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
Intapp and Anthropic Collaborate to Bring Expert AI Agents to Highly Regulated Professional Firms
Intapp announced a partnership with Anthropic to embed Claude, the company’s advanced language model, into its governed AI platform for professional services. The collaboration will produce industry‑specific AI agents that fuse Claude’s reasoning power with Intapp’s proprietary data, workflow playbooks, and compliance controls. Targeted sectors include accounting, consulting, investment banking, legal, and private‑capital firms, where agents must respect ethical walls, conflict‑of‑interest rules, and material non‑public information. The move aims to accelerate safe AI adoption in highly regulated environments.
Less Tools, More Focus: Old‑School Productivity Wins
In the 1990s, a legal assistant managed deadlines, documents, and court dates without a single productivity app. No fancy dashboards. No 47 tabs open. No endless notifications. Just a brutally simple system that worked. Maybe the problem isn’t that we need better tools. Maybe we need...
AI Content Generation Systems Face Global Pressure Over Privacy and Deepfake Risks
Data protection authorities from 61 countries issued a joint warning that AI content generation systems, especially those creating realistic images and videos, pose serious privacy and deep‑fake risks. The statement cites recent incidents, such as Grok’s non‑consensual “nudified” images, and...
BVNK Secures MiCA Licence in Malta to Expand European Stablecoin Operations
BVNK, an enterprise stablecoin infrastructure provider, secured a Crypto‑Asset Services Provider (CASP) licence from Malta’s Financial Services Authority, aligning it with the EU’s MiCA framework. The licence allows BVNK to passport MiCA‑regulated digital‑asset services across all European Economic Area members....
VP Duterte Impeachment Case Bound to Affect Voters in 2028, Says Luistro
House Justice Committee chair Rep. Gerville Luistro announced that impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte will commence on March 2, a process she says will influence voter sentiment ahead of the 2028 presidential election, where Duterte has already declared her...
Work From Home Could Become a Legal Right Under New Plans
UK ministers are consulting on amendments to the Employment Rights Act that would embed a “reasonableness test” for flexible‑working requests, making it harder for employers to refuse work‑from‑home arrangements. Under the proposals, refusals must be justified as reasonable and feasible,...
SRA Authorises New AI-Powered Law Firm LawFairy
LawFairy has become the first “technology‑only” law firm authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales. The firm relies on a deterministic legal decision engine that applies pre‑validated rules rather than probabilistic AI, delivering traceable, auditable outcomes. Its...
HM Courts and Tribunals Completes Audio Transcription Modernisation
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has finished modernising its Digital Audio Recording Transcription (DARTS) system for Crown Courts. The cloud‑based platform now delivers audio recordings in minutes, with real‑time progress tracking and enhanced search tools. Migration moved roughly 600 TB of...
One IPO Roadmap Unveiled
The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has released a detailed roadmap for its new One IPO patents service, outlining a phased rollout of enhancements over the next twelve months. Immediate actions focus on restoring full publishing capacity, accelerating internal processing, and...
LexisNexis Launches Lexis+ with Protégé, Replacing Lexis+ AI with an End-to-End Workflow Platform
LexisNexis announced the U.S. general availability of Lexis+ with Protégé, a unified legal platform that supersedes its earlier Lexis+ AI offering. The new solution integrates advanced generative AI, workflow automation, and analytics into a single end‑to‑end environment for research, drafting,...
Want More Public Companies? Encourage More Stock Repurchases
The SEC’s new leadership is targeting the 40 percent decline in U.S. public companies by easing regulatory burdens, especially those that hinder share repurchases. It proposes reforming the safe‑harbor under Rule 10b‑18 to make buybacks more accessible to mid‑cap firms. Currently, the...
Quebec Retail Hours Pilot Expands Weekend Shopping
Starting March 11, 2026 Quebec will launch a province‑wide, one‑year pilot that lets most retailers stay open until 9:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, ending the long‑standing 5:00 PM weekend curfew. Participation is voluntary, allowing merchants to choose hours based on staffing...
How Smarsh Built an AI Front Door for Regulated Industries — and Drove 59% Self-Service Adoption
Smarsh deployed an AI‑powered support agent, Archie, on Salesforce Agentforce 360 to create a unified front‑door for regulated‑industry customers. The system lets users describe needs in plain language, routing them to the right solution and reducing navigation friction. Early results...
Malaysia Allows Brokers to Offer Digital Asset Trading Under Securities Rules
Malaysia’s Securities Commission issued a practice note allowing licensed stockbrokers with Capital Markets Services licences to provide broking services for approved digital assets under existing securities rules. Brokers must obtain regulator concurrence, use locally registered exchanges or vetted foreign platforms,...
