Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Joe Biden has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio recording of his interview. The action, reported by Axios and TIME, aims to keep the interview confidential amid political controversy.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Delhi HC Seeks Reply on Hero Moto's 'MotorHunk' Plea
The Delhi High Court directed the Registrar of Trademarks to respond to Hero MotoCorp’s appeal against the registration of the “MotorHunk” mark owned by Nitin Khanna’s automotive‑accessories platform. Hero argues that “MotorHunk” is deceptively similar to its own “Hunk” trademark and could cause consumer confusion, while Khanna’s counsel stresses the visual and phonetic differences and notes that Hero stopped using the “Hunk” model in 2017. The trademark registry previously found the marks distinct, and the court set a further hearing for May 11, 2026.
Contributor: Don't Let Lobbyists Win a Liability Shield for Big Oil
State and local governments across the U.S. are filing climate lawsuits against major oil majors, seeking compensation for billions in damage caused by fossil‑fuel emissions. The Supreme Court recently agreed to hear Exxon Mobil’s petition to block a Colorado wildfire...
The Ultimate Deposition Outline: 3 Tips for Better Litigation Prep
Litigation experts stress that a well‑crafted deposition outline is essential for effective testimony gathering. The article outlines three practical techniques: starting each section with categorized goals, drafting every question—including alternative paths—in advance, and embedding document excerpts directly into the outline....
Former CFPB Counsel: Agency Is Doing More than You Think
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, under Acting Director Russell Vought, continues to issue regulatory guidance and defend select legacy rules despite a near‑absence of formal examinations or investigations. Former CFPB senior counsel Richard Horn notes that the agency’s Regulation Office...
Planning an IPO? Don’t Miss Our March Webcasts
Compensation Standards and TheCorporateCounsel.net are hosting two free webcasts in March aimed at companies preparing for an IPO and newly public firms. The March 18 webcast, “Pre‑IPO Through IPO: Compensation Strategies for a Smooth Transition,” will guide executives through equity...
MAS Unveils Climate Transition Planning Rules for FIs
Singapore's Monetary Authority (MAS) has issued new Environmental Risk Management guidelines that focus on climate transition planning for banks, insurers and asset managers. The rules require firms to embed forward‑looking climate risk assessments, governance structures and client engagement into their...
Children at Heart of 'Problem-Solving' Blueprint for Family Lawyers
Family law experts released a “Putting Children First” report recommending a problem‑solving framework that places children at the centre of separation proceedings. The blueprint urges lawyers to provide parents with a Children’s Commissioner letter, establish a commissioner for separated families,...
You May Still Be Able to Defer Your 2025 Capital Gains
Recent Treasury regulations cement Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) incentives as a permanent tax deferral tool, allowing any capital gain—except ordinary income—to be postponed by reinvesting within 180 days. For direct sales, the clock starts at closing, while partnership and S‑corp...
Legislature Rejects Hochul's Surprise Billing Reforms, Siding with Doctors and Hospitals
New York lawmakers rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to reform the state's surprise billing arbitration system. The governor's budget aimed to save $56 million by exempting Medicaid and lowering benchmark rates, aligning them with average private insurer payments. The legislature...
More on the New CDIs on Cross Border Tender Offers
The SEC issued new CDIs 166.02 and 166.03 that broaden exemptions for cross‑border tender offers. CDI 166.02 allows offerors to buy target shares after announcing a tender but before distributing offering documents, provided the purchases are disclosed and may continue...
Executive Comp: Does No 10-Q Mean More 8-K?
The SEC is weighing a rulemaking that would make Form 10‑Q quarterly filing optional, shifting many issuers to a semi‑annual reporting model. Cooley’s alert highlights a less‑discussed ripple effect: the “previously reported” exception for Form 8‑K relies on prior disclosures...
Staying Ahead of the Compliance Landscape Requires a Modernised Workflow
Australian SMBs face rapidly growing compliance complexity, with 90% reporting tougher requirements and senior leaders losing focus. Most still rely on spreadsheets, email chains, and manual processes, exposing them to hidden risks. A modern workflow—centralised data, automation, and mobile-first access—can...
A Call for Reporting Tips Rankles Pentagon Officials
The Pentagon’s October‑2025 media policy classifies journalist solicitations as potential security risks, allowing the department to label reporters as "security risks" and revoke press credentials. A recent dispute arose when The Washington Post added a tip‑box on its site inviting...
25-108 - Browder V. Commissioner of Social Security Administration Et Al
On March 10, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued a memorandum opinion affirming the Social Security Administration’s decision in Browder v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration. Magistrate Judge Amanda Leigh Maxfield signed the order,...
26-139 - Sanchez-Gilly V. Noem Et Al
On March 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones, II granted a writ of habeas corpus for petitioner Sanchez‑Gilly, finding that the respondents violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. The court ordered an individualized bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) or the petitioner’s...
Bulgaria’s 2025 Arbitration Act Reform: Transparency at the Cost of Autonomy?
