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
Sidebrief, Diligence Africa and Impact Hub Launch ‘Signal’ a Quarterly Event Series Bridging Founders, Investors and Regulators in Africa’s Startup...
Sidebrief, a regulatory‑tech platform, has launched Signal, a quarterly event series co‑hosted with Diligence Africa and Impact Hub Lagos. The inaugural edition will take place on March 27, 2026, at Impact Hub Lagos and features 20 speakers across five moderated panels covering regulation, ecosystem support, capital raising, scaling, and founder stories. By eschewing traditional keynotes, Signal emphasizes interactive dialogue among founders, investors, regulators, and ecosystem operators. The series is designed to become a recurring forum that tackles persistent misalignments in Africa’s startup landscape.
Regulation of Payment Service Providers –Tranche 1 Draft Legislation
On 12 March 2026 the Australian Treasury released tranche 1 exposure drafts to overhaul the regulatory framework for payment service providers. The package replaces the purchased payment facility regime with Australian Financial Services licensing for stored‑value facilities and grants APRA prudential powers over...
The Consent Deficit: RBI’s Draft RBC Directions Turn Mis-Selling Into A Proof Problem
India’s RBI is set to tighten Responsible Business Conduct rules, requiring banks to prove product‑by‑product consent rather than merely collecting signatures. The draft, effective July 1 2026, bans compulsory bundling, bans dark‑pattern UI tricks, and mandates refunds when mis‑selling is proven. It...
The New Reality of Worksite Enforcement: Navigating I-9 and E-Verify Shifts in 2026
In 2025, ICE revived large‑scale worksite enforcement targeting I‑9 compliance, while the Department of Homeland Security dismantled key immigration programs, ending humanitarian parole, destabilizing TPS, and terminating automatic EAD extensions. Simultaneously, states such as Iowa and Ohio introduced mandatory E‑Verify...
Kenya Moves to Let Courts Order ISPs to Block Illegal Livestreams
Kenya’s draft Copyright and Related Rights Bill 2026 would empower courts to issue blocking orders against internet service providers that host illegal livestreams of sports and entertainment events. The legislation introduces a formal notice‑and‑takedown regime and safe‑harbour protections for platforms...
New Briefing Note -Addressing the Advice Gap: Targeted Support
The FCA’s new briefing note examines the Targeted Support regime introduced in Policy Statement 25/22, aimed at closing the advice gap for vulnerable retail investors. It outlines how firms must identify customers lacking sufficient advice and provide proportionate, tailored support. The...
APRA to Consult on Enhancements to Bank Capital and Liquidity Frameworks
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has launched a public consultation on a suite of reforms aimed at tightening capital adequacy and liquidity standards for authorised deposit‑taking institutions (ADIs). The proposals introduce a new Pillar 2 liquidity framework for the largest...
Why English-Only AML Monitoring Misses Critical Risks
Many AML monitoring programs rely solely on English-language sources, missing critical risk signals that appear in local media. Real‑world examples from Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America show adverse media alerts being overlooked because they are published only in...
Court Shoots Down €746m ‘Flawed’ Amazon GDPR Fine
A Luxembourg court overturned the €746 million GDPR fine against Amazon, ruling that the data‑protection regulator’s decision was procedurally flawed and ordering a fresh assessment. The penalty, the second‑largest ever under the GDPR, stemmed from a 2018 complaint by 10,000 users...
Virtual Workshop (in English) on April 7, 2026: Chukwuma Okoli on “Choice of Law for Employment Contracts in Africa: Rethinking...
On April 7, 2026 the Hamburg Max Planck Institute will host a virtual workshop featuring Chukwuma Okoli of the University of Birmingham. Okoli will examine how African courts currently apply the EU‑centric Rome I framework to cross‑border employment contracts. He...
Landmark AI Rulings Will Have Effect on All Litigation
Two U.S. federal courts issued landmark decisions on the use of generative AI in litigation. In Warner v. Gilbarco, the Eastern District of Michigan held that AI‑assisted work directed by counsel remains protected under the work‑product doctrine. Conversely, the Southern...
