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
Simmons & Simmons Launches AI + Legal Privilege Guide
International law firm Simmons & Simmons has released an “AI and Legal Privilege Guide and Policy Framework” to help organisations manage confidentiality risks when using artificial intelligence. The guide responds to a recent UK court ruling that uploading client documents to open‑AI systems like ChatGPT can waive attorney‑client privilege. It explains the difference between open and closed AI models, outlines key privilege risks, and supplies a pro‑forma policy template. The resource is designed for firms of any size to implement defensible AI governance while protecting privileged communications.
AI Legal Research Startup Descrybe Launches ‘Legal Reasoning’ Tool; Says It Outperforms ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini on Bar Exam Benchmark
Descrybe, an AI legal research startup, unveiled DescrybeLM, a legal reasoning engine that it claims surpasses leading general‑purpose models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini on a standardized bar‑exam benchmark. The company published the benchmark methodology and scoring data, inviting...
DBS Hong Kong Teams with Know Your Customer on Digital KYC
DBS Bank Hong Kong has teamed with RegTech firm Know Your Customer to embed AI‑driven digital KYC into its SME onboarding workflow. The platform provides real‑time business verification and automatic UBO mapping across more than 140 jurisdictions, cutting manual compliance...
Structured Payments Data Strengthens AML Compliance
Financial institutions are accelerating payment‑system upgrades as instant‑payment demand surges, with ISO 20022 becoming the default messaging format on SWIFT after the November 2025 cut‑over. Structured payments data under ISO 20022 enriches transaction details, enabling real‑time AML monitoring and more...
Arctic Intelligence, BitCompli Team up on Digital Asset Risk Tools
Arctic Intelligence and BitCompli announced a strategic partnership to deliver enterprise‑wide risk assessments for digital‑asset firms worldwide. The collaboration combines Arctic’s Arctic Accelerate platform with BitCompli’s regulatory expertise to meet tightening rules such as the UK FCA, EU MiCA, and...
Cross-Border M&A: How to Do Deals in Italy with Mauro Sambati and Donato Romano
In this episode, partners Mauro Sambati and Donato Romano of Gianni Origoni discuss the intricacies of cross‑border M&A in Italy, emphasizing the importance of cultural communication, relationship building, and navigating the country’s evolving Golden Power regulations. They explain how Golden...
Call for Papers: 11th Journal of Private International Law Conference (Zurich, 1–3 April 2027)
The Journal of Private International Law (JPIL) will host its 11th conference at the University of Zurich from 1‑3 April 2027. Scholars and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts of up to 500 words by 30 June 2026, with options for individual papers or...
Conference: Assimilated Law – the Role and Future of Retained EU Law in the UK (Oxford, 13/14 April 2026)
The University of Oxford will host a two‑day conference on 13‑14 April 2026 to examine the role and future of “assimilated law,” the body of retained EU legislation that remains in the UK post‑Brexit. Organized by Professor Anne Davies and Dr Johannes Ungerer...
From Water Pistols to Tanks: Why Data Science Is the Gold Standard to Counter Class Action Fraud (Donald Beshada, CEO,...
In this episode of Technically Legal, host Chad Main talks with Donald Bishada, former litigator and CEO of Covalent, about the challenges of class‑action fraud in the digital age. Bishada explains how traditional settlement notices—once delivered via magazines—are now vulnerable...
B2B Used Car Auction Merger Cleared by CMA
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared Constellation Developments’ acquisition of ABVR Holdings (Aston Barclay) through its British Car Auctions (BCA) business after a phase‑2 inquiry. BCA is the UK’s largest B2B used‑vehicle auction provider, while Aston Barclay ranks...
Riverside Coffee V. Nicaragua: The Limits of State Responsibility Under the DR-CAFTA
On 17 October 2025 the tribunal issued its award in Riverside Coffee v. Nicaragua, finding that Nicaragua’s invocation of the essential security interests clause in Article 21.2(b) of DR‑CAFTA constituted a broad carve‑out from the treaty’s obligations. The tribunal held the clause is...
Prompts Are a Crutch, Legal AI Needs Memory
Legal AI is shifting from static prompt libraries to memory‑driven systems, according to Chamelio CEO Alex Zilberman. Prompt collections quickly become outdated, inconsistent, and brittle as policies and priorities evolve. A memory layer that captures accepted edits, trusted sources, and...
HFW Appoints First Head of Legal Technology Adoption
International law firm HFW has named Ashleigh Ovland as its inaugural Head of Legal Technology Adoption, a role designed to embed AI and other legal tech into everyday practice. Ovland, a former aviation partner who built the firm’s “Flight Deck”...
Product Walk Through: Harvey – Shared Spaces
Harvey has launched Shared Spaces, a secure, branded environment that lets law firms and their clients co‑create legal work in real time. The platform replaces traditional client portals and file‑sharing tools with a unified, searchable workspace. Robust governance—including object‑level permissions,...
Commission Holds First Meeting of Special Panel on Child Safety Online
The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, convened the inaugural meeting of a new Special Panel on child safety online. The panel, announced in the 2025 State of the Union, will draft expert recommendations to protect children...