On 1 August 2025 Bulgaria renamed its International Commercial Arbitration Act to the Arbitration Act and introduced sweeping reforms. A new online Registry of Arbitrations, run by the Ministry of Justice, now requires every arbitration seated in Bulgaria to be registered with...
This TikTok Tax Tip Could Get You Audited
FinTok influencers are urging TikTok users to file IRS Form 2439 for refundable credits, despite the IRS flagging a surge in fabricated claims. The agency estimates $162 million in penalties last year from false social‑media tax advice and warns that misusing the...
Amid Crowded Skies, FAA Kills Rule Aimed at Regulating Space Junk
The FAA withdrew a 2023 proposal that would have forced commercial launch providers to remove upper‑stage rocket debris within 25 years, after industry pushback over cost and authority concerns. The rule aimed to curb a growing orbital junk problem that...
Why Instant Coffee Could Be Added to EUDR - and Implications for Industry
Instant coffee is currently omitted from the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a gap experts attribute to an oversight. The exclusion allows imports of instant coffee to bypass the regulation’s deforestation due‑diligence checks, creating a loophole for brands. The European Commission...
Smearing Judges Won’t Save Her Losing Cases
She is already smearing the judge… When she wins cases, it’s all good… but when she loses, she resorts to smearing judges…. Her arguments in the review are lame, she is guaranteed to lose AGAIN… and in addition to the...
Grammarly Removes AI Feature Which Used Real Authors' Identities, Faces Class Action Lawsuit
Grammarly has discontinued its AI‑powered Expert Review feature after criticism that it leveraged the names and personas of living and deceased writers without consent. The tool, launched in August, let users select specific authors to generate feedback, prompting backlash from...
US Prosecutors Urge Judge to Deny Sam Bankman-Fried Retrial Bid: Report
U.S. prosecutors have urged a federal judge to deny Sam Bankman‑Fried’s request for a new trial, arguing he failed to meet the legal threshold for newly discovered evidence. The defense cited testimony from former FTX executives Ryan Salame and Daniel...
Estée Lauder Sues Jo Malone in U.K. for Trademark Infringement, Breach of Contract
The Estée Lauder Companies have filed a lawsuit in UK courts against Jo Malone, her new brand Jo Loves, and related entities for alleged trademark infringement and breach of the 1999 sale agreement. The complaint claims Malone’s recent use of the “Jo Malone” name...
Illinois to Data Centers: Bring Your Own Renewables and Skip the Line
Illinois lawmakers have introduced the Protecting Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers (POWER) Act, which would let data centers that procure their own clean power receive fast‑track grid interconnection and guaranteed service. The bill also obliges facilities to pay for transmission...
Draft Bill Would Let Utilities Own Nuclear Plants in Ohio
Ohio’s House Bill 15, which barred utilities from owning generation assets, is being revisited with a draft proposal that would permit utilities to build, own, and operate advanced nuclear facilities, including small modular reactors. The legislation, still in draft form,...
Menstrual Equity Is Now a Reality in India
In January 2026 the Indian Supreme Court ruled that menstrual health falls under the constitutional right to life under Article 21, mandating free biodegradable pads, gender‑segregated toilets, and Menstrual Hygiene Management corners in all schools. The directive applies to both fee‑paying and...
Number of Legal Departments Using Gen AI Almost Doubles in a Year – Study
Corporate legal departments are rapidly embracing generative AI, with usage nearly doubling in a year. The latest FTI Consulting and Relativity General Counsel Report shows 87% of chief legal officers now employ AI tools, up from 44% last year, and...
India Outlines Legal Framework to Protect Children From AI and Online Harm
India’s government announced a comprehensive legal framework to shield children from AI‑driven online harms. Existing statutes such as the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 are being leveraged to mandate rapid removal of illegal...
Jinggoy Estrada Asks Manila RTC’s Permission to Travel Abroad
Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed motions in Manila's regional trial court and the Sandiganbayan to overturn a precautionary hold departure order that bars him from traveling abroad. The PHDO stems from pending plunder, graft and bribery charges linked to alleged flood‑control...
A Twist Too Functional: General Court Rejects Hand-Grip Corkscrew Trade Mark
The General Court upheld the EUIPO’s refusal to register Empreinte’s hand‑shaped corkscrew handle as a 3‑D EU trademark, finding the design exclusively functional under Art. 7(1)(e)(ii) EUTMR. The Court ruled that the Board of Appeal provided sufficient reasoning and that procedural...
Closed Shop? Not for Long: How New Laws Are Opening Doors for Trade Unions
The Employment Rights Act, introduced last month, revamps UK workers' rights and lowers the union recognition threshold from 10% to as low as 2% of employees, with workplace access rights slated for October. The changes have already spurred a surge...
Campaign Call for Landlord Protections Is Rejected by the Government
The UK Government has dismissed a petition urging stronger landlord protections and faster court processes. The petition, started by Scottish landlord Craig Littlejohn, gathered over 15,000 signatures and called for expedited possession courts, a tenant‑vetting database, and higher deposit caps....
