Today's Legal Pulse
UK pushes commonhold reform to boost housing supply
The Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill proposes abolishing leasehold and mandating new homes be sold as commonhold, tying the change to a target of delivering 1.5 million homes annually—the highest since 1968. The model remains untested, with fewer than 25 developments and unresolved issues around dispute resolution.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Congress Urged to Protect Live Sports on Broadcast TV
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), backed by all 50 state broadcaster associations, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, has urged Congress to revisit the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act. The coalition argues that the rise of streaming paywalls is eroding free, over‑the‑air access to live sports, a staple of American culture. NAB’s resolution calls on lawmakers to assess whether current distribution practices serve the public interest and preserve broad fan access. The appeal arrives amid bipartisan scrutiny and an FCC investigation into fragmented sports‑rights deals.
DOJ, DEA Reschedule Medical Cannabis Products
The U.S. Justice Department and DEA have reclassified FDA‑approved and state‑licensed medical cannabis products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The change follows a 2025 Trump executive order and a 2024 DEA proposal that attracted 43,000 public...
Case to Replace Puerto Rico Electrical Distributor Remanded to Local Court
A U.S. district judge remanded a lawsuit seeking to replace LUMA Energy back to Puerto Rico's local court, marking a victory for Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon and a setback for the island's Oversight Board. The ruling allows the governor to file motions...
Court Strikes Allegations About Israeli History From Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Semitism at CUNY
A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed 13 paragraphs of historical background from Avraham Goldstein’s Title VII lawsuit against CUNY, ruling the content immaterial to his discrimination claims. Goldstein, an Israeli‑born assistant professor, alleges retaliation for criticizing a campus “Palestinian Solidarity Series.”...
How Government Decisions During War Echo Long After Service Ends
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the combatant‑activities exemption in the Federal Tort Claims Act does not shield defense contractors from state tort claims, allowing the lawsuit against Fluor over a 2016 suicide bombing at Bagram to proceed. Justice...
Dua Lipa Launches Multimillion-Dollar Suit Against Samsung
British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics seeking at least $15 million in damages, alleging the company used her image on television packaging without permission. The complaint says Samsung placed a copyrighted photo of Lipa on...
Europe’s Battery Law Has a Chemistry Problem
The EU Battery Regulation mandates recycled‑content quotas for cobalt, nickel, lithium and lead, but it does not reward lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) chemistry. As European automakers increasingly adopt LFP for low‑cost EVs and stationary storage, recyclers face slimmer margins because LFP lacks...
Why Raising Cane's Once Got In A Legal Battle With Bob Marley's Estate
In December 2013 the Bob Marley estate sued Raising Cane's, alleging that the chicken chain’s 2005 trademark of the phrase “One Love” blocked the estate from protecting its own “Marley One Love” brand. The lawsuit claimed infringement, dilution and false...
California AG: “Red Flags Everywhere” In Paramount-Warner Bros Deal
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the state is actively investigating Paramount Global’s $6.2 billion proposal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, citing antitrust red flags such as higher prices, lower wages, and reduced competition. While no formal lawsuit has been...
RIA Employee Was Sane in 2022 when He Committed Double Murder, Jury Rules
An Orange County jury found former Pence Wealth Management research associate Ramy Hany Mounir Fahim legally sane for the double homicide of his co‑worker Griffin Cuomo and Cuomo’s roommate Johnathan Bahm in April 2022. Fahim received two consecutive life sentences...
Spotlight On: Rituxan® (Rituximab) / Truxima® (Rituximab-Abbs) / Ruxience® (Rituximab-Pvvr) / Riabni™ (Rituximab-Arrx) - May 2026
The May 2026 Spotlight On piece examines how the core rituximab patents behind Rituxan®, Truxima®, Ruxience® and Riabni™ are being contested in both inter partes reviews (IPRs) and federal litigation. It explains that each claim is tallied separately in every proceeding,...
