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
The Former Tennis Professional Who Ended Telkom’s Monopoly and Opened up the South African Telecommunications Market
Former Altech chief executive Craig Venter, a former junior Wimbledon player, spearheaded South Africa's most consequential telecom lawsuit. In 2008 a Pretoria High Court ruled that VANS licence holders could build their own networks, forcing regulator ICASA to re‑classify licences under the Electronic Communications Act. The decision shattered Telkom’s monopoly, unlocking infrastructure investment and paving the way for today’s extensive fibre and broadband rollout. Venter later launched ClickaBet and now provides e‑commerce consultancy services.
Lawyer Seeks UK Visa Cancellation of Foreigner Facing Charges in PH Court
A Philippine lawyer has asked the British embassy to cancel the UK resident visa of London‑based businessman Adel En Nouri, who faces multiple arrest warrants for qualified human trafficking, large‑scale illegal recruitment, estafa and serious illegal detention. The lawyer also...
Kenya’s Draft Law Proposes Tax on Second-Hand Clothes
Kenya’s draft Finance Bill 2026, released on April 30, aims to raise $3.63 trillion in revenue and widen a budget deficit to 5.3% of GDP for the 2026/27 fiscal year. The proposal introduces a 25% excise duty on smartphones, a 5%...
MACC to Air Special Podcast Featuring Outgoing Chief Azam Baki Tomorrow
The Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission (MACC) will broadcast a special podcast tomorrow featuring outgoing chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, whose term ends on Tuesday. The episode, part of the "Kolar Hitam Podcast: More Than Just Operations" series, will air at...
GM To Pay $12.75 Million To Settle California Privacy Case Over Driver Data Sales
General Motors agreed to a $12.75 million settlement with California’s Attorney General after the state alleged the automaker retained and sold precise location and driving‑behavior data of millions of residents without proper consent. The case hinges on the California Consumer Privacy...
Malaysia Mulls Steps Against Meta on Fake Royal Accounts: Report
Malaysia’s Communications Ministry is evaluating possible actions against Meta Platforms after the company failed to stop a surge of counterfeit accounts impersonating members of the country’s royal family. Between January and May, officials logged more than 15,000 fake profiles that...
FTC's Rollins Consent Order Signals Tougher Crackdown on Non‑Compete Clauses
The Federal Trade Commission secured a consent order against Rollins, Inc., curbing the company's use of non‑compete agreements for most employees. The order bars broad post‑employment restraints for rank‑and‑file staff and imposes a decade‑long compliance regime, signaling a more aggressive...
ITC Proposes Mandatory Disclosure of Litigation Funding in IP Cases
The U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a proposed rule that would force parties in intellectual property disputes to reveal any third‑party litigation funding. Advocates say the move could boost settlement rates and court efficiency, while critics warn it may...
India Enforces New Labour Code Rules, Blacklisting Firms for Wage Delays
The Indian government has notified final rules for all four labour codes, mandating timely wage payments to contract workers and introducing blacklisting for employers that miss deadlines. The reforms also set a national floor wage, a 48‑hour weekly cap and...
FIS Teams with Anthropic to Launch AI Agents for AML and Tokenized Deposits
FIS announced a partnership with Anthropic to embed Claude‑based AI agents into its banking platform, beginning with a Financial Crimes AI Agent that promises to shrink anti‑money‑laundering investigations from days to minutes. The collaboration also introduces Project Keystone, a tokenized‑deposit...
CFTC Chair Michael Selig Announces Formal Protections for Non‑Custodial Crypto Developers
CFTC Chair Michael Selig revealed a plan to codify protections for developers of non‑custodial crypto software, extending the agency’s 2025 Phantom no‑action letter. The move seeks to separate custodial services from open‑source tooling and could ease regulatory pressure on DeFi...
