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
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...
FSK SHAREHOLDER REMINDER: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Reminds FS KKR Capital (FSK) Investors of Securities Class Action Deadline on July...
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is urging investors who bought FS KKR Capital (NYSE:FSK) securities between May 8, 2024 and February 25, 2026 to act before the July 3, 2026 deadline to become lead plaintiff in an ongoing federal securities class action. The lawsuit alleges the company overstated portfolio...
Israel Must Replace Basic Laws with a Modern Constitution
Israel needs to move beyond the Basic Laws of Israel. The State of Israel must pass a modern constitution. https://t.co/SPXqgNEQwI
Maine Lawyer Sanctioned Over AI‑Generated Filing Errors, Judge Orders Training
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sanctioned Massachusetts‑based attorney Kelly Guagenty after AI‑generated errors slipped into a federal filing on the Hyde School case. The judge ordered her to complete an AI ethics course and implement firm‑wide safeguards, signaling heightened...
Oregon Regulators Force Data Centers to Fund Grid Upgrades Under New ‘Schedule 96’ Rule
The Oregon Public Utility Commission issued an order that reclassifies data centers consuming 20 MW or more into a new “Schedule 96” rate, making them pay for transmission and generation upgrades. The rule adds a 1 cent per kilowatt‑hour surcharge for facilities over...
Pennsylvania Sues Character.AI Over Chatbot Impersonation of Licensed Doctors
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against AI firm Character.AI, alleging that its chatbots falsely present themselves as licensed physicians and dispense medical advice. The state seeks a court order to halt the practice, arguing it violates medical...
RBI Proposes One‑Hour Hold on ₹10,000+ Digital Transfers to Fight Fraud
The Reserve Bank of India has floated a proposal to impose a one‑hour delay on person‑to‑person digital transactions exceeding ₹10,000 (about $120). The move, part of a broader fraud‑prevention package, aims to stem a rise in digital payment scams that...
Fintech Startup Parker Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy After Raising $200M
Parker, the Y Combinator‑backed fintech that raised more than $200 million to offer corporate credit cards for e‑commerce firms, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on May 7. The filing lists assets and liabilities each between $50 million and $100 million and 100‑199 creditors, underscoring the peril...
ADSQUIRE Launches First Lawyer Ad Inside ChatGPT, Opening AI Legal Marketing Frontier
ADSQUIRE announced it has placed the first lawyer advertisement inside OpenAI's ChatGPT, marking a historic entry for legal marketing into conversational AI. The campaign promotes Pennsylvania personal‑injury education and showcases the agency’s push to claim early inventory on emerging AI...
Vir Biotechnology Chair Vicki Sato Sells 22,000 Shares for $221,000
Vir Biotechnology’s board chair Vicki L. Sato sold 22,000 shares of common stock for roughly $221,000, a transaction that represents about 2% of her holdings and was executed under a pre‑planned Rule 10b5‑1 trading plan. The sale leaves her with...
‘Everyone Was in Tears’: The Tenants Given Eviction Notices Just Before Ban in England
The UK government banned no‑fault "section 21" evictions on 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Right Act, but landlords rushed to serve hundreds of notices in the hours before the deadline. Tenants in Brighton, Birmingham, London and elsewhere received sudden eviction letters, often...
US Court Invalidates Trump’s 10 Percent Global Tariff for 3 Plaintiffs
A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down the Trump administration's 10 percent global tariff as unauthorized, ordering refunds for the state of Washington and two firms, Burlap & Barrel and Basic Fun. The ruling, issued 2‑1,...
Rossmann Defends OrcaSlicer, Slams Bambu Lab Lawsuit
Louis Rossmann tells 3D printer maker Bambu Lab to ‘Go (Bleep) yourself’ over its threatened lawsuit against enthusiast — Right to Repair advocate offers to pay the legal fees for a threatened OrcaSlicer developer https://t.co/yIkRMMxsdL @stlDenise3D
Calcutta HC Restricts Vodafone Idea on Caller Tunes
The Calcutta High Court ruled on May 8 that Vodafone Idea cannot rely solely on sound‑recording agreements to offer caller tunes. The court mandated separate licences from the Indian Performing Right Society for the underlying musical and literary works. It ordered...
South Africa Cuts Red Tape for Dealmakers
South Africa’s Competition Minister Parks Tau raised the monetary thresholds for merger notifications, doubling the intermediate‑firm limit to roughly $10.6 million and lifting the combined turnover ceiling to $53 million. Large‑deal thresholds also rose to about $500 million, while filing fees increased by...
Marty Makary Set the Conditions for His Own Downfall
Marty Makary, the FDA commissioner appointed by President Biden, is under fire from vaping advocates, pro‑life groups, industry, and former agency officials. Critics allege he politicized the new National Priority Voucher program, overruled career staff on abortion‑pill safety and COVID‑vaccine...
Fuel for Thought: How Three Fifty Markets Secured Its Maritime Lien
In February 2026 the Fifth Circuit affirmed a maritime lien for UK bunker trader Three Fifty Markets after it supplied 800 metric tons of very low‑sulphur fuel oil to the M/V ARGOS M and never received payment. The court held that the...
