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 New Face of Discovery: HaystackID’s CoreFlex Brings AI, Slack, and Enterprise Data Into One Legal Workflow
HaystackID unveiled major upgrades to its CoreFlex platform at Legalweek 2026, adding native connectors for Slack, Microsoft Purview, structured chat, and third‑party productions. The enhancements embed AI analytics, forensic scheduling, and end‑to‑end audit logging within a single matter‑centric interface. By consolidating collection, review, and production workflows, CoreFlex aims to eliminate handoff delays and preserve chain‑of‑custody across modern evidence sources. The platform’s Flex architecture lets teams shift between self‑service and full‑service models without migration, targeting corporate legal ops, law firms, and cybersecurity responders.
Kyrgyz Supreme Court Dismissed Kloop’s Appeal of ‘Extremist’ Declaration
Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court on March 9 rejected Kloop’s appeal, confirming the October 2025 ruling that labeled the investigative outlet as extremist. The court’s rapid review, conducted without summoning Kloop’s representatives, raised concerns about judicial independence and procedural fairness. Kloop’s lawyer accused judges...
Ed Sheeran’s Lawyers Push to End Remaining ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Copyright Case
US Supreme Court declined to hear the 2018 Ed Sheeran copyright appeal, but a second lawsuit filed by Structured Asset Sales in 2020 remains pending in the Southern District of New York. Sheeran’s attorneys argue the case should be dismissed...
Press Release | ILTA Announces Launch of the 2026 ILTACON Startup Hub
The International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) unveiled the 2026 ILTACON Startup Hub, offering more than 25 exhibition opportunities for emerging legal‑tech companies at a reduced rate. The hub will be situated within the ILTACON exhibit hall, providing startups direct access...
Avicii’s Former Manager’s Defamation Lawsuit Against DJ’s Estate Dismissed
Swedish District Court dismissed former Avicii manager Arash “Ash” Pournouri’s defamation lawsuit against the DJ’s estate and family on procedural grounds. Pournouri alleged that a Netflix documentary and two posthumous biographies portrayed him as responsible for Tim Bergling’s mental illness...
Labor Law Updates Every Healthcare Employer Needs to Know
Healthcare employers are facing heightened labor activity, especially in unionized hospitals across the Northeast and New York City, prompting concerns over staffing ratios, wages, and broader workforce strategy. Littler Law is hosting a webinar on April 16, 2026, to dissect...
It’s Time for Law Firms to Own AML
Law firms are facing mounting anti‑money‑laundering (AML) obligations as regulators view them as the weakest link in the compliance chain. Criminals increasingly exploit legal transactions, from onboarding to conveyancing, to mask illicit funds. The article argues that relying on banks’...
Supreme Court Takes On The Future Of DTC Wine Shipping
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to Arizona’s law that forces out‑of‑state wine retailers to maintain a physical storefront in the state before shipping to Arizona consumers. Critics argue the rule breaches the Dormant Commerce Clause...
Spain Competition Watchdog Investigates Insurers
Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has opened an investigation into the country’s insurance sector over alleged coordination on compensation claim coverage and the exchange of client information. The probe focuses on potential collusion that could distort pricing...
No Second Amendment "Right to Build Solar-Powered Greenhouses"
Judge Joshua Wolson of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissed a pro se lawsuit that claimed a Second Amendment right to build solar‑powered greenhouses. The plaintiff, Mr. Nellom, argued that the right to bear arms includes a fundamental right to...
Trump's College Sports Revival Plan Hits Legal Hurdles
Trump Plan to Make College Sports Great Again Faces Legal Barriers 👇https://t.co/y64AL38dSr via @sportico @McCannSportsLaw
Live Nation Settles with DOJ in Deal that Seeks to Avert Breakup with Ticketmaster
Live Nation reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, ending a high‑profile antitrust lawsuit that sought to split Ticketmaster from its parent. The agreement requires Live Nation to divest certain amphitheaters and to open its ticketing platform to...
