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
What You Need To Know From Q1
The first quarter of 2026 saw limited corporate FCPA activity, with the DOJ’s sole corporate case being the Balt resolution that resulted in a $1.2 million disgorgement after a voluntary disclosure. The SEC did not bring any corporate FCPA actions during the period. Meanwhile, the DOJ charged three individuals, including David Ferrera and Marc Tilman under a novel foreign‑official theory, and Alfonso Wilson for alleged bribes to PEMEX. Additional developments included contested jury instructions, ongoing Smartmatic motions, and a proposed FCPA Reinforcement Act aimed at extending criminal limitations periods.
Indonesia Summons Google and Meta Over Child‑Safety Law Breach
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs summoned senior officials from Google and Meta on Monday, accusing them of violating a new law that bars users under 16 from social media. The move underscores mounting regulatory pressure on tech firms...
Tony Buzbee Denied In Attempt to Dismiss Lawsuit From JAY-Z
Tony Buzbee’s attempt to dismiss his lawsuit against Jay‑Z was rejected, and the case was transferred from the Southern District of Alabama to the Southern District of New York. Judge Terry Moorer denied the June 2025 dismissal motion, meaning any...
No Joke: Recent Employment Laws and Legislative Proposals
State legislatures are rolling out a wave of niche employment bills that could reshape payroll, leave policies, and workplace surveillance. Missouri enacted HB 754 permitting employees to demand payment in physical specie such as gold bars, while Maryland is debating SB 893...
“List of Jews” Has an Ominous Ring
A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to supply records identifying Jewish employees as part of an antisemitism investigation. The court’s directive does not require the university to disclose each employee’s specific group affiliation, but it does demand...
Rosen Law Firm Opens Securities Class‑Action Probe Into DNOW Inc., Stock Down 19%
Rosen Law Firm announced a securities class‑action investigation into DNOW Inc. (NYSE: DNOW) following a 19.1% drop in the company's shares after disappointing Q4 2025 results. The firm says DNOW may have issued materially misleading information to investors and is...
Grass-Fed Claim Could Mislead Consumers, Fonterra Admits
Fonterra has settled a Greenpeace lawsuit by acknowledging that its “100 % New Zealand Grass‑Fed” label could mislead consumers. The company will remove the combined claim from Anchor butter packaging, retaining only “Grass‑Fed,” while Greenpeace highlighted the use of imported palm kernel...
Malta Defies EU Push for Centralized Crypto Supervision
Malta is publicly opposing the European Union's draft framework that would move crypto supervision to the European Securities and Markets Authority. The island nation argues the shift would force it to relinquish direct oversight of major exchanges, threatening its reputation...
Uber's Chief Deputy GC: Legal Tech &Lsquo;Collaboration Must Replace Standardization'
Uber’s vice‑president and chief deputy general counsel, Katie Waitzman, highlighted that AI‑driven legal tech will transform productivity and knowledge management within corporate legal teams. She argued that collaboration, not rigid standardization, should guide the deployment of these tools. Uber’s legal...
Google X's Discovery, Litigation Strategy Leader: Gen AI Is &Lsquo;Fundamentally Reshaping' The Legal Department, Outside Counsel Relationship
Google X’s senior discovery and litigation strategy leader, Alex Ponce de Leon, announced that generative AI is fundamentally reshaping corporate legal departments and their reliance on outside counsel. He highlighted that AI‑driven tools are cutting document review times by up...
Cox Media Group's GC: Legal Tech Accelerates Bifurcation of Legal Profession
General counsel Eric D. Greenberg of Cox Media Group argues that legal technology is rapidly deepening the split between high‑value advisory services and commoditized transactional work. He notes that AI‑driven platforms and automation are pushing routine tasks into low‑cost solutions,...
Bird & Bird Re-Elects Bartsch for Second CEO Term
Bird & Bird re‑elected Christian Bartsch as CEO for a second four‑year term, reinforcing its ambition to reach €1 bn (≈$1.09 bn) in revenue by 2029. The firm posted a 6% revenue increase to €672.6 m (≈$733 m) for the year to 30 April 2025, marking...
