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 Week in Data April 8: A Look at Legal Industry Trends by the Numbers
Law.com’s weekly data roundup highlights several pivotal shifts in the legal sector. Simpson Thacher announced a new Singapore office, signaling renewed focus on Asian private‑equity work, while the DOJ rebuked state attorneys general for mistakenly exposing confidential HPE‑Juniper acquisition documents. Big‑law firms are feeling pressure from a thinning deal pipeline and activist shareholders, and Capital One’s chief legal officer saw his compensation double after the $35 billion Discover purchase. The report also spotlights rising M&A talent in Africa.
Citizens United: The Supreme Court Decision That Sold American Democracy to the Highest Bidder
On Jan 21 2010 the Supreme Court’s 5‑4 decision in Citizens United v. FEC granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited funds on independent political communications. The ruling sparked the creation of Super PACs, which have since poured billions into...
Cooley Secures Three #1 Vault Practice Rankings
Cooley has secured three #1 rankings in Vault’s 2026‑2027 survey, topping Emerging Companies & Venture Capital, Life Sciences, and Privacy & Data Security. The life sciences accolade marks the firm’s first ever #1 in Vault’s inaugural sector survey, while the...
Court Denies AF&PA Motion to Join NAW Lawsuit in Oregon
A federal judge denied the American Forest & Paper Association's (AF&PA) request to intervene in the National Association of Wholesaler‑Distributors' lawsuit challenging Oregon's Recycling Modernization Act (RMA). The RMA, an extended producer responsibility program, will take effect on July 1,...
Supermicro 'Committed to Protecting America’s Advanced Technologies and Intellectual Property' As Investigation Into Former Employees over Alleged AI Tech Shipments...
Supermicro, a leading U.S. server maker, is under investigation after three former employees were charged with conspiring to ship AI servers to China in violation of export laws. The DOJ alleges that between 2024 and 2025 the employees facilitated about...
BSR Unveils Plan to Speed up Remediation Approvals
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to accelerate external remediation approvals for higher‑risk buildings in England. A dedicated multidisciplinary team will mirror the regulator’s Innovation Unit, while a recruitment drive will cut individual caseloads from about...
States Sue Trump Over Illegal Executive Order on Voting
A coalition of 23 state attorneys general and one governor, joined by Connecticut, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s March 31 executive order that would create federally approved voter eligibility lists and restrict mail‑in ballots to those on the list....
Telenor Facing Legal Action over Myanmar Claims
Telenor is facing a Norwegian class‑action lawsuit filed by the Justice and Accountability Initiative on behalf of Myanmar customers, accusing the telecom of handing over user data and surveillance technology to the military junta. The suit alleges that at least...
Billionaire Son of ‘World’s Richest Banker’ Challenges $35mn Legal Fees
The billionaire son of the man dubbed the "world's richest banker" is contesting a $35 million legal fee award tied to a high‑profile inheritance dispute. The challenge was filed in a UK court, arguing that the fees are excessive and lack...
FDIC Floats AML Revamp, Stablecoin Guidelines
The FDIC, together with the OCC and NCUA, released a joint proposal to revamp AML/CFT regulations, shifting focus toward higher‑risk customers and granting FinCEN a formal consultative role in supervision. Simultaneously, the FDIC issued a proposed rule under the Genius...
CIOB Launches Industry-Wide Survey to Review CDM Regulations
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has opened an industry‑wide survey to collect construction professionals’ views on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). The questionnaire seeks insight into how CDM 2015 is interpreted, applied and enforced across...
Rocket Resume Accuses Monster, CareerBuilder Owner of ‘Deception’ in the Resume-Making Market
Rocket Resume has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Bold Limited and affiliated entities of monopolizing the online resume‑building market. The complaint alleges Bold controls more than 80% of the sector through a network of undisclosed sham companies that own brands...
Telenor Sued Over Claims It Exposed Myanmar Customers to Junta Repression
A Swedish non‑profit has filed a class‑action lawsuit in Norway on behalf of more than 1,200 Myanmar citizens whose call‑log and location data were allegedly handed to the military junta by Telenor’s local subsidiary. The complaint seeks €9,000 (about $10,500)...
Ski Pass or Pass on Skiing? Lawsuit Claims Slopes Are Rigged
A class-action lawsuit filed in March alleges Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain are fixing lift ticket prices to push skiers into expensive multi‑resort season passes. The complaint says daily tickets are inflated, limiting competition and forcing consumers into four‑figure pass...
Faith-Based Organisations Must Apply Appropriate Safeguards to Their Fundraising, Regulator Urges
UK’s Fundraising Regulator has warned faith‑based organisations that religious giving – from tithes to member appeals – falls under the Fundraising Code of Practice. Many charities fail to recognise such activities as fundraising, exposing them to non‑compliance risks, as highlighted...
Virginia Grid Utilization Bill Set to Become Law
Virginia’s pending legislation will compel Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to submit detailed distribution‑grid utilization metrics to the State Corporation Commission and propose ways to tap existing capacity. The commission will then publish its own analyses and evaluate non‑wires alternatives...
