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
Today in Supreme Court History: March 29, 1937
On March 29, 1937 the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, upholding Washington State’s minimum‑wage statute for women and minors. The decision reversed the Court’s earlier Lochner‑era stance against economic regulation and signaled a broader acceptance of New Deal‑era labor reforms. Justice Hughes’ opinion emphasized the state’s interest in protecting workers’ health and welfare. The case is widely viewed as the judicial pivot that ended the Court’s hostility toward government‑mandated wage standards.
Teaching Contract Negotiation: Using the Mutual Gains Approach
The Program on Negotiation’s Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (TNRC) offers a suite of contract‑negotiation simulations that teach the mutual‑gains approach, moving participants away from positional bargaining. Featured exercises include the GE International Contract, Flagship Airways restructuring, and Ad Sales, Inc....
Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners
Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa introduced a new "Supreme One-Liners" series, offering ultra‑short digests of the latest Supreme Court of Canada rulings. The first installment spotlights a leave to appeal granted in American Pacific Corp. v. RPG Receivables Purchase Group,...
Ferguson Signs Bill Creating Blue Envelope Program to Improve Traffic Stops for Neurodivergent Drivers
Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washington's House Bill 2323, creating a statewide Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism and other neurodivergent conditions. The free envelope, available at licensing offices, holds registration, insurance proof, and a guide for both drivers and...
Ontario Murder Trial Highlights Systemic Failures in Child Welfare
Burlington couple Becky Hamber and Brandy Cooney are on trial for the murder of a 12‑year‑old Indigenous boy, with advocates saying at least six abuse reports were ignored. The case has ignited a national debate over child‑welfare oversight and a...
Legal Psilocybin Retreats Report Healing Gains for Dozens of Participants
Legal psilocybin retreats in Oregon have documented therapeutic benefits for dozens of participants, including 70‑year‑old Martha Stem, who said the experience helped her confront decades of trauma. The trend underscores a growing convergence of regulated psychedelics and meditation as an...
U.S. Flags Surge in China’s Detention of Panama‑Flagged Ships After Port Concessions Ended
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission says China has sharply increased detentions of Panama‑flagged vessels after Panama voided Hong Kong‑based CK Hutchison’s port concessions. The move threatens a sizable share of U.S. container trade and could spark broader commercial fallout.
Liquidia CCO Scott Moomaw Sells 80,000 Shares for $2.8 Million
Liquidia's Chief Commercial Officer, Scott Moomaw, exercised stock options and immediately sold 80,000 shares for $2.8 million at $35.32 per share. The transaction, executed under a pre‑arranged Rule 10b5‑1 plan, reduces his direct holdings by roughly 30% while leaving over 25,000 options...
Courts Accelerate AI Use as Labour Court Issues Guidance on AI Evidence
U.S. federal district courts have now integrated generative AI tools in over 40% of jurisdictions, while Ireland's Labour Court released its first guidance on the limits of AI‑generated evidence. The twin developments underscore both efficiency gains and mounting accuracy concerns...
Indonesia Bans Social Media for Under‑16s, Joining Global Push on Child Online Safety
Indonesia’s communications minister announced a nationwide ban on social‑media access for anyone under 16, aiming to curb addiction, cyber‑bullying and online fraud. The move follows Australia’s similar rule and adds Indonesia to a growing list of countries tightening digital safety...
Bank of America Agrees to $72.5 Million Epstein Lawsuit Settlement
Bank of America has agreed to a $72.5 million settlement to end a lawsuit claiming the bank helped Jeffrey Epstein move money and evade scrutiny. The deal, announced Thursday, underscores heightened regulatory pressure on major banks to tighten anti‑money‑laundering controls.
Five9 President Sells $147K in Stock via 10b5‑1 Plan Amid 49% Share Decline
Five9 President Andy Dignan sold 8,293 shares of the company's common stock for roughly $147,000, representing 2.8% of his holdings. The sale combined mandatory tax withholding from RSU vesting and a pre‑arranged 10b5‑1 trading plan, and comes as Five9’s share...
