong barrister Simon So Shun‑yan, admitted to the bar in 2018, now faces additional criminal charges after a second victim alleged indecent assault. The new indictment adds two counts of common assault and one count of indecent assault to...
As the Big Portals Prepare to Comply with the Renters’ Rights Act, What About Facebook and Gumtree?
UK’s Renters’ Rights Act, effective May 1, requires all rental ads to display a unique property reference number and use compliant wording about pets, families and benefit claimants. Major portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket have already begun updating their...
De Gaulle Fleurance Elevates Four Lawyers to Partner in Paris and Abu Dhabi
De Gaulle Fleurance announced the promotion of four lawyers to partner status across its Paris office and Abu Dhabi platform, bolstering capabilities in disputes, international arbitration, intellectual property, AI, and corporate finance. The new partners—Lionel Attal, Esperanza Barrón Baratech, Charlotte Hébert‑Salomon and Racha Wylde—bring deep sector experience...
Iran Conflict: Resources for Your Form 10-Q
The article curates two key resources—a PwC report and a Sidley memo—to help public companies address Iran‑related risk disclosures in upcoming Form 10‑Q filings. It outlines how the conflict can affect fair‑value measurements, inventory write‑downs, insurance recoveries, and foreign‑currency exposure. The...
Maryland Legislature Votes in Favor of Support for Student Parents
The Maryland Senate approved SB420, the Pregnant and Parenting Students Support Act, sending it to the governor after a bipartisan vote of 41‑1 in the Senate and 103‑33 in the House. The law requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission to...
Founder of China’s Evergrande Group Hui Ka-Yan Pleads Guilty in Fraud Trial
China Evergrande Group founder and former chairman Hui Ka-yan pleaded guilty in Shenzhen to embezzlement, corporate bribery and fraud. The court’s statement confirms he diverted corporate assets and paid bribes to secure regulatory favors. His admission arrives as Evergrande continues...
Force Majeure Memos: Our Own “Waffle House Index”
A Faegre Drinker memorandum highlights how the Iran‑U.S. conflict triggers force majeure (FM) clauses in global supply‑chain contracts. The memo outlines the tactical battle between parties seeking narrow versus broad interpretations of FM language, especially around war, armed conflict, and...
Protecting U.S. Research From Foreign Influence
The U.S. government has intensified rules to protect federally funded research from foreign influence, especially programs linked to China. Beginning with a 2021 Trump presidential memorandum, both Trump and Biden administrations mandated disclosures of foreign ties, cybersecurity safeguards, travel‑security protocols,...
Crypto: Staff Allows Some Crypto User Interfaces to Avoid Broker-Dealer Registration
The SEC’s Division of Trading & Markets issued a staff statement that creates a narrow exemption allowing certain crypto user‑interface apps to operate without registering as broker‑dealers. To qualify, providers must run a neutral, non‑discretionary platform, charge only fixed fees,...
What You Should Know About CCPA Compliance After the California Attorney General’s 2024 Investigative Sweep
The California Attorney General’s 2024 investigative sweep spotlighted widespread failures in CCPA opt‑out compliance, especially among streaming and ad‑tech firms. The audit revealed deceptive, dysfunctional, inadequate, and fragmented opt‑out mechanisms that left consumers’ data exposed across devices and platforms. Companies...
AB 1940: California Moves to Expressly Protect Employees Experiencing Menopause Under FEHA
California Assembly Bill 1940, introduced in February 2026, seeks to explicitly add perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause to the definition of “sex” under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act. The bill would require updated workplace discrimination posters and a statewide...
Navigating Complexity in US Consumer Financial Services: A Look Back at 2025
Mayer Brown’s latest thought‑leadership piece reviews the evolving landscape of U.S. consumer financial services in 2025, highlighting heightened regulatory scrutiny, rapid fintech adoption, and shifting consumer credit patterns. The authors examine how new CFPB rules, state‑level licensing reforms, and advances...
Former Police Chief Commissioner Requested to Provide Evidence in CFMEU Case
Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton has been served with two subpoenas to testify in the criminal trial of CFMEU official Joel Shackleton, who is accused of threatening to kill the owners of an Indigenous labour‑hire firm. Patton’s legal...
Don’t Trust Listings; Verify Noise, Smells, HOA, Permits
The smartest home buyers don’t simply trust the listing or the disclosures because legally the seller may not be required to tell you something that can ruin your life. What are some things that you should be verifying? • Noise patterns....
BIGHIT Sues to Uncover ARIRANG Leak Source
Last week, BIGHIT MUSIC initiated legal proceedings to discover the owner of an account @/jwngkcck that allegedly leaked 'ARIRANG' songs, lyrics and artwork before its release, according to @Billboard (1/2)
DOJ Announces First False Claims Act Settlement Under Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: IBM to Pay $17 Million to Resolve Allegations...
On April 10, 2026 the Justice Department announced its first False Claims Act settlement under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, with IBM agreeing to pay $17,077,043 to resolve allegations that its DEI‑related hiring and compensation practices violated anti‑discrimination rules in federal contracts....