OpenAI Trial Exposes Musk‑Altman Leadership Clash as Diary and Deposition Reveal Internal Strife
During the ongoing Musk v. OpenAI trial, testimony from former CTO Mira Murati and a publicized excerpt from President Greg Brockman's diary have put Elon Musk and Sam Altman's management styles under fire. The revelations intensify a broader debate over...
Divorced From Reality? Japan’s Joint Custody Reform Divides Parents
Japan amended its Civil Code on April 1, 2024 to allow joint custody after divorce, ending a system that forced sole custody on one parent. A Mainichi poll shows 53 % support and only 10 % opposition, but family‑law experts warn the reform...
New Russian-Flagged LNG Tanker Appears to Load US-Sanctioned Gas
A liquefied natural gas tanker, the Merkuriy, recently re‑flagged to Russia and changed ownership, then docked at the U.S.–sanctioned Saam floating storage unit near Murmansk. Saam holds LNG from the blacklisted Arctic LNG 2 project, meaning the vessel is loading fuel that...
“Katyal’s Boast of AI Role in Tariff Win Draws Swift Blowback”
Lawyer Neal Katyal boasted that generative AI helped win a $1.2 billion tariff case, prompting swift criticism from peers who question the technology’s actual contribution and call for greater transparency. At the same time, Justice Amy Coney Barrett publicly rejected the...
FDA Extends Review of Eisai/Biogen Subcutaneous Leqembi to Aug 2026
Eisai and Biogen announced that the FDA has added three months to its review of a supplemental biologics license application for weekly subcutaneous Leqembi IQLIK, moving the action date to Aug. 24, 2026. The agency cited a major amendment and a...
French Regulator Brands YouTube a ‘Free Rider’ as Tax Gap Widens
France’s audiovisual regulator CNC accused YouTube of being a “free rider” after a 66% tax reduction left the platform paying just over €30 million ($32 million) versus €160 million ($173 million) for other video services and €250 million ($270 million) for TV channels. The claim has...
SRA Slaps Regency Solicitors with $7.6K Fine for Years‑Long AML Breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority imposed a £6,000 ($7,600) fine on Regency Solicitors after an investigation revealed persistent anti‑money‑laundering and accounting breaches spanning 2017‑2026. The regulator cited failures in firm‑wide risk assessments, policy updates and client‑money record‑keeping, especially in conveyancing work...
How Virginia Democrats Can Retire the State Supreme Court
In this impromptu Substack Live episode, David Neer and constitutional law professor Quinn Yergin discuss a creative strategy for Virginia Democrats to overturn the state Supreme Court's recent decision invalidating the new congressional map. They focus on a little‑known constitutional...
26-184 - Cunningham V. Warden FCI El Reno
On May 8, 2026, Magistrate Judge Chris M. Stephens issued a Report and Recommendation in Cunningham v. Warden, FCI El Reno, directing the district court to dismiss the inmate’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The dismissal was entered as moot and without...
Ripple Must Cut Escrow Below 20% Within One Year
Ripple gets one year to get below the 20% escrow threshold once the Clarity Act passes. Gifting a portion to the US Treasury is one path and there is a tax provision that makes it viable. Every other top 20...
AI Meeting Transcripts Threaten Attorney-Client Privilege
AI note takers are becoming standard in meetings. Lawyers see a growing risk. Recording every comment, joke and side discussion may create legal and privacy complications, including challenges around attorney-client privilege. The convenience is obvious. The unintended consequences are only starting to...
Monzo Pulls US Operations, Shifts Focus to Europe After 150,000 Customer Run
Monzo announced it will close its United States operation, ending service to new customers and laying off about 50 U.S. staff. Existing users keep access until June, as the UK‑based neobank redirects resources to Europe where it recently secured full...
Clarity Act Likely to Pass in 2026, 74% Chance
JUST IN: The Clarity Act has a 74% chance of being signed into law in 2026.
Checking Status: Have the SAVE and SHIPs Acts Passed?
Quick question because I’ve been busy with other things. Have we passed the SAVE Act yet? How about the SHIPs Act?
