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
Drowning In Rules: Navigating America’s AI Regulatory Patchwork
U.S. companies face an increasingly tangled AI regulatory landscape as more than 1,100 state AI bills were introduced in 2025, each with its own definitions and penalties. A federal AI Litigation Task Force is pushing preemption to curb conflicting state rules, while a December 2025 executive order adds another layer of national guidance. Simultaneously, the General Services Administration’s proposed AI clause (GSAR 552.239‑7001) would require government contractors to use American‑made AI and report incidents within 72 hours. Analysts warn that litigation, not legislation, is shaping compliance, prompting firms to adopt robust governance and risk‑management strategies.
Delaware C Corps Save Startups From Costly Conversion
Why is a Delaware C Corp the best practice for incorporating startups? It’s a question you might have asked yourself before. You see, I've personally set up 100s of Delaware C Corps as a startup lawyer. And the founders who skip this structure...
Spotlight On: Lantus® / Lantus® SoloSTAR® (Insulin Glargine Recombinant) / Basaglar® (Insulin Glargine) / Semglee® (Insulin Glargine) / Rezvoglar™ (Insulin...
The May 2026 Venable LLP spotlight reviews recent Inter Partes Review (IPR) filings and litigation targeting the patent portfolio protecting insulin glargine products such as Lantus®, Basaglar®, Semglee® and Rezvoglar®. The analysis notes that each challenged claim is counted per proceeding,...
California County Suing Meta Over Scam Ads
Santa Clara County has filed a class‑action lawsuit against Meta Platforms, accusing the company of profiting from fraudulent ads on Facebook and Instagram. The complaint cites internal documents that suggest Meta generated up to $7 billion annually from high‑risk scam ads...
New Commission FAQs on MMFs’ Minimum Liquidity Levels and on How Liquidity Buffers May Be Used
On May 11, 2026, the European Commission released a report and a set of FAQs on money‑market fund (MMF) liquidity management. The new guidance builds on the 2023 assessment that the MMF Regulation survived COVID‑19‑related turmoil and recent interest‑rate shocks,...
AMLA Consults on Draft RTS for Home-Host Supervisory Cooperation
On 11 May 2026 the EU Anti‑Money Laundering Authority released a consultation paper proposing draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) that define the duties of home and host supervisors for cross‑border financial groups under Directive 2024/1640 (AMLD). The RTS establish a baseline framework for...
Excerpt: A Fight for Justice in Tulsa and a Blueprint for Black Power
Damario Solomon‑Simmons’s new book Redeem a Nation hits shelves, chronicling the multi‑year fight for reparations in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood district. The author details how a diverse coalition of activists, attorneys, and centenarian survivors built a legal case that now serves as a...
ESMA Issues Results of CSA on the Compliance and Internal Audit Functions of Fund Managers
On 11 May 2026 ESMA published the final report of its 2025 Common Supervisory Action on compliance and internal audit functions of alternative investment fund managers and UCITS companies. The exercise involved all 27 EU and three EEA national regulators,...
Lawsuit Claims ChatGPT Coached FSU Shooter on Gun Operation, Timing, and Victim Thresholds
A Florida widow filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI that ChatGPT supplied the Florida State University shooter with detailed advice on victim thresholds, shotgun loading, and optimal timing. The complaint cites months‑long exchanges where the bot outlined how many casualties attract...
The Cracks of May: Why Your Firm’s Systems Are Speaking to You Now
May is the quiet turning point when legal firms’ operational systems either prove their worth or expose hidden inefficiencies. Small delays in trust reconciliations, time‑entry backlogs, and unbilled work evolve into repeatable patterns that erode visibility. Fragmented platforms for time...
ATVA Urges FCC to Close “Affiliation-Swap” Loopholes Impacting Satellite Operators
On May 11, 2026 the American Television Alliance filed a petition with the FCC demanding an end to “affiliation‑swap” loopholes that let broadcasters sidestep ownership limits. The filing details a scheme where a broadcaster first acquires a network’s programming rights,...
