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
You Filed Your ADV Annual Amendment – What’s Next?
Advisers with a December 31 fiscal year have met the March 31 deadline for filing their annual Form ADV amendment. The next compliance step is the April 30 delivery obligation, which requires sending an updated Form ADV Part 2A brochure—or a summary of material changes with an offer to provide the full brochure—to all existing clients. The delivery package must also include a current Form CRS, a privacy notice, and optionally the Part 2B supplement. Recordkeeping of delivery dates, methods, and recipient lists is critical for SEC examinations, while Q2 filing deadlines for Forms 13F and 13H loom ahead.
DOJ Blocks Bondi Testimony — And Risks Losing the Trust of Jurors
In this episode of the Tara Palmieri Show, host Tara and independent reporter Scott McFarlane discuss the Justice Department’s decision to block former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi from testifying, highlighting concerns about the department’s political entanglement with former President...
The Golden State Goes HSR- California’s SB 25 and the Rise of State-Level Pre-Merger Notification
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 25 on Feb. 10, 2026, creating the nation’s largest state‑level pre‑merger notification regime. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, any party filing a federal Hart‑Scott‑Rodino (HSR) notification must submit a copy to the California Attorney General if it has...
Today’s Podcast Episode: DIDMCA Opt-Outs Resurface: Oregon Legislation and the Colorado Case Could Alter the Landscape for Interstate Lending by...
The Consumer Finance Monitor podcast highlighted a resurgence of state opt‑out authority under Section 525 of the 1980 DIDMCA, focusing on Oregon's newly passed HB 4116 and Colorado's ongoing litigation. The core dispute centers on whether a loan is “made” where the...
![TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast Hosted by Paul Musser | Sandeep Gupta on Middle Market Restructurings and Investigations [Podcast]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://natlawreview.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_image/public/2026-04/Restructuring%20Bankruptcy%20Business%20Corporate%20Downsizing-15769127.jpg.webp?itok=wFwtLeFG)
TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast Hosted by Paul Musser | Sandeep Gupta on Middle Market Restructurings and Investigations [Podcast]
Sandeep Gupta, founder of Novo Advisors, discussed the firm’s focus on middle‑market restructuring, its rapid 30‑to‑45‑day turnaround playbook, and the launch of a forensic and dispute advisory line. He explained how Novo works with both family‑owned and private‑equity‑backed companies, emphasizing...
Right‑to‑Repair Settlement Shows Interoperability Beats Antitrust Breakups
Interoperability wins come in all shapes and sizes. This week's shape is... tractor? John Deere just agreed to a $99 million right-to-repair settlement that includes a 10-year court-supervised mandate to open its diagnostic tooling to farmers and independent repair shops. The...
Florida’s New Coastal Resilience Law Blocks Destructive Projects and Supercharges ‘Living Shorelines’
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 302 on March 19, establishing Florida’s first comprehensive coastal resilience law. The statute directs the Department of Environmental Protection to create clear rules and permits for nature‑based shoreline projects such as dunes, wetlands, mangroves...
Lawmakers Are Using AI to Write Laws. What Could Go Wrong?
Lawmakers are increasingly turning to large‑language‑model tools to draft legislation, a shift that began with a 2023 California resolution written by ChatGPT and has accelerated to federal and state agencies adopting AI platforms. Companies such as Vulcan Technologies and FiscalNote...
Probate Disputes Jump 12% as Inheritance Fights Increase
UK probate disputes surged 12% last year, with more than 11,500 caveat applications filed to halt estate administration. The low £3 (≈$3.80) filing fee and rising estate values—often $600,000 to $1.2 million—make challenges increasingly attractive. Blended families and concerns over will...
Court Narrows New Jersey’s Case Against RealPage in Rent-Setting Suit
A federal judge in New Jersey partially dismissed the state’s antitrust lawsuit against rental‑software firm RealPage and five major landlords, narrowing the case’s scope. The suit alleged a hub‑and‑spoke conspiracy that used RealPage’s revenue‑management platform to inflate rents, violating the Sherman...
