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
Global Value Chains and the Separate-Entity Principle: Rethinking Intra-Group Relationships in Corporate Law and International Tax Law
Global value chains now account for nearly 70% of world trade, linking design, production, branding, and sales across multiple jurisdictions. This economic integration challenges the traditional separate‑entity principle that underpins corporate and international tax law, which treat each group company as a distinct legal person. While corporate law largely preserves entity‑by‑entity liability, tax law is gradually incorporating group‑level mechanisms such as Country‑by‑Country Reporting and the Pillar Two global minimum tax. The article argues that both legal regimes must evolve to reflect the reality of integrated multinational enterprises.
Autopilots Can Absorb $60bn of Legal Work – Sequoia
Sequoia Capital estimates that AI‑driven “autopilot” tools could absorb roughly $60 billion of legal work currently handled by external providers, covering paralegal/LPO services ($36 billion) and transactional contracts ($20‑25 billion). The firm’s Julien Bek frames legal services as a spectrum between “intelligence” – rule‑based,...
The EU CRA – Treating Cybersecurity as Product Liability
The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) moves cybersecurity from post‑incident tort claims to product‑level liability, obligating manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure devices are secure by design, supported and able to report vulnerabilities. The regulation, which entered force on Dec 10 2024,...
South Africa’s Taxman Is Coming for Online Earners
South Africa’s revenue service (SARS) is intensifying efforts to identify and tax online earners, from influencers to crypto traders, using platform data and advanced analytics. The crackdown arrives as more Africans generate income outside traditional employment, raising compliance challenges for...
Due-Diligence Gaps Fuel Uptick in M&A Disputes in 2025 – Survey
A BRG survey of over 200 deal professionals found that 46% of M&A disputes in 2025 stemmed from due‑diligence gaps, the highest level since the study began. Earn‑out disagreements surged to 35%, up 11 points, while purchase‑price allocation issues fell...
EDiscovery Vendor Viability Scoring Tool: Making the Subjective Objective
ComplexDiscovery launched an interactive calculator that applies its Total Success Predictor Rating (TSPR) framework to evaluate eDiscovery vendor viability. The tool lets users rate up to five vendors across four categories—Capability, Communication, Commerce, and Authenticity—over configurable periods, producing Success Predictor...
UK’s Domestic Abuse (Pets) Bill Gets Second Reading
The UK Parliament is set to give a second reading to the Domestic Abuse (Pets) Bill, a private members’ proposal that expands the Family Law Act 1996 to protect pets in domestic‑abuse cases. Drafted by barrister Christina Warner, the bill...
Listen: Will the EU Ban Conversion Practices for LGBTQ People?
Only eight EU countries have outlawed conversion practices, yet about a quarter of LGBTQ people in the bloc have experienced them. A European Citizens’ Initiative has collected 1.25 million signatures urging the European Commission to act before mid‑May. The EU can...
Government Likely to Extend SIM-Binding Deadline for WhatsApp, Telegram and Other Messaging Platforms: Report
India's Department of Telecommunications will push the SIM‑binding compliance deadline for messaging apps to the end of December 2026, after companies cited technical hurdles. The rule, introduced in November 2025, requires apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal to link accounts...
Shippers to Bear Cost of Abandoned Cargo Under China’s Revised Maritime Law
Effective May 1, 2026, China’s revised Maritime Law overturns the long‑standing rule that consignees bear the cost of unclaimed cargo. Article 93 now assigns all port charges, demurrage, storage, disposal and legal fees to the contractual shipper—the party that booked the...
Employer Ordered to Compensate Manager for "Extremely Harsh" Dismissal
The Fair Work Commission ruled that a senior manager at Tamworth Dementia Respite Service was dismissed in an “extremely harsh” manner after taking leave for a psychological injury and being falsely accused of financial mismanagement. The Commission found the accusations...
Depreciation on ACV Is OK, Court Says in Knocking Down Class Action Vs. Cincinnati
The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a property insurer's right to apply depreciation to actual cash value (ACV) payments, confirming that clear policy language governs such deductions. The ruling dismissed a proposed class‑action by Florida‑based Schoening Properties, which...
