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
Latin Antitrust Chronicles: September 2025-March 2026
The latest Latin Antitrust Chronicles highlights Brazil’s most contentious retail merger, the CADE‑approved union of Petz and Cobasi, which was cleared only after the authority imposed the divestiture of 26 São Paulo stores and behavioral commitments. Analysts warn the deal could still lift pet‑food prices by up to 15% in local markets, a concern echoed by rival Petlove and consumer groups. At the same time, Bill 4675/2025 seeks to create a Digital Markets Superintendence inside CADE, a move projected to cost between $540 million and $2.3 billion over a decade and sparking fierce debate over ex‑ante regulation. A parallel development is CADE’s settlement with Apple over iOS app‑store practices, signaling a broader shift toward more proactive platform oversight in Brazil.
Nike Slapped with Consumer Lawsuit over Unreturned Tariff-Related Charges
Nike is being sued by a group of consumers who claim the company failed to refund price increases tied to U.S. tariffs on imported goods. The plaintiffs allege that after the 2018 tariffs on Chinese apparel, Nike retained the additional...
Virginia Supreme Court Throws Out Voter‑Approved Redistricting Map in 4‑3 Decision
The Virginia Supreme Court voted 4‑3 to invalidate a voter‑approved congressional redistricting plan, eliminating four prospective Democratic seats and restoring a Republican‑leaning map. The decision has sparked immediate legal challenges and intensified the national gerrymandering fight ahead of the 2026...
Minnesota Attorney General Sues Nonprofit Over $6.5 Million Fraud
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a civil lawsuit accusing the violence‑prevention charity We Push for Peace and its former leaders of diverting $6.5 million in charitable funds to personal luxuries, a private liquor store and bogus for‑profit entities. The complaint...
Ofcom Investigating GB News Over Donald Trump Interview After All
Ofcom announced it will reopen its investigation into GB News after the network rebroadcast a November interview with U.S. President Donald Trump. The regulator says the repeat, aired 12 hours later with a different panel, may breach rules on due impartiality...
Key Compliance Priorities for Investment Managers in 2026
Investment managers face a reshaped compliance landscape in 2026, driven by tighter LP scrutiny despite deregulation, a refocused SEC enforcement agenda, and rising AI adoption without adequate governance. The SEC is shifting from books‑and‑records fines to targeting fraud, negligence, and...
New Jersey’s Independent Contractor Rules Are Now Official — And the Burden Is All Yours
On May 5, 2026 New Jersey’s Department of Labor filed N.J.A.C. 12:11, turning the long‑standing ABC test for independent‑contractor classification into binding regulation across six state labor statutes. The rules take effect on October 1, 2026 and place the entire burden on employers to prove...
FTC Warns Mortgage Connect over Noncompete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission’s chair sent a warning letter to Mortgage Connect, a national mortgage‑services firm, demanding it review and potentially end non‑compete clauses in employee contracts. The letter follows a lawsuit where Mortgage Connect tried to enforce a non‑compete...
Why Tech Needs Smarter Contracts for Data Centers
Data centers are the backbone of today’s AI, e‑commerce and streaming services, prompting tech giants and governments to race for long‑term build‑outs. However, a surge in community opposition—up 125% in Q2 2025—has sparked litigation that threatens project timelines. Experts argue that...
NMLS Address Policy Change and Pain Points with Changes
The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) rolled out a major refresh on April 18, updating disclosure questions and automating employment‑history reporting for its 600,000 users. The overhaul introduces auto‑populated employment data, standardized employer lists, and expanded contact fields for company users,...
Pernod Ricard Faces Indian Anti-Trust Investigation
Pernod Ricard’s Indian subsidiary is under a formal antitrust probe by the Competition Commission of India after allegations it secured exclusive retail arrangements in Delhi to favor its brands. The commission alleges the group provided roughly €23 million (about $25 million) in...