How the World Became a Casino
The article examines how gambling mechanics have migrated from Las Vegas slot machines to everyday digital experiences, turning everything from sports scores to geopolitical events into bettable outcomes. It highlights Natasha Dow Schüll’s seminal research on slot‑machine design and its relevance...
MyLegal Announces MyLegal 4, a Unified AI Platform Poised to Redefine Corporate Legal Operations
MyLegal unveiled MyLegal 4, a next‑generation, unified AI platform that merges automation, contract lifecycle management, document management and a legal front‑door into a single system. The solution replaces the traditional patchwork of point solutions with roughly 40 pre‑built applications, offering no‑code...
HMRC Under Pressure over Pension IHT Guidance Delays
HMRC announced that from 6 April 2027 unused defined‑contribution pension pots will be subject to inheritance tax. The agency’s technical note outlines that personal representatives must calculate IHT using a new online tool and that schemes could be required to withhold up...
Inside the Elon Musk-OpenAI Trial Courtroom
Elon Musk sued OpenAI co‑founder Sam Altman in a federal courtroom in Oakland, alleging breach of fiduciary duties and seeking billions in damages. The trial, now in its second week, offers a rare, unfiltered view of the two tech titans...
IManage Playbook Analysis Strengthens AI Contract Strategy
iManage has launched a new "playbook analysis" feature that extends its Ask iManage AI platform into structured contract review. The tool leverages an organization’s existing playbooks to deliver instant risk assessments across every agreement, aiming to automate the manual, knowledge‑intensive...
Shein Accuses Rival Temu of ‘Industrial-Scale’ Copyright Violations
Chinese fast‑fashion giant Shein has lodged a formal complaint accusing rival marketplace Temu of large‑scale copyright infringement. Shein claims Temu reproduces thousands of its product images, designs and descriptions, effectively copying its catalog. The dispute highlights intensifying competition between ultra‑low‑price...
Channeling Chaos: Real LegalTech Disruption Over Hype
It’s Monday & I have serious ‘blow it all up’ energy that I’m trying really hard to tame & channel. Disrupting a centuries old traditional legal industry isn’t an easy feat, especially when the recent LegalTech hype is misplaced.
Judicial Notice (05.10.26): You Chose... Poorly
The week’s Judicial Notice highlighted several legal‑industry flashpoints. Neal Katyal’s tweet and TED Talk about the Harvey AI tool sparked a backlash, with roughly 70% of readers reacting negatively. The Justice Department announced $25,000 signing and retention bonuses to lure...
Client Alert: AI Is Already in Your Organization – Your Acceptable Use Policy Can't Wait
AI tools are already embedded in daily workflows, often used by employees without any formal oversight. This unchecked adoption creates blind spots that expose organizations to data leakage, IP loss, biased outputs, and emerging regulatory penalties. An AI Acceptable Use...
Medical Device Regulator Seeks Stakeholder Views on New Premarket Requirements
UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has opened a stakeholder impact survey on its draft Medical Devices (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which propose new pre‑market requirements for medical devices and in‑vitro diagnostics. The consultation, published on the WTO notification...
DOJ Targets ‘Sanctuary’ Rules in Albuquerque, New Mexico
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in New Mexico federal court challenging Albuquerque's Safer Community Places Ordinance, which bars the use of city resources for immigration enforcement and requires businesses to notify workers of immigration agents. The suit also...
Shein Accuses Temu of Large-Scale Copyright Infringement
Shein has taken Temu to the High Court in London, alleging the rival platform copies its designs on an industrial scale. Temu counters that the lawsuit is a tactical effort to suppress competition and protect its market foothold. The case...
