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
Oracle Scraps Natural‑gas Plant for New Mexico AI Data Center, Pivots to Fuel‑cell Power
Oracle announced the cancellation of a planned natural‑gas power plant for its Project Jupiter AI data center in New Mexico after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the state land office denied pipeline permits. The company will instead partner with Bloom Energy to use solid‑oxide fuel cells, cutting projected emissions by roughly 30 percent.
EV Makers Say State Franchise Laws Block Direct Sales
Rivian, Lucid Motors and Scout Motors are pressing state regulators and courts, claiming that franchise‑dealership statutes prevent them from selling directly to buyers. The companies say the laws create legal risk for employees, force convoluted purchase processes and run afoul...
Clio For Word Add-In Launches in Beta
Clio has introduced Vincent, an AI‑driven legal assistant embedded in Microsoft Word via a beta add‑in. The tool generates suggestions as native Track Changes redlines, allowing lawyers to accept or reject changes within their familiar review workflow. By supporting conversational...
Daan’s Snippets – 11 May 2026
The newsletter highlights several pivotal legal and economic developments in South Africa as of May 2026. Legal practitioners must file their Fidelity Fund submissions by 31 July, while the Competition Commission has lifted the large‑entity notification threshold to R6.6 bn (≈ $347 m) and filing...
Elon Musk Sues OpenAI for $134 Billion, Exposing Founder Feud
Elon Musk has filed a $134 billion lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing co‑founder Sam Altman and CTO Greg Brockman of betraying the nonprofit promise that attracted his early funding. The case, now in federal court, lays bare a deep‑seated leadership conflict that...
Stellantis Hit with Securities Fraud Suit Over 2025‑26 Share Sales
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA) is sued for allegedly misleading investors about earnings growth and electric‑vehicle strategy for shares purchased between Feb 26, 2025 and Feb 5, 2026. The Rosen Law Firm says a lead‑plaintiff deadline is June 8, 2026, and investors may join the class action...
DOJ Files Notice Of Appeal Regarding Rovirosa Dismissal
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt dismissed the criminal indictment against former PEMEX executive José Rovirosa, granting an acquittal on the basis that the government’s translated electronic messages violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses. The judge found the translations testimonial...
Linklaters Launches Applied Intelligence for Firepower “Where Off-the-Shelf Tools Can’t Deliver”
Linklaters has launched Applied Intelligence, a new unit that blends lawyers with data‑science experts to build custom AI‑enabled legal solutions. The team focuses on complex matters where generic, off‑the‑shelf tools fall short, delivering bespoke technology that can accelerate analysis and...
Would Canada Ever Ban AI-Related Layoffs Like China?
A Hangzhou court ruled that employers cannot fire or demote workers solely to replace them with artificial intelligence, siding with a senior tech employee who refused a lower‑paid transfer. The judgment underscores AI’s intended role to augment labor rather than...
Selig the Joker: When the CFTC Chair Becomes the Punchline
Julie Bauer, former OCC official, was appointed senior vice president and head of government relations at Cboe Global Markets effective May 19, 2026. Meanwhile, CME Group and Silicon Data announced plans to launch the world’s first compute futures market later...
ISDA Responds to AMLA on Customer Due Diligence Under AMLR
On May 7, 2026 ISDA submitted a response to the Anti‑Money Laundering Authority’s consultation on draft regulatory technical standards for customer due diligence under the AML Regulation. While endorsing the Association for Financial Markets in Europe’s position, ISDA flagged a mismatch...
FIC Directive 11: What South Africa’s Real Estate Agents Must Do Now to Stay Compliant
South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre introduced Directive 11, requiring all real‑estate agencies to file a three‑year Risk and Compliance Return (RCR) covering AML, CTF and risk‑management controls. The electronic filing, due by 30 June or 31 July 2026, replaces simple check‑lists with a detailed...
UK Government Renews Calls to Sign Cyber Resilience Pledge
The UK government is urging businesses to sign the Cyber Resilience Pledge, a new initiative tied to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill that will launch later this year. The pledge requires three actions: making cyber security a board‑level responsibility,...
Ohio State, Part II: Documentation Lessons
Ohio State University President Ted Carter resigned in March after investigations revealed he used university staff and resources to benefit his affair partner, Krisanthe Vlachos. A 47‑page compliance report documented five business trips in 2025‑2026 where Carter’s legitimate duties overlapped...
‘Punitive Damages as Societal Damages,’ by Catherine M. Sharkey
Catherine M. Sharkey’s Yale Law Journal article argues that punitive damages blend two distinct functions—punishment and compensation for broader social harms—and should be split accordingly. She labels the former “anti‑social penalties” and the latter “societal damages,” proposing a remedial architecture...
Hong Kong Insurance Authority Issues Consultation Conclusions on RBC Enhancements
The Hong Kong Insurance Authority (HKIA) released the conclusions of its public consultation on proposed enhancements to the Risk‑Based Capital (RBC) framework. The final package tightens capital thresholds, introduces new risk‑weighting rules and mandates additional stress‑testing for emerging exposures. Insurers...