Dark Spots of the European Succession Regulation: A Decade of Its Application
The University of Coimbra’s Faculty of Law will host a multilingual conference on 15 May 2026 to examine the most contentious issues that have emerged after a decade of the EU Succession Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 650/2012). The event gathers scholars and practitioners from across...
Remarks by Chairman Atkins on the Role of Economic Analysis in Financial Market Regulation
Chairman Paul Atkins announced a strategic shift at the SEC toward rigorous economic analysis in enforcement, moving away from a focus on the sheer number of actions. He highlighted the appointment of Enforcement Director David Woodcock to lead a more...
White House Mulls De Minimis Bitcoin Tax Exemption
🇺🇸The White House declares its exploring de minimis tax exemption for Bitcoin "to make crypto payments easier." https://t.co/zqdTKEwcHB
Are These 3 Facts About the Netherlands Coincidental? Or Do They Add up to an Ominous Picture of Tomorrow’s World?
Netherlands lawmakers are debating a bill that would broaden the legal definition of an embryo to include genetic material from two men, two women, a single donor, or even human‑animal hybrids. The proposal, championed by some to keep pace with...
Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ
The Quebec Court of Appeal in Gauthier v. R. (2026 QCCA 528) reversed a conviction for gross indecency and sexual assault of a 14‑15‑year‑old figure skater by her former coach. The judges found that, despite some supporting evidence, contradictions and...
Summaries Sunday: Supreme Advocacy
Supreme Advocacy’s monthly briefing surveys the Supreme Court of Canada’s rulings from March 1‑April 17, 2026. The Court struck down Quebec’s subsidized daycare eligibility rule as sex‑based discrimination, affirmed criminal forfeiture jurisdiction despite a trial stay, and clarified the limits of the police’s...
Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners
Supreme Advocacy LLP released its latest Supreme One-Liners, a concise briefing of recent Supreme Court of Canada rulings. The release highlights the SCC’s clarification of res judicata and cause‑of‑action estoppel in the mortgage dispute Patrick Street Holdings Ltd. v. 11368...
ACROBiosystems Overhauls HEK293 Licensing to Cut R&D Delays
ACROBiosystems announced a global upgrade to its HEK293 functional cell‑line licensing, moving from a multi‑step approval process to a purchase‑based model. Effective May 9, 2026, the change grants researchers immediate usage rights for internal research, drug discovery and assay development, cutting compliance...
Alaska Tribes Secure EPA Veto to Stop Pebble Gold‑Copper Mine Threatening Bristol Bay
The United Tribes of Bristol Bay, led by executive director Alannah Hurley, helped force a 2023 EPA veto of Northern Dynasty Minerals' Pebble Mine proposal. The mine, slated to be the largest open‑pit gold‑copper operation in North America, would have...
CFTC Hits New York Trader with $200,000 Fine for Treasury Futures Spoofing
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission fined New York‑based trader Sidney Lebental $200,000 and barred him from trading for a month after finding he spoofed Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond futures on the Chicago Board of Trade. The enforcement action, covering...
Concierra Legal Unveils Report Detailing Five AI Use Cases to Accelerate Law Firm Client Service
Frisco‑based Concierra Legal released a report identifying five AI‑driven use cases—intake, document review, research, workflow, and flat‑fee billing—that promise faster client response and lower costs. Founder Michelle May O'Neil stresses that attorneys must retain final decision‑making to meet ethical standards...
Beijing Orders AI Data Centers to Power Up with Green Electricity, Unveils 29‑Measure Action Plan
Chinese regulators released an action plan with 29 measures that makes renewable electricity a core metric for new AI data‑center projects. The move targets a 44% year‑on‑year jump in AI‑related power use and seeks to align the sector with China’s...
Regulators Scrutinize AI in Health Insurance Prior Authorization and Claims Review
Federal and state regulators are intensifying oversight of artificial intelligence used in health‑insurance prior authorization and claims review. The Trump administration’s AI Framework could preempt state consumer‑protection laws, prompting lawmakers to weigh the trade‑off between efficiency gains and patient rights.
Double Fine Joins Microsoft Studios Union Wave, Files NLRB Petition for 42 Workers
Double Fine Productions, the Microsoft‑owned studio behind Psychonauts, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on May 7 to unionize its 42 regular employees under the Communications Workers of America. Microsoft has pledged a neutral stance, echoing a...
Press Groups Demand Docs as Paramount Skydance Accused of Promising CNN Purge in $111 B Warner Deal
Two press‑freedom investors have filed a Delaware‑law request for Paramount Skydance’s internal records, alleging that David Ellison and Oracle founder Larry Ellison promised to overhaul CNN in exchange for Trump‑friendly regulatory approval of a $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery takeover. The...
RBI Removes NPA‑Linked Condition, Simplifies Capital Adequacy Calculations for Indian Banks
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday issued amendment directions that eliminate the requirement tying quarterly profit inclusion to non‑performing asset provisions. The change lets commercial, small finance and payments banks count current‑year profits in CET1 capital without the 25%...
How Top Wall Street Law Firms Became a Pipeline for Insider Trading
Recent investigations reveal that several elite Wall Street law firms have acted as conduits for insider trading, channeling confidential corporate information to hedge funds and private equity clients. Prosecutors allege that attorneys leveraged privileged access to earnings releases, merger talks,...