Leah Brings Enterprise-Grade Agentic AI to Legal Education at Ulster University
Leah, an enterprise agentic AI platform, announced a partnership with Ulster University to embed its Leah Legal solution into the university’s Legal Innovation and Technology Law master’s program. The integration gives students practical exposure to AI‑driven contract review, document analysis,...
'Sensible' | Government 'Pauses' Plans for Race & Disability Pay Gap Lawsuits
The UK Government has put on hold a set of reforms that would let workers bring lawsuits over race and disability pay gaps. The measures, first outlined in Labour’s election manifesto and referenced in the King’s Speech, were slated for...
Former Indian River State College CFO Files Whistleblower Retaliation, Defamation Suit
Former Indian River State College CFO Marvin Pyles filed a civil suit alleging whistleblower retaliation, defamation, and breach of contract after his April 2024 termination. He claims to have uncovered a $75 million mismanagement scheme involving false vendors, inflated ERP costs,...
340B: When the Safest Move Can Feel Like No Move at All. Why ‘Waiting’ Is No Longer a Viable Strategy.
The article warns that passive waiting on 340B policy shifts is no longer safe, as it hands compliance risk and margin pressure to regulators and competitors. Manufacturers must shift from guesswork to data‑driven oversight, especially by capturing claims‑level utilization across...
Senators, Health Experts Alarmed over Sharp Rise in Number of E-Cigs, Vape Users Among Filipino Youth
A Senate hearing highlighted a dramatic increase in e‑cigarette use among Filipino teenagers, rising from about 37,500 users in 2021 to more than 423,000 in 2023. Health experts reported that youths as young as 13 are experimenting with flavored vapes...
The SQE Was Meant to Improve Things — so Why Is It Still so Controversial?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), launched in 2021 to replace the LPC and broaden access to the legal profession, has become mired in controversy. Recent data show a record‑low 41% overall pass rate and high‑profile administrative blunders, including a grading...
Senate Bill Protecting OFW Remittances Gets 3rd Reading Nod
The Philippine Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1917, the Overseas Filipino Workers’ Remittance Protection Act, on its third and final reading. The law mandates remittance providers to disclose fees and foreign‑exchange rates, and it caps unreasonable charges. It also introduces...
Redaction Done Right: How Legal Professionals Can Strengthen Confidentiality Using Tungsten Automation Power PDF
Tungsten Automation Power PDF is gaining traction in law firms as a cost‑effective alternative to legacy PDF tools, offering true, irreversible redaction that permanently removes sensitive content. Its automation features—search‑and‑redact, pattern recognition, and batch processing—address common redaction failures that expose...
Monday Morning Round-Up
Legal Cheek’s Monday round‑up bundles a mix of high‑profile legal stories, from a judge anonymously trolling a female barrister to Anthropic’s general counsel warning that generative AI could render the traditional billable‑hour model obsolete. The piece also notes the resignation...
5 Key Takeaways From Legal Week
Artificial Lawyer reported that LexisNexis unveiled plans for 10,000 pre‑built AI workflows, signaling that legal AI has moved beyond the modest assistant role most firms currently use. The segmented‑workflow approach lets AI handle extensive, billable tasks, a capability many large...
Daan’s Snippets – 15th March 2026
The latest Daan’s Snippets highlight a wave of judicial misconduct allegations, including a judge accused of theft and another living in state‑owned housing, underscoring heightened scrutiny of the judiciary. The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the Disaster Management Act’s...
AI Legal Risks: Lisa Fitzgerald on Why Businesses Must Vet AI Use Cases
AI adoption is accelerating, but businesses often overlook legal risks tied to generative tools. Lisa Fitzgerald, partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, warns that feeding confidential or personal data into public AI platforms can trigger cross‑border data transfers, privacy breaches, and...
KFC, Franchisees to Pay $28.8m to Settle Missed Rest Breaks Lawsuit
KFC and more than 80 franchise operators have agreed to pay $28.8 million to settle a class‑action lawsuit alleging they failed to provide legally required 10‑minute rest breaks. The claim, filed in 2023 and backed by the SDA union, says the...