RBI Unveils Payments Vision 2028: E‑Cheques, Platform Oversight and New Cross‑Border Rails
The Reserve Bank of India has released its Payments Vision 2028, a three‑year roadmap that proposes electronic cheques, tighter oversight of digital commerce platforms and a revamp of cross‑border payment mechanisms. The plan aims to deepen trust, broaden inclusivity and...
Bill Pushes to Protect Sexual Offence Survivors’ Right to Education Amid Implementation Debate
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2023 seeks to embed survivors' right to education within Kenyan law, mandating awareness campaigns and school‑re‑entry programmes. Debate centres on which cabinet secretary should oversee implementation, with the legal affairs portfolio contested by gender and...
Navigating Share Purchase Agreements versus Asset Purchase Agreements in the HealthTech and MedTech Ecosystems
In the UK HealthTech and MedTech sectors, choosing between a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) determines how regulatory licences, intellectual property, and liabilities are transferred. An SPA keeps the target company intact, preserving MHRA authorisations,...
Texas’ Drag Show Restrictions Take Effect After Years of Court Challenges
Texas Senate Bill 12, which bars drag performers from dancing suggestively or wearing certain prosthetics on public property or before children, took effect on March 18 after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed the law. The statute imposes...
NCLAT Rejects BSE Pleas on Demat Account Freezing During Insolvency
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) dismissed two appeals filed by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that sought to limit the National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) power to defreeze Demat accounts of insolvent companies. The tribunal affirmed that the...
Dads Online Welcomes Aston Legal Group as Exclusive Family Law Partner
Australian support platform Dads Online announced a partnership with Aston Legal Group, naming it its exclusive family law partner. The collaboration integrates professional legal guidance into Dads Online’s existing resources for fathers navigating separation and divorce. By combining practical parenting...
Future US Governments Could Crack Down on Crypto without Clear Rules: Coin Center
Coin Center warns that the failure of the CLARITY Act – a crypto market‑structure bill that would grant statutory developer protections – could open the door to a harsher regulatory environment under future U.S. administrations. The legislation, stalled in the...
KPPU Slaps $44m Fine on P2P Lenders over Cartel Scheme
Indonesia's Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has fined 97 peer‑to‑peer fintech lenders a combined Rp 755 billion (approximately US $44.6 million) for operating an interest‑rate cartel. The firms were found to have colluded on rate caps set well above market equilibrium, violating Article 5 of...
KLIA Highway Stalled by Missing RM500M, Public Pays Twice
The highway to KLIA is 83% done and has been sitting that way because RM500 million meant for construction never made it to the right accounts. Fourteen investors are now in court chasing RM1.38 billion — and the road still needs...
Rideshare Giants Failing to Respond to Predatory Drivers, Labor Warns
Australia’s Labor Minister Amanda Rishworth is pressuring Uber and other rideshare firms to overhaul their handling of sexual‑misconduct complaints after investigations revealed drivers were often reinstated without proper evidence. The Fair Work Commission, empowered by gig‑economy unfair‑dismissal laws introduced in...
How to Find Peer Review Opportunities (Part 1).
The post outlines a step‑by‑step method for industry professionals—especially those without a PhD—to secure peer‑review assignments that can bolster EB‑1A, EB‑2 NIW, or O‑1 immigration petitions. It begins by advising readers to pinpoint relevant conferences and then leverages professional networks,...
Ofsted Lifts Suspension of Caversham Playday Nursery After Improvements
Ofsted has lifted the registration suspension of Caversham Playday nursery after the provider satisfied all remedial actions. The regulator’s decision follows strengthened recruitment, safeguarding and record‑keeping measures at the Hemdean Road site and the closure of the Milestone Way location.
Toys "R" Us Canada Enters Creditor Protection, Plans Store Closures and Sale
Toys "R" Us Canada, the independent operator of the iconic toy‑store brand, filed for protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, announced the closure of multiple locations and a plan to sell the remaining business. The chain owes roughly $120 million to vendors...
