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
What Else Is Missing? Who Can Say?
The Department of Justice announced that the only withheld materials from the Epstein investigation were privileged or duplicate copies, leaving three FBI interview summaries—known as 302s—missing from the public release. An index showed four interviews with a 2019 accuser who claimed Trump assaulted her as a minor, yet only the summary linking her to Epstein was disclosed. DOJ officials said a pending federal investigation may justify further redactions and pledged to publish any improperly tagged documents. The silence fuels speculation about the handling of high‑profile allegations.
The Use of GenAI Is Turning Innocent Employees Into Insider Threats: Here’s How to Fix It
Enterprise adoption of generative AI tools is soaring, with nearly one in twenty companies regularly using them and internal data uploads to public models increasing thirty‑fold year‑on‑year. Employees often paste confidential contracts or credentials into tools like ChatGPT, unintentionally turning...
Guidance: Using Digital Identities with the Money Laundering Regulations
HM Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have issued new guidance on using digital identities for Money Laundering Regulations (MLR) compliance. It specifies that only digital verification services listed on the GOV.UK Register and certified under the...
Complaints Soar but ICO Insists ‘We Won’t React to Noise’
Information Commissioner John Edwards warned that ICO complaints could hit 75,000 by the end of FY 2025/26, nearly double the 40,000 logged in 2023/24. He defended the regulator’s selective enforcement approach, saying it will not chase every report to avoid...
Employment Rights Act 2025 - Why HR Should Review Its Probationary Process Before July 2026
In this episode of the Bright Mind Podcast, host Robert Shaw and Brightmine Principal Editor Stephen Simpson break down the Employment Rights Act 2025, focusing on the reduction of the unfair dismissal qualifying period from two years to six months...
Elon Musk's Tesla Sues California DMV Following False Advertising Row Around FSD, Autopilot
Tesla has sued the California Department of Motor Vehicles after the agency labeled the automaker a false advertiser for its Autopilot and Full‑Self Driving branding. Tesla argues the DMV offered no consumer‑witness evidence and relied on a single academic testimony,...
Lessons Learned From an 11-Month-Old Workers’ Comp Law
New York enacted a sweeping workers’ compensation amendment in December 2024 that allowed any employee to claim compensation for “extraordinary work‑related stress,” but the law was repealed less than a year later due to vague definitions and fear of claim...
Italian Regulator Blocks Access to Websites of Keyline FX, Solaxy Tech and Po Trade
Italy’s financial regulator CONSOB ordered the blocking of ten websites that were providing unauthorized investment services, including foreign‑exchange and cryptocurrency offerings. The sites targeted include Keyline FX, Solaxy Tech, Po Trade and related advertising domains, and CONSOB also asked Google to remove the...
The Cyber Resilience Act: Implications for the Global Rail Industry
The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is set to overhaul security requirements for the global rail supply chain, targeting connected products and software. Nomad Digital hosted a webinar with experts from Alstom, Durham University and its own security team to...
UK Advertising Regulator Issues Enforcement Notice Targeting Loot Boxes
The UK Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) have issued an Enforcement Notice demanding clear loot‑box disclosure on Google Play and Apple App Store listings. Developers, publishers and advertisers have three months to amend descriptions,...
At Public Meeting, FTC Indicated Intent to Prosecute Unreasonable Noncompetes
The Federal Trade Commission held a half‑day program on Jan. 27, 2026, signaling its intent to prosecute non‑compete agreements that are unreasonable or anticompetitive. While the agency stopped short of reinstating its 2021 blanket ban, it said existing rules and case...
Exclusive: The Barrister Group Launches Standalone Operations Business to Help Modernise Chambers
The Barrister Group has spun off its operational platform as a standalone service called VENTRiQ, offering technology‑enabled back‑office support to UK barristers' chambers. The new proposition handles everything from workflow automation and diary management to invoicing and cybersecurity, leveraging an...
