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
FCA, PRA and BoE Issue Policy Statements on Operational Resilience
On 18 March 2026 the FCA, PRA and Bank of England released coordinated policy statements that create a single operational‑incident and third‑party reporting regime for UK financial firms. The new rules define a unified incident definition, standardised thresholds and a single online portal, cutting the number of required questions to ten for most firms. They also streamline material third‑party reporting with a single register and notification template. All provisions become mandatory on 18 March 2027, giving firms a twelve‑month transition window.
SEC Finally Clarifies Tokens, Unlocking Institutional Crypto Adoption
"We're not the (look-for-)securities-in-everything-commission anymore." SEC Chair Atkins said this yesterday. If you've built through the Gensler years you know how insane that sounds. Years of the SEC basically regulating through lawsuits instead of giving anyone clear rules and now they're...
Third Circuit Ames to Level Playing Field for Reverse Discrimination Claimants Under New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination
On March 6, 2026, the Third Circuit in Massey v. Borough of Bergenfield held that New Jersey’s “background circumstances” rule— which required majority‑group plaintiffs to prove employer intent— is incompatible with the NJ Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). Citing the U.S....
Complimentary Consultations with Top Law Firms
Two leading immigration law firms are currently offering complimentary consultations to qualified clients seeking EB‑1A, EB‑2 NIW, or O‑1 visas. The free sessions target applicants planning to file within the next month to a year. Prospective clients can schedule a...
Activist That Encouraged Merger Only To Change Its Mind Denied “Extraordinary Remedy” Of A Deal Injunction
The Delaware Court of Chancery rejected HoldCo’s request for an injunction to block Comerica’s merger with Fifth Third, finding the deal‑protection provisions lawful and not coercive. HoldCo, which had initially championed the transaction, could not demonstrate a colorable claim or irreparable...
GuardDog Telehealth Accesses Sensitive Medical Records Under False Pretenses
GuardDog Telehealth admitted to accessing patient medical records under false pretenses, claiming treatment needs while actually selling the data to law firms. The lawsuit, supported by Epic and Health Gorilla, alleges the use of sham providers to request records from...
Commission to Probe Showmax Closure
The Competition Commission announced a probe into Canal+'s compliance with the merger conditions attached to its takeover of MultiChoice, focusing on the recent shutdown of the Showmax streaming service. Regulators will assess whether Canal+ adhered to voting‑right caps and the...
Hire Experienced Tech Auditor for Healthcare Apps, HIPAA Compliance Critical
If you are vibe-coding apps for the healthcare sector I beg you - pay a deeply experienced technologist to audit it before anyone uses it. hipaa laws are no joke. I’ve personally been through the compliance audits, defending our encryption...
This Is How Reproductive Rights Are Lost
A Tennessee bill that would have treated abortion as criminal homicide failed to advance, not because of public opposition but due to procedural inaction. The proposal, which could have exposed women to the death penalty, highlights how even the most...
Market Needs ‘Good Referee’ for Shareholder Proposals, Warns CalSTRS
CalSTRS warns that the SEC’s recent retreat from reviewing shareholder proposals erodes a critical layer of investor protection. The pension fund argues the market needs an independent referee to fairly vet proposals before they reach a vote. Without such oversight,...
Regulator Places Insurers Under Statutory Management
A regulator placed two insurers under statutory management, signaling heightened oversight in the sector. Concurrently, war-driven volatility is expected to push Nigerian reinsurance rates higher and spur Greek firms to intensify cyber‑risk scans. Insurers are also expanding globally, with a...
The HCCH Website Now Features E-Country Profiles
The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) has added an e‑country profile section to its website, allowing states to publish practical guidance on its conventions. To date, only the United States and Latvia have posted profiles for the Service...
SEBI Levies ₹2.8 Crore Fine on 18 Entities; Debars for 5 Years in RGRL Share Manipulation Case
India’s securities regulator SEBI imposed a total fine of ₹2.8 crore on 18 entities for manipulating the share price of Retro Green Revolution Ltd (RGRL). The regulator ordered Sanjay Arunkumar Choksi and Western Agrotech Innovative to return unlawful gains of ₹2.94 crore...
Safety-Kleen to Pay $175K Federal Fine for Maintenance, Storage Violations
Safety‑Kleen Systems, a Clean Harbors subsidiary, agreed to pay a $175,000 federal fine after the EPA cited its Linden, New Jersey plant for maintenance, storage and equipment violations. Inspectors found leaking pipes, unsealed containment structures and improper labeling that heightened the...
Clean Slate Law Hits Milestone
Connecticut’s Clean Slate law has automatically erased criminal records for more than 150,000 residents, targeting eligible misdemeanors after seven years and low‑level felonies after ten years while excluding serious offenses. The program, launched in 2023 following the 2021 legislation, marks...
A Look At The “FEPA Report”
The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA), effective July 2024, obligates the DOJ to submit an annual report on foreign officials’ bribery demands and related enforcement actions. In a recent DOJ letter, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ronald Lampard outlined how the...
