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
Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Popular Protein Bar Is Packed With Extra Fat & Calories
David Protein faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging its flagship protein bar vastly under‑reports calories and fat. Lab analysis found 268‑275 calories and 11‑13.5 grams of fat per bar, far exceeding the label’s 150 calories and 2 grams of fat. The complaint claims the discrepancy violates FDA labeling rules and seeks damages, restitution, and injunctive relief. Founder Peter Rahal disputes the claims, arguing the FDA’s measurement of the EPG ingredient explains the variance.
Advocates Urge Judge to Block $68m Colony Ridge Settlement
Eight civil‑rights nonprofits have filed an amicus brief urging a Texas federal judge to block a $68 million DOJ‑Colony Ridge settlement. The deal would allocate $48 million to flood‑control infrastructure but diverts $20 million to fund immigration‑enforcement police resources, with no direct restitution...
Dusome v Canada: What The Federal Court Decision Means For Patentable Subject Matter
The Federal Court overturned the Commissioner of Patents’ refusal of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,701,028 in Dusome v Canada, finding multiple legal errors in CIPO’s assessment. The court held that the examiner failed to apply proper purposive construction, misused the “actual invention”...
Meta Shifts EU Digital Tax Burden to Users
Meta is passing along the European digital tax to its customers, because monopolists have pricing power. https://t.co/R6sQVlf80y
More Big Law Leaders, 'Open to Growth,' Are Willing to Consider Mergers
Big‑law partners are increasingly signaling openness to growth through mergers, a shift highlighted by recent high‑profile talks such as Ashurst‑Perkins Coie, Hogan Lovells‑Cadwalader, and Taylor Wessing‑Winston & Strawn. Data from ALM shows a surge in lateral moves whenever merger rumors surface, amplifying market volatility. Firms...
Levi Strauss Faces Age Bias Suit After Allegedly Refilling Axed Role
Levi Strauss & Co. faces a federal age‑discrimination lawsuit after terminating senior product‑manager Ajay Kapil, claiming his role was eliminated in a workforce reduction. The filing alleges Levi quickly backfilled the same responsibilities with contractors, suggesting the position was never...
Fostering Regulatory Harmony Between the SEC and CFTC
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins used the FIA Global Cleared Markets Conference to outline a new push for regulatory harmony between the SEC and the CFTC. He announced joint staff meetings, a revised Memorandum of Understanding, and a "substituted compliance" approach...
UAE E-Invoicing Mandate: What ERP and Finance Teams Need to Know Before 2027
The UAE will roll out a national e‑invoicing system, moving from paper and PDF invoices to structured digital records reported to the Federal Tax Authority. A phased schedule starts with a pilot in July 2026, mandatory compliance for firms with revenue...
New Class Action Accuses Adobe of Paying Women Less, Then Retaliating
Adobe and staffing firm Talentburst are facing a class‑action lawsuit alleging systematic gender pay discrimination and retaliation. Former SMB Licensing Lead Anna Buntger claims women were paid less than men for equal work, that her supervisor made harassing comments and...
Travis Scott, Future, & SZA Hit With Major Setback In “Telekinesis” Lawsuit
A New York federal judge rejected the motion by Travis Scott, Future and SZA to dismiss Victory Boyd’s copyright lawsuit over the 2023 track “Telekinesis.” Boyd alleges the artists used her unreleased demo, “Like the Way It Sounds,” without permission,...
United Airlines Faces Mass Lawsuit over Vaccine Accommodation Policy
A Fifth Circuit appeals court cleared the path for a class‑action lawsuit against United Airlines, allowing over 2,200 customer‑facing employees who received religious vaccine exemptions to sue collectively. United placed those workers on unpaid leave while permitting non‑customer‑facing staff to...