The EBA Responds to the Commission’s Proposed Amendments to the Draft Technical Standards on Equivalent Legal Mechanism
The European Banking Authority (EBA) issued an opinion opposing two European Commission amendments to the draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on equivalent legal mechanisms for residential property under construction. The Commission seeks to raise the risk‑weight cap for protection providers...
Guidance: Money Laundering Advisory Notice: High Risk Third Countries
The UK Treasury’s Money Laundering Advisory Notice was updated on 26 February 2026 to reflect the latest FATF decisions on High‑Risk Third Countries (HRTC). The revision aligns the UK’s list with jurisdictions identified by FATF as having weak anti‑money‑laundering and terrorist‑financing controls....
Ashwini Vaishnaw Demands Fair Revenue Share for Content Creators
India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urged social media platforms to adopt a fair‑revenue‑share model that compensates journalists, newsrooms, independent creators, influencers and academics. He framed the demand as a correction needed as synthetic media and misinformation proliferate online....
Douro Labs Pushes SEC to Modernize Vendor Display Rule
Douro Labs has filed a comment letter urging the SEC to modernize Rule 603 of Regulation NMS, which currently mandates that broker‑dealers display SIP‑derived NBBO and last‑sale data. The firm argues the rule’s technology‑specific language is outdated and proposes a technology‑neutral “Fair...
2025 in Review: ISDS Reforms in Review
In 2025 the UNCITRAL Working Group III intensified its ISDS reform agenda, holding three formal sessions, an inter‑sessional meeting, and two Advisory Centre operationalisation meetings. The group reviewed draft procedural and cross‑cutting provisions aimed at improving transparency, cost‑effectiveness and early dismissal...
Defining, Measuring, and Communicating the Value of AI
In this Technovation episode, a panel of CIOs discusses how to define, measure, and communicate AI value, sharing real‑world approaches from Ally Financial and Avery Dennison. Satish Muthukrishnan describes Ally’s cautious, 18‑month rollout of Ally.ai, emphasizing risk‑based governance, human‑in‑the‑loop design, and...
Workday Brings AI-Native Contract Lifecycle Management to EU Businesses with Frankfurt Data Residency
Workday announced an AI‑native Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution hosted in Frankfurt, giving EU customers a local data residency option. The service leverages generative AI to draft, review, and negotiate contracts while automatically enforcing compliance rules. By storing all contract...
Simmons & Simmons Takes Digital Regs in Its STRIDE
Simmons & Simmons has unveiled STRIDE, an AI‑backed digital regulation tracker that aggregates live, analyst‑grade data across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The platform uses a multi‑channel processing (MCP) approach, allowing AI agents to be queried directly via LLM...
Victory Minerals on Notice Again over Unauthorised Ballarat Works
Victoria-based gold producer Victory Minerals has been placed on notice again by Resources Victoria after regulators discovered unauthorised works inside an existing pit at its Ballarat mine. The breach follows a previous compliance warning earlier this year for similar activities....
San Diego Approves $6M Settlement With Insurers for Flood Damage
San Diego’s city council approved a $6 million settlement with 17 insurers to resolve subrogation claims stemming from the January 2024 floods. The payment, drawn from the city’s self‑insurance program, concludes part of a broader litigation wave accusing the municipality of neglecting...
Court Sharpens Causation Standard in All-Risk Policies in Church Mutual Case
The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that under North Carolina law an excluded cause must be the sole cause of damage for an all‑risk policy exclusion to apply, reaffirming the 1973 Avis v. Hartford standard. The decision overturns...
Insurer Ducks Claims by Models Over Strip Clubs’ Use of Their Images Without Consent
A federal court in Massachusetts ruled that Blackboard Specialty Insurance Co. is not liable for a $1.9 million consent judgment against three strip‑club owners accused of using professional models' images without permission. The decision hinged on the fact that most photos...
What Does the Building an Affordable California Act Do?
The California Chamber of Commerce is gathering signatures for an initiative that would overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for so‑called “essential” projects. The proposal imposes court‑enforceable timelines, lets proponents define project scope and a single alternative, and...