OSHA Moves to Kill Ladder Safety Deadline over Billion-Dollar Costs
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule that would eliminate the November 18, 2036 deadline requiring personal fall arrest systems on fixed ladders over 24 feet, allowing existing cages or wells to remain until the...
Medline Recalls Millions of Devices Due to Safety Risk—FDA Threatens ‘Regulatory Action’ in Warning Letter
Medline, an Illinois‑based medical supplier that went public in December 2025, is recalling more than 4 million NAMIC angiographic control syringes and over 1 million procedure kits because of a loose‑connection defect that can cause air embolism or clinician exposure. The FDA...
SEC Orders Shutdown of Melot’s Catering
Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a cease‑and‑desist order shutting down Melot’s Catering Services for illegally soliciting public investments. The regulator barred the firm, its owner Mary Rose Reales Ceprino, and agents from offering unregistered securities, removing online promotional...
Court Upholds $3.39M Verdict After Company Told HR to Hire only Whites
A federal appeals court affirmed a $3.39 million verdict against Dimerco Express USA for racially discriminatory hiring. The company’s president instructed HR to hire only white candidates, leading to the rescission of a qualified Black applicant’s offer. The jury awarded $90,000...
India Takes a Step Closer to Direct-to-Device with Spectrum Consultation
India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) has launched a consultation on how to allocate spectrum for direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite services. The regulator is weighing whether providers should use Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum or International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum, a decision...
Court Blocks Tennessee From Dictating Employer Pharmacy Benefit Design
A federal appeals court ruled that Tennessee's pharmacy‑benefit‑manager statutes are preempted by ERISA, reaffirming that states cannot control the design of self‑funded health‑plan pharmacy networks. The Sixth Circuit found the laws crossed three of four preemption lines by forcing open...
Pepsi Worker's Discrimination Case Revived After Post-Complaint Firing
The U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals revived a Title VII race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by Michael V. Smith against Pepsi Cola Bottling Company. The appellate court vacated the district court’s dismissal, finding Smith’s original complaint was timely and that...
Protect Your Family: Estate Planning Beats 40% Tax
If you die without a plan... - The government takes 40% in tax - Probate court costs $100k+ - Your kids get the scraps If you love your family, here's every document you need to protect them: (from a CPA & father of two)
Congressional Gridlock on SAVE Act Is Intentional Design
There is a very good reason why congress is broken and we can’t pass the SAVE Act. It’s a feature, not a bug.
"The First Tell Was the File Name of the Principal Brief: 'Cocounsel Skill Results'"
The Sixth Circuit reprimanded court‑appointed attorney Michael Howe after discovering his appellate briefs were largely drafted by Westlaw's CoCounsel AI. The AI‑generated drafts contained fabricated quotations and mis‑characterized holdings from United States v. Washington and United States v. Anthony. Howe...
Leagues Likely Breaching Antitrust Laws Amid DOJ Scrutiny
Here's a piece I wrote nearly a year ago on whether the leagues are violating antitrust laws, relevant with today's DOJ/NFL news. https://t.co/GKjPihAKVC
Wisconsin Tribes Push Gov. Evers to Sign Mobile Betting Bill
Wisconsin mobile betting bill update: All of the state's gaming tribes today issued a letter asking Gov. Tony Evers to sign a bill that would allow them to offer mobile sports betting in the state; Evers has reportedly sought unanimous...
Fair Work Agency ‘Should Be Strengthened’ Amid Climate of Weak Regulation
The UK government launched the Fair Work Agency on 7 April to consolidate employment‑law enforcement under the Employment Rights Act 2025. A briefing from the Institute of Employment Rights warns the agency will lack teeth unless its powers and funding are strengthened....
Exclusive: FNZ Legal Claim to Be Heard in May After Cayman Ruling
FNZ will face a legal claim in New Zealand's High Court in May after a Cayman Islands ruling cleared procedural hurdles. Employee shareholders, represented by Kiwi GP, have been allowed to proceed with the lawsuit that had been stalled since July 2025. Four...
Dhurandhar 2 Song Controversy Heads to Mediation, Court Declines Interim Relief
The Delhi High Court referred the copyright dispute over the Dhurandhar 2 soundtrack to mediation and refused an interim injunction. Trimurti Films alleges the film used the 1989 Tridev track “Tirchi Topi Wale” without permission, naming B62 Studios and Super Cassettes...
