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
Sibling IED Plot at MacDill AFB Leads to Federal Indictments, Primary Suspect Fled to China
U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe announced federal indictments against siblings Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng for planting an improvised explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base. The primary suspect fled to China and faces up to 40 years in prison, while his sister is charged with accessory and evidence‑tampering offenses.
Pitchfork Politics and Sausage-Making: How the Farmers ‘Crisis’ Rewrote EU Green Rules Behind Closed Doors
After massive farmer protests in early 2024, the European Commission fast‑tracked a rollback of the environmental components of the €300 bn (≈$330 bn) Common Agricultural Policy using an urgency procedure. The process bypassed the usual public consultation and impact‑assessment steps, prompting legal...
White House Names David Sacks Co‑Chair of AI and Crypto Advisory Council
The White House announced that entrepreneur David Sacks will serve as co‑chair of the President’s AI and Crypto Advisory Council, a step that deepens government involvement in artificial‑intelligence policy and cryptocurrency regulation. Details of the council’s mandate and funding were...
Can “I Felt Pressured” Undo a Signed Severance Release?
The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a chemical company after finding its severance release was knowing and voluntary under a five‑factor test. The court held the employee, a master’s‑degree holder, had ample 45‑day review time, clear language, adequate consideration,...
Dad Won’t Talk About Estate Planning. How Can I Avoid Being Blindsided?
Raymond, a 40‑year‑old son in British Columbia, worries his 67‑year‑old father has no estate plan despite owning a home, boat, cars and a long‑term partner. Without a will, BC intestacy rules will dictate asset distribution, potentially granting the common‑law girlfriend...
Paris Is Ground Zero for Europe’s Backlash Against Illegal Airbnbs
Paris is intensifying its crackdown on illegal short‑term rentals, imposing fines that can exceed $174,000 for non‑compliant hosts. The city’s new rules cut the allowable rental period to 90 days annually and require registration, echoing a forthcoming EU mandate for...
Italy Investigates Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics Over Marketing to Children
The Italian competition authority AGCM has opened investigations into LVMH‑owned Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics for alleged unfair commercial practices that market adult cosmetics to children and adolescents. Regulators say the brands employ very young micro‑influencers on social media to push...
Why Synthetic Identity Fraud Is Harder to Detect in 2026
Synthetic identity fraud is exploding in 2026 as AI tools and data breaches enable criminals to blend real personal data with fabricated details, creating entirely new personas that pass traditional KYC checks. Because no real victim exists, these synthetic identities...
Official Translations of ESMA’s Guidelines on Stress Test Scenarios Under the MMF Regulation
On 26 March 2026 the European Securities and Markets Authority released official translations of its updated stress‑test guidelines under the Money Market Funds Regulation. The guidance seeks a common, uniform application of Article 28 across the EU. Sections highlighted in red become legally...
Live From LegalWeek with Odette Claridge
In this Legal Speak episode recorded at Legal Week, corporate counsel Odette Claridge discusses her 14‑year e‑discovery background, her transition to an in‑house role at ProSearch, and the company’s AI‑driven e‑discovery and contract‑life‑cycle‑management (CLM) initiatives. She shares insights from a...
Low Tuck Kwong Sues Peter Kwee for A$9.6 Million over Alleged Material Defects
Indonesian coal billionaire Low Tuck Kwong and Energy Resource Investment sued Peter Kwee and Chan Kok Choon for roughly $6.3 million USD over alleged material defects in Australian golf‑club and hotel assets. The dispute arises from a June 2025 share‑purchase agreement valued...
Draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026
On 26 March 2026 the UK government released a draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026, translating the Treasury’s 2024 consultation into law. The proposal tightens customer due diligence for unusually large or complex transactions, converts euro‑based thresholds...
Judge Blocks Pentagon's Anthropic AI Risk Label, Halts Ban
Judge blocks Pentagon from labeling Anthropic AI a "supply chain risk" and halts Trump's ban on federal use https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/anthropic-ruling-judge-trump-pentagon-ai/
Crispin Odey Claims Regulator Bullying Despite Harassment Evidence
After FCA presented evidence that he had groped, verbally harassed & inappropriately touched female employees, Crispin Odey insisted to the court that he was the one who was actually the victim, and the target of “bullying” by the regulator. https://t.co/T0oIZDvdpC
Legislation Aims to Protect Floridians From Data Center Costs, but Will It?
Florida lawmakers have passed SB 484, a bill that obligates hyper‑scale data centers to shoulder the full cost of the electricity and water they consume, preventing those expenses from being passed onto average ratepayers. The measure requires utilities to file...
Trump Team Claims Successes Against ACA Fraud While Pushing for More Controls
The Trump administration touts recent reductions in Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment fraud while unveiling a sweeping set of 2027 regulations aimed at tightening eligibility verification and curbing broker misconduct. Complaints about unauthorized enrollments climbed to 341,906 in 2025, prompting...