24-1227 - Forehand Et Al V. Ali Et Al
The New York Supreme Court granted Forehand et al’s motion to vacate a clerk’s entry of default on June 2 2025, ordering the defendant NAS to answer the Second Amended Complaint and file a Corporate Disclosure Statement by June 16 2025. The court later...
Nuclear Deal Demands Experts, Not Politicians' Nephews
"A nuclear agreement requires expertise in nuclear engineering, sanctions architecture, intelligence collection, verification systems, export controls, and arms control law." Surely, messrs Witkoff and Kushner are more than qualified?!
Congressman Proposes Bitcoin Reserve, Eliminates Capital Gains Tax
A U.S. congressman has introduced a new strategic Bitcoin reserve bill and said there will be no capital gains on BTC. BULLISH 🚀 https://t.co/9nqrBjFOEp
26-611 - Orozali Uulu V. Grant Et Al
A docket entry for case 26-611, Orozali uulu v. Grant et al, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The entry, dated May 8, 2026, is publicly available through the Government Publishing Office’s govinfo portal....
Michigan Leverages Prior Case to Defend Gambling Authority
One of @DanaNessel's prior cases may help Michigan win its motion to remand vs. Kalshi and nullify preemption claims in other PM cases. Citing Murphy, a MI federal court observed in Curtis v. Nessel that "states have the inherent authority...
26-500 - Odor-Romero V. Warden of Diamondback Correctional Facility Et Al
On May 8, 2026 Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell issued a Report and Recommendation granting, in part, a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by an inmate at Diamondback Correctional Facility. The recommendation orders an individualized bond hearing before a neutral...
26-583 - Thrash V. Oklahoma State of Et Al
On May 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti denied Thrash’s petition to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in the Western District of Oklahoma. The order also re‑referred the case to Magistrate Judge Stephens for further proceedings consistent with the original...
25-999 - Ijiyode V. Oklahoma City Police Department Et Al
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued an order on May 8, 2026 granting plaintiff Ijiyode a 30‑day extension to serve process on the Oklahoma City Police Department and related defendants. The court warned that if service is...
Banks and Crypto Backers Tussle as Senators Eye Landmark Digital Asset Bill
U.S. senators are moving a landmark digital‑asset bill toward a vote as a Senate panel begins deliberations. Banking groups have floated last‑minute tweaks to the stablecoin‑yield compromise originally brokered by Republican Thom Tillis and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks. The proposed adjustments...
AMA with an Immigration Lawyer (Thousands of EB-1As, EB-2 NIWs, and O-1s Filed, Virtual Event)
Immigration attorney Andrew Smith of Manifest Law will host a live AMA on May 13 at 12:00 PM EDT. Smith has overseen thousands of EB‑1A, EB‑2 NIW, and O‑1 visa petitions, giving him deep insight into high‑skill immigration. The virtual session...
Upcoming Meeting to Shape Gerotherapeutic Regulatory Frameworks
Affecting the Aging Trajectory: Regulatory Constructs for Gerotherapeutic Drug, Biologic & Device Development 👉 “On May 27, 2026, the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, in collaboration with @ARPA_H and the @xprize Foundation, will convene a hybrid public meeting on exploring...
AI Will Replace Courts, Leaving Only Facts Deciding Outcomes
It’ll be interesting when AI replaces judges and juries. Then eventually, attorneys (since they’re all using it to make both sides of the arguments anyways). Which means we’ll eventually just submit facts and get an outcome.
America Is About to Get Tougher on VPNs
Utah has enacted Senate Bill 73, which prohibits commercial websites that host material deemed harmful to minors from facilitating or encouraging the use of VPNs, proxies, or other tools to bypass age‑verification. The legislation also treats any user physically located...