Ex-Brookfield VP Claims Wrongful Firing Over Charlie Kirk Post
Former Brookfield Asset Management senior vice president Jennifer Kipley filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination after an Instagram post referencing Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump. She contends the post, made on a personal account, was misinterpreted and triggered an online...
After Cultivated Meat, Mississippi Becomes First US State to Ban Cell-Cultured Dairy
Mississippi enacted the nation’s first ban on cultivated dairy products, effective July 1, with violations punishable by fines up to $10,000 and possible license suspension. Governor Tate Reeves allowed the bill to become law without signing it. The legislation targets cell‑based...
A President Retires
The episode examines how a child's financial support can vary dramatically depending on whether their parents are married, in a civil partnership, or merely cohabiting. It highlights that the legal framework often grants higher benefits to the custodial parent in...
Malaysia Jails Ex-Babysitter for 1 Year over Toddler’s Death
The Kuala Lumpur court sentenced former babysitter Khairunnisa Ahmad Damamhuri to one year in prison and a 15,000‑ringgit (≈ $3,800) fine after a 15‑month‑old toddler died under her watch at a Bandar Sri Senda‑yan nursery. The child, known as Baby Syifaa,...
Mega Deals Power Sullivan & Cromwell and Wachtell to Summit of Global Q1 M&A Ranking
Sullivan & Cromwell topped the global M&A legal‑advisor rankings for Q1, handling 36 transactions worth just under $178 bn—about 18% more than runner‑up Wachtell, which closed 23 deals for $149.6 bn. Their lead was boosted by advising OpenAI on a $110 bn equity raise...
OPSM and Laubman & Pank Franchisor Pays Penalty for Alleged Breach of Franchising Code
Luxottica Franchising Australia, the operator of OPSM and Laubman & Pank, paid a $19,800 AUD penalty (approximately $13,000 USD) after the ACCC issued an infringement notice for failing to keep its Franchise Disclosure Register profile current. The breach violated the...
Managing Uncertainty in Benefit-Cost Analysis
Since the Reagan era, federal agencies have relied on benefit‑cost analysis to justify regulations, but a 2025 OMB report shows that over a third of major non‑transfer rules still lack quantified costs or benefits. Scholars argue this gap fuels both...
How Legal Systems Can Avoid the Pitfalls of Mass Arbitration
In early 2020 a San Francisco judge forced DoorDash to honor its own arbitration clause after more than 5,000 drivers filed individual demands, spending over $1 million in fees while the company balked at $12 million in administrative costs. The case illustrates how...
Davis Polk Discusses Federal Banking Agency Guidance on Capital Treatment of Tokenized Securities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC issued FAQs clarifying that tokenized securities receive the same capital treatment as their traditional counterparts only when they confer identical legal rights. The guidance defines...
Media Buying Briefing: What Will Meta’s and YouTube’s Legal Losses Mean for the Marketplace?
In late March courts in New Mexico and California held Meta and YouTube liable for using addictive tactics that harm young users, issuing $375 million and $6 million verdicts respectively. While the monetary penalties are modest for the platforms, the rulings provide a...
Big Retailers Say UK Jobs at Risk From Guaranteed Hours Reforms
The UK Employment Rights Act, set to take effect in April, will extend guaranteed‑hours protections to workers on zero‑hour and low‑hour contracts, alongside new rights on sick pay, sexual harassment and parental leave. The British Retail Consortium warns that more...
Canadian Bar Association Pushes Back Against Pitched Modification of Judicial Appointment Process
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) has publicly opposed recent proposals that would allow provincial governments to veto federal judicial appointments, warning that such changes would politicize a system that has remained largely apolitical for more than 150 years. The current...
Paul Weiss, Jones Day, Wachtell, Macfarlanes Advise on Sysco’s $29bn Purchase of Restaurant Depot
Sysco is acquiring Jetro Restaurant Depot in a deal valued at roughly $29 bn, advised by Paul Weiss, Jones Day, Wachtell and Macfarlanes. The transaction provides $21.6 bn in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares priced at $81.80, yielding an enterprise value of...
