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
A Postcard From Abroad on Regulatory Simplification
The OECD’s 2025 “Simplifying for Success” symposium revealed that despite widespread adoption of regulatory impact analysis and new simplification measures, businesses across 28 member states still report higher compliance costs, frequent rule changes, and poor inter‑agency coordination. Governments have introduced burden‑reduction initiatives, yet more than 90 % cite resource and data constraints, and AI tools remain under‑utilised. Australia’s RegValue diagnostic and the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill illustrate a low‑cost, whole‑system approach to measuring regulatory value. The findings highlight a gap between policy intent and on‑the‑ground regulatory complexity.
Singapore Fintech Finmo Hires Ex-PayPal, eBay Lawyer as First GC
Finmo, a Singapore‑based treasury‑management software provider, has hired Matt Poblocki as its inaugural general counsel to support regulatory expansion. Poblocki joins from Binance, where he led the Australia‑New Zealand business, and brings prior senior legal roles at PayPal, eBay, Carousell and...
Gibson Dunn Discusses Delaware Supreme Court’s Revival of Nationwide Noncompete
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed a Chancery Court ruling that dismissed an 18‑month, nationwide noncompete in Payscale Inc. v. Norman. The high court held that well‑pleaded allegations linking the covenant’s scope and duration to legitimate business interests can survive a...
CPUC Wastes a Golden Opportunity to Right Wrongs of Previous Community Solar Decisions that Harm Californians with Lower Incomes
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision in proceeding A.22-05-022 that effectively blocks the development of new community solar projects across the state. The move comes as California grapples with soaring electricity rates and follows criticism that...
High Court Refuses to Hear Bruce Lehrmann's Appeal
Australia’s High Court refused former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann’s request to overturn a Federal Court judgment that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped former staffer Brittany Higgins. The Federal Court had already dismissed his appeal and ordered him to pay the...
Killing History
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a 52‑page opinion declaring the 1978 Presidential Records Act (PRA) unconstitutional, a move tied to the Trump administration’s broader effort to limit congressional oversight of presidential documents. The American Historical Association and...
Electric Trucks Go Mainstream in Europe
The European Union’s heavy‑duty vehicle CO₂ standards require a 43% emissions cut for trucks by 2030 and a 64% cut by 2035. Truck manufacturers are urging the Commission to move the next standards review to 2026, arguing that market conditions...
RFK Jr. Amends ACIP’s Charter In Attempt To Exert More Control Over Panel Members
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking his vaccine schedule changes, has amended the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) charter to expand his authority over member selection. The revised charter swaps language from...
Global Firm Perkins Coie Launches Shenzhen Office
Perkins Coie, a U.S. law firm, has opened a representative office in Shenzhen, China, to strengthen its support for Asia‑based technology companies. The office, headed by Bing Ai and litigation partner Wei Yuan, will act as a liaison between local...
Automatic Draft Registration Begins This December
The federal government plans to start automatic registration for the U.S. military draft in December.
European Digital Banking Platform CaixaBank Introduces Digital Assets Investment Services
Spain’s CaixaBank has obtained EU‑wide authorization under the MiCA framework to operate as a crypto‑asset service provider. The bank will roll out regulated custody, order execution and transfer services for digital assets, building on its 2025 launch of bitcoin‑linked exchange‑traded...
The Attraction of Cryptocurrencies and NFTs to Money Launderers
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are increasingly exploited by money launderers because they offer perceived anonymity, easy access and limited regulatory oversight. Criminals leverage unregulated exchanges, prepaid cards, cash deposits and privacy‑focused coins to obscure illicit proceeds. Law‑enforcement investigations have uncovered platforms...
The Risk-Based Approach: RBA In Anti-Bribery And Corruption
The article outlines how a risk‑based approach (RBA) is becoming the cornerstone of anti‑bribery and corruption programs worldwide. It stresses that senior management must conduct entity‑level risk assessments to identify inherent, residual and control‑effectiveness risks across employees, customers, products and...
Bering Sea Trawler Boarded and Investigated in Pollock-Counting Dispute
The U.S. Coast Guard, together with NOAA Fisheries, boarded the Bering Sea trawler Northern Eagle after detecting a large gap between the vessel’s pollock production records and its electronic logbook. Inspectors found the ship’s reported catch weight understated by 1,223 tonnes...
Bipartisan Push for FDA “Pre-Review” Of DTC Drug Ads
On March 31, 2026 Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall sent a bipartisan letter urging the FDA to require pre‑submission of certain direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) prescription‑drug television ads. The request builds on earlier concerns about the FDA’s limited enforcement capacity despite...
There Is No Single Place to Find the World’s Laws
Legal Data Hunter, an open‑source AI platform, is building a searchable global repository of public legal documents. In just ten weeks the project grew from 351 to 674 automated collection scripts, indexing over 18 million records from more than 100 jurisdictions....
What’s A Law Firm to Do when Client Files Leak on the Dark Web
Law firms are confronting a new wave of data breaches where attackers exfiltrate entire client files and publish them on the dark web. The leaks often include sealed court filings and privileged communications, magnifying legal and reputational risks. Drawing on...
