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
Mentoring the Next Generation of Litigation Leaders
The London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) launched a new mentoring programme aimed at litigators across all career stages. The initiative, introduced in March, attracted more than 50 mentee applications and has already matched 26 participants with mentors drawn from solicitors, barristers, in‑house counsel and the judiciary. By pairing senior and junior lawyers, as well as peers, the scheme seeks to fill the mentorship gap that many lawyers face outside firm‑based programmes. LSLA president Nikki Edwards emphasizes that mentoring is a two‑way street that enriches both mentors and mentees while strengthening the broader legal community.
Row over Contempt Action Against KC for Defying Judge’s Order
Former Garden Court Chambers head Rajiv Menon KC faces contempt of court proceedings for a closing speech that allegedly breached a judge’s directions at a Woolwich Crown Court trial. The case is the first in English legal history to prosecute a...
MPs Set Out Demands to Improve Home-Buying Process
MPs on the housing, communities and local government committee have urged the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to overhaul the home‑buying process, calling for mandatory upfront property information, conditional contracts and a regulated code of practice for estate...
Allison Bailey to Take Stonewall Case to Supreme Court
Barrister Allison Bailey has been granted permission by the UK Supreme Court to appeal her discrimination case against the charity Stonewall. The dispute stems from a 2018 Diversity Partners programme with Garden Court Chambers, where Bailey’s gender‑critical tweets and co‑founding...
Kash Patel and the Bourbon of Proof
The post announces a live legal‑update session at 8:30 pm ET that will cover recent developments surrounding former White House aide Kash Patel. It teases discussion of Patel’s recent polygraph test linked to a classified‑documents probe and his newly released limited‑edition spirit...
NBTC Requests Longer Suspension of Satellite Orbital Slot
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has asked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to extend the suspension of frequency use for the 119.5° East orbital slot until September 30 2027. The extension is needed because satellite operator Thaicom, through its subsidiary...
GOP Ignites, Court Extinguishes Democracy’s Safeguards
The foundation of our democracy is burning to the ground. It did not begin with Donald Trump, but he stoked the flames. The conservative Roberts Court did not light the match, but it has repeatedly declared fire hydrants, sprinklers and...
Is BACA Constitutional?
The California Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Climate Act (BACA) proposes to rewrite CEQA by limiting judicial review of agency decisions to whether they comply with objective existing laws. This restriction raises constitutional concerns under California’s separation‑of‑powers doctrine, as courts...
60 Lawyers, 85 Election Cases—Big Firms Handle None
With our team of 60 lawyers, Elias Law Group is currently litigating 85 voting and election cases in 43 states plus DC. Perhaps someone should ask the law firms with thousands of lawyers how many pro-democracy cases they are handling. For...
Biden to Fight DOJ's Release of Ghostwriter Tapes
Former President Joe Biden is preparing to ask a court to block the Justice Department from releasing redacted transcripts and audio recordings of his 2017 conversations with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, material gathered during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s classified‑documents investigation. The...
Upcoming Cato Institute Event on "Trump V. Barbara: Birthright Citizenship at the Supreme Court"
The Cato Institute will host a free online event on May 20, 2‑3 PM ET titled “Trump v. Barbara: Birthright Citizenship at the Supreme Court.” The panel features immigration law scholar Gabriel Chin, legal historian Paul Finkelman, and moderator Dan Greenberg, discussing the Supreme Court’s...
Warner Bros Secures $57 Million Settlement From Village Roadshow Over ‘Matrix Resurrections’
Warner Bros Discovery has obtained a $57 million settlement from Village Roadshow, which relinquishes its stake in the 2021 film ‘The Matrix Resurrections.’ The payment resolves a multi‑year dispute that began when the Australian co‑financier failed to meet its financing obligations...
FCC Extends Software Update Waivers for Foreign Drones and Routers to 2029
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced on May 8 that it will allow software and firmware updates for foreign‑made drones and consumer routers through Jan. 1, 2029, reversing earlier restrictions. The move, issued by the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology,...
Sherritt International Halts Cuban Nickel Production Amid U.S. Sanctions
Sherritt International Corp announced the shutdown of its nickel mining, refining and power‑generation operations in Cuba after U.S. sanctions, sending its Toronto‑listed shares tumbling 42% on the news and leaving Cuba without a key source of hard currency and electricity.
Neal Katyal’s AI Claim Triggers Legal Community Backlash After Supreme Court Win
Attorney Neal Katyal announced that a bespoke AI system helped him prepare for a Supreme Court argument that ended in a 6‑3 decision against President Trump’s tariffs. The claim ignited a wave of criticism from law professors and litigation veterans,...
EU Sets High‑Risk Rules for Agentic AI in Recruitment and Workplace Automation
The European Union announced a proposal to classify autonomous, goal‑setting AI agents as high‑risk under the AI Act, mandating transparency, human oversight and ENISA‑certified compliance for HR applications such as CV‑scanning and candidate ranking. The rules take effect on Aug. 2, 2026...
