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
Law Firm Write-Offs: What Your Leakage Is Trying to Tell You
Law firms often label write‑offs as inevitable costs, but they reveal where revenue leaks occur. A recent case showed $47,000 in write‑offs in a single quarter, traced to scope creep, stale invoices, rate discomfort, and surprise bills. By categorizing write‑offs by cause rather than client, firms can identify systemic billing and collection flaws. Implementing bi‑weekly invoicing and clearer engagement terms can cut write‑offs dramatically, as one firm achieved a 40% reduction in one quarter.
How Trump Is Turning Fair Lending Law on Its Head
The Trump administration is dismantling core fair‑lending protections by targeting the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the Section 1071 small‑business data rule. An executive order eliminates the disparate‑impact theory, while the CFPB proposes to...
2025 Accounting-Related Securities Suit Filings Decreased, Settlement Value Increased
Cornerstone Research reports a sharp 40% drop in accounting‑related securities class‑action filings in 2025, falling to 34 cases, the lowest count since its 2004 tracking began. Despite fewer suits, settlement values surged 40% to roughly $1.5 billion, accounting for 51% of...
26-271 - Dominguez Zulueta V. Noem Et Al
On March 16, 2026, Judge David L. Russell partially granted Julio I. Dominguez Zulueta’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, ordering a prompt bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). The court directed state respondents to provide the hearing without delay, while...
Why The U.S. Wants To Rewrite Independent Contractor Rules Affecting Millions Of Workers, Again
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to abandon its 2024 independent‑contractor classification rule and revert to a revised 2021 framework. The proposal places primary weight on two factors—control over work and the opportunity for...
Amazon vs Perplexity: The Court Ruling that Just Put Agentic Commerce on Trial
A federal judge granted Amazon a preliminary injunction preventing Perplexity’s Comet browser agent from accessing Amazon’s systems, citing likely violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The court distinguished user permission from platform authorization, ruling that even with a...
The Contents of B-Arbitra, Issue 2025-2
The bi‑annual journal b‑Arbitra’s 2025‑2 edition blends doctrinal analysis with recent Belgian case law, highlighting AI regulation, arbitration agreement validity, and estoppel applications. Ole Jensen examines AI’s emerging regulatory framework, while Vermeiren, Tulkens and Hoc dissect arbitration clause issues under...
Noru Raises €560K to Develop an Agentic Compliance Platform
Stockholm‑based startup Noru has closed a €560,000 pre‑seed round led by Ampli Ventures, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz Scout Fund and other Nordic investors. The company is building an AI‑native “agentic compliance” platform that embeds regulatory requirements directly into development...
The Fight Over New Jersey’s Tough Environmental Justice Law Is Now in the Courts
New Jersey’s 2020 environmental justice law, hailed for its stringent permit‑denial provisions, is now being tested in court. In January, the state’s intermediate appellate court unanimously upheld the enforcement rules, prompting the recycling and construction industries to seek review by...
Why Mediation Is the Solution to Saving Your Business
Co‑founder disputes are a leading cause of startup failure, often stemming from misaligned visions or equity disagreements. Rather than costly litigation, mediation offers a neutral, non‑binding process that keeps founders in control of outcomes. Mediation’s speed, lower cost, and confidentiality...
Trustero AI Reimagines Compliance Evidence Management with Unified, Multi-Agent System
Trustero AI has relaunched its Evidence Management platform as a unified, multi‑agent system that automates evidence collection, centralizes storage, and adds AI‑driven analysis. The solution pulls data from sources such as AWS, Jira, SharePoint and Google Drive, then uses machine...
Five Lessons From Three Years of Risk Assessments Under the Digital Services Act
The European Center for Not‑for‑profit Law (ECNL) examined three years of Digital Services Act (DSA) risk assessments submitted by Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X, finding that despite longer reports, they still suffer from vague risk statements, weak focus on...