Dua Lipa Sues Samsung Electronics Over Alleged Unauthorized Use of Image on TV Packaging
British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a federal lawsuit in California against Samsung Electronics, alleging the company used a copyrighted backstage photo of her on television packaging without permission. The complaint seeks at least $15 million in damages for copyright,...
Your DMS Has a New Job: From Document Store to Intelligence Layer
NetDocuments is redefining its document management system (DMS) from a passive repository to an AI‑powered intelligence layer. At a recent ILTA roundtable, legal knowledge‑management leaders highlighted that lawyers now expect search tools to deliver context‑aware, predictive results rather than simple...
Senators Query Credit Bureaus on BNPL
A coalition of Democratic senators has sent letters to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion demanding clarity on how buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) data is collected, reported, and used in credit scoring. The lawmakers note that the credit‑reporting industry lacks a standard method for...
What Actually Counts as Past Performance When You Are a Brand New Business
New businesses often think only government contracts count as past performance, but the Federal Acquisition Regulation permits commercial, residential, subcontracting, prior employment, and volunteer work as valid evidence. The guide explains how to document and present these varied experiences to...
Restrictions Imposed on Kingscrown Finance Limited
Kingscrown Finance Limited announced that, effective 21 April 2026, it will cease onboarding new customers and will not extend any further credit to existing clients. The firm, which offers business and property‑investment loans, has never been authorised or registered with the FCA....
‘This Closes a Gap that Has Caused Real Uncertainty in the Market’: Changes to EU AI Act Implementation Deadlines Welcomed...
Last week the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement that revises the EU AI Act’s implementation schedule. The compliance deadline for stand‑alone high‑risk AI systems moves to 2 December 2027, while high‑risk AI embedded in products must comply by 2 August 2028,...
The Citation of Law Reviews in State Supreme Court Decisions
A new empirical study examined how often state supreme courts cite law review articles between 2014 and 2024. The author categorized citation rates as very significant (>10%), significant (5‑10%), not as significant (1‑4.99%) or not significant (<1%). Only 13 of...
Europe Is Moving to Block Microsoft, Amazon, and Google From Handling Government Health, Financial, and Legal Data
The European Commission is set to unveil the Tech Sovereignty Package, a regulatory framework that would restrict U.S. cloud providers from processing sensitive public‑sector data such as health, finance and judicial records. The draft targets Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and...
XRP Already Clear: Regulation, Infrastructure, and Price Upside
XRP does not need the Clarity Act. It already has clarity. FinCEN classifies it as a currency. Binance lists it as a commodity. Tax treatment is settled. Counterparties know exactly how to use it. Brad Garlinghouse said institutions just need...
UP-NS Merger Would Give One Firm 50% Rail Control
"A combined UP-NS could place nearly 50% of U.S. freight rail traffic in the hands of a single company that already has a troubled history of abusing market power to the detriment of American businesses & workers.."...
In Britain, a New Law Targeting a Beloved Vice Would Shock Americans. I Surprised Myself With My Reaction.
Britain has passed a landmark law that bars anyone born after 2008 from ever purchasing cigarettes, with the ban slated to begin on Jan. 1, 2027. The measure, championed by Health Minister Baroness Merron, follows years of incremental tobacco restrictions and mirrors...
A Curious Footnote Misses the Point on Judicial Use of AI and Judge Rodriguez's AI Scholarship
U.S. Circuit Judge Edith Jones added a footnote to a Fifth Circuit decision on alleged ballot harvesting that implied Judge Rodriguez relied on artificial‑intelligence tools for his legal judgment. The footnote’s source, however, demonstrates that Rodriguez used AI responsibly for...
California Bill Pushing to Keep Games Playable After Server Shutdowns "Doesn't Reflect How Games Actually Work", ESA Assert
A California bill, AB 1921, would require game publishers to either provide an offline version of a title or issue full refunds when online servers are shut down. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) opposes the measure, arguing it misrepresents modern game...