Father Uses Generative AI to Self‑Represent in Multi‑University Discrimination Lawsuits
Nan Zhong, father of former Google engineer Stanley Zhong, is suing four university systems without a lawyer, relying on multiple generative‑AI models to draft pleadings and strategy. The self‑represented plaintiff says AI functions like “a team of deep lawyers,” a...
Waymo’s NYC Robotaxi Permits Expire, Halting Tests in the City
Waymo’s two permits to test robotaxis in New York City expired on March 31, forcing the company to cease its eight‑vehicle pilot south of 112th Street and in downtown Brooklyn. The New York Department of Transportation has not indicated whether the...
Riley Brennan: ‘Figuring Out How to Deal With This’: How Are Courts Grappling With Disciplining AI Hallucinations?
Courts across the United States are wrestling with how to discipline attorneys who rely on artificial‑intelligence tools that produce "hallucinations"—fabricated citations or erroneous legal arguments. Recent cases show a split approach: some judges have imposed formal reprimands, while others hesitate,...
User Adoption Locks In Crypto Policy Across Administrations
What struck me most from @DEXintheCityPod this week: @HesterPeirce frames the window of opportunity. "The more people are actually using your products and services, the harder it will be for any new administration to change." That reframes what builders should prioritize...
What Is A Insider Lists?
Insider lists are mandatory registers that firms must maintain to identify anyone with access to inside information, as required by the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR). The lists now must capture detailed personal data, including IDs, contact details, and exact...
Digital Innovation and Financial Crime: A Comprehensive Guide to Building an Effective Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program in the Era of...
The guide outlines how digital innovation reshapes money‑laundering tactics and forces firms to modernize anti‑money‑laundering (AML) programs. It emphasizes a risk‑based, enterprise‑wide framework that starts with defining risk appetite and implements the three‑line‑defense model. Customer lifecycle governance—spanning onboarding, ongoing monitoring,...
Katie Pecho, Relativity: Scaling Smarter: An Energy Legal Team’s Progression to AI-Driven Work
AES Corporation, a global energy producer, began experimenting with generative AI for its legal department in 2022 after recognizing the technology’s potential. The company teamed with Relativity to build a scalable AI platform and enlisted strategy firm PLUSnxt to design...
Employer Returns for 2025-26 Issued to Hong Kong Employers on 1 April 2026
On 1 April 2026 Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department issued roughly 270,000 profit‑tax returns, 120,000 property‑tax returns and 340,000 employer returns for the 2025‑26 assessment year. Multinational enterprise groups subject to the global minimum tax must now file profit‑tax returns electronically, with a...
Chris Finley, Opus 2: AI in Litigation: Use Cases, Advice, and Technology
Law firms are increasingly embedding AI into litigation workflows, moving beyond simple task automation to strategic insight generation. Early adopters gained a competitive edge, but the advantage is narrowing as AI tools become mainstream. Chris Finley’s Opus 2 article outlines how...
Marianna Wharry: UPL Claim Against ChatGPT Faces Hurdles, but Social Media Addiction Verdicts May Bolster Liability
Nippon Life Insurance Co. of America has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT provided unauthorized legal assistance that generated 44 frivolous motions and $300,000 in legal costs. The complaint, lodged in the Northern District of Illinois, frames the...
Michael J. Epstein: No Forewarning Necessary? The AI Line the Courts Are Drawing—And Why It Won’t Stay Put
Gartner’s latest report warns that AI-related incidents are accelerating, with "death by AI" lawsuits projected to surpass 2,000 worldwide by the end of 2026. Traditional commercial policies are increasingly carving out AI liabilities, leaving firms exposed to costly claims. To...
OpenAI Co-Founder Sam Altman Accused of Sexual Abuse by Sister
Sam Altman's sister, Annie Altman, has filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was sexually abused and raped by him between 1997 and 2006 in Missouri. A federal judge dismissed most claims due to the 2008 statute of limitations but allowed...
L.A. Olympics Chief Casey Wasserman ‘Deserves Our Support,’ Says Power Lawyer Patricia L. Glaser at Variety’s Power of Law Event
At Variety’s Power of Law breakfast in Los Angeles, top litigator Patricia Glaser praised Olympic organizer Casey Wasserman, urging industry backing for the 2028 Games. Glaser also warned that social media operates without adequate legal guardrails, turning it into a “smear...
We Asked a Lawyer to Unpack Jackie O’s $82m Case, and Where It Could Land for ARN and Kyle
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has lodged a full Statement of Claim in the Federal Court, seeking more than $82 million from ARN Media. She alleges the broadcaster ignored repeated complaints about Kyle Sandilands’ on‑air behaviour, breached the Fair Work Act’s general protections,...
Morning Brief Podcast: Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws... And Succeeded
In 2026 India’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of a landmark maternity‑leave case brought by activist Hamsaanandini Nanduri and lawyer Bani Dikshit. The decision overturns the nation’s outdated six‑week entitlement, mandating a substantially longer, more inclusive leave regime. The ruling also...