Commission Invites Comments on Draft Revised State Aid Rules for Air Transport
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on draft revised Guidelines for State aid to the air‑transport sector, replacing the 2014 rules. The new framework narrows operating‑aid eligibility, allowing block‑exempt support for airports under 500,000 passengers and transitional aid...
When AI Is In The Room
Law firms are increasingly deploying AI‑powered note‑taking tools to record meetings, attracted by speed and convenience. However, AI transcripts capture every utterance—including jokes and off‑hand remarks—making them fully discoverable and potentially breaching attorney‑client privilege if the AI is treated as...
Don’t Misread a Shift in Regulatory Tone – Global Relay
U.S. regulators, under new SEC and CFTC leadership, are moving away from aggressive off‑channel communications sweeps and focusing enforcement on conduct that directly harms market integrity, investors, or involves fraud and manipulation. While the tone appears softer, the underlying record‑keeping...
Survey: Legal Teams Lack Visibility Into AI Agents’ Actions, Icertis Research Finds
Icertis released a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. in‑house lawyers that reveals a major blind spot: nearly half cannot detect unauthorized or erroneous actions taken by AI agents until after the fact, sometimes days or weeks later. The study...
Betting on War: The Legality and Lethality of Prediction Markets
Prediction‑market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have surged, drawing tens of billions in venture funding and enabling users to wager on geopolitical events, including a $54 million pool on the succession of Iran’s supreme leader. When the leader was killed...
How You Can Use AI to Help Your Proxy Drafting Process: Six Things
The Governance Beat outlines how AI can streamline proxy statement drafting while warning against over‑reliance. It highlights AI’s tendency to produce generic, tone‑deaf language that may miss material facts or invite litigation. The article then lists six practical uses, from...
ICC Arrest Warrant for Philippine Senator Roland Dela Rosa over War on Drugs
The International Criminal Court confirmed an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Roland "Bato" Dela Rosa, accusing him of crimes against humanity linked to the country’s deadly war on drugs. Dela Rosa fled to the Senate building and was placed under...
OfS Investigation Has Been One Big Guessing Game
The Office for Students (OfS) has placed two conditions on the University of Northampton after a 2023 investigation into its computing provision. The regulator’s decision arrived after the cohort in question had already graduated, prompting criticism of the timing and...
CDM 2015 ‘Remains Fit for Purpose’, Concludes HSE Review
The Health and Safety Executive’s second post‑implementation review finds the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 still meeting their safety objectives. While simplified guidance has boosted compliance, the report notes lingering gaps in pre‑construction clarity and duty‑holder understanding. The HSE...
Episode 57: Clarity on Crypto
The ISDA podcast’s Episode 57, “Clarity on Crypto,” features SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discussing the evolving U.S. regulatory stance toward digital assets as the Clarity Act moves through Congress. Peirce outlines the SEC’s shift toward a principles‑based framework, emphasizing flexibility over prescriptive...
How to Fix AML Over-Classification in Your Firm
Muinmos and FAI Comply hosted a Compliance Café Connect session that highlighted the growing problem of AML over‑classification, where many clients are labeled high‑risk by default. The discussion, led by Muinmos CEO Remonda Kirketerp‑Møller, argued that static, periodic risk reviews...
A 'Quiet Crisis' Is Brewing for Student-Loan Borrowers
A new wave of private student loans is poised to replace federal borrowing after President Trump’s repayment overhaul takes effect on July 1. The rule caps federal loans, driving students toward private lenders who currently serve about 10% of borrowers but...
Sanral Faces Legal Challenge over R438m SAP Tender
South Africa's National Roads Agency (Sanral) awarded a R438.3 million (~$24 million) SAP support and maintenance contract to Zimele ERP IT Services, prompting a legal challenge from rival bidder WIB Group. WIB seeks an interdict to halt Zimele’s work pending a review...
Conservation Groups Launch Lawsuit After Trump Admin Reopens Seamounts Monument to Fishing
Conservation groups including the Conservation Law Foundation and the NRDC have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration’s February decision to reopen the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument to commercial fishing. The monument, created by President Obama in...