FDA Deploys AI Platform to Slash Tobacco Review Times by 70%
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched Elsa 4.0 and the HALO data platform to accelerate pre‑market tobacco product reviews, cutting backlog by roughly 70% and authorizing six nicotine‑pouch products in just three months. The move showcases AI integration in...
Ontario Tribunal Orders Continental Casualty to Pay $445 Plus Penalty After Reversing Benefits
The Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal ordered Continental Casualty Insurance Company to reimburse a Quebec resident $445 for approved assistive devices and to incur the maximum statutory penalty for unreasonably withholding payment. The ruling highlights the regulator’s willingness to enforce cross‑province...
Cole Allen’s Defense Seeks DOJ Recusal Over Conflict Claims in Trump Assassination Case
Attorneys for Cole Allen, the alleged assassin of former President Donald Trump, filed a nine‑page motion Thursday demanding that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche be removed from the case, citing personal ties to Trump and...
I Beat Trump in Court Over 60 Times
I defeated Trump and his allies more than 60 times in court when he tried to steal the 2020 election. When Trump sued me for RICO in 2022, I didn't settle. I fought and won. He and the GOP hate me because...
Finding a Jury That Takes Trump DOJ Seriously
It'sa going to find a jury of 12 people who can take anything from the Trump Justice Department seriously
Announcing the Launch of New Volkov Law TV
Volkov Law has launched a new YouTube channel, Volkov Law TV, to deliver video‑based compliance insights. The platform builds on the firm’s webinars, podcasts, and speaking engagements, offering regular updates on DOJ and SEC enforcement, sanctions, AI‑related risks, healthcare fraud...
1961 Sports Broadcasting Act Shields only Free TV, Not Streaming
To add, the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (which Trump is referring to) only exempts from antitrust scrutiny national TV deals broadcast via sponsored telecasting, meaning free, over-the-air. It does nothing for streaming, cable TV or paid satellite TV. https://t.co/K0g9K4Trkx....
The Roundup Class Settlement Impact on Independents
In February 2026 Monsanto announced a proposed nationwide class settlement to resolve current and future Roundup lawsuits alleging non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, with up to $7.25 billion to be paid over 21 years. Independent home‑improvement retailers have recently received optional letters and bilingual...
Ncontracts Launches AI Platform to Deliver Rapid, Auditable Compliance Answers
Ncontracts unveiled Nquiry Intelligence, an AI‑driven compliance platform built on 17 years of proprietary data. The solution delivers instant, citation‑backed answers to complex regulatory questions for banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders and wealth managers. It also features a Compliance Concierge...
Putin’s Shadow Fleet Faces Fresh EU Sanctions Blitz
The European Union is preparing its 21st sanctions package, slated for late June or early July, to clamp down on Russia's shadow fleet of opaque tankers that move Kremlin oil worldwide. The draft also expands to Russian banks, military‑industrial firms,...
Rights Group Calls on European Commission to Revise Anti-Deforestation Regulation Following Critical Omission
Human Rights Watch urged the European Commission to revise the EU Deforestation Regulation after a draft amendment would exclude leather, creating a loophole that could let leather from deforested cattle enter the EU market. The regulation, adopted in 2023, mandates...
With Commissioner Under Pressure, F.D.A. Opens Door to Flavored Vapes
The Trump administration released an FDA guidance that would permit flavored e‑cigarettes to be sold in mainstream retail outlets, effectively rolling back a year of tightened tobacco‑control measures. The move comes amid reports that President Trump signed a plan to...
Australia’s TGA Issues Interim Decision to Tighten Vitamin B6 Supplement Rules
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released an interim decision to review and potentially tighten regulations on high‑dose Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplements in Australia. The move follows rising safety concerns over peripheral neuropathy linked to prolonged excessive intake. The decision now...
Japan’s New Joint‑Custody Law Ignites Fierce Debate Among Fathers
Japan’s civil code was amended on April 1 to permit joint custody after divorce, a reform backed by a majority of voters. Fathers like Yasuyuki Watanabe argue the change does not protect high‑conflict families and leaves children vulnerable, while supporters claim...
FTC Drops Three‑Year Probe of Media Matters After Legal Pushback
The Federal Trade Commission announced on Tuesday that it has closed its civil investigative demand into Media Matters for America, ending a probe that began in May 2025. The settlement follows a series of lawsuits in which Media Matters successfully...
USDA Pushes Faster Meat‑Processing Lines, Sparking Safety and Labor Backlash
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced proposals to raise poultry line speeds to 175 birds per minute for chicken and 60 per minute for turkey, and to remove caps on swine line speeds. Labor unions and environmental advocates argue the...
Florida Court Approves Partisan Gerrymander, Defying Constitutional Ban
Note that Florida's Supreme Court is about to approve an explicitly partisan gerrymander in spite of the fact that the state's constitution EXPLICITLY bans partisan gerrymandering. This is the sort of affirmative action that rich Republicans depend upon to hold...