Frequent Travelers Need Multi‑entry Visas,
People of special skill, ie top athletes, TV stars, even influencers creating entertainment, have to obtain an O-1B visa, which are for single entry events. O-1B visas have a 92.7% acceptance rate. But you need a new one every time,...
White Plight
EEOC Chair Andrea R. Lucas, a Trump appointee, posted a video urging white men to file discrimination claims and subsequently filed a federal civil‑rights suit against The New York Times for allegedly rejecting a white‑male candidate in favor of diversity goals. The...
Webinar: Better Judgment in the AI Era – May 21
AltaClaro and Artificial Lawyer are hosting a free webinar on May 21 at 11 AM EST to explore how law firms can preserve judgment development as AI automates routine tasks. The session features Orrick partners Kate Orr and Kelly Cullen, who will detail...
Is RegTech Becoming Infrastructure, or Is It Being Absorbed Into It?
RegTech is moving from a stand‑alone category toward becoming embedded infrastructure within financial systems. Industry leaders argue that while niche tools will persist, their survival hinges on seamless integration with broader technology stacks. The conversation now centers on orchestration layers...
Did the EU Parliament Really Vote Not to Protect Children Online?
In April 2026 the EU’s interim ePrivacy derogation – known as “Chat Control 1.0” – expired after the European Commission delayed its extension proposal and the Council refused Parliament’s privacy safeguards. The European Parliament voted to preserve its negotiating mandate...
Did Nike Exploit Import Tariffs to Earn Twice?
U.S. consumers have filed a lawsuit against Nike, claiming the company failed to refund import duties it collected after a federal court declared former President Donald Trump's 2018 tariff regime illegal. Nike reported paying roughly $1.1 billion in duties on shoes...
Songwriters Sue HYBE, NewJeans, Claiming Elements of ‘How Sweet’ Were Taken From Their Rejected Demo
Four Los Angeles‑based songwriters have filed a copyright lawsuit in federal court against HYBE, its NewJeans unit ADOR, the creative agency BANA and even Coca‑Cola, alleging that the K‑pop group’s 2024 single “How Sweet” incorporates the topline of their rejected...
Say Goodbye to Burner Phones? FCC Robocall Plan Raises Privacy Fears
The FCC adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to tighten Know‑Your‑Customer (KYC) requirements for voice service providers, mandating collection of name, address, government ID, and an alternate phone number before activation. High‑volume users may also need to disclose intended...
Unavoidable Pressure Ulcer Claims Live and Die by the Record
The article explains how federal regulations under OBRA ’87 and CMS’s F‑Tag F686 set a four‑step standard—assessment, planning, implementation, and revision—to determine whether a pressure ulcer is "unavoidable." It highlights that the Supreme Court’s 2023 Talevski ruling now allows residents of...
Fourteen New Indictments & Seven Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration, False Document Offenses in April
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced that fourteen previously deported illegal aliens were indicted in April for illegal reentry, and seven additional migrants were convicted of unlawful presence, with one also found guilty of false‑document offenses....
The NCAA House Settlement Is Suddenly Unsettling
The House v. NCAA settlement, which governs college athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, hinges on the definition of “associated entities.” A hearing on May 27 will have U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins interpret whether multimedia‑rights companies and brand sponsors...
Has Legislation Made Construction More Adversarial?
The 1996 Construction Act was introduced to curb disputes, improve cash flow and embed fairness in UK building projects. Over the past 25 years, however, a succession of shocks—Brexit, the pandemic, soaring material costs and tighter safety regulations—has turned the...
Apple Pays $250M, Highlights AI Lag Behind Rivals
Oof and why it's smart they are partnering with Google for AI -> Apple Reaches $250 Million Settlement Over Claims It Misled People on A.I. "The settlement underscores Apple’s challenges in a global technology race to dominate A.I. The iPhone...
ICO Fines Cl0p Victim South Staffs Water over Data Breach
South Staffordshire Plc and its water subsidiary were fined £964,900 (about $1.23 million) by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office after a Cl0p ransomware attack exposed personal data of more than 600,000 customers. The breach, which originated from a 2020 phishing email,...
Eric Fookes, Founder & CEO, Fookes Software
Eric Fookes, a geologist‑turned entrepreneur, founded Swiss‑based Fookes Software in 1996 and later launched Aid4Mail, now a leading email forensics and eDiscovery solution. Since its 2005 debut, the product has adapted to three major shifts: migration of email to cloud...
Re: UK Biobank Leak: Are Patients’ Details Safe, and What Are the Risks to Future Research?
The UK National Health Service has agreed to give Palantir contractors unlimited access to patient data, including information from the UK Biobank. The move has sparked alarm among privacy advocates who fear misuse of highly sensitive health records. The Good...
AI Corporate Governance and Ben & Jerry’s Risk
Harvard Law scholars Jesse Fried and Idan Reiter argue that AI firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic embed a structural conflict by installing self‑appointed mission guardians who can override profit‑seeking investors. They label the failure of Unilever’s Ben & Jerry’s guardian experiment...