Support Voter ID with Funding, Oppose Political Rule Swings
I would be fine with voter ID is it was introduced with a 3 or 4 year window and a fully funded campaign to let everyone get their IDs, like Real ID. I am not ok with changing the rules...
Fintechs Expanding Between Kenya and Rwanda May Soon Need One Licence
Kenya’s central bank and Rwanda’s national bank have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a licence‑passporting framework for payment service providers. The arrangement would let fintech firms licensed in one country operate in the other without obtaining a new...
Senegal Lawmakers Approve New, Harsher Anti-LGBT Bill
Senegal's parliament approved a new anti‑LGBT bill, raising the maximum prison term for same‑sex acts from five to ten years and increasing fines to 10 million CFA francs. The legislation also criminalizes any promotion, financing, or support of homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality,...
Gen Digital Overturns $481M Patent Award on Columbia University Lawsuit
A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a $481 million verdict that Columbia University had secured against Gen Digital for alleged infringement of cybersecurity patents. The appellate panel said the six patents may be invalid because they cover...
Bankers Gain a New Route to Huge Payouts From UK Tribunals
The UK Labour government will remove the £118,223 cap on unfair‑dismissal awards from January 1, 2027, a change embedded in the Employment Rights Act. While intended to curb complex, multi‑issue claims, the uncapped regime is expected to boost high‑value lawsuits, especially...
Kennedys Appoints Global CIO From Baker McKenzie
Kennedys has appointed Milan Devani, formerly Baker McKenzie’s global infrastructure director, as its new global chief information officer, succeeding Paul Brotzel. Devani brings 26 years of legal‑IT experience, including extensive cloud transformation expertise. His role will focus on modernising Kennedys’ IT...
Views Divided on FWA Amendments; Super Reforms Pass Parliament; and More
The Australian Parliament approved a suite of superannuation reforms designed to make retirement savings more equitable, while proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act (FWA) have sparked a split response among policymakers and unions. Parallel to these moves, business groups...
Legora's $550M Raise Fuels Walter AI Acquisition
AI legal tech startup Legora, after raising $550M this week, acquires Walter, a Canadian based startup that builds AI agents that work within Microsoft Word and Outlook. Walter launched the AI agents after pivoting last September. The acquisition is believed...
UK Probes Student Loan Fairness, Asks Youth Input
How fair is our student loan repayment system? Today our @CommonsTreasury is launching an inquiry into this very topic - and we’d like to hear from young people in particular. Anyone over the age of 16 in the UK can...
Redress Scheme Flooded with Enquiries Ahead of Renters’ Rights Act
Tenant complaints to The Property Ombudsman surged 58% between November 2025 and February 2026 as the Renters’ Rights Act approaches implementation in May 2026. The Act will abolish Section 21 evictions, end fixed‑term assured shorthold tenancies, and tighten rent rules, reshaping...
Xi Pushes Forced Ethnic Unity, Criminalizing Cultural Dissent
Xi Enforces His Demand for Ethnic Unity Across China—After crackdowns on Uyghurs, Tibetans, law threatens punishment for anyone who doesn’t embrace common language and culture @ByChunHan https://t.co/SSqyEwn7sh https://t.co/SSqyEwn7sh
California VCs Must Ask Personal Questions, Reporting Voluntary
All VCs in CA: “CA requires us to ask you these highly personal questions. Reporting this is *entirely voluntary* for you. Thank you for reading this note from us.”
What Start-Up Lawyers Should Know About Bankruptcy
A forthcoming book chapter maps the bankruptcy considerations that start‑up lawyers must weigh for social enterprises. It introduces a “Mission, Form, Fundraising, Growth, Downturn” framework to help companies preserve purpose during financial distress. The author highlights how corporate form, fiduciary...
Democrats Push Stricter Hair‑braiding Licensing than Republicans
In Louisiana, the Democratic hair braiding licensing bill would require 600 hours of training at a licensed cosmetology school, an annual exam, and a fee. The Republican bill would require an annual 20-question health and safety exam and a fee....
Democrats Must Enact Privacy Laws, Not Just Tout AI Surveillance
It would be amazing if Democrats would actually pass privacy laws instead of having press conferences about how the mass AI surveillance laws Congress is passing under the guise of “child safety” aren’t invasive enough
Malaysian Man Jailed for 10 Months, Fined US$12,700 over Facebook Post Insulting Islam
Malaysia’s Sessions Court in Miri sentenced Facebook administrator John Mule anak Alai to ten months in prison and a 50,000‑ringgit (US$12,700) fine for a post deemed insulting to Islam and former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The conviction was under...
California's Lebowski Loophole Lets Heirs Keep Low Taxes
How do the children of homeowners in California get to inherit their parents' low property tax rates? We did the definitive story on what became known as "the Lebowski Loophole" in 2018 https://t.co/gzdAP9B4HC
HK Regulators Launch Biggest Financial Raid in Decade
Hong Kong regulators raided the offices of two leading Chinese brokerages and a prominent investment firm this week, marking one of the most significant enforcement actions against the city’s financial sector in almost a decade https://t.co/Gt3tnAQRIV