James O’Keefe Served Restraining Order by Palm Beach Sheriff While Live on Air (VIDEO)
James O’Keefe was served a domestic‑violence restraining order live on air at his West Palm Beach headquarters. The order was filed by former Project Veritas board member Matthew Tyrmand, who O’Keefe alleges threatened his life. The incident follows a bitter power...
Rare Disease Advocacy Group Urges Trump Administration to Restore FDA Clarity
A coalition of nearly 100 rare‑disease patient groups, biotech executives and investors wrote to President Trump, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Medicare administrator Mehmet Oz and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary urging the administration to restore regulatory clarity at the...
New Section 1062 — Spreading Out the Tax Bill on Farmland Sales
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted July 4 2025, added Section 1062 to the Internal Revenue Code. The provision lets sellers of qualifying farmland defer the entire capital‑gain tax into four equal, interest‑free installments when the buyer is a qualified farmer. This...
Brendan Carr Ignores The Law, Rubber Stamps More Right Wing Media Consolidation, Then Lies About It
The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, approved Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna in a closed‑door vote, allowing the combined entity to reach 54.5 % of U.S. television households—well above the 39 % cap that previously limited market concentration. The...
Can You Take a Joke? Fifteen Years Later, the Answer Is Still “Maybe”
The blog revisits April Fools’ Day workplace prank litigation, recalling two 2011 cases and highlighting the 2023 *Banks v. GM* decision where a single noose created a hostile‑work‑environment claim. It underscores that jokes targeting race, sex, religion or disability cross the...
Sport Data Giant Sportradar Slapped with Lawsuits in UK and US
Sport data leader Sportradar, valued at $5 bn, is confronting lawsuits in both London’s High Court and the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. The claims, filed by betting‑software firm Altenar, accuse Sportradar of illegally blocking IMG’s renewal of a betting‑data contract,...
How Australia’s AML Reforms Are Reshaping FinCrime Strategies
Australia is poised to implement sweeping anti‑money‑laundering and counter‑terrorism financing reforms that pivot AUSTRAC toward outcomes‑based regulation. The changes compel banks and fintechs to shift from reactive detection to proactive prevention, emphasizing risk‑based strategies, biometric verification, and early‑stage safeguards. Industry...
NBA-SLP Emphasizes Need to Restore Confidence in the Profession …. To Hold Annual Annual Conference in Lagos; Set to Unveil...
The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Legal Practice (NBA‑SLP) will host its 2026 annual conference in Lagos from April 7‑10, centering on restoring confidence in the legal profession. Chairman Folashade Alli announced the launch of Nigeria’s first digital law‑firm directory,...
EU Bars AI-Generated Content From Official Communications, According to Politico
The European Commission, Parliament and Council have banned staff from using fully AI‑generated videos or images in official communications, allowing AI only for tasks like image‑quality enhancement. Officials say the rule protects authenticity and citizen trust. Experts argue the blanket...
The CMA's Programme of Work Across Mobile Platforms
On 22 October 2025 the UK Competition and Markets Authority designated Apple and Google with strategic market status for their mobile platforms, a five‑year designation covering operating systems, app stores and browsers. The CMA has issued roadmaps outlining voluntary commitments on app‑review...
☕ Morning Briefing — Wednesday, April 1, 2026
The Supreme Court issued an 8‑1 decision in *Chiles v. Salazar*, striking down Colorado’s law that barred therapists from discussing same‑sex attraction or gender transition with minors, deeming it viewpoint discrimination. A whistleblower alleges that Minnesota’s child‑care and Medicaid programs...
FDA, After Turbulent Year, Leaves Drugmakers Guessing on Its Direction
The FDA’s leadership turmoil has intensified under Commissioner Marty Makary, with the agency cycling through multiple heads of its CDER and CBER centers in just over a year. Public‑facing comments from senior officials have sparked sharp stock moves, most notably...