Homeostatic Compliance Management in GRC 7.0 – GRC Orchestrate
GRC 7.0 – GRC Orchestrate introduces a homeostatic compliance model that turns compliance from a periodic check into a continuous, adaptive system. It integrates regulatory intelligence, structured obligation management, digital twins, and agentic AI to sense, interpret, and orchestrate changes across...
Moderna Settles LNP Patent Dispute with Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma for ~$2.25B
Moderna agreed to a roughly $2.25 billion settlement with Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma, ending disputes over lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology used in its COVID‑19 vaccine. The deal requires $950 million payable in July 2026 and an additional $1.3 billion contingent on an appellate...
Life and Death
In this episode, the host critiques a recent Court of Appeal judgment, arguing that its language is overly broad and ambiguous. They contend that the decision lacks a clear, narrower interpretation, making its practical application uncertain. The discussion highlights the...
New Broker Search CDI Will Facilitate Shareholder Approval of Deals
The SEC’s Corporate Finance Division issued a new Compliance Disclosure Interpretation (CDI) that relaxes the 20‑business‑day rule for broker searches ahead of shareholder meetings. The guidance lets companies set record dates earlier, giving them more flexibility when seeking shareholder approval...
Hogan Lovells Partners with LawFairy to Offer Pro Bono Support for Undocumented Children in the UK
Law firms Hogan Lovells and LawFairy have launched a technology initiative to provide pro‑bono immigration support for undocumented children in the UK. The decision‑support platform, built with Central England Law Centre, screens eligibility for British nationality and triages cases for...
Expert Evidence Helps Employer Defend Policy Breach Sacking
A safety‑critical employee at Cement Australia’s Railton plant was summarily dismissed after a random drug test detected amphetamines and methamphetamines. The employee appealed to the Fair Work Commission, arguing the breach of the company’s drug‑and‑alcohol policy was an isolated, inadvertent...
The Pensions Brief: March 2026
Trustees must implement a data‑protection complaints process by 19 June 2026 under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, with ICO guidance covering design, default and subject‑access requests. The Pension Dashboards Programme issued FAQs clarifying reporting standards and PASA released Q&A on...
“Man Held at Gunpoint After Officers Entered Wrong Home Challenges Qualified Immunity Rulings; Tyler Harrington Is Asking the Fifth Circuit...
In this episode, attorney Alessandro Clark‑Anzani argues before the Fifth Circuit on behalf of Tyler Harrington, who was held at gunpoint after police mistakenly entered his home. He contends the district court erred by omitting the crucial second entry where...
Families of 43 Missing Students in Mexico Win Order for Intel and Evidence
A federal judge ordered Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense to release 853 intelligence files obtained by the Regional Intelligence Fusion Center in 2014, which pertain to the September 26 kidnapping of 43 Ayotzinapa students. The families secured the ruling through...
Skipping Due Diligence: A Straightforward Legal Mistake
Nah. It was cut-and-dried law. He signed the deal and chose not to do the due diligence.
Outdated IT Policies Still Block AI, Others Deploy Freely
It is amazing how many companies I talk to STILL have AI effectively blocked by IT & legal departments for out-of-date reasons when many companies in highly regulated industries have figured out ways to deploy enterprise ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini...
“Justice In Balance: The Courts, Civil Rights, and Our Democracy.”
The federal judiciary is confronting a wave of politically charged cases, from the Justice Department’s stalled autopen investigation into President Biden under Trump pressure to a judge ordering over $130 billion in tariff refunds from the previous administration. Simultaneously, the Supreme...
Show, Don’t Tell: Core Rule for Persuasive Legal Writing
“Show, don’t tell” is, in my view, a foundational principle of persuasive legal and judicial writing.
The Social Media Ban for Kids Is Spreading. But Is It Actually Working? – and Could It Happen in the...
Governments worldwide are moving quickly to ban minors from social media, starting with Australia’s under‑16 ban that took effect in December 2025. The Australian ban has already deactivated roughly 4.7 million child accounts, but many teens report bypassing verification with simple...
Ex-Housing Secretary Angela Rayner Urges Government to Go Further on Agent Regulation
Former housing secretary Angela Rayner urged the government to strengthen regulation of managing agents as part of its leasehold reform programme. She praised the draft bill’s ground‑rent cap and ban on new leasehold flats but warned that the lack of...
The New Leaders of Law
The UK legal market is undergoing a structural transformation driven by digital‑savvy leadership and new ownership models. Millennial and Gen Z lawyers now expect digital fluency as a baseline, prompting firms to appoint CEOs, COOs and CIOs who prioritize scalability, compliance...
Inside the Archive #63: A Copyright Data Extravaganza
On 2 February the BFI Southbank hosted the Right from the Start: Copyright Data That Works conference, a key event of the Our Screen Heritage project. Speakers from the National Library of Scotland, Bundesarchiv, University of Glasgow and other institutions examined...