Ageism Claim | NHS Worker Wins Harassment Case After Colleague Called Her 'Auntie'
An NHS worker, Ilda Esteves, won a harassment claim after a colleague repeatedly called her “Auntie” and suggested she would be a good match for an older male staff member. The London Employment Tribunal upheld the harassment claim based on...
The Pentagon Wants Dual-Use Innovation. Patent Law Might Punish It.
The Delaware federal court rejected Moderna’s claim that Section 1498 immunity shielded its COVID‑19 vaccine sales, holding that the statute only protects products that directly benefit the government. The ruling coincides with a $2.25 billion settlement between Moderna and Arbutus, including a...
Senator Ron Wyden Stands Alone in Targeting Big Tech
Ron Wyden is the only lawmaker in congress who is actually interested in cracking down on big tech it seems
Just Eat: Consumer Protection Enforcement Case
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a formal investigation on 26 March 2026 into Just Eat’s compliance with consumer‑protection law. The probe focuses on whether the platform’s star‑rating system artificially inflates the scores of certain restaurants and grocers, potentially misleading...
Bipartisan Bill Would Permanently Bar Chinese AI From U.S. Federal Agencies
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the No Adversarial AI Act, which would permanently prohibit federal agencies from purchasing or using artificial intelligence developed by China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. The bill tasks the Federal Acquisition Security Council...
Developer Slams “Lengthy and Unnecessary” Legal Battle as Council Drops Case Against Wind Project
Someva Renewables secured approval for its 372 MW Hills of Gold wind farm after an 18‑month legal battle, when the Tamworth Regional Council withdrew its appeal against the NSW Independent Planning Commission’s decision. The council had argued the IPC lacked sufficient...
Regulatory Review: Health Foods Export, Magtein Approval and More
China’s customs authority now requires local authority recommendation letters for health foods imported via the general trade route, tightening controls against counterfeit products. In the United States, the FDA will hold a March 27 hearing to reinterpret the DSHEA definition of...
Mahadev Betting App Case: ED Attaches Properties Worth ₹1,700 Cr
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 18 luxury properties in Dubai and two in Delhi, valued at roughly $204 million (₹1,700 crore), belonging to Mahadev betting app promoter Sourabh Chandrakar. This seizure brings the total frozen assets in the case to about...
The Mystery of the $727 Million Will, Signed by Ghosts
A mysterious seven‑page will for Tony Hsieh’s roughly $500 million estate arrived at a Reno law firm, claiming a $50 million trust and other unconventional bequests. The document, dated 2015 and signed by alleged witnesses who cannot be located, met Nevada’s minimal...
New Periodic Tenancy Agreement Issued by Propertymark
Propertymark has released a new Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) agreement for its letting‑agent members, aligning contracts with the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act that takes effect on 1 May. The legislation abolishes fixed‑term Assured Shorthold Tenancies, converting all tenancies in England to...
BLOG: Some Landlords Are Really Worried About Making Tax Digital
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self‑Assessment will compel landlords to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates, starting in April 2026 for those earning over £50,000 (≈ $63,500). The threshold will fall to £30,000 (≈ $38,100) in 2027 and...
MP High Court Restores Worker After 22 Years
The Madhya Pradesh High Court reinstated a peon after 22 years, ruling that an irregular appointment cannot justify dismissal after long service. The court distinguished illegal appointments, which are void, from irregular ones, which cannot be cancelled after decades. It...
UK Watchdog Hits Bank of London with New Client Freeze
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has ordered Bank of London to halt onboarding new clients, citing deficiencies in its anti‑money‑laundering and risk‑management frameworks. The freeze, effective immediately, applies to all prospective corporate and retail accounts and could delay the bank’s...
DOJ Sues SeaWorld’s Parent Company for Disability Discrimination
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc., the parent of SeaWorld, alleging that its policy banning wheeled walkers with seats violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint cites a pattern of discrimination...
Japan to Double Residency Period for Naturalization to 10 Yrs Starting Wed.
Japan will double the minimum residency period for naturalization from five to ten years, effective April 1, 2026. The Justice Ministry also lengthens tax‑payment verification to five years and social‑insurance verification to two years, applying the rules to pending applicants....
IBA Hosts Ukraine-Focused Event at United Nations Human Rights Council Session
The International Bar Association convened a side event at the 61st United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva to address accountability for crimes arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Legal experts, diplomats and policymakers focused on establishing a Special...
Fairness and the SEC’s Competing Regulatory Paradigms
The SEC’s recent rulemaking has come under heightened scrutiny for relying on fairness arguments without solid empirical evidence, especially in its cost‑benefit analyses. Critics focus on the Alternative Uptick Rule, a short‑selling restriction triggered by a 10% daily price drop,...
Taxation in Outer Space: How Countries Could Vie for Star Power
Erika Isabella Scuderi, a tax law professor at the University of Florida, proposes a novel framework for assigning taxing rights to activities conducted in outer space. She argues that sovereignty should be linked to the launch origin, allowing nations to...