Jones Day's Pro‑Industry Brief Sparks Appellate Curiosity
I am impressed that Jones Day managed to come up with anything that supports the easement syndication industry's view of the world. I am looking forward to see what the appellate court makes of it. https://t.co/8UkCT0OnnF
Pennsylvania Senators Weigh Consumer Protections From Cryptocurrency Scams
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1015, which would require cryptocurrency kiosks to display anti‑fraud warnings, obtain a money‑transmitter license, and provide 24/7 customer support. The bill targets a growing problem: more than 31,000 Pennsylvanians lost an estimated $538 million last...
Federal Reserve Board Announces Termination of Enforcement Actions with Crédit Agricole S.A. and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Mega...
The Federal Reserve Board announced on April 9, 2026 that it is terminating three longstanding cease‑and‑desist enforcement actions—one against Crédit Agricole S.A. and its corporate‑banking arm, another covering Mega International Commercial Bank’s U.S. branches, and a third involving Goldman Sachs. The orders,...
How, Exactly, Has Trump Gone After EVs?
The Trump administration and Congress have dismantled the federal framework supporting electric vehicles. A 2025 tax bill stripped away the $7,500 new‑EV credit, the $4,000 used‑EV credit, and commercial incentives, while also removing penalties for fuel‑economy violations. Simultaneously, EPA rescinded...
Florida Law Shifts Naples Airport Authority to Elected Board
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will replace the appointed Naples Airport Authority board with a countywide elected slate. All five seats will appear on the 2026 general election ballot, with three members required to live in Naples...
Legal Oversight
Airport modernization projects across Africa and the Middle East are reaching unprecedented scale, requiring terminals to stay operational while new infrastructure is built. R&A Legal Solutions emphasizes that legal expertise must be a core delivery discipline, integrating construction, financing, regulatory...
NYC Comptroller Targets Exxon’s Retail Voting Programme in Shareholder Proposal
The New York City Comptroller’s office has filed a shareholder proposal demanding Exxon Mobil overhaul its retail voting platform, which critics say operates as a “robo‑voting” system that automatically supports the company’s board. The proposal calls for multiple, truly independent...
What Happens when Law Students Build Things
The Legal Innovation and Technology Student Association (LITSA) hosted its first Legal AI Innovation Challenge, where seven law‑student teams built functional legal‑tech prototypes in a two‑hour sprint. The winning team, Kaitlin and Andre, delivered LegalTree HAI, an MVP that combines...
Harmful Activities, the Duty to Rescue, and Climate Change
The article argues that tort law’s duty‑to‑rescue principle can frame climate‑change responsibility. When a party’s activity creates a risk of harm, the law imposes an affirmative duty to provide reasonable assistance, even if the harm isn’t wrongful. Applying this to...
“Risk Has Never Been Higher”: UK Sector Urged on Compliance
UK higher‑education leaders warned that institutional risk is at its highest as visa refusals surge and processing delays stretch to six months. The new RAG rating system, launching in June 2026, will grade universities on visa refusals, enrolment and course...
Philadelphia Is Building a Playbook for Fixing ‘Tangled Titles’
Philadelphia is confronting a hidden crisis of tangled property titles that leave thousands of homeowners—especially in Black neighborhoods—unable to sell, refinance, or secure insurance. The city’s Register of Wills launched a Title Clearance Unit in 2024, which cleared 91 homes...
Reversing the Burden of Proof: French Authors Guild Urges Parliament to Pass Landmark AI Copyright Bill
On April 8, the French Senate voted unanimously to advance a landmark bill that creates a statutory “presumption of use” for copyrighted works employed by artificial‑intelligence systems. The legislation flips the traditional burden of proof, requiring AI developers to demonstrate that...
French Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Protect Artists From AI Data Scraping
The French Senate voted unanimously to adopt a landmark bill that flips the burden of proof onto AI developers, obligating them to demonstrate that copyrighted artistic works were not used to train their models. The legislation also requires transparency about...