Gracenote Sues OpenAI over Stolen Metadata Structure
Scoop: Nielsen's Gracenote sues OpenAI for copyright infringement —Lawsuit is unique because it alleges not just that OpenAI stole its metadata, but that it also stole the proprietary sequence/structure that organizes that data & makes it useful @axios https://t.co/eeupqVybEE
Am Law 100: 2026 Trends, Insights & Strategies to Win
The 2026 Am Law 100 report highlights a year of disruption driven by rapid technology adoption, a wave of high‑profile law‑firm mergers, and new regulatory pressures. Firms that navigated talent wars and emerging outside‑investment interest posted strong financial results despite...
The Rise of Trade Secret Litigation: Are You Prepared to Stop Your Trade Secrets From Walking Out the Door? (Part...
Trade‑secret litigation surged to over 1,550 U.S. cases in 2025, prompting firms to tighten data safeguards. Vorys LLP’s second part outlines proactive steps before, during, and after an employee’s attempted exfiltration, emphasizing access controls, real‑time monitoring, and evidence preservation. Electronic...
DHS Ousts CBP Privacy Officers Who Questioned ‘Illegal’ Orders
The Department of Homeland Security reassigned several senior Customs and Border Protection privacy officials after they objected to a December directive that re‑classified Privacy Threshold Analyses (PTAs) as draft documents exempt from FOIA. The policy would allow the agency to...
Resurgence of Stellarators and Impact on IP
Recent breakthroughs in superconducting magnet fabrication and AI‑driven field optimization have revived stellarator research, pushing the technology toward commercial fusion power. U.S. firms such as Type One Energy are planning grid‑scale stellarator plants with integration targets by 2030. Patent activity...
Michael Johnson Allegedly Paid Himself US$500,000 Despite League’s Financial Troubles
Grand Slam Track, launched in 2024 with a $12.6 million prize pool, now faces roughly $40 million in debt and a court filing alleging founder Michael Johnson paid himself $500,000 without board approval. Vendors claim the payment was part of broader fraud,...
Google Dominates; Meta Loses but Fights FTC
more... v Google (search): 50 (victorious) v Google (app store): 37 (victorious) v Google (adtech): 33 (victorious) v Meta: 48 (lost but FTC also brought, appealing) ...and brought alleged Jedi Blue conspiracy btw: Google and Meta
Jeff Shell Sued for Leaking UFC and WBD Details
Paramount’s Jeff Shell Accused in Lawsuit of Leaking UFC, WBD Info https://t.co/Rw9tcLGZOZ via @sportico @crupicrupicrupi
Proposed UAH-ASKA Agreement for Drive-And-Fly Aircraft: IP Ownership Issues in Joint Development and Public-Private Partnerships
The University of Alabama in Huntsville and aerospace firm ASKA signed a memorandum to explore a hybrid‑electric, autonomous drive‑and‑fly VTOL aircraft. The collaboration targets battery systems, electric motors, simulation tools, safety and autonomous flight control, and may involve Department of...
Be Kind, Please Rewind – Is Blockbuster Still Famous for a Dilution Claim?
Blockbuster LLC has opposed Southern Seed’s “BLOCK BUSTER” animal‑feed mark, alleging trademark dilution. The dispute is before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, which must decide whether a brand’s historic prominence can satisfy the “famous” requirement for dilution protection. If the...
DOT Releases Final P3 Guidance
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued final guidance on value‑for‑money (VfM) analysis for public‑private partnership (P3) projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The rule applies to projects exceeding $750 million that receive federal credit assistance and to any P3...
Should the UK Ban Under-16s From Social Media?
British MPs voted 307‑173 against an outright ban on under‑16s accessing social media in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, but left the door open for future restrictions. The decision follows a wave of legislation in Australia, France and Spain...
OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Plan to Face Audit
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General has added a fiscal year 2026 audit to its work plan, targeting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) workplace violence prevention program. The audit will evaluate OSHA’s actions since a...
Commission Delegated Regulation Amending the RTS Laid Down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/206
On 10 March 2026 the European Commission released a draft Delegated Regulation to amend the regulatory technical standards (RTS) set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/206. The amendment updates references to Article 124 of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) that became obsolete after Regulation...