Meta Hit with $375 Million Verdict over Child Safety Violations on Instagram and Facebook
A Santa Fe jury ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to pay $375 million after finding its Instagram and Facebook services designed to harm minors. The verdict follows a $6 million California judgment and signals a new legal front targeting social‑media product design, raising stakes...
AI Drives Fundamental Shift in Indian Law Firms, Threatening Junior Roles
Indian law firms are embedding artificial‑intelligence tools into core functions, compressing research cycles and prompting a rethink of junior hiring. The efficiency gains are pushing clients to demand outcome‑based fees, while legal‑tech startups intensify competition for routine work.
Soxton AI Acquires Cipher, Adding Agentic Security to Its AI Legal Platform
Soxton AI completed the acquisition of Cipher, a real‑time security platform for agentic applications, using its own AI‑driven legal tools and cutting legal fees by roughly $80,000. The deal broadens Soxton’s full‑stack offering to include autonomous workflow protection for early‑stage...
Palo Alto Networks CEO’s $10 Million Insider Purchase Triggers Trading Alert
Palo Alto Networks chief executive Nikesh Arora purchased about $10 million worth of company stock, sparking an SEC insider‑trading alert. The buy comes as the cybersecurity sector slides after an Anthropic AI security report, putting pressure on Palo Alto’s share price.
VDX.tv’s 90‑Day Cookie Harvest Triggers Privacy Alarm
Exponential Interactive’s VDX.tv is gathering extensive personal and behavioural data through cookies that last up to 90 days, including IP addresses, device identifiers and browsing histories. The practice has ignited privacy‑governance concerns among regulators and consumer‑rights groups, highlighting the tension...
U.S. Closes China’s De‑Minimis Shipping Loophole, Tightening Cross‑Border E‑Commerce Rules
Congress and the Trump administration have closed the de‑minimis loophole that allowed Chinese sellers to ship millions of low‑value packages duty‑free into the United States. The move targets a high‑volume trade channel that undercut U.S. retailers and weakened negotiating leverage...
South Dakota Bill Requires New Voters to Prove US Citizenship for State Elections
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 175, requiring new voter registrants to provide proof of U.S. citizenship for state elections. Existing voters remain unaffected, and those who do not submit documentation can still vote in federal contests only....
UN Experts Welcome Anti-Mercenary Law in Colombia
UN experts praised President Gustavo Petro’s ratification of the 1989 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, marking Colombia’s first comprehensive anti‑mercenary law. The legislation targets private military and security companies that have profited from the country’s...
“US Judiciary Withdraws New Requirements for Amicus Brief Disclosures”
The U.S. Judicial Conference has officially withdrawn a proposed amendment that would have tightened disclosure requirements for amicus curiae briefs. The original rule sought to mandate detailed information about the brief’s sponsors, funding sources, and any related interests. After extensive...
UMG's 83‑Page Appeal Calls Drake's Defamation Claim ‘Astoundingly Hypocritical’
Universal Music Group filed an 83‑page appellate brief in the Second Circuit, arguing that Drake's attempt to revive his defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics should be rejected. The filing calls Drake’s legal strategy “astoundingly hypocritical” and reiterates the district...
DOE Pushes Fast-Track Reactor Licensing at Idaho Lab, Raising Uranium Mining Stakes
The Department of Energy convened senior officials at Idaho National Laboratory, with 31‑year‑old lawyer Seth Cohen steering a fast‑track licensing push for advanced nuclear reactors. The meeting underscored a Trump‑era overhaul of nuclear regulation and signaled a potential surge in...
Urban Intelligence Unveils Daaisy AI to Streamline ACT Development Planning
Urban Intelligence has launched Daaisy AI, a new artificial‑intelligence platform designed to simplify activity‑centric planning (ACT) for real‑estate developers in the Australian Capital Territory. The tool promises to cut the time and cost of development applications, a move the company...