Maine Gov. Mills Signs Sweepstakes Ban Into Law
Governor Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 2007, banning online sweepstakes casinos in Maine. The law authorizes fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 and allows revoking gaming licenses for operators or promoters of such games. It also bars the use of...
Navigating Urgent Global E-Invoicing Mandates: March 2026 Regulatory Alert
In March 2026 governments worldwide moved e‑invoicing from policy discussion to enforceable law. Spain approved a Royal Decree that bans PDF invoices and requires real‑time payment reporting, with implementation starting 2027. The Netherlands, Hungary, Norway, Latvia and several other EU...
Trump's EEOC Applying Its Enforcement Powers in Unconventional Ways
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has intensified its enforcement of workplace religious discrimination, filing six actions since the start of FY2026. Among the cases, the agency is probing Nike for alleged systematic bias against white employees, while other high‑profile bias...
UK Telco Customers Can Now Escalate Complaints Quicker
UK telecom regulator Ofcom has cut the waiting period before customers can escalate complaints to an independent ADR scheme from eight weeks to six weeks, effective 1 April. The change follows data showing 94% of complaints are resolved within six weeks...
Kalshi NJ Court Win Puts Prediction Markets on Supreme Court Radar
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed that New Jersey cannot regulate prediction‑market platform Kalshi under state gambling laws, citing the Commodity Exchange Act’s preemption of state authority over derivatives. The panel held that Kalshi’s sports‑related event contracts...
AI at Work – Drafting an Effective and Compliant AI Workplace Policy
In this episode, partners Jan Cormier, Greg Demers, and Alyssa Horton discuss why employers need a dedicated AI workplace policy, outlining its primary goals of compliance, risk mitigation, and employee guidance. They highlight the legal and reputational dangers of lacking...
Single-Staircase Reform Proposed in California
A California bill moving to committee would let multifamily buildings up to six stories use a single staircase, replacing the current rule that mandates two staircases for structures above three stories. Sponsor Assemblymember Alex Lee argues the change will simplify...
SEC Enforcement Actions Fall Sharply in 2025 as Agency Shifts Focus
The SEC reported a sharp decline in enforcement activity for fiscal 2025, filing 456 actions—22% fewer than the previous year. Total sanctions fell to $2.7 billion when the $15.2 billion judgment from a 2009 Ponzi case is excluded, reflecting a 63% drop....
Kroger Colluded with Trucking Companies via No-Hire Agreements, Lawsuit Alleges
A lawsuit filed Thursday alleges that Kroger instructed major trucking firms—Swift Transportation, U.S. Xpress and Werner Trucking—to enforce a no‑hire agreement that barred former Quickway drivers from employment. The complaint describes the arrangement as a “gentlemen’s agreement” aimed at suppressing wages...
New Affiliate Code of Conduct Aims to Standardise Software Guidance
Industry veterans James Little and Ben Edelman have launched the Affiliate Software Code of Conduct to bring uniform rules to affiliate‑marketing software, especially browser extensions, after the PayPal‑Honey controversy highlighted regulatory gaps. The code seeks to eliminate ambiguities such as...
Justin Smith, Everlaw: Morgan V. V2X, Inc. Decision Sets Precedent on AI Disclosure in Discovery
The U.S. District Court for Colorado issued a landmark protective order in Morgan v. V2X, Inc., requiring parties to disclose any use of generative AI on confidential discovery materials. The ruling addresses data‑privacy concerns rather than the traditional focus on...
NFL’s Race-Based Hiring Rule Under Scrutiny After Florida AG Says It Violates Law
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier warned the NFL that its Rooney Rule could face enforcement action under state law, demanding the league suspend the rule for its Florida franchises by May 1. The Rooney Rule, introduced in 2003 to boost minority...
OCP and Composer Bernadette Farrell Win Federal Copyright Trial
Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) and liturgical composer Bernadette Farrell secured a unanimous jury verdict in a federal copyright infringement trial, ending a legal battle that began in 2019. The Ninth Circuit reversed an earlier summary‑judgment dismissal, sending the case back...
The Growing Case to Protect FOI
The UK government is considering lowering the Freedom of Information (FOI) cost limit, which would allow more requests to be rejected on financial grounds. Critics, including journalists, editors, and academic bodies, argue the move will not meaningfully reduce departmental workloads...
FSRA Crackdown Forces Brokers to Lose Licenses, Face Fines
The Mortgage Broker Regulator FSRA Has Upped Its Game & More Brokers Will Lose Their Licenses & Be Fined There's 2 big reasons: - FSRA moves aggressively when they see wrong doing - The collapse of house prices reveals bad practices FAST More...
Who Bears Losses When Agents Misbehave? Four Answers
When the Agent Gets It Wrong, Who Pays? The liability question agentic finance cannot avoid - and four different answers from one week My latest Substack article: https://t.co/zrBCSh4zii https://t.co/L6nTlksFW2
California Has a Neighborhood Decarbonization Law. How Does It Work?
California’s CPUC is drafting guidelines for Senate Bill 1221, a pioneering program that shifts building decarbonization from individual appliances to whole‑neighborhood electrification. The law allows utilities to retire gas pipelines and replace them with zero‑emission alternatives if at least 67 %...