What to Know About the New IRS Digital Asset Rules
Digital assets, now a $3.2 trillion market, are moving into the mainstream as the IRS revamps its reporting framework. Starting in 2025, brokers must file Form 1099‑DA to disclose gross proceeds from crypto transactions, and from 2026 they will also report cost...
Elon Musk’s Coterie of Companies Are Getting More and More Pushback From Democrats
Democratic officials across the United States are intensifying pushback against Elon Musk’s portfolio of companies, from artificial intelligence to tunneling. Baltimore’s mayor and city council sued xAI, alleging its Grok model could turn uploaded photos into non‑consensual deepfakes. The city...
Attorney General Warns Merger Harms; Data Shows Fees Already Rising
Colorado Attorney General @pweiser said: “This merger would put @NXSTMediaGroup in a position to raise the fees paid by cable and satellite companies and fire many trusted local reporters as part of consolidating the two local news operations. Because of...
Empowerment or Exclusion? Navigating the EEOC’s New ‘Strict Neutrality’ Mandate
The EEOC sued Coca‑Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc. over a women‑only two‑day forum that provided paid travel, lodging and exclusive executive access, alleging sex discrimination under the agency’s new “strict neutrality” mandate. The lawsuit, filed on Feb. 17, 2026, challenges whether empowerment programs...
Regulators and Lawmakers Scrutinize Media‑tech Mergers and Partnerships
Policyband Headlines ■ @tedcruz, Cantwell Share ‘Process’ Concerns about @FCC Approval of Nexstar-TEGNA Merger ■ @NXSTMediaGroup Says Judge Created a ‘Governance Vacuum’ with TEGNA TRO ■ KeyBanc Analyst Nispel: New @ATT OneConnect Plan Aimed at Cable’s Mobile Strength ■ @AmazonLeo, @Delta Airlines Announce Wi-Fi...
CLARITY Act May Delay Crypto, Favor Established Players
LATEST: Cardano's Charles H says the CLARITY Act could take years to implement, be weaponized by future governments, and ultimately stifle new crypto projects while favoring established players https://t.co/pJgVIxyGXX
AirSlate SignNow Partners with OpenAI to Launch the First Native eSignature App in ChatGPT
airSlate SignNow has launched the first native eSignature application inside OpenAI's ChatGPT, allowing users to prepare, send, track and complete agreements through natural‑language prompts. The integration lets customers connect their SignNow accounts directly within ChatGPT, eliminating the need to switch...
Complaint Challenging Restrictions on Shareholder Proposal Rights
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and As You Sow have filed a complaint alleging the SEC illegally altered Rule 14a‑8, which protects shareholder proposal rights, by issuing blanket “no‑objection” letters without proper rulemaking. The agency’s new practice bypasses the...
Reading Between the Lines: The New SEC SOX Enforcement Group | Foley & Lardner
The SEC has launched a new Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) Enforcement Group, marking a rare expansion of its enforcement staff after a year of reductions. The move underscores Chairman Gary Gensler’s focus on financial and accounting fraud as a top priority. Analysts...
The Contents of Highlights & Insights on European Taxation, Issue 3, 2026
The European Commission has drafted a Regulation to create EU Inc., a unified limited‑liability company form usable in every Member State. The proposal targets legal fragmentation, offering fully digital, EU‑wide formation, filing and cross‑border operations, including a 48‑hour fast‑track registration...
7 Practical Tips for Planning Your Digital Legacy
Estate planners are urging individuals to treat digital assets—online accounts, cryptocurrency, subscriptions, and personal devices—as part of a comprehensive legacy strategy. Andy Hitchon of LEAP Legal outlines seven actionable steps, from inventorying every digital footprint to explicitly addressing crypto in...
ISDA Responds to EC Call for Evidence on Tax Omnibus
On March 30, ISDA, the International Securities Lending Association and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe submitted a response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the tax omnibus. They contend that divergent interpretations of “beneficial ownership” across...
FINRA’s Constitutional Wake-Up Call | LinkedIn
Federal courts this week dismissed two long‑standing FINRA and SEC doctrines, ruling that FINRA enforcement participants must not endure the full internal disciplinary process and SEC appeals before seeking judicial relief on constitutional grounds. The decisions also questioned FINRA's authority...