SEC Audit Oversight Push Renews Questions for Enron-Era Watchdog
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced plans to create a specialized unit staffed with additional auditors to hunt down audit lapses, a move framed as a response to “fundamental” failures in financial reporting. The initiative revives debate over the...
SEC Delays Launch of Groundbreaking Prediction Market ETFs
Yes, prediction market ETFs dealyed again, not launching today as planned. SEC wants to look at them a bit more. Doesn't sound lethal, just more double checking disclosures. These really are groundbreaking (and once they launch a precedent is set)...
Schools Must Formalize All Athlete Benefit Agreements
Schools now have to document athlete benefits much more formally than before. Do all benefits to prospective or current athletes have to be in a written agreement? The full explanation is in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Now 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/Gu1Ca8pwwG
Regulation: MAA Regulatory Notices (RN)
The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) released a wave of regulatory notices between May 2026 and March 2023, covering topics such as Military Permit‑to‑Fly improvements, maintainer licences, AI use in safety‑critical systems, and RPAS guidance. Several older notices were withdrawn, notably post‑Brexit compliance...
Regulated Data Retention Demands Tailored, Not Blanket, Strategies
Data Retention for Regulated Industries: Why it Requires More Than a Blanket Approach https://t.co/nkZ11qbFU6 https://t.co/lfeGymQZsm
227. "We're All Trying to Find the Guy Who Did This"
The Supreme Court’s rapid issuance of the *Callais* judgment has opened the door for states to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida have already filed emergency applications or passed legislation to alter districts...
King Didn't Ask For Followers. He Called for Leaders.
This week the U.S. Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, prompting a cascade of anti‑Black voting measures: Louisiana suspended ongoing elections, Tennessee dismantled its sole majority‑Black district, and an Alabama legislator called for repealing the 14th Amendment....
Sony's Failed War Against Internet Piracy May Doom Other Copyright Lawsuits
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Cox Communications cannot be held liable for its customers' copyright infringement, overturning a $1 billion jury verdict. The decision hinges on the finding that Cox neither induced infringement nor tailored its broadband service for...
Compliance Frameworks Miss Invisible Forces, but They Matter the Most
Strategic consultant Sean Blair argues that most compliance frameworks focus on visible rules while ignoring the invisible forces—mental models, cultural pressures, and reward structures—that truly drive employee behavior. He illustrates how rapid growth can create hidden incentives that undermine safety...
DOJ’s New Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Raises the Stakes on Self-Disclosure
The U.S. Department of Justice released its first department‑wide corporate criminal enforcement policy, establishing a uniform framework for companies considering self‑disclosure of wrongdoing. The guidance clarifies when prosecutors may decline charges if a firm voluntarily reports misconduct, fully cooperates, and...
American Action Forum Calls for Federal Limits on Local Broadband Permits
The American Action Forum urged Congress and the FCC to impose federal time limits on state and local broadband permitting, warning that current delays widen the urban‑rural divide and raise costs for consumers. The policy push ties into the pending...
Solo 401(k) Auto‑Enrollment Credit Can Add Up to $1,500 to Small‑Biz Retirement Funds
Solo 401(k) sponsors can now claim a $500 annual tax credit for adding an Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement (EACA) to their plans, totaling $1,500 over three years. The credit, created by SECURE 2.0 and effective Jan. 1, 2025, targets one‑person and spouse‑run businesses...
Paramount‑Warner $111 B Merger Stumbles Amid Trump‑Era Political Allegations and Hollywood Protest
Paramount Global's $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is under fire after a legal filing alleges the company promised former President Donald Trump editorial cuts at CNN for regulatory leniency. Simultaneously, actor Mark Ruffalo leads a 4,000‑plus artist campaign demanding...
Laying the Foundation for Confidence – Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) unveiled a multi‑phase programme aimed at restoring investor confidence across the UK financial sector. The initiative introduces a new consumer‑confidence framework, tighter transparency rules for fintech firms and a 20% increase in supervisory visits beginning...
Legora Buys Graceview, Adding AI‑Powered Regulatory Monitoring
Legora has acquired Australian regulatory‑tech startup Graceview, integrating its real‑time monitoring engine into Legora’s collaborative legal platform. The deal, announced alongside a $50 million Series D extension that lifted Legora’s valuation to $5.6 billion, aims to give law firms and corporate legal departments...
DMV Updates AV Rules to Improve Accountability, First Responder Coordination and Public Safety
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has adopted new autonomous‑vehicle regulations that open the state to heavy‑duty AV testing and deployment. Manufacturers must complete 50,000 miles of light‑duty or 500,000 miles of heavy‑duty testing and submit a safety case before...
FDA Locks Down Post-Approval Pregnancy Safety Data Framework
The FDA issued final guidance on post‑marketing safety data collection for drugs and biologics used in pregnancy. The framework details best practices for pregnancy registries, case‑control, electronic health record‑based and population‑level studies, stressing early enrollment and multi‑pronged recruitment. It requires...