India's VP Radhakrishnan Leads National Consultation, Launches AI Legal Chatbot Nyaya Setu
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan chaired a national consultation in New Delhi, unveiling the AI-powered legal chatbot Nyaya Setu and gathering roughly 1,200 officials, lawyers and village entrepreneurs. The event, part of the DISHA Scheme’s Tele‑Law initiative, aims to scale digital...
House Republicans Approve Stopgap DHS Funding After Rejecting Senate Version
House Republicans passed a short‑term Department of Homeland Security funding bill, sidestepping a Senate proposal that excluded ICE and CBP money. The move underscores escalating partisan battles over immigration enforcement and broader executive authority.
SWITZERLAND APPROVES NEW TRANSIT FEE FOR FOREIGN DRIVERS
Switzerland's National Council approved a new transit fee for foreign drivers, charging roughly 21 Swiss francs (about $23) per crossing in addition to the existing annual vignette. The measure, championed by SVP lawmaker Marco Chiesa, targets short‑duration cross‑border trips that...
SEC Extends Fee Discounts to Boost MSME Growth
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended fee discounts for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to promote growth and lower compliance costs. Under Memorandum Circular No. 13, Series of 2026, a 20% discount on corporate registration fees will...
Specialized Real Estate Team Supports Probate Attorneys Efficiently
In probate and estate real estate, your clients need more than a sign in the ground—they need a team that understands your fiduciary duties, court timelines, and risk profile. I partner with probate and trusts & estates attorneys across New York...
Pasadena Seeks Exemption From Transit‑friendly SB 79 Amid Rising Rents
Even as rents rise, Pasadena is trying to get carved out from SB 79, a bill that would make it easier to build apartments near transit. https://t.co/8Ku8qFkpZW
Kalshi Legal Woes Grow with Washington State Gambling Suit
Kalshi, a U.S. prediction‑market platform, is now facing a lawsuit from Washington state alleging violations of the state Gambling Act, Consumer Protection Act, and related statutes. The suit claims Kalshi’s betting model mirrors traditional gambling, despite the company’s branding as...
Congressional Push to Suspend Gasoline Tax as Fuel Prices Spike to $90 per Barrel
U.S. lawmakers are advancing a proposal to temporarily suspend the federal gasoline tax in response to soaring fuel costs, with crude oil prices climbing above $90 a barrel after the Iran conflict escalated. The move aims to ease pressure on...
UK Budget Overhaul on April 6 Cuts Tax Reliefs, Hits Millions of Households
The UK Treasury’s budget changes taking effect on April 6 eliminate full inheritance tax relief for AIM shares, cap agricultural property relief at £2.5 million, and raise dividend tax rates. The measures upend decades‑long planning for retirees, small‑business owners and asset‑rich families,...
Aurora Legal CEO Leads CLE Session at Miami‑Dade Bar, Marking Consulting Push Into Legal Education
Aurora Legal Marketing and Consulting founder Edward Gelb delivered a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentation at the Miami‑Dade Bar’s 2nd Annual Success Summit on March 6, 2026. His session, “From Overworked Technician to Attorney CEO,” signaled a growing trend of...
Nepal Police Detain Former Prime Minister Over September Protests, New Govt Seeks Stability
Nepal police have taken former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai into custody over protests that erupted in September, citing alleged involvement in unrest. The arrest comes as newly elected premier Balendra Shah emphasizes cooperation with India to steady the country’s political...
Microsoft Names First Chief Responsible AI Officer, Charts Non‑technical Governance Path
Microsoft announced the appointment of its inaugural Chief Responsible AI Officer, a senior executive tasked with overseeing ethical AI practices across the company. The role emphasizes policy, culture and cross‑functional leadership rather than technical engineering, signaling a new governance model...
EPA Boosts Renewable Fuel Standard to 25.9 Billion RINs, Industry Demands Biodiesel Tax Credit
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized its “Set 2” Renewable Fuel Standard, raising the 2026 target to 25.82 billion Renewable Identification Numbers and the 2027 target to 25.98 billion. Fuel‑retail groups representing 90% of U.S. retail fuel sales praised the move but urged Congress...