ALEP Seeks Clarity on Leasehold Reform Amid Act Implementation Delays
The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has written to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee urging clarification and publication of amendments to the Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA). ALEP highlights technical gaps in ground‑rent rules, valuation...
Mike Lindell Appears to Be Served With a Lawsuit Mid-Interview: ‘I’m Not Accepting It’ | Video
Mike Lindell’s live interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference was interrupted when a woman in a red dress claimed to be serving him court papers. Lindell repeatedly asked to stay on camera, then seized the documents and tossed them...
PRA Consultation Proposes Modernising Liquidity Policy
On 17 March the UK Prudential Regulation Authority released Consultation Paper CP5/26 to modernise the liquidity policy framework. The PRA proposes targeted, proportionate adjustments that focus on Pillar 2 risk management rather than increasing high‑quality liquid assets. Key proposals include assessing liquidity...
UK Crown Court Backlog Passes 80,000 Cases in New High
The UK Crown Court backlog surged to a record 80,203 cases by December 2025, prompting courts minister Sarah Sackman to warn the system is "on the brink of collapse." The government is using the crisis to justify cutting jury trials...
DOL Retirement Security Fiduciary Rule Vacated
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has vacated the Department of Labor’s 2024 fiduciary rule, and the DOL subsequently removed the rule from the Code of Federal Regulations. The decision reinstates the 1975 definition of an investment‑advice...
Clock Beats Commissioner: IRS Concedes $48M Easement Case
The U.S. Tax Court entered a stipulated decision in Agate Holdings LLC v. Commissioner, confirming the partnership’s $48.3 million conservation easement deduction. The IRS waived both accuracy‑related and civil fraud penalties for the 2018 tax year. The concession was based solely...
Anti‑Kickback Statute Implications of Physician Estate Planning: OIG Approves Retirement Plan Involving ASC Ownership Transfers
The U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued a favorable advisory opinion on a retiring physician’s three‑phase plan to transfer ownership of a Medicare‑certified ambulatory surgical center. The OIG concluded the plan does not violate the Anti‑Kickback...
Patent Case Summaries | Week Ending March 20, 2026
The Federal Circuit affirmed the International Trade Commission’s limited exclusion order against Apple, confirming Masimo’s patents on user‑worn blood‑oxygen devices and upholding the Commission’s domestic‑industry, infringement and validity findings. The court clarified that a complainant may rely on a representative...
Treasury and IRS Release March 2026 Proposed Regulations Under Internal Revenue Code Sections 148 and 150
The Treasury and IRS issued proposed regulations updating arbitrage rules under IRC §148 and definitional provisions under §150. The changes extend the deadline for rebate overpayment refunds, tighten source‑fund allocation requirements, and add special 90‑day SLGS certificates to the definition...
Questioning Anti‑Tiering Clauses: Policy Recommendations Still Relevant
is there any rationale for allowing anti-tiering, anti steering, and "all or nothing" clauses in hospital contracts with insurers? Barring these was one of the centerpieces of our healthcare competition policy recommendations almost a decade ago https://t.co/8PPf8H5iMw
Law Firms Earn $69B, Outpacing Google’s R&D
Wild stat "America’s top 100 law firms made a combined $69 billion in profit in 2025, greater than Google’s 2025 R&D budget. Every cent was paid out to the firms’ partners as compensation."
EU Vessel Sanctions and the Politics of Administrative Overreach
The EU has expanded its vessel sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet to almost 600 ships in less than a year, turning a targeted measure into a broad programme. Listings are based largely on limited data sources such as Equasis, AIS...
Association of Justice Counsel Challenges Memo Increasing LPs’ In-Office Presence Requirement
The Association of Justice Counsel (AJC) has lodged a policy grievance against a federal employer’s memo that requires lawyers and prosecutors (LPs) to be on‑site four days a week starting July 6. AJC argues the employer violated the LP Collective Agreement...
Statutory Sick Pay Reforms From April 2026: What Employers Need to Know
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reforms take effect in April 2026, moving the start date from the fourth to the first day of an employee’s absence. The removal of the lower earnings limit expands eligibility to low‑income and part‑time workers, increasing...
New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Federal Title IX Regulations Preempt Conflicting Grievance Procedures Under Collective Bargaining Agreement
On January 29, 2026 the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the 2020 federal Title IX regulations preempt a collective bargaining agreement’s grievance arbitration that excluded the alleged victim. The court found the university’s CNA arbitration conflicted with Section 106.45(b), which requires...
Equity for Growth (Securities) Limited Enters Liquidation
Equity for Growth (Securities) Limited was ordered into liquidation by the High Court after the FCA filed a winding‑up petition in October 2024. The regulator cited a surge of investor complaints, including mini‑bond scams promoted by the firm’s appointed representatives,...