Sacking Employee for "Poor Decision-Making" While Off Duty Was Harsh
The Fair Work Commission found that Sleepeezee Bedding Australia’s summary dismissal of a heavy‑combination truck driver was harsh and unreasonable. The driver tested positive for a prohibited drug after a roadside test, but admitted only off‑duty cannabis use over the...
Manager Unfairly Sacked for "Sounding Out" Career Change Using Work Email
The Fair Work Commission ruled that a national sales manager at Volando Group was unfairly dismissed after using his work email to send a résumé and explore a health‑and‑wellness career. Deputy President Tony Slevin found the conduct was not “serious or...
Isaac Hayes’ Estate Reaches Settlement with Trump Over Use Of “Hold On, I’m Coming”
Isaac Hayes’ estate settled its lawsuit against former President Donald Trump over the unauthorized use of the 1966 hit “Hold On, I’m Coming.” The estate had sued for $3 million, citing more than 130 instances of the song at campaign events,...
DAT Confirms UCC Filings Target Brokers, Not Small Fleets
I spoke with DAT’s leadership tonight. They clarified that the language was not as clear in the Terms and Conditions as it should have been and that it was not intended for fleets. They told me they have not filed...
Ticketmaster‑LiveNation Faces Potential Standard Oil‑style Breakup
Ticketmaster - LiveNation has got to be the leading candidate for a return of the Standard Oil style breakup (i.e., the dissolution of an anticompetitive merger)
Philadelphia Moves to Shut Down Restaurant Reservation Scalping as Demand Surges
Philadelphia City Council approved legislation that prohibits third‑party platforms and individuals from selling restaurant reservations without the establishment’s consent. The measure targets marketplaces such as Appointment Trader, which handled over $5 million in reservation transactions and 15,000 sellers last year, and...
Openclaw's Clever Design Masks Potential Negligence and Hidden ToS Breaches
Yikes. If this is true, then it’s both pretty ingenious and supremely negligent. I wonder what percentage of users have done a code audit of Openclaw. And what other fun ToS-voiding surprises lurk in there.
Paramount Probes Lawsuit Claim From Mysterious Former Consultant
News: Paramount is investigating a litigation threat against its president Jeff Shell by a man with an *interesting* background who claims to have represented Shell as a consultant and now says Shell disclosed confidential company information to him. This is...
Iowa Farmers Are Leading the Fight for Repair
Iowa's House Agriculture Committee advanced HSB 751, a Right‑to‑Repair bill targeting John Deere, with an 18‑5 vote. The legislation would require the manufacturer to provide farmers with the same diagnostic tools, software and parts that dealers use. Iowa accounts for roughly...
Court Tests Limits of Executive ‘Pause’ Power Over IIJA Transportation Funds
The U.S. District Court in Seattle on Jan. 23, 2026 vacated the Federal Highway Administration’s February 2025 suspension of the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. The ruling restores the agency’s authority to obligate funds for state EV‑charging projects, effectively...
Small Fleets Should Report DAT UCC Filings to FTC
If you are a small fleet that has struggled to get another factor because of a UCC filed by DAT, you should report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Solicitor Faces Probe After Putting Client Documents Into ChatGPT
The Upper Tribunal warned lawyers after a solicitor uploaded client emails and Home Office decision letters to ChatGPT, breaching confidentiality and legal privilege. Judge Fiona Lindsley highlighted a surge in fictitious case citations that waste tribunal resources and erode public...
Kanye West Trial over Botched Remodel of ‘Architectural Treasure’ Set to Kick Off This Week
A civil suit filed by construction foreman Tony Saxon alleges Kanye West, now known as Ye, owes more than $1 million for unpaid wages and expenses tied to a stalled remodel of a Tadao Ando‑designed Malibu beachfront home. The 12‑day trial will...
Open Letter: Say No to Suno
The Music Artist Coalition’s open letter denounces AI music startup Suno for mass‑producing unlicensed tracks that dilute artist royalties and enable streaming fraud. It highlights Suno’s output of roughly 7 million tracks per day and Deezer’s finding that 85 % of AI‑generated...
Ban AI Human Impersonation to Test Global Regulation
There are nearly no good reasons for an AI to ever impersonate a human. Making that illegal in as many countries as possible, and improving state capacity to enforce it, would be a good trial balloon for human civilization's ability to...
SRA Puts Conditions on Practice of Controversial Solicitor Milne
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has placed solicitor Andrew Milne under a supervision condition after his recent stalking conviction, limiting him to practice only under an SRA‑approved supervising solicitor. Milne, who runs Andrew Milne & Co, is also under investigation...
Lammy to Fund Unlimited Sitting Days - but Still Curb Jury Trials
Justice Secretary David Lammy announced a funding package that removes caps on court sitting days, aiming to clear backlogs and speed case resolution. The same plan tightens the use of jury trials, restricting them to serious criminal and complex civil...