Trump Lawyer John Sarcone Engaged in 'Professional Misconduct,' Committee Finds
New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee concluded there was sufficient basis to find former Trump campaign lawyer John Sarcone guilty of professional misconduct. The finding follows Sarcone’s controversial criminal probe of Attorney General Letitia James and a federal judge’s ruling that...
SALT Scoreboard – First Quarter 2026
Eversheds Sutherland released the inaugural 2026 SALT Scoreboard, a quarterly snapshot of significant state and local tax (SALT) litigation outcomes. The Q1 edition catalogs taxpayer wins and losses, highlighting trends around Public Law 86-272 and intercompany transfer disputes. A dedicated...
The CLOC Global Institute: Some Changes And Challenges
The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) Global Institute will convene May 11‑14 in Chicago, shifting from its long‑standing Las Vegas venue. Over 2,100 legal‑ops professionals from more than 25 countries are expected, with 90 sessions and 200 speakers tackling AI’s...
Texas Sues Netflix Over 'Surveillance,' 'Addictive' Design
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit accusing Netflix of violating state consumer‑protection law by secretly collecting user data and employing addictive design features such as autoplay. The complaint references a 2024 Dutch regulator fine of roughly $5 million for...
Spotlight On: Biosimilar Litigations - May 2026
The May 2026 Venable LLP update delineates which disputes qualify as biosimilar litigations. It includes lawsuits between biosimilar applicants or manufacturers and reference‑product sponsors, as well as conflicts among biosimilar firms themselves. It expressly excludes disputes solely between reference‑product sponsors, university‑sponsor...
Part II: Déjà Vu at the CRU: Strategy Under the New Pre-Order Paper Procedure
The USPTO has introduced a new pre‑order paper procedure for ex parte reexamination (EPR) that lets patent owners submit a 30‑page paper within 30 days of service, focusing solely on the requester’s substantial new question (SNQ). The requester does not automatically receive...
Blaine Bans Topfreedom to Undo Minnesota Supreme Court Ruling
The Blaine, Minnesota city council voted on May 4 to amend its nudity ordinance, explicitly defining female nudity as exposure of the breast below the areola. This action follows a Minnesota Supreme Court decision that overturned a conviction for a woman...
How AI Is Transforming the Way Law Firms Win Business, with Ikaun President Jason Noble
In this episode of Law Next, Jason Noble, President and Chief of Product Strategy at ICON, explains how AI is reshaping law firm business development by automating proposal and RFP workflows. He describes ICON’s three‑core capabilities—proposal workspace creation, AI‑driven question...
Tech Titans Testify as Musk‑Altman Trial Enters Week 3
Week 3 is underway in the Musk v. Altman trial, with @satyanadella, @ilyasut and @sama all expected to take the stand in the next few days. For today’s @BigTechnology newsletter, I looked back at a mere sampling of what’s surfaced...
More States Look to Preempt Local AI Laws, Report Finds
A coalition of state legislatures is advancing twelve bills in nine states to preempt local governments from regulating artificial intelligence. The proposals fall into three streams: restricting AI from foreign adversaries, limiting municipal AI ordinances, and protecting a so‑called “right...
Minnesota Bans AI Nudification; Trump Vows Federal Challenge
Minnesota became the first state to ban AI nudification tech. This is tech that generates nude images from clothed photos. It bans the companies that make this tech available, as well as access, download and use of these tools. Penalties: up...
Edelman Claims Prime Capital Advisors Solicited Clients Despite Court Order
Edelman Financial Engines has filed a new motion alleging Prime Capital Advisors violated a temporary restraining order that bars the firm from soliciting Edelman's advisors and clients. The claim focuses on former Edelman planner Brendan Kenny, who managed about $319 million...