SoundExchange Boss Says All EU Countries Must Change Copyright Rules so European Radio Royalties Flow to American Performers
SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe welcomed Ireland’s amendment to its copyright law, which now obliges Irish radio royalties to be paid to American performers. The change stems from an EU court ruling that mandates all member states to allow such payments,...
The Administration of Maritime Insolvencies Under the Paradigm of Cooperative Territoriality
Maritime insolvencies are uniquely international, involving owners, charterers, crew, and creditors across multiple jurisdictions. Existing cross‑border insolvency regimes such as the UNCITRAL Model Law and the European Insolvency Regulation adopt a universalist approach, which clashes with the territorial nature of...
Broadcasters Warned of FCC Legal Risk over Hoaxes
Trump troll Matt Gertz, senior fellow at the hard left Media Matters for America @mmfa: “Any broadcaster now has to question if anything they put out could end up getting them in a heap of legal trouble with the @FCC.”...
Freshpet Should Stop “Human Grade” Claims, US Ad Body Says
Freshpet was ordered by the BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD) to stop using "human grade" language in its dog‑food advertising after a challenge from rival The Farmer’s Dog. NAD found two of three reviewed ads implied the product...
Carr Reaffirms Longstanding Public‑Interest Broadcast Requirement
Policyband Quote of the Day: “@BrendanCarrFCC critics pretend he said something radical. However, the Communications Act in Section 309(a) has long required broadcasters that use public spectrum to operate in the ‘public interest.’ That principle is the foundation of...
SPAC Fallout, Accrual Battles, and the Long Tail of De-SPAC Risk
The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Chancery Court’s ruling that the standard three‑year statute of limitations applies to fiduciary‑duty claims arising from de‑SPAC transactions. The court applied Delaware’s long‑standing occurrence rule, holding that the limitations clock starts when the...
Live Nation and Ticketmaster Antitrust Trial to Resume After 32 US States Reject Settlement
The U.S. Department of Justice antitrust trial against Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation resumed on March 16 after 32 states rejected a tentative settlement. The proposed deal would have forced 50 % of tickets at Live Nation‑owned venues to be sold...
India Just Redrew the Map on Cross-Border Discovery
An appellate ruling by the Madras High Court in Softgel Healthcare v. Pfizer refused to execute U.S. Letters Rogatory seeking manufacturing records from an Indian API supplier, citing four provisions of the Hague Evidence Convention. The court rejected the request...
Frontier Justice: Navigating the Future Legal Landscape for Private Actors in Space Law
The global space economy is set to surge from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.7 trillion by 2035, yet the legal framework remains fragmented and largely government‑centric. Private actors face a regulatory vacuum that could trigger lunar land grabs, inflate costs, and...
US Declares Most Crypto Assets Non‑Securities, Shifts Global Landscape
The SEC (The US Federal Agency that regulates securities markets) recently released its most important crypto guidance along with the CFTC (The US federal agency that regulates commodity and derivatives markets). For the first time, the US government has formally...
The EDRM Isn’t Broken; It’s Misunderstood.
Craig Ball argues that the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) isn’t fundamentally broken; its perceived flaws stem from widespread misunderstanding. He outlines common misconceptions, such as conflating distinct stages and applying outdated workflows to modern technology. The piece stresses that...
Lawfluencer Announces Departure From City Law After Finishing Training Contract
Vera Mayzel, a legal influencer with nearly 40,000 followers, announced on Instagram that she is leaving her newly‑qualified solicitor role at Hogan Lovells. After completing a training contract and qualifying in February 2026, she said she is stepping back from Big Law...
The Nationwide Book Ban Bill Moves to the House: How to Take Action Now
The House Education and Workforce Committee approved HR 7661, the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” and sent it to the full House. The bill would prohibit federal funding for any public‑school program that provides or promotes literature deemed “sexually...
Weil Names Successor to Longtime Leader Wolf
Weil Gotshal & Manges announced that co‑managing partner Ramona Nee will succeed longtime executive partner Barry Wolf as executive partner on 1 January 2027, with Wolf remaining chair of the management committee until the end of 2027 before retiring. Nee, who also...
Delhi HC Upholds ICICI Bank’s Termination; Acceptance of Notice Pay Proves Decisive
The Delhi High Court affirmed ICICI Bank’s right to terminate a long‑serving manager by paying salary in lieu of notice, ruling that the employee’s acceptance of Rs 99,634 effectively ratified the dismissal. The court rejected the employee’s claims for reinstatement and...
Live Nation Settlement Transparency Clause Is a Win for Artists
The Department of Justice’s proposed settlement with Live Nation adds an “Artist Transparency” clause that forces the ticketing giant to share ticket‑buyer information with performers upon request. The data will be provided under privacy safeguards and a DOJ‑approved non‑disclosure agreement....