German Court Says "It's AI" Isn't Enough to Void Copyright
A German regional court ruled that lyrics written by a person retain copyright protection even when the accompanying music is generated by AI, specifically SunoAI. The plaintiff authored the lyrics in April 2025, continued editing them during AI production, and provided...
UK Government‘s Long-Term Fraud Strategy Labels Crypto as ‘Growing Risk‘
The UK Home Office released a fraud‑prevention strategy for 2026‑2029 that explicitly flags crypto assets as a growing risk for consumers and businesses. It highlights how scammers lure victims into transferring funds via social‑media and messaging platforms, and notes lingering...
Podcast | Global Regulation Tomorrow Plus: Geopolitics 1
The Global Regulation Tomorrow Plus podcast launches a three‑part series on building regulatory and operational resilience amid rising geopolitical tensions. In the first episode, hosts Jonathan Herbst, Georgia Karamani and Simon Lovegrove focus on prudential challenges, including exposure mapping, stress...
ADG 3/10: Baby in a Corner
Exxon Mobil announced plans to redomicile from New Jersey to Texas, citing protection from shareholder lawsuits. Nvidia revealed an open‑source AI‑agent platform, inviting partners like Salesforce and Cisco without mandating its chips. Goldman Sachs is marketing total‑return swaps and bespoke...
Podcast | Global Regulation Tomorrow Plus: HM Treasury’s Consultation on Appointed Representatives
HM Treasury has launched a consultation proposing significant reforms to the UK’s Appointed Representatives (AR) regime. The changes aim to broaden the scope of activities covered, introduce a stricter gateway test, and provide a grandfathering period for existing ARs. Additional...
Labour MPs Weigh up Rebellion over Jury Trials
MPs passed the Courts and Tribunals Bill at its second reading, with 301 voting for, 201 against and 90 Labour members abstaining. The legislation would replace juries with a single judge in cases where the likely sentence is three years...
California AI Model Training Disclosure Law Likely Doesn't Violate First Amendment
A federal judge in California ruled that Assembly Bill 2013, which requires generative AI developers to publish high‑level summaries of their training datasets, likely does not violate the First Amendment. The decision framed the disclosure requirement as a commercial‑speech regulation...
How North Carolina Contributory Negligence Can Affect a Car Accident Claim
North Carolina’s strict contributory negligence rule bars any car‑accident recovery if a plaintiff is found even 1 percent at fault. Insurers and courts examine driver behavior—speed, signaling, lane position, and attention—to determine liability. The doctrine can nullify claims for medical bills,...
New Zealand Panel Recommends Under-16 Social Media Restrictions
A New Zealand parliamentary committee has recommended restricting social‑media access for users under 16 and creating an independent national online‑safety regulator. The ACT party issued a dissent, warning that the required age‑verification would effectively impose mandatory digital ID on all...
MEPs Call for New Copyright Rules when AI Trains on Protected Works
The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a non‑binding report urging new copyright rules for AI, calling for payment to creators, mandatory itemised lists of works used in training, an opt‑out mechanism, and licensing enforcement. The 460‑71 vote signals pressure on the...
The Charter and Economic Integration in Canada
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was drafted without explicit economic freedoms, leaving it largely ineffective as a tool for promoting interprovincial trade. Supreme Court decisions have narrowly interpreted Section 6(2)(b) as a limited right to work without residency, and...
Coercive Sanctions Ordered by Court: EDiscovery Case Law
Illinois District Judge David W. Dugan in Mueller v. City of East St. Louis ordered the defendants to produce complete compensation records and conduct a renewed, good‑faith search for electronic communications. The court imposed coercive sanctions of $100 per business...