Bison Bank Integrates Elliptic’s AI Analytics to Supercharge Digital Asset Compliance
Lisbon‑based Bison Bank has partnered with blockchain analytics leader Elliptic to embed the firm’s AI‑powered “copilot” into its digital‑asset subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets. The integration enables real‑time monitoring of more than 1,000 crypto tokens and automates data collection, fund‑flow analysis,...
The Download: Murky AI Surveillance Laws, and the White House Cracks Down on Defiant Labs
The White House has rolled out stricter AI guidelines, demanding that developers permit any lawful use of their models, a move prompted by the heated Pentagon‑Anthropic dispute. The Department of Defense’s contract with Anthropic has revived unanswered questions about whether...
General Assembly Poised to Consider Wide Array of Workplace Bills
Connecticut’s General Assembly is set to hear a slate of employment‑focused bills during the week of March 9, 2026, ranging from an omnibus workforce‑development measure (HB 5003) to targeted reforms on NDAs, AI hiring tools, and wage transparency. Key proposals include expanding...
Smartria Launches AI-Powered SmartReview and SmartAssist, Showcases New Capabilities at Future Proof Citywide
Compliance platform Smartria unveiled two AI‑powered tools, SmartReview and SmartAssist, integrated into its cloud solution for registered investment advisors and broker‑dealers. SmartReview automatically screens marketing materials for potential regulatory breaches, while SmartAssist provides a chatbot that answers SEC and FINRA...
Not Even Death Can Cheat the IRS: Lessons From a Massachusetts Estate
James and Carlene Whittemore failed to pay federal taxes from 2008‑2014. After James died intestate in 2017, the IRS sued his surviving spouse in 2024, arguing she was the estate’s de facto executor. A Massachusetts federal court affirmed she was the...
What Changes with the Updated General Contract for the Use of Wagons?
The General Contract for the Use of Wagons (CGU) was revised at the start of 2026 to streamline procedures and clarify responsibility during wagon custody. Railway Undertakings (RUs) can now directly commission repairs without awaiting approval from distant keepers, accelerating...
The Dissent that Believed the Olympics Belong to Everyone
In 1986 the Supreme Court affirmed the United States Olympic Committee’s exclusive right to the word “Olympic” in *San Francisco Arts & Athletics v. United States Olympic Committee*, rejecting the Gay Games organizers’ First Amendment and equal‑protection claims. The majority...
BeIN Sports Appeals Ruling in Ligue 1 Payment Dispute
beIN Sports has appealed a Paris Commercial Court ruling that ordered it to pay roughly €15 million to LFP Media for its Saturday Ligue 1 rights package. The broadcaster had withheld €4.71 million from each of three €18 million installments, arguing that contractual restrictions...
Turkish Court Upholds 30-Year Sentences on Phoenician M Seafarers
Turkey's Supreme Court voted 3‑2 to uphold 30‑year negligence sentences for two crew members of the bulk carrier Phoenician‑M. While the captain was released in August 2025 under unclear circumstances, chief mate Ali Albokhari remains imprisoned. Albokhari's Finnish wife has...
FDA's Turbulent Leadership and Shift Away From Advisory Panels
Two terrific #FDA related pieces by @lizzylawrence.bsky.social & @matthewherper.bsky.social. Matt's is a look at lessons to be drawn from Vinay Prasad's chaotic tenure; Lizzy's delves into the FDA's turning away from adcomms. https://t.co/gC5GNTiPm1 & https://t.co/ygvylHi0uz
6 Emerging Shifts Reshaping eDiscovery Needs
The eDiscovery sector is undergoing six pivotal shifts, driven by stricter privacy regulations, cloud flexibility, and AI integration. Confidential data management now embeds GDPR‑style controls, while deployment models like BYC and BYAIM offer scalable, jurisdiction‑aware environments. AI‑powered analytics replace manual...
Coinbase CEO Highlights UK Regulatory Risks as US Stablecoin Framework Advances and Global Adoption Surges
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong warned that proposed UK stablecoin caps could erode the country’s fintech edge, while the United States has moved ahead with the GENIUS Act, establishing the first federal framework for payment stablecoins. The legislation mandates 100% reserve...