Amazon Will Stop Selling 40 Mph “Hooligan Bikes” In California
Amazon announced it will cease selling electric two‑wheelers that exceed California's 28 mph pedal‑assist limit, effectively pulling 40 mph “hooligan bikes” from its California marketplace. The move follows the state's e‑bike law, which classifies any faster vehicle as a moped or motorcycle,...
Supreme Court Signals New Limits on FCC Administrative Fines
The U.S. Supreme Court signaled a willingness to limit the FCC’s ability to levy civil penalties through its own adjudicative process, suggesting that such fines may require a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment. The case, brought by telecom giants...
SEC Moves to End ‘Gag Rule’ Criticized by Musk and Cuban
The SEC has submitted a proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget to eliminate its long‑standing no‑admit/no‑deny settlement rule, often called the “gag rule.” Critics, including Elon Musk and Mark Cuban, argue the rule suppresses defendants’ First...
Counting Interrogatories in the Northern District of California: When Do Subparts Count?
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 33(a) caps interrogatories at 25, counting every discrete subpart. In the Northern District of California, courts treat subparts as a single interrogatory when they are logically and factually tied to the primary question, but count...
China Knows that Governing New Tech Can Be Harder than Inventing It
Beijing announced a citywide ban on drone sales, citing security concerns. The restriction has pushed drone training operations, such as the Shenghang centre, to neighboring Hebei province where rules are looser. The move underscores China’s broader challenge of regulating emerging...
Mexico Reduces the Workweek
Mexico's Federal Labor Law was amended on May 1 2026, initiating a phased reduction of the statutory workweek from 48 to 40 hours by 2030. The reform also raises the overtime ceiling to 12 hours per week, with double pay up to...
West Virginia Leads, Bans Artificial Food Dyes Nationwide?
West Virginia becomes the first state to ban artificial food dyes. Should other states do this or perhaps the federal government? SecKennedy wvgovernor @EvanWorrell4WV @JasonBarrettWV MAHA #FoodBabeArmy
MSPAlliance Launches Service Lines in Cyber Verify for Clearer Compliance Reporting
MSPAlliance has introduced Service Lines within its Cyber Verify platform, allowing managed service providers (MSPs) to directly map audited controls to the specific services they deliver. The new feature clarifies where the MSP’s security responsibilities end and the client’s begin,...
China Is Trying to Stop AI From Becoming a Layoff Machine
Chinese courts have ruled that firing employees to replace them with AI is not a permissible business‑exit under the Labour Contract Law. In Hangzhou, a tech firm was ordered to compensate a quality‑assurance worker after demoting him for AI automation,...
Proposals To License AI In Health Care Catch Fire
State lawmakers, academic groups, think tanks, and the American Medical Association are debating whether AI tools that deliver medical care should be required to obtain a license to practice medicine. The debate intensified after Utah controversially permitted an AI system...
Elon Musk Settles SEC Lawsuit For Spare Change, Proving Once Again That Rules Are For Other People
Elon Musk resolved the SEC’s securities‑law lawsuit over his delayed Twitter stock disclosures by paying a $1.5 million settlement, a fraction of what a full penalty could have been. The case stemmed from Musk’s failure to report crossing the 5 % ownership...
FCC Commissioner: Agency Gave Preferential Treatment to Sinclair, TEGNA ABC Affiliates
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez accused the agency of giving preferential treatment to Sinclair‑owned ABC affiliates while withholding the same guidance from Disney’s ABC‑owned station KTRK in Houston. The FCC sent informal letters to roughly two dozen independent ABC stations urging...
NTIA to BEAD Winners: ‘Know Your Rights’
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) warned state broadband offices that any contract changes by ISPs could jeopardize compliance with the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program. The agency’s memo insists that required language—prohibiting states from...
Hermes Antitrust Case Dismissed; Luxury Scarcity Persists
In 2024, there was a class-action lawsuit against Hermes for how it managed inventory and restricted sales to create scarcity. The $200B+ luxury giant won’t sell Birkin or Kelly bags direct. Rather, a customer has to buy a number of ancillary...