Navigating Florida’s CHOICE Act: Strategies for Strengthening Employer Noncompete Protections
Florida’s Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act, effective July 1 2025, creates two new non‑compete agreement structures aimed at protecting employers from unfair competition by highly compensated staff. The legislation tightens enforcement mechanisms, allowing faster judicial remedies and...
Oil Deregulation Law Needs Guardrails
The 1998 Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act removed direct government price controls, fostering competition but leaving the market exposed to global shocks. A recent oil price surge linked to Middle East tensions caused a sharp stock market plunge and is...
New York Lawmaker Wants Moratorium on Sale of AI Chatbot-Enabled Kids’ Toys
New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes is drafting a bill that would place a moratorium on the sale of AI‑enabled, chatbot‑powered toys for children. The legislation comes as AI‑infused plush toys and dolls, already popular in China, are gaining traction...
From Forest to Flatpack, IKEA Faces Timber Traceability Test Under EUDR
The EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect at the end of 2026, requires companies like IKEA to provide geolocation data proving their timber was not sourced from land deforested after December 2020. Although IKEA already sources nearly 100 % of...
Everything’s Bigger in Texas (Pleading Standard Edition)
The Texas Attorney General filed an opposition to Epic’s motion to dismiss, arguing that Epic cannot import federal summary‑judgment standards into a state‑court pleading under Texas Rule 91a. The brief emphasizes that Epic’s reliance on a patchwork of federal cases...
De Minimis: Case Aiming to Revive Exemption Can Proceed, Court Rules
The U.S. Court of International Trade has lifted the stay on Axle of Dearborn Inc. v. Department of Commerce, allowing the company to pursue a revival of the de minimis exemption that permits duty‑free imports under $800. Detroit Axle argues the August...
Own Your Strengths, Outsource the Complex Legal Details
A big company sent over MSAs and red lines. Joel had no idea what he was reading. Instead of pretending, he partnered with people who'd scaled companies before. "Full ass the thing you're good at and get someone else for the rest."...
Supreme Court Strikes IEPPA Tariffs, Highlighting Endless Instability
The Supreme Court ruled IEPPA tariffs illegal on Feb 20. That's less than 3 weeks ago, but feels like eons. That's Trump 2.0. Nothing's ever stable. You have to wonder if we'll even remember war with Iran 3 weeks from...
DOJ, Halkbank Agree to End Iran Sanctions Case
The U.S. Justice Department and state‑owned Halkbank have reached a deferred prosecution agreement, ending a five‑year case alleging the bank helped Iran evade sanctions. Under the deal, Halkbank must stop any Iran‑benefiting transactions and submit to an independent compliance monitor....
U.S. Safety Agency Seeks Comments on Zoox Petition to Deploy Steering Wheel-Less Robotaxis
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a public comment period on Amazon‑owned Zoox’s petition to operate up to 2,500 steering‑wheel‑free robotaxis. Zoox seeks exemptions from eight federal vehicle‑safety standards designed for human‑driven cars, arguing its purpose‑built autonomous...
Quiz: Do You Know Essential Estate Planning Terms?
The article presents a ten‑question quiz that tests readers on essential estate‑planning terminology, from codicils and conservators to generation‑skipping transfer tax. Each question includes the correct definition, helping users gauge their knowledge and identify gaps. The piece also links to...
U.S. Judge Fines Chinese Telecom Firm Hytera $50 Million for Trade-Secret Theft — Case Recalls Longstanding Canada-U.S. Security Tensions
A U.S. federal judge ordered Chinese telecom firm Hytera Communications to pay $50 million after the company admitted conspiring to steal proprietary radio technology from Motorola Solutions. The judgment follows a civil lawsuit alleging that Hytera used former Motorola employees to...
Sony Fighting $2.7 Billion UK Lawsuit over PlayStation Store Prices
Sony is defending a London Competition Appeal Tribunal case valued at £1.97 billion, accusing the PlayStation maker of abusing its monopoly to inflate digital game prices. The lawsuit, representing roughly 12 million UK gamers, claims Sony forces all digital sales through its...