Administration Sacks Judges Who Blocked Palestinian Deportations
Always cheating. Administration fires 2 immigration judges who ruled against deporting Palestinian rights advocates https://t.co/HAicg6aCQP
Colorado House Legalizes Plug‑in Solar for Renters
Colorado House passes legislation to legalize plug-in solar for renters #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/037Gt3scH8
Federal Circuit’s Holding on Patent Eligibility for Engineered Host Cells Dovetails With PERA
The Federal Circuit ruled in REGENXBIO v. Sarepta that a host cell engineered to contain an AAV capsid gene plus a heterologous non‑AAV sequence is patent‑eligible under 35 U.S.C. §101. The opinion leans on the Chakrabarty precedent and distinguishes Myriad by emphasizing the material...
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Narrows Who May Seek Recourse Through the Workers’ Compensation Act’s Fee Review Process
On March 16, 2026 the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that Scomed Supply, a durable‑medical‑equipment distributor, is not a “health care provider” under the Workers’ Compensation Act and therefore lacks standing to challenge payment amounts in the fee‑review process. The decision...
Hot Flashes, New Laws: The Rise of State Menopause Protections
State-level momentum is reshaping workplace protections as Rhode Island became the first U.S. state to explicitly ban menopause discrimination and mandate reasonable accommodations. The law fills a gap left by federal statutes, which only offer indirect recourse through sex, age,...
Murdoch Beats Trump's Suit on WSJ's Epstein Exposé: What's Next?
A federal judge dismissed former President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch’s media empire over the Wall Street Journal’s exposé of Trump’s contribution to Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book. Judge Darrin Gayle ruled the article met journalistic standards and gave...
Preventing Revenue Gaps Between Case Completion and Payment
Law firms are losing cash flow as revenue sits in “lockup” for an average of 110‑140 days after a matter is completed. Delayed invoicing, unclear payment terms, and manual processing cause final invoices to age, reducing collectability. Structured billing workflows,...
Eversheds Sutherland’s International Arm Makes up 25 Partners
Eversheds Sutherland International promoted 25 lawyers to partner, with 16 based in the UK and a heavy emphasis on corporate finance and litigation. Women account for only 40% of the new partners, a drop from the previous four years when...
A Cross-Country Trio of Appellate Decisions Tackles Novel LLC Disputes
Three recent appellate decisions illuminate how courts resolve novel LLC disputes across state lines. The Montana Supreme Court affirmed that an operating agreement can contain parallel amendment mechanisms—one requiring a super‑majority vote and another allowing unanimous written consent—thereby rejecting a...
School Districts Can Be Vicariously Liable When Students Are Sexually Abused by Their Employees
On March 11, 2026 the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in *Hornor* and *Simpkins* that school districts can be held vicariously liable for sexual abuse by employees, even when the conduct occurs outside the scope of employment. The decision interprets the 2019 amendment...
FCC Names ioXt Alliance Lead Administrator for Cyber Trust Mark Program
The Federal Communications Commission appointed the non‑profit ioXt Alliance as lead administrator of its Cyber Trust Mark program, replacing UL Solutions, which stepped down after a probe into its Chinese ties. The move is intended to give consumers a clear...
Polish Regulator Fines XTB 20 M Zł ($5.5 M) for MiFID II CFD Violations
Poland's Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) imposed a 20 million‑zł (about $5.5 million) penalty on brokerage XTB SA for mis‑selling contracts for difference. The regulator said the broker failed to assess client knowledge, target the right market and disclose CFD risks, a breach...
Karnataka Drafts AI Law Mandating Deep‑Fake Labels, 24‑Hour Takedowns
Karnataka's State Policy and Planning Commission has drafted the Karnataka Responsible Social Media & Digital Safety Bill, 2026, requiring platforms to label AI‑generated deepfakes and remove harmful content within 24‑48 hours. The proposal also creates a new state regulator to...
Federal Judge Dismisses Anthem's No Surprises Act Lawsuit, Delivering Win for 20,000 Providers
A federal magistrate in California dismissed Anthem Blue Cross's lawsuit targeting HaloMD and dozens of California providers, citing a lack of legal basis. The ruling upholds the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute‑resolution mechanism, a safeguard for roughly 30 million patients and...
ECB Issues First Macroprudential Bulletin on Tokenised Capital Markets, Flagging $45bn Asset Surge
The European Central Bank released its 33rd Macroprudential Bulletin, devoted entirely to tokenised capital markets. The report notes that tokenised assets on public blockchains have reached a $45 billion market cap, prompting the ECB to outline infrastructure plans and risk safeguards...
Juicyway Secures FCA Licence, Launches UK‑Africa Payments Corridor
Juicyway has been granted an Authorised Payment Institution licence by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, clearing the regulatory hurdle to launch remittance, multi‑currency and FX services for the African diaspora. The approval positions the fintech to tap a corridor that...
Bank of Korea Proposes Stock‑Style Circuit Breakers for Bitcoin Exchanges to Tame Volatility
The Bank of Korea announced a plan to install stock‑market‑style circuit breakers on domestic Bitcoin exchanges, aiming to auto‑halt trading when prices swing sharply. The move follows a February Bithumb error that generated a phantom $43 billion distribution and a 17%...