Press Release: SAP Taulia Comments on UK Government’s Latest Crackdown on Late Payments
The UK government has introduced its toughest crackdown on late payments in over 25 years, mandating large corporations to report payment performance in annual filings. SAP Taulia highlighted that only 37% of suppliers are paid on time, a decline from...
High Court Judge Orders Split Trial in £85m Vodafone Class Action Claim
A High Court judge has ordered the £85 million (≈ $109 million) class action by 62 former Vodafone franchisees to be heard in two separate trials, one on liability and another on damages. The claim alleges Vodafone breached its duty of good faith...
FCPA Compliance Programs Are Missing Important Nuances About How Bribery Works in the Persian Gulf
Four Western multinationals spent over $5 billion settling FCPA violations linked to Gulf Cooperation Council markets. Although each firm operated formal compliance programs, due‑diligence and audit reports, the controls failed because they were calibrated for Western commercial norms. The article highlights...
What Detractors Keep Getting Wrong About the FCPA
Critics argue that aggressive enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) puts American companies at a competitive disadvantage overseas. Experts counter that the law actually strengthens U.S. firms by forcing them to compete on quality, reliability and transparency rather...
NCLAT Directs Lower Tribunal to Hear Belgotex Insolvency Plea Afresh
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) overturned a New Delhi NCLT order that had rejected Belgotex India's Section 9 insolvency petition against distributor Puneet India. Belgotex, a carpet and vinyl flooring maker, claimed Puneet owed roughly ₹2.41 crore (about $290,000) but...
Data Sovereignty Now a Board‑level Infrastructure Priority
Sovereignty has gone from being a niche compliance concern to a board-level infrastructure priority. https://t.co/p9o7WKQHF9
Solicitor Suspended over Court Order Breaches
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal suspended Matthew Thomas Parish for two years after finding he breached court and anonymity orders, made false complaints to security agencies, and published defamatory press releases. Parish offered to withdraw those complaints in exchange for payment...
Inside View Podcast: Fusion’s Spin‑off From Webber Wentzel and some AI Home Truths
Legal IT Insider’s Inside View podcast reveals that Webber Wentzel’s innovation arm, Fusion, has spun off into an independent subsidiary, positioning itself as a full‑service product development and advisory firm. The new structure grants Fusion greater agility to serve legal...
Ex-USCIS Officer Shares Insights on Recent Approval Rates and Recent Approvals/Denials (Virtual Event)
Immigration attorney Evan Law will host a virtual Q&A on April 8, offering live insights into recent USCIS approval and denial trends. The session, scheduled for either 11:30 AM or 12:00 PM EDT, targets applicants, lawyers, and stakeholders seeking actionable guidance. Participants can...
US Tariff Refund Portal to Exclude One-Third of Imports at First
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection will launch an online portal to refund tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, initially covering about 63% of the 53 million import entries at issue. The first phase will process only non‑final duties, leaving...
APRA Releases Consultation on Remaking Level 3 Conglomerate Standards
On 31 March 2026, APRA issued a consultation to remake its Level 3 conglomerate prudential standards, which will sunset on 1 October 2026. The standards—3PS 310 (audit matters), 3PS 221 (aggregate risk exposures), and 3PS 222 (intra‑group transactions)—are slated for minor textual updates. APRA emphasizes that the revisions...
Gazprom Export Sues Former German Trading Subsidiary SEFE in Russian Court
Gazprom Export has filed a lawsuit against its former German trading arm SEFE Marketing & Trading in the St Petersburg Arbitration Court. SEFE, which was placed under German trusteeship in 2022 and nationalised with a €6.3 bn (≈ $6.9 bn) recapitalisation, now operates as a key...
Magic Circle Duo Announce Partner Promotions
Linklaters announced 37 new partners worldwide, up from 34 last year, with the bulk in litigation, arbitration and corporate practices. The cohort includes 14 partners in the UK, 12 in Europe, seven in Asia and four in the US. Fieldfisher...