Accountancy Firm Threatens Legal Action, Demands Phone numberAccountancy Firm Threatens Legal Action, Demands Phone Number
Yesterday an Oxford accountancy firm gave us 24 hours to take down an article which said they'd knowingly filed false tax returns. Today they're sending bizarre emails saying I have to give them my phone number or they will "get it...
NAD Flags Bayer One A Day Men’s Fertility Positioning
The National Advertising Division (NAD) ruled that Bayer’s One A Day Men’s Fertility multivitamin uses pre‑conception timing and sperm‑health language that implies a boost to men’s chances of conception. NAD also found the product’s antioxidant and ingredient‑specific claims unsupported by...
RFK Jr. Pushes to Overturn Peptide Ban, Officials Dispute Claims
RFK Jr. May Reverse a Peptide Ban He Calls “Illegal.” Former FDA Officials Say He Mischaracterized Their Work. https://t.co/glqreTHvKA https://t.co/Vi4OTryX3p
FTC and DOJ Open Inquiry That Could Rewrite HSR Merger Filing Practice
The FTC and DOJ have launched a joint public inquiry into the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino pre‑merger notification form, signaling a possible overhaul of the HSR filing process. Regulators are questioning whether the current form provides sufficient data to evaluate modern transactions efficiently....
New California E-Bike Bill Makes It Illegal to Bring a Friend
California Assembly Bill 1614 seeks to tighten passenger rules on bicycles and e‑bikes by mandating that riders sit on a proper seat and that any passenger must ride on a separate, attached seat. The bill’s wording threatens long bench‑style seats...
Commercial Drone Alliance Calls for Whole-of-Government Approach to Build Domestic Industry
In December 2025 the FCC placed all foreign‑made drones and critical components on its Covered List, restricting new imports while allowing existing inventory to remain on shelves. The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) responded with a white paper urging a whole‑of‑government...
Texas Cannabis Businesses Sue State to Block Smokeable Hemp Ban
Texas hemp producers and advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The suit challenges new regulations that cap total THC...
UK Competition and Consumer Regulator Sets Key Regulatory Priorities for 2026 – 2027
The UK Competition and Markets Authority released its 2026‑27 Annual Plan, marking the first detailed rollout of its 2026‑2029 strategy. The plan pivots toward aggressive enforcement of the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act, prioritising consumer protection, especially around...
Wednesday: What’s Hot on CanLII? – March 2026
Slaw’s March 2026 roundup highlights the three most‑viewed English and French decisions on CanLII. In Ontario, the Kapahi Real Estate case raises concerns about AI‑generated “hallucinated” citations, prompting a referral to the Law Society. The Air Canada arbitration affirms religious‑based...
Circle Ignored Freezing Power, Let Funds Slip Away
.@Amanda_S_Wick, a former federal prosecutor, compared Circle's behavior to a bank watching a robbery happen in its lobby and saying "we need a court order." The stolen funds moved for 6 hours during business hours. They had freezing power. They chose not...
Supreme Court Summarily Closes the Courthouse Doors Again
The Supreme Court again employed a summary reversal in Zorn v. Linton, granting police officer Jacob Zorn qualified immunity without full briefing or oral argument. The case involved a protester who suffered a wrist injury and PTSD after a rear‑wristlock...
Exterro and eDiscovery Today Announce Educational Partnership to Advance eDiscovery and Data Risk Management Best Practices
Exterro announced an educational partnership with eDiscovery Today, the daily blog for e‑discovery, privacy, and AI trends. The collaboration will produce joint content and initiatives that help organizations manage data across the e‑discovery lifecycle, align legal, compliance and security functions,...
Hallucination or Old-Fashioned Error? It Doesn’t Matter
The Southern District of Ohio ruled in Quandel Construction Group v. Hunt Construction that a mistaken citation—whether caused by an AI hallucination or a simple error—requires a full, sworn explanation from the attorneys involved. The court allowed a corrected brief...
A Delaware Take-Private Suit and Controller Buyout D&O Risk
A Delaware Chancery Court complaint filed by Detroit’s Police and Fire Retirement System alleges that the 2025 take‑private of Skechers by 3G Capital was driven by the Greenberg founders, who control roughly 60% of voting power, and that the deal...
South Dakota Construction Company Sued Over Whistleblower’s Firing
U.S. Department of Labor sued Stone Hill Excavation LLC and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel for illegally terminating a worker who reported severe burns from a pressurized pipe. OSHA’s investigation confirmed the employee suffered second- and third-degree burns...
Optimising Digital Contract Processes: Alternatives Companies Should Be Considering Now
Many firms still rely on email and PDF signatures, leading to version chaos, stalled approvals, and delayed sales. While e‑signature tools like DocuSign have been standard, rising costs and limited flexibility are prompting companies to explore more integrated contract‑management alternatives....
MVNOs Take Centre Stage in Legislative Shake-Up
South Africa’s parliament has approved an amendment to the Electronic Communications Act that puts mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) at the centre of regulatory reform. The bill, slated for public comment, seeks to curb discriminatory practices by mobile network operators...