Former Uber AGC: Tech Providers &Lsquo;Overpromising Can Lead to Disappointment'
Ruby Zefo, former Uber AGC for privacy and cybersecurity, warns that technology providers often overstate the capabilities of generative AI tools. She argues that this overpromising fuels disappointment among corporate legal departments that are rapidly insourcing AI-driven workflows. Zefo advises...
Guidance: Complying with Consumer Law when Using AI Agents
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued guidance on using agentic AI while complying with consumer protection law. AI agents can streamline customer engagement and refund processing, but businesses remain liable for any illegal actions the agents take....
Trump's DOJ Shakeup Leads to Ticketmaster Settlement
When the Trump administration canned DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater, we wrote that all eyes should be on the Live Nation/Ticketmaster case -- watching to see if her ouster paved the way for a settlement. Today: Settlement.
Five Key Lessons From Vinay Prasad’s FDA Tenure
. @matthewherper is so damn reasonable. Smart, too. 5 lessons from Vinay Prasad’s turbulent tenure at the FDA https://t.co/R65vPj5ep5
Ludhiana Textile Exporters Seek Exemption From 45-Day Payment Rule Amidst West Asia Crisis
Ludhiana’s textile exporters, led by the Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings, have asked the Indian government to waive the 45‑day payment requirement under Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act. The request follows severe shipping disruptions caused by the West...
US Lawyers Work Harder than UK Lawyers, Claims Top US Lawyer
John Quinn, founder of litigation‑focused firm Quinn Emanuel, told The Times that U.S. lawyers typically log longer hours than their U.K. counterparts. Legal Cheek research shows junior lawyers at U.S. firms in London work an average 13‑hour day, often leaving...
Code & Counsel Examines the Technical Foundations of AI Use in Legal Practice
The Association of Certified E‑Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) and Secretariat released a white paper titled “Why Technical Competence Must Precede AI Literacy for Lawyers.” The report argues that lawyers must first master core legal‑technology skills before adopting AI tools in research,...
EY Leader: Data Security, Privacy Concerns Biggest Barriers to Legal Innovation
EY’s global delivery services leader, Heena Bhambhlani, warned that data‑security and privacy concerns are the chief obstacles slowing legal‑tech innovation. While AI promises to streamline workflows, reshape talent models and shift firm culture, firms remain hesitant to adopt without robust...
Latvia Is the First Country to Legally Recognise Ukrainian E-Signatures
Latvia has become the first nation to grant legal recognition to Ukrainian electronic signatures, giving them the same legal weight as handwritten signatures. The move follows a high‑level meeting between Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, Latvia’s VARAM agency and LVRTC,...
Bithumb Faces Proposed 6-Month Partial Ban over South Korea AML Breaches
South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit has issued Bithumb a preliminary notice that could impose a six‑month partial suspension, limiting virtual‑asset transfers for newly registered users. The regulator cited repeated AML breaches, including transactions with unregistered overseas firms and inadequate KYC...
Kennedys Fined £18k After Client Account Used as ‘Banking Facility’
International law firm Kennedys was fined £18,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority after its client account was used as a banking facility in a commercial property transaction between 2016 and 2018. The SRA found that payments were made from the...
Lawsuit Over Cancellation of April 2024 Pro-Palestine Protest at U Texas Can Go Forward
The Western District of Texas allowed a lawsuit to proceed against the University of Texas at Austin over its preemptive cancellation of a pro‑Palestine protest on April 24, 2024. Plaintiffs claim the university acted on viewpoint discrimination, arresting and disciplining...
Climate Litigation Before the German Federal Court of Justice – “Too Complex” For Private Law Instruments?
On 2 March 2026 the German Federal Court of Justice heard oral arguments in two tort‑law actions brought by the NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe against BMW and Mercedes‑Benz, seeking injunctions to stop sales of combustion‑engine cars after 2030. The claim invokes...