Angara Developer Director Sentenced to Seven Years in Absentia
Andrei Kalinvosky (quoted multiple times on the linked page) who was the Director General at Angara's prime developer, was sentenced to 7 years in absentia for fraud. DETAILS: https://t.co/FTQ8hVtOfd https://t.co/IScUGDRXlr
FDA Issues Final Guidance on Post‑Approval Pregnancy Safety Data Collection
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released final industry guidance on how drug sponsors should collect post‑marketing safety data for pregnant patients. The framework outlines registry design, real‑world evidence methods, and statistical standards, aiming to fill long‑standing data gaps and...
This Week’s Legal Highlights: Katyal, Insider Trading, Layoffs, Billion‑Dollar Deal
In the latest Judicial Notice, my weekly legal news roundup: - Neal Katyal’s viral video - a Biglaw insider trading ring - layoffs at two top firms - a billion-dollar sports law deal LINK: https://t.co/Ccj4ygmvVm https://t.co/ZlJRIgxPDR
Texas AG Sues Netflix over Alleged Addiction and Spying
Netflix Sued by Republican Texas Attorney General, Who Alleges Service Is Designed to Be ‘Addictive’ and Is ‘Spying’ on Users https://t.co/bLMByUdWzp via @variety
Victorian Survey Shows Over One-Third of Lawyers Regularly Use AI Tools
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner released a report revealing that over a third of the state’s lawyers regularly use generative AI tools. Respondents say AI is primarily a workflow‑optimisation aid, not yet a driver of client‑service improvements, prompting...
Iran-Linked Media Proposes Data Tax on Hormuz Cables, Threatening $10 Trillion Daily Digital Flow
An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps‑linked media outlet announced a plan to levy licensing fees and tolls on submarine fiber‑optic cables crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal targets more than $10 trillion in daily financial transactions and could force multinational enterprises...
Live Nation Antitrust Penalties Expected In 2027
A federal judge will receive the states’ proposed remedies on May 21, officially launching the penalty phase of the Live Nation‑Ticketmaster antitrust case, which could extend into 2027. The jury already imposed $150 million in damages, trebleable to $450 million, a figure...
FCC Commissioner Gomez Tells Disney CEO Government Agency Is Trying to Censor ABC
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez sent a letter to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro accusing the Trump administration of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to censor ABC. She cites FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s early review of ABC’s broadcast license as retaliation for Jimmy...
The CJEU on Heritage Washing in Trade Mark Law
The CJEU ruled that a trademark containing a historic year can be deceptive under Art. 4(1)(g) if it suggests long‑standing know‑how and a guarantee of quality that does not exist. The decision arose from the Fauré Le Page Paris case, where the mark...
Andrew Left Heads to Trial as Short-Selling Faces a Legal Reckoning
Andrew Left, founder of Citron Research, went on trial in Los Angeles facing securities fraud charges that allege he used his media platform to manipulate stock prices while secretly shorting the same securities. Prosecutors claim Left profited at least $16 million...
Constitutional Watchdog Joins Suit Over Canceled Digital Equity Grants
A constitutional law group, the Constitutional Accountability Center, filed an amicus brief supporting plaintiffs in NDIA v. Trump, arguing that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by canceling the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act grants. The brief asserts that the Constitution...
Left‑leaning Boat Dwellers Dodge Council Tax—Here’s the Law
Surprised to discover there's a bunch of people who claim to be on the Left, live on narrowboats moored at the same location for years, and don't pay council tax. We set out the actual law here: https://t.co/lGB1D2Dr6d
6 Ways to Reduce DEI Programs’ Legal Risk
Corporate DEI programs remain active despite a hostile federal climate, prompting firms to rewrite policies, decouple compensation ties, and adjust hiring practices. Legal shifts, highlighted by the Supreme Court’s affirmative‑action rulings, have increased scrutiny of programs that appear to favor...