HaystackID Acquires Data Intelligence Startup eDiscovery AI
HaystackID announced the acquisition of eDiscovery AI, a data‑intelligence startup focused on AI‑driven electronic discovery solutions. The deal builds on a pre‑existing partnership and is aimed at bolstering HaystackID's generative AI capabilities across its legal‑tech platform. By integrating eDiscovery AI's...
"Candid" HR Evidence Highlights Performance Management Flaws
The Fair Work Commission ordered the University of Melbourne to reinstate a senior director, highlighting HR’s inadequate role in performance management. An 18‑month investigation concluded the director engaged in serious misconduct, yet the employer’s claims of rude and bullying behavior...
Understanding South Korea’s New AI Law: Key Considerations for Multinational Employers
South Korea's AI Basic Act became effective on January 22, 2026, imposing governance, transparency, and risk‑management duties on AI business operators, including employers that develop or deploy AI influencing workplace decisions. The law reaches beyond Korean borders, requiring entities that meet revenue,...
Illinois Appellate Court Narrows Third-Party BIPA Liability
The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that staffing agencies are not liable under BIPA Section 15(b) because they did not acquire or possess biometric data, only facilitated its collection. The court affirmed summary judgment for the agencies and denied discovery, emphasizing...
HaystackID: AI Copyright Cases Spotlight Key Discovery Practice Issues
Federal courts are tightening discovery limits in AI copyright lawsuits, citing the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure’s reasonableness standard. Recent rulings in the In re Google Generative AI Copyright Litigation and Onan v. Databricks restrict late‑stage depositions and document requests....
Exterro: “Good Enough” Isn’t Enough for Litigation Readiness
Exterro’s latest Data Xposure podcast spotlights the gap between reactive legal tactics and true litigation readiness. Host Jenny Hamilton and Hilltop Securities’ legal‑operations leader Patrick Butts argue that a playbook‑driven approach is essential for regulated firms. The discussion moves beyond...
Mother of 12-Year-Old Killed in Nebraska Plant Explosion Sues Wood Pellet Producer
Mother of a 12‑year‑old killed in a 2025 Nebraska wood‑pellet plant explosion files a lawsuit against Horizon Biofuels. The complaint alleges the company failed to maintain dust collection, housekeeping, and ignition controls, causing a July 29 blast that killed a father...
Reveal: What FedRAMP Authorized Should Mean in eDiscovery
FedRAMP, the federal cloud security authorization program, is becoming a critical benchmark for eDiscovery solutions as U.S. courts anticipate over 400,000 lawsuits this year. Legal teams must verify that their cloud‑based discovery tools meet FedRAMP standards to prevent security breaches,...
Sam Bock, Relativity: What Legal Leaders Should Know About Shadow AI
Shadow AI, the unsanctioned use of generative AI applications, is emerging as the latest incarnation of shadow IT, infiltrating legal departments’ workflows. As employees adopt chatbots, code generators, and document‑analysis tools without IT approval, firms confront heightened data‑privacy, security, and...
Justin Smith, Everlaw: From Mobile Data to Generative AI: Your Guide to Navigating the New Era of Ediscovery
Everlaw’s Justin Smith outlines a comprehensive eDiscovery guide that addresses the exploding volume, variety, and velocity of electronically stored information, especially from mobile sources. The guide highlights how generative AI is reshaping document review, offering faster, more defensible workflows. It...
States, Tribes Get Partial Victory in Columbia River Basin Salmon Battle
A federal judge in Portland partially granted a preliminary injunction sought by Washington, Oregon, several Native American tribes and conservation groups to protect endangered salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin. The ruling found the 2020 biological opinion for...
Michael Gennaro: Black Box Nature of AI Systems Creating Legal Land Mines for Companies
A Dataiku survey of 800 global data leaders reveals that 95% cannot fully trace how their AI systems reach decisions, exposing a massive explainability gap. The same study shows 59% have already faced business crises due to AI hallucinations or...