Regulatory Reform for Sustainable Consumption in the FMCG Sector: The Case of Low TFM Soap Bar
The IPPR paper argues that science‑based regulatory reform can boost resource efficiency in India’s FMCG sector, using a low‑Total Fatty Matter (TFM) soap bar as a case study. Reducing TFM—derived mainly from palm oil—through alternative structurants can maintain product performance...
Employee Awarded $90k in First S-Xual Harassment Ruling of Its Kind
Australia’s Federal Circuit Court ordered a café owner to pay $90,000 AUD (about $60,000 USD) in compensation and penalties to a former employee, marking the first published decision under the 2023 Secure Jobs, Better Pay reforms. The claim was brought under section 527D...
Irish Councils Acquire 99 Homes via Compulsory Purchase Orders in 2025
Ireland's 31 local authorities bought a total of 99 derelict homes and land through compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in 2025, according to Freedom of Information data. Monaghan County led the effort with 17 acquisitions, while 11 councils bought none, underscating...
U.S. Government Bans Foreign‑Made Wi‑Fi Routers Over Security Concerns
The U.S. government announced a ban on foreign‑manufactured Wi‑Fi routers, citing national‑security concerns. The move immediately affects retailers and consumers, raising questions about supply‑chain adjustments and future regulatory actions.
Toys “R” Us Canada Files for Creditor Protection, Plans Store Closures and Sale
Toys “R” Us Canada, operating 22 stores nationwide, has entered creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and announced a wave of store closures. The chain owes roughly $120 million CAD (about $88 million USD) to vendors and is preparing to...
IRS Warns Real‑Estate Investors of Ten Tax Scams That Can Slash Returns
The IRS’s 2026 “Dirty Dozen” warning highlights ten tax‑scam tactics that could drain real‑estate investors’ returns. Industry analysts say the scams—ranging from phishing emails to fake tax credits—are especially risky for investors who file complex returns, and they urge stricter...
Washington Sues Kalshi, Sparking Legal‑Tech Regulatory Fight
Washington Attorney General Nicholas Brown sued prediction‑market platform Kalshi, alleging the service violates state gambling laws. Kalshi responded by seeking a transfer to federal court, arguing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should regulate its contracts, a dispute that could reshape...
Robert Half Report Maps Legal Digitization Roadmap for Law Firms
Robert Half published a thought‑leadership report titled “The Digitization of the Legal Profession: How to Adapt, Innovate and Thrive.” The paper offers a step‑by‑step roadmap for law firms and corporate legal departments to adopt cloud‑based contracts, automated compliance and AI...
India Launches Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot at National Legal Tech Consultation
Vice‑President C.P. Radhakrishnan chaired a national consultation on tech‑enabled legal services, unveiling the Nyaya Setu AI chatbot and drawing roughly 1,200 stakeholders, including Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The launch is part of the DISHA Scheme’s Tele‑Law initiative, aimed at...
Law Firms and In‑House Teams Ramp Up AI‑Ready Hiring as Talent Gap Widens
Legal leaders are overhauling hiring strategies as AI tools become core to contract drafting, e‑discovery and compliance. Seventy‑one percent of firms plan new permanent hires, yet 99% warn of difficulty finding the right hybrid talent, highlighting a widening skills gap...
Hiring New Attorney as AI Accelerates Firm’s Pace
We’re going to hire another attorney this week. We will be at 10 people at the firm (7 attorneys, 3 staff). As the firm grows, some thoughts: 1) Everything is getting faster. Technology is great. AI has made us all much...
EU Parliament Extends AI Act Deadlines to 2027, Raising Stakes for HR‑Tech Vendors
The European Parliament voted to postpone key AI Act compliance dates, moving the high‑risk AI deadline to December 2027 and sector‑specific rules to August 2028, while banning “nudify” generative‑AI apps. The shift offers HR‑tech companies breathing room but underscores tighter scrutiny on...