Open Hidden Open Thread 423.5
OpenAI has signed a new contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, expanding its involvement in Pentagon projects. The agreement’s surveillance language contains numerous ambiguities that could allow broad data collection. Critics on LessWrong highlight potential loopholes that may undermine...
Ontario Labour Arbitration Decision Shows Proving Cannabis Impairment Is Key to Upholding Termination
Ontario’s labour arbitrator upheld a three‑month unpaid suspension rather than termination after an employee was found to have smoked cannabis during a lunch break. While the arbitrator accepted eyewitness testimony—specifically the distinct odor of marijuana—as clear evidence of use, the...
Arbitrability Ruling: Key Lessons From Texas Business Court’s BNSF V. Level 3 Decision
The Texas Business Court affirmed an arbitration award in BNSF Railway Co. v. Level 3 Communications, holding that the arbitrators, not the court, decide arbitrability when the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association are incorporated. The court rejected BNSF’s motion...
B-1 Visa Updates: New Specialized Trainers Category for Foreign Nationals
The U.S. Department of State revised the Foreign Affairs Manual to create a distinct “Specialized Trainers” category under the B‑1 visa, expanding eligibility for foreign experts who provide proprietary technical training on imported industrial equipment. The change separates training from...
Bank of Russia Challenges European Commission over Frozen Assets
The Bank of Russia has filed a claim at the EU General Court challenging a December 2025 EU regulation that freezes its assets until the European Union’s demands related to Ukraine are satisfied. The bank argues the measure violates the...
ABA Urged to Confront Pam Bondi's Professional Misconduct
day 21 of me asking the @americanbarassociation to issue literally ANY sort of statement on Pam Bondi’s complete lack of regard for our profession. maybe now that the oversight committee has voted to SUBPOENA her in regards to her role in...
House Amendment Responding to Pentagon-Anthropic Conflict Fails Committee Vote
The House Financial Services Committee rejected a Defense Production Act amendment that would have prohibited federal agencies from blacklisting companies refusing to deploy high‑risk AI products. Rep. Sam Liccardo introduced the measure after the Pentagon clashed with Anthropic, which declined...
How to Avoid Confidentiality Gaps in Early-Stage Startups
Early‑stage startups often sacrifice confidentiality for speed, leaving critical data exposed during pitches, hiring, and partnership talks. Two recurring gaps—lack of security protocols and delayed legal safeguards—lead to breaches that cost billions annually. A lightweight, repeatable NDA workflow—dual pitch decks,...
Poland Eyes Central Bank Funding for US‑aligned Rearmament
Poland’s right wing president Karol Nawrocki is hatching a plan to use the NBP (Polish central bank) to help finance Polish rearmament. Except as Bloomberg notes, legally, the cbank isn’t allowed to finance the govt. Why do they want this?...
Harvey to Integrate with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Harvey announced a deep integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot, embedding its legal intelligence directly into the Copilot environment. The new feature lets lawyers invoke the Harvey Assistant from within Copilot to analyze contracts, research market terms, and pull precedent without...
The Purpose of an ESI Protocol
The California court clarified that an Electronic Stored Information (ESI) protocol is designed to promote reasonable electronic discovery, curb costs, and ensure preservation of relevant data. In Plata v. Lands’ End, the plaintiff sent a draft protocol, the defendant proposed...
Dragon Sword Bill: New Korean Game Industry Law Targets User Data Protection
South Korea’s People Power Party introduced a partial amendment to the Game Industry Promotion Act, creating Article 14‑2 to obligate game operators to protect and, with user consent, transfer gameplay records and payment data when services end. The measure directly responds...
These 2 Recent Cases Confirm DOJ Is Escalating Cyber Enforcement
At the close of 2025 the Department of Justice announced two high‑profile cyber enforcement actions that spotlighted deficient cybersecurity practices among DoD contractors. The first settlement involved Swiss Automation’s breach of the DFARS 7012 clause, which mandates NIST 800‑171 compliance. The second...
Music Industry Coalition Urges Senate Committee to Strengthen Ticketing Reform Bill
The Fix the Tix Coalition, led by the National Independent Venue Association, sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee urging stronger provisions in the House TICKET Act (S.281). The coalition seeks full price transparency, a total ban on speculative...
FCC Proposes Onshoring and Language Rules for Call Centers
Americans get frustrated when they call a U.S. business and end up speaking with someone at a call center located in a foreign country. Language & communications barriers only make it harder for callers to get the results they want. So the...
Senate Commerce NASA Bill Revised with New Amendments
There were quite a few changes to the Senate Commerce NASA Auth bill compared to the draft that was circulating last week, plus the amendments adopted today. https://t.co/Ad2s6yclcs
Netflix CFO Confident Regulatory Approval for Warner Acquisition
"We had high confidence" of getting through regulatory, says Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann on pursuit of Warner's studios and streaming operations.
Judge Sets Deadline for Customs Tariff Refund Plan
🚨IEEPA REFUND UPDATE🚨 "Senior Judge Richard Eaton gave government counsel until Friday to prepare initial ideas on how customs could refund the tariffs to importers, without them having to file a lawsuit." More, please.