Google's General Search and Search Advertising Services
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally designated Google as holding Strategic Market Status (SMS) for its general search and search‑advertising services in October 2025. Following the designation, the CMA launched a comprehensive conduct‑requirement consultation in January 2026, proposing rules on...
Reedsburg Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Organization
Chrystal D. Mueller, 41, of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, received an 18‑month federal prison sentence for conspiring to distribute fentanyl after pleading guilty in September 2025. The scheme involved shipping 19 parcels of fentanyl pills from California to Wisconsin between January and...
Independence Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion
A 60‑year‑old Independence, Mo., salesman, Michael Robert Jett, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for a six‑year tax evasion scheme. He falsified exemption claims, preventing employer tax withholdings and failing to pay federal and state income taxes from...
Sixth Circuit Slaps Steep Sanctions on Two Lawyers for Fake Citations and Misrepresentations in Appellate Briefs
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals imposed steep sanctions on Tennessee lawyers Van R. Irion and Russ Egli after discovering more than two dozen fabricated or misrepresented case citations in their appellate briefs. The court ordered each attorney to...
Couple Sues Carrington Mortgage Alleging Ignored Requests and Foreclosure Push
Barry and Allison Schneider have sued Carrington Mortgage Services in federal court, alleging the servicer ignored four written information requests and proceeded with a foreclosure demand exceeding $30,000. The dispute began when the couple discovered portal errors, missing escrow data,...
Vote Coming Soon—No Referendum, Public Can Comment
Some FEW FACTS to note: 1. In about 60 days, Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Bill will be availed for a vote in Parliament. 2. No referendum will be held, & no referendum is required by law. 3. You have the chance to...
Litigated Off-Channel Communications Charge Survives Motion to Dismiss: Where Are We on Books and Records?
A federal judge in Illinois refused to dismiss the SEC’s off‑channel communications claim in SEC v. Arete Wealth Management, affirming that the books‑and‑records rule applies to text messages. The court rejected Arete’s arguments that Rule 17a‑4 is unconstitutionally vague and...
No ‘Last Hurrah’ Expected for US De Minimis as Legal Challenge Advances
The U.S. administration’s suspension of the de minimis exemption is now being challenged in the Court of International Trade after a lawsuit by auto‑parts retailer Detroit Axle alleges the move exceeds legal authority. The challenge follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited...
SEC's Crypto Safe Harbor Reshapes Fundraising Landscape
Everyone is watching the Fed today. They should be watching the SEC. Yesterday, Chair Paul Atkins officially declared that most crypto assets are not securities — and proposed safe harbor exemptions that would let crypto startups raise capital legally in...
Trump's Jones Act Waiver Aims to Lower Fuel Costs
This is a reasonable policy move by Trump, but it would be an *AWESOME* policy move if the Jones Act is waived/eliminated permanently.
Are Your Anonymous Reporting Channels Hiding a Bigger Problem?
The column examines the paradox of anonymous reporting channels, highlighting their essential role in protecting whistleblowers while exposing their vulnerability to incomplete or malicious claims. It uses a real‑world dilemma—an employee receiving an anonymous allegation against a trusted colleague—to illustrate...
Court Ruling Threatens Jones Act, Haters Celebrate
And there it is folks. The moment Jones Act haters have been waiting for… https://t.co/BZQNHrjdj5
Senator Tim Scott Eyes Stablecoin Yield Compromise This Week
CLARITY ACT UPDATE: ⚡️ Senator Tim Scott said a compromise on stablecoin yield could be reached this week, potentially moving the stalled bill forward Source: Decrypt https://t.co/qb0UTAd7Rd
Credit Union Common Bond Reform
The UK government plans to amend the credit‑union common‑bond rules across England, Scotland and Wales. The locality bond membership cap will rise from three to ten million, and new eligibility categories will include students, relatives outside the household, and retirees....
Trump's 60‑day Jones Act Waiver Deemed Ineffective by Shippers
Trump just waived the Jones Act for 60 days. Shipping interests say it won’t help
SEC Says Most Crypto Assets Aren’t Securities.
NEW: SEC introduces five-category crypto framework with CFTC, says most crypto assets are not securities, only digital securities fall under its remit, some may still qualify as investment contracts, with more rules coming https://t.co/QodcXBpZk2
The Incoming BEREC Chair Calls for Joint Efforts to Build a Future-Proof Digital Europe
Incoming BEREC Chair Alejandra de Iturriaga outlined the regulator’s 2026‑2030 strategy at the IIC Digital Communications and Media Forum. The roadmap targets a secure, competitive, inclusive and sustainable digital Europe by strengthening connectivity, open ecosystems and resilient infrastructure. Implementation will...
IRS, FATCA and CRS: The Latest RegTech Compliance News
Comply Exchange’s February 2026 roundup flags key FATCA, CRS, and IRS filing deadlines for financial institutions. Bahamas AEOI participants must submit FATCA/CRS data by March 31, 2026, while U.S. Form 1042 and 1042‑S filings closed on March 16, 2026. The IRS announced the FIRE system will...