Papaya Global Flags Critical Infrastructure Gap in Multiplier’s EOR Platform
Papaya Global says Multiplier’s Employer of Record service lacks a regulated financial backbone, meaning it cannot guarantee timely payroll or meet AML/KYC standards. The contrast highlights a compliance risk for enterprises expanding across 150+ countries.
Judge Halts Pentagon's Attempt to Flag Anthropic as Supply‑Chain Risk
A U.S. district judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Defense from labeling AI startup Anthropic as a supply‑chain risk. The ruling underscores a clash between defense‑sector security protocols and the fast‑moving AI industry, with both sides vowing...
What Happens to Your Photos When You Die and What to Do About It Now
Photographers often overlook estate planning for their image archives, despite decades of work representing a valuable intellectual property asset. Under U.S. copyright law, creators retain rights for life plus 70 years, allowing the archive to generate income for heirs. David...
Artificial Intelligence in Federal Courts: A Random-Sample Survey of Judges
A new study surveyed 502 federal judges, receiving 112 responses, to gauge AI usage in the judiciary. While most respondents have tried AI tools, 38% admit they never use them, and daily or weekly use remains rare. Judges favor integrated...
U.S. Closes China’s De Minimis Shipping Loophole, Raising Stakes for Cross‑Border E‑Commerce
The United States has moved to eliminate China’s exploitation of the de minimis duty‑free exemption, a change that will curb the flood of low‑value parcels that have undercut domestic sellers. The policy shift follows a bipartisan congressional probe and a...
Trump Pushes Silicon Valley Into Nuclear Regulation, Sparking VC Surge
The Trump administration has placed 31‑year‑old lawyer Seth Cohen at the helm of nuclear policy, accelerating deregulation and inviting a flood of Silicon Valley capital into nuclear startups. The move follows the firing of NRC commissioner Christopher Hanson and a...
AI in Discovery: Some Tools Are Ready. Others Are Not.
Generative AI is rapidly entering legal discovery, promising faster document analysis but still facing reliability gaps. While some AI‑driven platforms can automate routine review, many fall short of the rigorous standards required for privileged document handling. Jerry Lawson argues that...
Ripple Nears Launch of U.S. National Trust Bank as OCC Rules Take Effect
Ripple is advancing toward the launch of its National Trust Bank after receiving conditional approval from the OCC in December. The bank would become the first U.S. chartered institution built around digital assets, leveraging the upcoming OCC digital‑asset amendments that...
Saudi Central Bank Issues Open‑Banking Licences to Fintech Firms
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the issuance of open‑banking licences to fintech companies, granting them formal access to banks' data APIs. The regulatory step aims to accelerate digital payments, lending and wealth‑tech services in the kingdom, though the exact...
Talero Brokerage Secures NFA Approval, Boosting Transparency
Big news from @MattLeech - Talero Brokerage getting NFA approval shows MyFundedFutures commitment to regulatory compliance. This kind of transparency matters for trader confidence. Compare all regulated prop firms at https://t.co/pKoy2KGz8x 🏛️📈
Philly Courts Will Ban All Smart Eyeglasses Starting Next Week
Philadelphia’s First Judicial District announced a ban on all smart or AI‑integrated eyewear effective Monday. Any glasses with video or audio recording capabilities will be prohibited throughout courthouses, even if prescribed, with violations potentially resulting in contempt charges. The policy...
‘Inaccurate’: ACMA Raps Four Corners over Cotton Fire Coverage
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ruled that the ABC’s Four Corners episode “Water Grab” breached the broadcaster’s code of practice on accuracy and impartiality. The program alleged that Claravale pastoral station illegally used fire to clear land for...
South Africa Extends Shared Parental Leave to 4 Months 10 Days
South Africa has enacted an amendment that grants every parent a shared entitlement of four months and ten days of parental leave, eliminating separate maternity and paternity categories. The change follows a 2025 Constitutional Court ruling and is intended to...