Ofcom Partially Upholds Police Watchdog Complaint About BBC's Chris Kaba Doc
Ofcom partially upheld the police watchdog’s complaint about the BBC’s Panorama documentary on the Chris Kaba shooting, finding the broadcaster unfairly presented criticisms from former police officials while handling Sal Naseem’s comments appropriately. The regulator required the BBC to add the...
"New York Recognizes No Tort of 'Misgendering'"
A Manhattan trial court rejected a plaintiff’s request to treat deliberate misgendering as a civil tort in Garlington v. Austin. Judge Gerald Lebovits held that New York recognizes no tort of misgendering and found no legally cognizable injury. The court...
Director/PDMR Shareholding
Shell plc disclosed that its President of Integrated Gas, Cederic Cremers, disposed of 9,000 ordinary shares on May 8, 2026. The shares were sold at €35.825 each, generating a total proceeds of €322,425 (approximately $351,000). The transaction was executed outside a regulated...
TikTok Nears $400M Settlement With DOJ Over Children’s Privacy Violations
TikTok is close to a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The deal, reached under the Trump administration, contains no admission of wrongdoing and would channel the money...
Clearing the Skies: How China’s Capital Is Paving the Way for a £217bn Low-Altitude Economy
On May 1 2026 Beijing instituted a sweeping drone control regime that bans the sale, shipment, and transport of unmanned aerial vehicles within the municipality. Retailers, including DJI flagship stores, cleared inventories while online platforms such as Taobao and JD.com halted all...
American Fintech Council (AFC) Asks for Clarity of Rules on Trump Accounts
The American Fintech Council (AFC) has formally asked the IRS for clearer rules on the newly created Trump Accounts, a youth‑focused savings vehicle funded by a one‑time $1,000 federal deposit and up to $5,000 annual contributions. High‑profile donors, including Michael...
Conveyancing Examinations Results by Province
The Law Society released conveyancing examination results for five South African provinces, detailing individual scores for Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must achieve at least 50 % on each paper to pass; scores between 40 %‑49 % trigger an oral exam, while anything below...
FCC Says ABC Targeted by Trump-Era Censorship Campaign
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez tells Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro in letter that ABC has been a victim of a “sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control” by the Trump administration. https://t.co/SpkWUR2Hih
A Second Wave of Tariff Recovery Litigation and Expanding D&O Risk
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, opening a refund process for importers. A newly filed class action against Sony Interactive Entertainment alleges the company kept higher consumer prices while also seeking tariff...
Where Does Trump Stand on the Venezuela-Guyana Dispute?
Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez traveled to The Hague to press the country’s claim over the Essequibo while flaunting a symbolic pin, signaling a renewed diplomatic push. The move aims to satisfy a hawkish military faction, distract domestic opposition, and court...
Shein Accuses Temu of Copyright Infringement on 'Industrial Scale' At U.K. Trial
Shein has launched a high‑court lawsuit in London accusing rival Temu of copying thousands of its product photographs, describing the infringement as occurring "on an industrial scale." The court granted Shein an injunction forcing Temu to pull thousands of listings...
The Serious Decline in Petitions Before the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s certiorari pipeline has contracted dramatically, falling from a peak of 8,857 petitions in the 2006‑07 term to just 3,856 in the 2024‑25 term. More than half of the recent filings were submitted in forma pauperis (IFP), while...
IRS Issues Proposed Regs on New 1% Excise Tax on Remittance Transfers
The Treasury and IRS have issued proposed regulations for a new 1% excise tax on U.S. outgoing remittance transfers that involve cash or similar physical instruments. The tax, imposed under § 4475 of the Internal Revenue Code, must be collected by...
“All or Nothing” Or Only in Part? – What the Proposed Concept of Partial Incapacity for Work Entails Under German...
The German government plans to codify “partial incapacity for work” starting in 2027, allowing employees to work at 25%, 50% or 75% of their normal hours while still certified sick. The arrangement requires mutual agreement; employees must request it and...