Bipartisan Bills Target Prediction Markets for Ban
"On Thursday, both the House and Senate will look at companion bills in committee that would make prediction markets like Polymarket illegal. Both bills have bipartisan support." Minnesota Legislature to consider bills banning prediction markets https://t.co/EopmPCqi76
Breaking: Netherlands Court Dismissed Appeal in Bill Gates, Albert Bourla, Genocide and Bioweapons Case. Hearing on the Merits Set for...
The Dutch Appellate Court dismissed an appeal that sought to admit five expert witnesses in a civil lawsuit alleging COVID‑19 mRNA vaccines are bioweapons and constitute genocide. The appeal was ruled inadmissible, leaving the trial court’s original restriction on witness...
Witkoff May Mediate Elliman‑Shvo Brokerage Fee Dispute
Maybe #Witkoff can broker peace btw #Elliman+#Shvo. Shvo's #MandarinOriental units subject of #brokerage suit v dvpr alleging he chintzed out on paying Elliman fees. 1 of a growing # of cases re project. #685Fifth #realestate #CRE #NYC #litigation #condo https://t.co/GfBc7tgI7S
Axios Profits From Meta Ads While Criticizing Platform
Solid example of difference between a news org and a social media platform. - Axios has been running endless Meta ad $$$ campaigns while its independent newsroom reports on Meta’s court losses for harming children - Axios reports Meta is removing...
Private Credit Developments: Regulatory Signals and Emerging Litigation Trends
Private credit has expanded to a $3 trillion global market and is increasingly offered to retail investors through 401(k) plans, ETFs and BDCs. The Department of Labor’s March 30, 2026 proposed rule would broaden alternative‑investment access in workplace retirement accounts, while the SEC’s...
States Are Already Working on Solutions to Large-Load Challenges
The Virginia State Corporation Commission is tackling a surge of large‑load interconnection requests as Dominion Energy reports 70 GW of new demand—nearly triple its historic peak—primarily from data centers. The influx threatens reliability and could shift costs to residential consumers. State...
Game Over- No Self-Help Clock Reset for Mandatory Stay Request
The Federal Circuit ruled that Ascendis Pharma cannot reset the 30‑day deadline for a mandatory stay under 28 U.S.C. § 1659(a)(2) by dismissing and refiling its declaratory‑judgment suit. The court affirmed appellate jurisdiction via the collateral‑order doctrine and held that Ascendis missed the...
Lending Platform Hit with AI-Related Securities Suit
Upstart Holdings, an AI‑driven lending platform, faced a securities class‑action after its Model 22 AI credit‑scoring tool underperformed, prompting a 10% share‑price drop. The company disclosed that Model 22 over‑reacted to macroeconomic signals and was deliberately made more conservative, leading to lower...
FTC Confirms Economic Analysis Plays Important Role in Consumer Protection Investigations
The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection announced that rigorous economic analysis will be a core component of its consumer‑protection investigations, especially when monetary relief is sought. The Bureau of Economics has broadened its guidance to cover data‑driven consumer‑harm cases, promising...
Remote And Hybrid Employees: Navigating The Legal Challenges
The pandemic cemented remote and hybrid work as a norm for nonprofits, offering cost savings and talent‑access benefits. However, employing staff across state lines now obliges charities to navigate a patchwork of registration, tax, wage, leave, and classification rules that...
Massachusetts Court Rejects Chapter 93A Claim Challenging Alleged Unauthorized Utility and Renewable Energy Enrollment
The Massachusetts District Court dismissed a pro se plaintiff’s Chapter 93A claim alleging more than $300,000 in unauthorized utility and renewable‑energy program charges. The court held the complaint lacked specific facts showing an unfair or deceptive act, failing the plausibility test...
Appeals Court Judges Question Whether Four-Year Prison Sentence for Sean 'Diddy' Combs Was Too Harsh
Federal appeals judges in the 2nd U.S. Circuit are reviewing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ four‑year, two‑month prison term for Mann Act prostitution convictions. The panel questioned whether the trial judge improperly weighed evidence from acquitted sex‑trafficking and racketeering counts, potentially inflating...