Ninth Circuit Clarifies Limits of Appellate Review in McKeown Civil Opinion
The Ninth Circuit’s May 7 2026 opinion by Judge McKeown reasserts that appellate review is confined to the trial record, the arguments raised in district court, and the applicable standard of review. The court warned that parties cannot introduce undeveloped theories or...
Purpose Legal Unveils AI‑first eDiscovery Platform, Acquires Hire Counsel’s 70k Talent
Purpose Legal introduced PurposeXi, an AI‑first eDiscovery and litigation platform, in February 2026 and completed the acquisition of Hire Counsel early in the year. The deal adds more than 70,000 attorneys and legal staff to its service network, positioning the...
All Those A.I. Note Takers? They’re Making Lawyers Very Nervous.
AI-powered note‑taking tools are rapidly becoming standard fixtures in corporate video meetings, offering automatic transcripts and searchable summaries. Lawyers, however, warn that these bots capture every comment—including privileged attorney‑client communications—creating a trove of discoverable evidence. The unfiltered AI transcripts can...
SRA Demands Extra £25 Million ($31 M) From Solicitors to Fund Regulatory Overhaul
The Solicitors Regulation Authority announced a £25 million (≈$31 m) increase in its 2026‑27 funding, lifting the SRA portion of practising certificates from £190 to £240. The move will push individual solicitors’ annual costs up 38% and firm contributions up 85%, sparking...
China Halts New Robotaxi Licenses After Baidu Fleet Freeze
China's transport ministry announced a nationwide pause on issuing new self‑driving taxi licenses after a sudden blockage of dozens of Baidu robotaxis in Wuhan. The move, reported by Bloomberg, underscores Beijing's willingness to intervene when autonomous fleets cause public disruption...
Alito Cites False Black Turnout Data to Dismantle VRA
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito leaned on an erroneous claim that Black voter turnout now tops white voter turnout, in his Callais v. Louisiana ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act, reports The Guardian. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/scotus-used-faulty-racial-voter-turnout-data-to-shred-voting-rights-act-in-recent-ruling/
SEC Signals Support for Prediction Market ETFs, Says Peirce
Breath of fresh air having SEC that actually attempts to balance regulation & innovation… Everyone should read Hester Peirce’s speech yesterday. She doesn’t say it, but seems like she’s referring to prediction market ETFs, which should launch soon. https://t.co/pVuxoUtz25 https://t.co/mYgNz3fVLO
Brazil Supreme Court Justice Suspends Bill that Ordered Early Release of Ex-President Bolsonaro
Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended a bill that would have sharply reduced former President Jair Bolsonaro's 27‑year prison term, potentially freeing him in 2028. The measure, passed by Congress after overturning President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's...
Judge Seeks Two‑week Extension Amid Packed Schedule
FWIW: He's also incredibly busy. He just asked the DC Circuit for an unopposed two-week extension to reply to an @FCC motion in the @NXSTMediaGroup-@TEGNA merger case because his schedule is so jammed ... https://t.co/iuOViZGyxK
The Charter Takes a Hike: Evely V. Nova Scotia (Minister of Natural Resources), 2026 NSSC 118
The Nova Scotia Minister of Natural Resources issued a province‑wide ban on walking in woods during wildfire season, invoking s. 25 of the Forests Act. The ban was challenged by Mr. Evely, who argued it infringed his Section 6 mobility rights under...
Saturday Rewind: Blanche's Backpedal
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche contradicted himself on Fox News regarding the Southern Poverty Law Center’s informant program. In an interview with Laura Ingraham he claimed the indictment contained no allegation that SPLC shared informant data with law enforcement, prompting...
$5K Sanctions for Repeated Mis-Citation in Coomer V. Lindell / My Pillow Election-Related Libel Suit
A Colorado federal judge imposed a $5,000 sanction on attorney Matthew Kachouroff and co‑counsel Jennifer DeMaster for repeated mis‑citations in the defamation case Coomer v. Lindell, which involves alleged election‑related libel by My Pillow’s Mike Lindell. The sanction follows earlier...