Surprise! Fifth Circuit Rejects DEA’s Longstanding Interpretation of a Pharmacist’s “Corresponding Responsibility” And “Usual Course of Professional Practice” Regulations
The Fifth Circuit rejected the DEA’s long‑standing reading of the pharmacist’s “corresponding responsibility” and “usual course of professional practice” regulations, ruling that liability requires proof a prescription was invalid when issued and that the pharmacist actually knew it was invalid....
Kenya, Uganda in Race to Change Sacco Rules as Losses Hit Members
Kenya and Uganda are overhauling Sacco regulations after a series of collapses and fraud that have eroded member confidence. In Kenya, the Kuscco scandal exposed a $103 million loss, prompting a committee to recommend raising the minimum membership to 100 and...
“Former Star Supreme Court Lawyer Convicted of Tax Violations; Prosecutors Alleged Thomas Goldstein, Co-Founder of SCOTUSblog, Evaded Taxes From His...
Thomas Goldstein, co‑founder of SCOTUSblog and former Supreme Court litigator, was found guilty on 12 of 16 tax‑fraud counts tied to undisclosed high‑stakes poker winnings. A federal jury concluded he deliberately concealed income and filed false tax returns over several...
Judge Bars Trump Administration From Removing People to Third Countries without Due Process
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts blocked the Trump administration’s policy of deporting noncitizens to third countries without notice or a chance to contest. The ruling requires meaningful notice and an opportunity to challenge removals, rejecting the government’s reliance...
Trai Holds Off on Net Neutrality Rules for 5G Network Slicing
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken a wait‑and‑see stance on whether existing net‑neutrality rules apply to 5G network slicing, offering no immediate guidance. Telecom operators are urging the government to explicitly permit slicing, arguing it is essential...
Proposed Law Threatens Trucking Capacity by Revoking Non‑Citizen CDLs
This law, if passed, would immediately revoke CDLs for non citizens or those that don’t have lawful permanent residency or work permits. It wills be far more impactful to trucking capacity than any other action, largely because it is immediate and...
Kalshi Uses Public Enforcement to Signal Legitimacy
Fascinating to see @Kalshi taking so much action on alleged insider trading Legitimacy through very public enforcement. It's like an inverse regulation by enforcement. It's enforcement by industry to demonstrate being regulated. Kalshi accuses MrBeast editor of insider trading : NPR https://t.co/3sI6leeiBM
OCC's Stablecoin Rulemaking Sparks Yield Uncertainty
The OCC just dropped its proposed rulemaking for stablecoins. Stablecoins have a law now, but they don't have regulation. That's what the big banks and institutions are waiting for. What does it mean for yield? 👇 https://t.co/UL2amptKUw
Deepfake Fraud Costs UK £9.4B, US Must Act
The UK’s £9.4B loss to deepfake-enabled fraud is not a headline, it’s a warning. AI-powered scams are scaling faster than legacy identity and compliance systems can adapt. If the US doesn’t harden digital onboarding, verification, and cross-sector fraud defenses now, the bill...
BoE's Stablecoin Cap Triggers Industry Backlash
The Bank of England’s plan to cap stablecoin holdings is sparking an industry revolt BTW. £5,000 and £20,000 for individuals BTW. £1 million to £10 million for businesses. https://t.co/taO9by7gd2
GENIUS Act Opens 60-Day Comment Period on Stablecoin Rules
The GENIUS Act rules just dropped 60 days for comments Digging in to this today
Compliance Crackdown Reshapes US Carrier Market, Says RXO CEO
RXO CEO: the compliance crack down is the biggest structural change to the U.S. carrier market since industry deregulation https://t.co/72I5GCAt7d
Dalilah Law Could Double Trucking Rates, Cut Drivers
Trucking rates could enter a super cycle if The Dalilah Law passes in Congress. A doubling of trucking spot rates would be possible and the effects felt almost immediately with approx 20% of the truck driver population being...