Akamai’s $1.8 B Anthropic Compute Deal Triggers Vendor‑Risk Alarm for Legal‑AI
Akamai Technologies announced a $1.8 billion, seven‑year cloud‑infrastructure commitment with Anthropic, the largest contract in its history. The deal sent Akamai shares up 27% and sparked concerns among legal‑AI buyers about upstream cloud concentration, data‑privacy obligations and future cost exposure.
Nigeria's NAICOM Teams with ARIAN to Crack Down on Insurance Fraud
Nigeria’s National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has formalized a partnership with the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) to combat market abuses. The alliance will focus on stricter licensing, digital onboarding, and joint consumer‑education campaigns to protect policy‑holders and...
DOJ Settles Antitrust Case Against Agri‑Stats, Raising Food‑Price Fears
The Justice Department announced a settlement of its antitrust lawsuit against Agri‑Stats, a meat‑industry analytics company. Critics argue the deal lets the firm continue sharing sensitive pricing data, potentially driving up chicken, turkey and pork prices for consumers.
XRP Slides to $1.40 After $1 B ETF Inflows and Ripple Lawsuit Settlement
Ripple settled its SEC lawsuit and saw seven spot ETFs pour over $1 billion into XRP, yet the token fell from a July high of $3.50 to $1.40. Analysts argue that bank‑adoption expectations are overstated and that Ripple's stablecoin RLUSD may...
FDA Launches ‘Plausible Mechanism Pathway’ to Accelerate Ultra‑Rare Gene Therapies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a new “plausible mechanism pathway” that lets developers deliver patient‑specific gene therapies for ultra‑rare disorders without traditional large‑scale trials. The move promises faster access but has ignited a safety‑versus‑speed debate among ethicists and...
Donald Trump Claims NFL Fans Are Paying ‘$1,000 a Game’ to Watch Football
The U.S. Department of Justice opened an antitrust investigation into the NFL’s growing reliance on streaming‑only game packages, questioning whether the league’s exemption under the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act still applies. President Donald Trump, appearing on Full Measure, mistakenly claimed...
Call Ahead to Save Money; No Obligation to Comply
Perhaps, but they could have saved a lot of money and effort by making the call beforehand. They are not obligated to do what the AG asks
Renters’ Rights Act Could Worsen Court Delays without Proper Funding | Letters
The Guardian letter warns that the new Renters’ Rights Act, which ends no‑fault evictions in England, will likely trigger a surge in contested repossession cases. Law Society President Mark Evans stresses that without dedicated funding for courts and housing legal...
Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for $15 Million After Her Photo Appears on TV Boxes
Dua Lipa has filed a federal lawsuit in California accusing Samsung Electronics of printing her copyrighted backstage photograph on television packaging without permission. The pop star seeks at least $15 million in damages, a permanent injunction, and the surrender of profits...
ADA Implications Loom Over Paramount‑Warner Merger
This is an interesting piece on the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Paramount-Warner merger. https://t.co/PnoQm3eVuk
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: May 4, 2026 to May 8, 2026
The FCC’s Media Bureau is facing a petition from Disney/ABC that challenges the agency’s recent equal‑opportunity guidance for “The View,” arguing the program remains a bona‑fide news interview exempt from equal‑time rules. Commissioner Jessica Gomez has called for a comprehensive review...
No PANs Issued to FPIs for a Month, Onboarding Hit
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in India have been unable to receive Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) for nearly a month after the Income Tax Department altered the PAN application process within the Common Application Form (CAF). At least 20 newly registered...
💥New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc.💥
Impac Mortgage Holdings and eleven affiliates filed a prepackaged Chapter 11 case in the District of Delaware on April 26, 2026 after years of strategic pivots and a steep headcount decline to 18 employees. The restructuring is driven by primary creditor Hildene...
Jones Day Backs Easement Syndication; Appellate Court Awaits
I am impressed that Jones Day managed to come up with anything that supports the easement syndication industry's view of the world. I am looking forward to see what the appellate court makes of it. https://t.co/8UkCT0OnnF
Assisted Suicide Advocate Grilled over Mental Illness Expansion
Helen Long, chief executive of Dying with Dignity Canada, testified before the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, urging an expansion that would let Canadians whose sole condition is a mental illness access MAiD. She claimed roughly 80%...
How to Stop Trump From Interfering in the Midterm Elections
In this episode, Democratic election lawyer Mark Elias discusses the challenges of protecting the 2024 midterm elections from former President Donald Trump's interference, focusing on recent Supreme Court decisions like the Calais ruling that he deems the worst of his...
Cory Booker Says Democrats Should ‘Release the Autopsy’ on Kamala Harris’ Failed Bid
Former President Joe Biden is preparing to intervene in a federal lawsuit to stop the Trump administration and the Heritage Foundation from releasing about 70 hours of partially redacted audio from 2017 interviews with a ghostwriter. The recordings, obtained by...