US Government to Set Conservators over Homeless Veterans
The U.S. Department of Justice and the Veterans Affairs (VA) have agreed to let VA attorneys serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys, giving them authority to initiate state‑court guardianship or conservatorship actions for homeless veterans who lack family decision‑makers. The...
Proposed New Copyright Bill Sparks Debate over AI and Image Rights
Kenya’s Copyright and Related Rights Bill 2026 aims to replace the ageing 2001 Act and align the nation with WIPO standards, but it omits any regulation of artificial intelligence and provides no guidance on image rights. Intellectual‑property lawyers warn that...
Why the Federal Government Is Going After California's AI Laws
President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening legal and financial pressure on states with what he calls “burdensome” AI regulations, singling out California’s Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (SB 53). SB 53, effective January 2026, obliges large developers of frontier AI...
As Compliance Becomes More Critical, What Can HR Do?
HR leaders in the UK now face intensified enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and tighter Home Office scrutiny of employee visas, with the Fair Work Agency set to take over wage oversight in April. Penalties can exceed £20,000 per...
Government to Set Taxi Fares for Bolt, Uber in Kenya
Kenya’s government plans to introduce a national taxi pricing model that will mandate standardized fares for ride‑hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt. The policy seeks to curb aggressive price wars and provide drivers with more predictable earnings while potentially...
IAA Gives Support for SEC Proposed Definition of Small Advisory Firms
The SEC has proposed redefining a "small" investment adviser by raising the assets‑under‑management threshold to $1 billion, up from the current $5 million benchmark that includes a balance‑sheet test. The Investment Adviser Association (IAA) strongly supports the change, citing inflation, higher regulatory...
‘Great Steal’: TUC Rallies Workers to Defend Employment Rights Act
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has launched a petition to defend the UK’s Employment Rights Act after Reform UK pledged a “Great Repeal Bill” that would scrap the act along with other legislation. The campaign has gathered more than 23,400 signatures,...
KPMG Law Strengthens UK Real Estate Market Operations with Tech Advancements
KPMG Law has expanded its UK real‑estate legal practice to 15 specialists across London and Manchester, adding senior partners in real estate, construction and finance. The team has already executed about £3 billion of transactions in 2024 across diverse asset classes...
Australian Senate Committee Backs Digital Assets Regulatory Framework: Senate Economics Legislation Committee
Australia’s Senate Economics Legislation Committee has formally endorsed a new legislative framework aimed at modernising digital‑asset regulation. The proposal builds on existing anti‑money‑laundering and counter‑terrorism‑financing rules while introducing stricter custody standards for crypto holdings. By tightening oversight, the committee seeks...
Macquarie Securities Ordered to Pay $35M Penalty in Short Sale Misreporting Case
The New South Wales Supreme Court ordered Macquarie Securities Australia Limited to pay a $35 million penalty after it misreported at least 73 million short‑sale transactions between 2009 and 2024. ASIC’s investigation estimated that up to 1.5 billion short sales were inaccurately reported,...
CCI Getting Ready to Act Against Potential Anti-Competitive Ways in AI Space: Chairperson
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) announced it is preparing to intervene against anti‑competitive behavior emerging in the artificial‑intelligence sector, citing risks such as algorithmic collusion, targeted price discrimination, self‑preferencing and opacity. Chairperson Ravneet Kaur highlighted that the regulator has...
FATF Shifts Stablecoin Oversight to Secondary Markets, Expands Monitoring Beyond on- and Off-Ramps: Financial Action Task Force
On March 16, 2026, the Financial Action Task Force issued a report that expands stablecoin oversight to include secondary‑market transactions and peer‑to‑peer wallet activity. The new guidance requires issuers and virtual‑asset service providers to deploy advanced multi‑hop tracing tools and...