Court Again Rules in Favour of Bits of Freedom: Freedom of Choice for Instagram and Facebook Users Remains Intact
On 11 March the Dutch Court of Appeal upheld a prior judgment in favor of digital‑rights group Bits of Freedom, confirming that Meta must continue offering Dutch Instagram and Facebook users a choice between an algorithmic feed and a chronological, non‑profiling...
The Supreme Court Takes up a Guam Munitions Case with High Stakes for CHamoru Lands
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by the Air Force seeking to continue open detonations of obsolete munitions on Tarague Beach, a site that overlies Guam’s sole‑source aquifer and is culturally sacred to the CHamoru people. Plaintiffs,...
Product Walk Through: TransLegal
TransLegal unveiled a multilingual legal translation engine that tackles the inaccuracies of generic large language models. Leveraging the world’s largest legal terminology database covering 75 jurisdictions, the platform embeds verified terms and comparative‑law context directly into legal‑tech workflows. The solution...
TaxStreem Aims to Simplify Tax Compliance for Nigerian Businesses
TaxStreem has launched a digital platform that consolidates fragmented financial data—from bank accounts, email, WhatsApp Business and invoicing tools—into a single interface for Nigerian businesses. The system automatically applies relevant tax rules, calculates liabilities in real time, and files returns...
Amended Electoral Act Sparks Fresh Defections in Akwa Ibom
The 2026 amendment to Nigeria’s Electoral Act bars politicians from switching parties after primary elections, prompting a wave of defections in Akwa Ibom’s ruling APC. Aspirants uncertain of securing tickets for the 2027 polls are returning to former parties or joining...
Understanding Sanction Compliance: Blocked Property and Rejected Transactions for Financial Institutions
Sanction compliance is essential for financial institutions operating internationally, requiring senior‑level commitment, risk assessments, and ongoing controls. Regulators such as OFAC mandate detailed reporting of blocked assets and rejected transfers, each with specific data fields and tight deadlines. Institutions must...
Key Governance Principles in Anti-Financial Crime Compliance
The article outlines essential governance principles for anti‑financial crime compliance, emphasizing the board’s ultimate responsibility and the role of a dedicated anti‑financial crime committee in setting risk tolerance. It stresses that robust oversight, clear policies, and an empowered compliance culture...
ATO, FWO Plan ‘Sham Contract’ Clampdown, Warn of Massive Fines
The Australian Taxation Office and Fair Work Ombudsman are intensifying a joint crackdown on sham contracting, a practice where employers misclassify employees as independent contractors to evade obligations. Penalties have been raised, with fines up to $500,000 for larger firms...
Social Media Debate Boosts Legitimacy of Zimbabwe Bill
We have seen a lot of support for the Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Bill… We have seen folks like @LynneStactia, @mawarirej, & @freemanchari mobilising against this BEAUTIFUL bill…. That’s the democracy that @ZANUPF_Official ushered. Participate freely, give your views freely…. What we...
AI Governance Shifts to Enforcement and Operational Readiness
AI Governance Trends 2026 From guidance to enforcement: • EU AI Act → enforcement begins • Agentic AI → governance gap • ISO 42001 → required in procurement • US → patchwork enforcement Governance is now operational readiness. https://t.co/3HljzCodIc via @DioOmega @quepasachico #AIGovernance #AgenticAI #AILaw #ISO42001
Empowering Compliance Professionals: The Impact of Regulatory Reporting Training
Regulatory reporting is essential for transparency, risk mitigation, and financial stability across industries, yet non‑compliance can trigger fines ranging from millions to billions of dollars. The article outlines how targeted training equips compliance professionals with the knowledge to meet evolving...
Goldman Sees Possible US Export Bans, Targeting Refined Oil
Goldman > While not our base case, we would not rule out US export restrictions. If implemented, they appear more likely for refined products than for crude oil.