Australia’s Competition Regulator Is Reviewing eBay’s $1.2B Depop Acquisition with a Decision Expected by May 19
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has opened a public review of eBay’s $1.2 billion acquisition of Depop, seeking input from buyers, sellers and rival platforms on its effect on Australia’s pre‑owned fashion market. The review is complicated by eBay’s...
California Ballot Seizure Mirrors Fulton County Election Raid
Newly unsealed search warrants in the California ballot seizure case paint a chilling picture of how the types of anti-voting conspiracy theories weaponized by the White House to investigate the 2020 presidential election can be used to target elections on...
CBS Beats Former News Anchor’s Suit Claiming He Was Replaced for Being White
CBS Broadcasting won a summary judgment in former anchor Jeff Vaughn's lawsuit alleging he was fired for being an older, white, heterosexual male. U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera ruled there was no evidence race motivated the decision, noting CBS was...
Federal Court Denies Anthropic’s Motion to Lift ‘Supply Chain Risk’ Label
A three‑judge panel of the D.C. Circuit denied Anthropic's request to halt the Department of Defense's "supply chain risk" designation, keeping the AI startup on a blacklist that bars it from federal contracts. The judges said Anthropic failed to meet...
OCR Releases Risk Management Video
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released a new video that explains the HIPAA Security Rule’s risk‑management requirement. The presentation, led by senior cybersecurity advisor Nicholas Heesters, expands OCR’s earlier Risk Analysis...
Dubai Police Urge Parents, Including Fathers, to End Physical Punishment
Dubai Police, under Brigadier Mohammed Al Matrooshi, issued a public advisory urging parents to stop using physical punishment, linking the message to the UAE’s 2024 domestic‑violence law. The department also rolled out child‑friendly digital tools and mandatory school reporting to curb...
Court Denies Anthropic's Pause Request, Blacklist Remains
A bit of a setback for Anthropic "a federal appeals court said no to Anthropic's emergency request to pause the blacklist by DOW". This is not the final decision in the lawsuit between Anthropic and DOW, but for now they are...
States Quietly Enact Proof‑Citizenship Voting Laws Amid Senate Stalemate
While the bill introduced March 17 remains stalled in the Senate, some state leaders have posted about, proposed and even enacted statewide proof of citizenship laws to vote. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/as-save-america-act-stalls-gop-states-are-quietly-enacting-their-own-proof-of-citizenship-laws/
Satellite Set to Headline FCC’s April Open Meeting
The FCC’s April 30 open meeting will spotlight a proposed overhaul of satellite spectrum‑sharing rules, aiming to replace the decades‑old EPFD framework with performance‑based protection criteria. SpaceX’s Starlink petition and Amazon’s Project Leo stand to benefit from higher speeds and...
Trump Administration Blocks Epstein Testimony, Faces Legal Scrutiny
This is why she was fired. This is another move by the Trump administration to aggressively break the law and avoid the truth about the Epstein files. Nothing else. They should all be headed to jail. Bondi won’t testify before...
EU-Securitisation-Reform-Hinges-on-Calibration
The European Union is close to finalising its securitisation reform, focusing on how risk‑weight calibrations will be set for the Simple, Transparent, Standardised (SRT) framework. Regulators aim to strike a balance between tighter safeguards and market‑friendly capital treatment to restore...
Going Paperless in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Going paperless with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is not a compliance liability when governed correctly. Organizations must align controls across Business Central, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Purview rather than rely on physical filing. Properly designed digital workflows provide clearer audit...
New-Clean-up-Call-Rules-to-Help-US-SRT
The U.S. Structured Risk Transfer (SRT) market is set to benefit from newly introduced clean‑up call provisions and an updated p‑factor methodology, collectively dubbed the B3E redux framework. These rules allow issuers to trigger early redemption of residual tranches if...
Cross-Examined
The inaugural episode of Cross-Examined introduces the new Law Institute of Victoria podcast, outlining its mission to keep legal professionals up‑to‑date on the rapidly evolving landscape of law. It previews the range of topics the series will cover, including artificial...
Civil Trial over LAPD Shooting of 14-Year-Old Girl Begins
The wrongful‑death civil trial over the 2021 LAPD shooting that killed 14‑year‑old Valentina Peralta began in Los Angeles. Plaintiffs claim Officer William Jones ignored senior‑officer commands and fired an AR‑15, causing a ricochet that struck the girl, while the city...
DOJ Antitrust Unit Crumbles as Top Lawyers Depart
DOJ's top antitrust litigator quits. So do three other senior antitrust attorneys. This unit has been absolutely gutted. First it was political staffers. Now it's the career folks too. https://t.co/vICsW7nVwY
Liberian Registry: Sanctions Compliance Checks Should Extend to Seafarers
The Liberian Registry, which commands roughly 17% of the global flag‑services market, is urging the maritime sector to extend sanctions compliance checks to seafarers, beginning with the credentialing process. It is embedding these checks into license applications and rolling out...
Nevada Regulator Urges Tribal-State Unity Against Betting Prediction Threat
"The chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board said tribes and states must stick together to fight an “existential threat” posed by sports betting prediction platforms." IGA: Nevada regulator addresses prediction markets in deep detail https://t.co/Q2sswHYMcz