Highly Vulnerable Child in State Care Being Failed in ‘Unacceptable’ Way, Judge Says
A Dublin district judge condemned the Irish state’s reliance on unregulated “special emergency arrangements” (SEAs) for vulnerable children, labeling it a national scandal. SEAs, privately provided apartments, holiday lets or hotel rooms, house over 1,000 children without health‑watchdog inspections or...
The Shortest Act?
The UK Parliament recently enacted the Property (Digital Assets) Bill, a concise piece of legislation that formally recognises digital and electronic assets as personal property under English law. The change follows a multi‑year effort by the Law Commission, including evidence...
Section 16 for FPIs: Temporary No-Action Relief for Insiders in War-Torn Countries
Corp Fin granted temporary no‑action relief under Section 16 for insiders of foreign private issuers (FPIs) located in war‑torn regions, extending the compliance deadline to April 20, 2026. The relief applies to insiders in Israel and any jurisdiction directly affected by the...
Consumer Giants Boost Legal Teams Amid Growing Compliance Risks
Consumer giants are accelerating legal hires as stricter regulations, a new Labour Code and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act increase operational complexity. Companies such as AB InBev, Pidilite, Philip Morris and Vishal Mega Mart have appointed senior counsel to...
Competition Commission Orders Investigation Against IndiGo for Alleged Abuse of Dominance
The Competition Commission of India has opened an investigation into InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) over alleged abuse of dominance during the December 2025 operational disruptions. The Ministry of Civil Aviation imposed a temporary fare cap to protect passengers, after which...
Scale Globally: From Contractors to Costly Entities
There are three stages of compliance when hiring internationally. My rough guidelines for each: 1. Hire as contractors (a few folks) 2. Hire through an EOR (5 - 25 folks) 3. Set up an entity (>25 folks) Warning: setting up an entity can...
License Revocations Under 47 USC 312(a)(4) Are Uphill Battles
I assume that when @BrendanCarrFCC refers to license revocations, he means via 47 USC 312(a)(4). This is, to put it mildly, a very uphill fight and the broadcaster keeps the license until final resolution. /1
Hot Takes From FTC Commissioner Mark Meador On Cookies And The Limits Of Self-Regulation
FTC Commissioner Mark Meador told a Marketecture Live audience that industry self‑regulation can still play a role, but only if a neutral third party with enforcement authority, such as the National Advertising Division, oversees it. He warned that poorly designed...
Mitigating Legal Risks of AI-Driven Recruitment and Redundancy
The legal risks of AI-driven #recruitment and redundancy (and how to govern them properly) @HRZone https://t.co/EFZosuqPhM #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #FutureofHR
Viatris Settles Lawsuit Over Use of Woman’s ‘Immortal’ Cells to Power Drug Research
Viatris agreed to dismiss the Henrietta Lacks estate lawsuit with prejudice, ending claims that the company used HeLa cells without permission in its herpes drug Denavir and depression treatment Mylan‑Mirtazapine. The settlement details were kept confidential. This resolution follows similar...
The Accessibility Gap: Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough for Digital Compliance
AudioEye’s 2026 Accessibility Advantage Report reveals a stark gap between businesses’ awareness of digital accessibility and their ability to execute it. While 59% of leaders acknowledge legal risk and more than half have faced lawsuits, the average web page still...
Harvey to Open Singapore Office
Harvey, a San Francisco‑based legal generative‑AI platform, will open its Singapore office in June, marking its third location in the APAC region after Sydney and Bengaluru. The new hub will staff more than 32 professionals across sales, operations, and legal‑engineer functions...
P&C Team's Consultation Failures Meant Redundancy Wasn't Genuine
The Fair Work Commission ruled that Triple Zero Victoria’s people and culture (P&C) team failed to hold a timely redeployment discussion with a senior trainer, rendering his redundancy non‑genuine. The commission also found the team breached significant elements of its...
Bribery Scandal Rocks Bangladesh’s ICT: Yunus Taints Tribunal Built For 1971 Pakistan Atrocities – OPED
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, created to prosecute 1971 war atrocities, is now embroiled in a bribery scandal that surfaced under interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Leaked recordings suggest prosecutors demanded roughly one crore taka to secure bail for a former Awami League...