Kirkland’s Revenue Jumps 20% to Top $10bn
Kirkland & Ellis reported a 20% jump in gross revenue, reaching $10.56 bn for 2025, while profit per equity partner (PEP) also rose 20% to $11.1 m. The firm’s equity partnership grew modestly by 3.8% to 595 partners, but total partnership numbers...
Fertiliser Not Turning Up: Can Your Supplier Walk Away?
Australian farmers are confronting force‑majeure claims from fertiliser suppliers, prompting questions about contract obligations. The Fertiliser Australia Trade Rules provide a standard clause, but actual terms vary, making each contract decisive. Force majeure permits suspension of deliveries only when supply...
Live Nation Begins Doling Out Multimillion-Dollar Payments to States Following the DOJ Settlement — Initial Recipients Include Nebraska, Oklahoma, and...
Live Nation has begun disbursing multimillion‑dollar payments to six states after the Department of Justice antitrust settlement, marking the first tranche of a $280.4 million fund. The payouts total $18.56 million, roughly 7 % of the settlement pool, and mirror the term sheet...
Microsoft Weighs Legal Action over $50bn Amazon-OpenAI Cloud Deal
Microsoft is reportedly considering legal action after Amazon secured a roughly $50 billion cloud partnership with OpenAI. The deal, which positions Amazon Web Services as the primary infrastructure for OpenAI’s next‑generation models, threatens Microsoft’s dominant role in the AI‑cloud market. Sources...
SA Is Off the FATF Grey List – Now It’s Time to Modernise Compliance
South Africa exited the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 after completing a 22‑point AML/CFT action plan. The removal lifts cross‑border restrictions and restores investor confidence, giving local banks a chance to expand. Analysts argue that compliance...
Key Takeaways From AAP v Kennedy Explained
A legal explainer about the recent AAP v Kennedy ruling from one of the most insightful scholars in the game 👇🏻
CMS Makes up 54 in Latest Partner Promotions Round
CMS announced the promotion of 54 partners worldwide, the largest cohort to date, with 28 women representing 52% of the group – the highest gender proportion ever for the firm. The promotions span 29 cities across the UK, Europe, Asia,...
FWC Rejects WFH Was Necessary to Accommodate ADHD, Anxiety
Australia’s Fair Work Commission ruled that an employer was justified in refusing a request for full‑time remote work from an employee with ADHD and anxiety after the company had already provided adjusted hours and a trial return‑to‑office arrangement. The employee...
Section 16(a) Reporting: Deadline Relief for Some FPI Insiders
The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued a no‑action letter that pushes the Section 16(a) filing deadline for foreign private issuers (FPIs) located in regions affected by the Iran conflict to April 20 2026. The relief, illustrated by the Tower Semiconductor case, acknowledges...
Trump Administration Defends Anthropic Blacklisting in US Court
The U.S. Department of Defense blacklisted AI firm Anthropic, labeling it a national‑security supply‑chain risk after the company refused to lift guardrails on autonomous‑weapon and surveillance uses. In a Tuesday court filing, the Trump administration defended the move as lawful,...
Bitcoin’s Political Orphanhood
The 2025 GENIUS Act created a federal framework for dollar‑pegged stablecoins, granting them regulatory approval and a clear compliance perimeter. By requiring licensed issuers and 1:1 reserve backing, the law effectively excluded Bitcoin from the U.S. payment infrastructure. On‑chain data...
Overcoming Client Inertia: The Real Reason You Aren’t Closing New Business
Client inertia, not competition, is the primary barrier to law‑firm new business. Prospects often stick with existing counsel despite dissatisfaction, causing missed opportunities for firms. Sally Schmidt outlines five tactics—rapid response, showcasing value, easing transitions, focusing on discrete projects, and...
Court Upholds Net Billing, Setbacks California Rooftop Solar
U.S. court upholds current net billing mechanism, dealing blow to rooftop solar in California #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/w0WlbqCtQX
American Law Institute’s ‘Copyright Restatement’ Project Faces Growing Opposition—500+ Sign Petition Staunchly Opposing New Rules
The American Law Institute’s (ALI) Copyright Restatement is drawing sharp criticism as the Copyright Restatement Transparency Project (CRTP) has gathered more than 500 signatures on a petition flagging serious inaccuracies. Former advisors resigned, saying their concerns about bias and mischaracterizations...