German Society of International Law: Short Conference on “Law without Borders? Extraterritorial Regulation and Unilateral Action” (Munich, 11/12 June 2026)
The German Society of International Law (GSIL) will host a two‑day short conference titled “Law without Borders? Extraterritorial Regulation and Unilateral Action” in Munich on June 11‑12, 2026. Unlike most GSIL events, this meeting is open to all academics, including...
US OFAC Warning to Financial Institutions Re Sanctions Risks of Dealing with China’s Teapot Refineries Importing and Refining Iranian Oil
The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has warned financial institutions that Chinese “teapot” refineries, especially in Shandong Province, remain high‑risk partners because they continue importing and refining Iranian crude. Since March 2025 OFAC has designated firms such as...
Hedge Funds Target Distressed Litigation Finance Assets Amid Industry Slowdown
Hedge funds and special situations investors are moving into distressed litigation finance assets as the sector slows. Deals are being struck at as low as 10 cents on the dollar, sometimes with no upfront cash and only contingent payouts. Regulatory...
‘It Doesn’t Feel Like a Bubble’: Law Society CEO on the Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence
Law Society chief executive Ian Jeffery says artificial intelligence is sparking a genuine transformation in the legal profession rather than a speculative bubble. Since ChatGPT’s 2022 launch, law firms and in‑house teams have rapidly adopted generative AI for research, drafting...
Listen: Is the EU Backtracking on AI Regulation?
The EU is revising its AI Act just two years after adoption, extending compliance deadlines and scaling back certain obligations. High‑risk AI systems now have until December 2027 to meet requirements, while labeling of AI‑generated content is delayed and machines that...
‘Boys’ Club’: Former Woolworths Executive Sues over Alleged Bullying
Former Woolworths senior facilities executive Jane Frewen has filed a Federal Court lawsuit alleging severe bullying, gender‑based pay disparity and forced overtime. She claims she worked 60‑90 hours weekly, was required to work through holidays, and was paid roughly one‑third...
“The Biggest Psychology Experiment Ever Conducted by Humans” – How Big Tech Got Us Addicted to Social Media
A California jury in March held Meta and Google liable for deliberately engineering addictive features on Instagram and YouTube, marking the first major verdict in a wave of roughly 2,000 lawsuits alleging harm to users, especially minors. The ruling underscores...
Can Human Line Project and Anthropic Defeat OpenAI in AI Psychosis Lawsuits?
OpenAI is confronting a wave of lawsuits that claim its models cause AI psychosis and that the systems possess a digital mind. Plaintiffs argue that if courts accept AI as a form of consciousness, OpenAI could be held liable for...
Accuvice Launches AI-Powered Compliance Web Platform to Simplify Data Protection and Regulatory Assessments for African & Global Businesses
Accuvice Solutions Limited has launched an AI‑powered digital compliance web platform aimed at African and global enterprises. The solution centralizes GDPR, NDPA, DPIA, ISO and other regulatory workflows into a single dashboard, adding AI‑driven guidance, real‑time collaboration, and expert auditor...
SAVCA Legal and Regulatory Briefing: 20 May 2026
The South African Venture Capital Association (SAVCA) will host a Legal and Regulatory Briefing on 20 May 2026. The CPD‑accredited session targets private‑capital practitioners, offering a current snapshot of legal, policy and regulatory shifts shaping the sector. Attendees will hear how regulators...
11KBW and 39 Essex Chambers Join Forces to Expand Scholarship for Black Aspiring Barristers
Two leading civil chambers, 11KBW and 39 Essex, have merged their scholarship programme, now offering two £30,000 (≈$38,400) awards each year to Black law students on the Bar Professional Course, doubling the previous single award. Recipients also gain mentorship, a...
BigLaw’s Billion-Pound AI Race
Elite law firms are accelerating AI adoption, partnering with legal‑tech leaders like Harvey and Legora. Valuations of these AI firms have surged, with Harvey now worth about $11 billion. Firms are experimenting with in‑house tools, Microsoft Copilot, and high‑profile marketing campaigns...