OneTrust Expands Platform with Real-Time AI Governance and Agent Oversight Capabilities
OneTrust announced new real‑time AI governance capabilities that extend its platform from static compliance checks to continuous monitoring and enforcement. The suite adds AI agent detection, automated inventory, a policy manager with pre‑built standards‑aligned policies, and runtime guardrail enforcement for...
A Small Hodgepodge of New – and Revised – CDIs
SEC’s Corporate Finance division released a batch of new and revised Compliance Disclosure Interpretations (CDIs) on Friday, primarily addressing Rule 701. The most notable change raises the exemption threshold from $5 million to $10 million, and several CDIs were updated without detailed redlines....
Pakistan Passes Virtual Assets Act, Creates Regulator for Digital Asset Sector
Pakistan's parliament approved the Virtual Assets Act 2026, creating the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to license and supervise cryptocurrency service providers. The authority, initially formed by a 2025 presidential ordinance, now has permanent legal standing. PVARA will enforce...
KLM Facing Legal Action In Netherlands Over “Fake” Real Deal Days Discounts
KLM is facing legal action in the Netherlands over its “Real Deal Days” promotions, which consumer watchdogs allege were deceptive. Data shows fares to destinations like Curaçao and London dropped significantly after the sales ended, suggesting prices were inflated beforehand....
Lender Sues JLL, Acore over Alleged $62m Secret Property Sale
US Income Partners, a lender, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a Florida property valued at $62 million was secretly sold without its consent. The complaint says CH Realty and JLL closed the deal for a nominal $10 consideration, while land...
Georgia Is Finally on the Verge of Criminalizing Sexual Exploitation by Clergy Members
Georgia lawmakers are on the brink of enacting Senate Bill 542, which would criminalize sexual exploitation by clergy members who abuse their spiritual authority. The bill adds clergy to the list of offenders eligible for "improper sexual contact" charges, carrying...
Proposed Bill Could Halt Rental Construction, Raise Rents
Are elected officials about to pass the "Rental Inflation bill?" The requirement to sell future Build-to-Rent homes to homeowners within 7 years will effectively stop the construction of rental homes, decreasing new supply and thus increasing rents. https://t.co/SEU7Kc03c3
Philosophy Prof, Discussion of Adult-Child Sex Bans, and the First Amendment
A federal court in New York dismissed SUNY Fredonia's motion to dismiss a lawsuit by philosophy professor Stephen Kershnar, ruling his controversial podcast remarks on adult‑child sexual consent are presumptively protected by the First Amendment. The judge applied the Pickering...
Generative AI Could Spawn NIL Lawsuits Over Deepfakes in Sports
Generative AI is infiltrating sports, exemplified by a White House TikTok that used a deepfake of NHL star Brady Tkachuk, garnering over 12 million views. The clip, labeled as AI‑generated, sparked backlash and highlighted athletes’ lack of control over their...
Blue Cross Blue Shield Carriers Face New Provider Antitrust Suit
The Healthcare Justice Coalition, representing the liquidation trusts of two bankrupt physician‑staffing firms, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its 33 carriers, alleging coordinated actions that inflate provider costs. The complaint seeks an...
Live Nation Reaches Settlement with DOJ in Antitrust Battle, Politico Reports
Live Nation Entertainment reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, ending a high‑profile antitrust case that threatened to split Ticketmaster from its parent. The agreement requires a roughly $200 million payment to participating states and mandates structural reforms, including...
Beyond Leather: Brazil’s Material Labelling Rules for Luxury Brands
Brazil’s Federal Act No. 4,888/1965 limits the use of the term “leather” to animal‑hide products, forcing luxury brands to rename synthetic and vegan alternatives for the Brazilian market. The rule affects product labels, e‑commerce listings, and sustainability narratives that rely on...
Advancing the Conversation on Seafarer Fatigue at the IMO
At the IMO’s Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) Subcommittee meeting in London, delegates conducted a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and examined emerging training needs for alternative‑fuel vessels. The most contentious agenda item was a scoping exercise on...