Third-Party Risk Management Must Now Confront AI, Cybersecurity, and Technology Risk Head-On
Third‑party risk management is undergoing a fundamental shift, requiring AI, cybersecurity and broader technology risk to be embedded in core vendor assessments. Traditional categories like corruption and sanctions remain relevant but are insufficient as vendors now provide cloud services, AI...
Episode 399 — Vera Cherepanova on Boards of the Future
Vera Cherepanova, a Chartered Accountant and award‑winning ethics specialist, appears on Episode 399 to discuss her work with Boards of the Future, a nonprofit that advises corporate boards on ethics, risk and compliance. She highlights the growing need for directors with strong...
Courts of King's Bench in Alberta, Manitoba Welcome Johal, Neville, Woolley to the Bench
Canada’s Courts of King’s Bench announced three new judicial appointments in March 2026. In Alberta, Crown prosecutor Parminder K. Johal was appointed to the Edmonton bench, while Manitoba named former executive legal officer Elissa A.B. Neville and seasoned litigation partner...
Kalshi Faces Criminal Charges, Not Civil Lawsuits, in Arizona
How Kalshi’s Criminal Charges in Arizona Differ From Its Civil Cases https://t.co/921dNDmU3M via @sportico @McCannSportsLaw
GTA Submission Calls for New Approach to DAFF Cost Recovery
Grain Trade Australia (GTA) has submitted a formal objection to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) new export cost‑recovery program, arguing that the scheme over‑recovers fees and lacks industry consultation. DAFF’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statements (CRIS) will...
Dog Owners to Face Unlimited Fines if Their Pets Attack Livestock Under New Law
Dog owners in England and Wales now face unlimited fines and possible seizure of their pets after new legislation updates the 70‑year‑old livestock worrying law. Police can take DNA samples, enter premises and prosecute attacks even on public paths. The...
Contingent Workforce Misclassification Poses Ongoing Prosecution Risks
Employers face heightened prosecution risk over contingent worker misclassification as regulators intensify enforcement. Recent 2024 Closing Loopholes amendments overturn the previous reliance on written contracts, reverting to a substantive, multifactor test rooted in 2022 High Court rulings. The shift reintroduces...
Gilded Age Townhouse Sells for $34.5 Million in NYC, Ending 2 Sisters' Heated Bankruptcy Battle
A Manhattan Gilded Age townhouse sold for $34.5 million to an anonymous LLC, ending a six‑year bankruptcy battle between fashion‑heiress sisters Marianne and Peggy Nestor. The 1901 property, owned jointly since 1984, carried over $30 million in mortgages and liens, leaving net...
Nebraska US Senate Candidate Sues After Being Taken Off the Ballot
Democratic candidate Cindy Burbank filed a lawsuit after Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen removed her from the U.S. Senate primary ballot. Burbank argues the removal, based on her alleged support for independent Dan Osborn, violates her First Amendment rights....
South Dakota Governor Signs Anti-SLAPP Legislation
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 137, making the state the 40th to adopt anti‑SLAPP legislation. The law lets defendants request dismissal of meritless suits within sixty days, aiming to shield public participants from costly legal intimidation. The...
Judge Orders 1,000 VOA Employees Back, Rebuking Kari Lake
In rebuke to @KariLake, US judge orders 1,000 Voice of America staffers back to work My story for NPR: https://t.co/NGgPfXNWOu
Justice Department Says Anthropic Can’t Be Trusted With Warfighting Systems
The U.S. Department of Justice defended the Pentagon’s decision to label AI developer Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, effectively barring its Claude models from warfighting systems. Anthropic sued, claiming the designation violates its First Amendment rights and threatens billions in expected...