Digital vs Legal
In this episode, partner Nadia da Costa Rivero of Anderson discusses the European Digital Networks Act (DNA) and its shift from telecom‑centric regulation to a broader digital‑infrastructure mindset, highlighting the heavy compliance burdens it creates for telcos, data‑center operators, and...
Supreme Court Leaves Apple Contempt Order in Place in Epic App Store Fight
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to pause a district‑court contempt order that finds Apple in violation of its own injunction in the Epic Games lawsuit. The order stems from Apple’s incomplete compliance with a ruling that required the company to...
EU Relaxes Tankering and Slot Rules if Fuel Shortages Occur
The European Commission issued guidance that temporarily relaxes the EU’s anti‑tankering rule and the “use‑it‑or‑lose‑it” slot requirement when genuine jet‑fuel shortages arise. Under the ReFuelEU framework, airlines may take less than the usual 90 % fuel load and can tank fuel...
Crypto.com Receives UAE Stored Value Facilities License
Crypto.com’s UAE subsidiary, Foris DAX Middle East FZE, became the first virtual‑asset service provider in the Emirates to secure a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE. The approval unlocks a partnership with the Dubai...
Stud Merino Breeders Still Oppose Mandatory Mulesing Pain Relief
The New South Wales government has tabled the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026, which would fine sheep producers more than $80,000 for mulesing without approved pain relief. The NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association (SMBA)...
Robinhood Faces Lawsuit for Alleged Unlawful Disclosure of Consumers’ Sensitive Financial Info
Robinhood Markets is facing a lawsuit filed by client Jamillah Dunn alleging the brokerage embedded invisible Google trackers on its website that transmit users’ sensitive financial data—including account numbers, holdings, and search queries—to advertisers without consent. The complaint, lodged in...
Using AI Means You Work the Same, or Longer
A survey of 240 lawyers and legal‑tech professionals finds AI has not shortened work hours. Forty‑two percent say they now work longer, half report no change, and only seven percent work less. Respondents attribute the rise in hours to higher...
Case Manager Accuses Vanguard of Firing Him over Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Former Vanguard case manager Robert Machell alleges the firm terminated him after disclosing an early‑stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis and requesting accommodations. He claims Vanguard placed him on a performance‑improvement plan tied to a speed‑focused Case Handle Rate metric, reduced the target...
Amazon Fired Warehouse Worker with COPD on Approved Leave, Lawsuit Says
Amazon terminated a Rossford, Ohio warehouse associate who was on approved intermittent leave for COPD and other chronic conditions. The employee, Tammy R. Dombrowsky, alleges the company repeatedly mis‑coded her protected absences as unpaid time off, contrary to its own...
Engineer Sues HubSpot, Says Parental Leave Triggered PIP and Firing
Former HubSpot engineering lead Jonathan Turnbull‑Reilly alleges the company retaliated after he took parental leave and later reported a data‑privacy bug. He says his performance rating dropped, he was placed on a performance‑improvement plan, and was fired within days of...
‘Structural Barriers’ | How Law Firm Browne Jacobson Is Advancing Black Representation in the Legal Profession
The Solicitors Regulation Authority reported that only 3% of lawyers in UK firms were Black in 2022, highlighting a deep diversity gap. In response, Browne Jacobson launched the REACH mentorship programme to boost Black representation within the firm and the wider...
SEC Goes After Reign Financial International
The SEC filed a complaint in the Southern District of Florida accusing Reign Financial International, its principals and affiliated hedge‑fund managers of a multi‑million‑dollar high‑yield fraud. Between March 2021 and October 2022 the defendants raised over $26 million from at least...
Exterro Launches Autonomous Subpoena Tool, Unveils Broader AI Governance Vision at CLOC
Exterro announced the launch of an autonomous subpoena management solution at the CLOC Global Institute in Chicago, automating the entire subpoena lifecycle from issuance to response. The company also introduced its ARMOUR framework—Autonomous Risk Management, Orchestration, and Unified Response—to guide...