The 10 Best Apps For Lawyers In 2026
The 2026 roundup identifies the ten most effective legal‑tech apps, ranging from AI‑powered client communication platforms to cloud‑based billing and discovery tools. Selections were based on features, user ratings, security certifications, integration depth, and pricing. Apps such as Case Status,...
Microsoft’s AI Ambitions Could Bring Trouble
Microsoft is embedding its AI assistant Copilot deeply into Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, positioning the feature as a core productivity tool. The FTC has opened an antitrust investigation, probing whether the bundling of AI with the operating system and...
FCC Warns Montana FBO Over Unlicensed Radio Transmissions
The Federal Communications Commission issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to Beacon Air Group, the fixed‑base operator at Billings‑Logan International Airport, for transmitting on the VHF aircraft band at 128.825 MHz without a license. The unauthorized signal interfered with a co‑located...
US Interior Guts Environmental Reviews for Oil, Gas Drilling
The U.S. Department of the Interior finalized a rule on Monday that slashes the time required to secure oil and gas drilling permits on federal lands. The regulation trims environmental review periods, limiting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments to...
Anthropic Says DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax Used 24,000 Fake Accounts to Rip Off Claude
Anthropic disclosed that three Chinese AI labs—DeepSeek, Moonshot AI and MiniMax—used roughly 24,000 fraudulent accounts to conduct over 16 million interactions with its Claude models, targeting reasoning, coding and tool‑use capabilities. The coordinated distillation attacks extracted large‑scale training data, effectively stealing...
25 Years Later, San Diego-Area High School Shooter Eyes Release
Attorney Laura Sheppard argued that Charles Andy Williams, convicted for the 2001 Santana High School shooting, should be released after 25 years. A Superior Court judge vacated his 50‑to‑life sentence under California's new juvenile resentencing law, prompting an immediate appeal...
Following Earlier Actions to Remove Reputation Risk From Its Supervision of Banks, Federal Reserve Board Requests Comment on Proposal to...
The Federal Reserve has issued a request for public comment on a proposal to codify its June decision that removes reputation risk from bank supervision. The move aims to prevent supervisors from pressuring banks to “debank” lawful customers based on...
State Bill Could End Tax Break for Large Digital Lenders
Washington State’s House Bill 2089 seeks to restore dwindling wildfire‑prevention funding by revoking a tax deduction that currently benefits large digital mortgage lenders. The deduction, originally crafted for community banks, generated $91.6 million in savings in 2024, with 65 % captured by...
COFINA Bondholder Case Against Insurers Is Set Back
A federal judge in Connecticut dismissed a lawsuit filed by former COFINA bondholders against insurers Ambac, MBIA and related subsidiaries, citing a lack of personal jurisdiction. The ruling allows plaintiffs to refile a second‑amended complaint against MBIA Inc. by March 6,...
Before We Predict The End Of Lawyers, Let’s Take A Deep Breath
Generative AI is being touted as a productivity breakthrough for law firms, but the author argues it may actually increase workload. Drawing on the Solow paradox, the piece suggests that more information leads to more analysis, verification, and billable hours...
Before We Predict The End Of Lawyers, Let’s Take A Deep Breath
Stephen Embry argues that generative AI, while touted as a productivity miracle for law firms, may actually generate more work rather than reduce it. He frames this counter‑intuitive outcome with the Solow paradox, which observes that new technologies often raise...
Online News Act: Game‑Changer for Press, Irritant to Tech Giants
Online News Act is a “trade irritant “to Google and Meta, and govt carrying its water, but it’s a “game changer” for a free and plural press living with a massive imbalance in bargaining power - now in the case...
Terraform Sues Jane Street over Alleged Insider Trading
JUST IN: 🚨 Terraform estate files lawsuit against Jane Street, alleging the firm used non-public information to profit from the 2022 UST/LUNA collapse
Former Chainlink Counsel Joins SEC Crypto Task Force
NEW: Ex‑deputy general counsel at Chainlink Taylor Lindman named senior counsel on the SEC’s crypto task force
H
Kinda says everything about what the state’s new approach on housing does and doesn’t do that Huntington Beach has been in litigation over it for the entirety of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s tenure
Drafting
The fact that I need to stop working on moving deals forward for a few minutes and draft four (4) commission agreements ... is a good sign
Two Federal Appellate Judges Share Real‑World Insights
Appellate Practice and Procedure Class (@MercerLAWSchool) No. 6 (Spring 2026), featuring Judge Patrick J. Bumatay (Ninth Circuit) and Judge Kevin C. Newsom (Eleventh Circuit). https://t.co/G0o60T8pBL
Anthropic Fined Billions for Massive Training Data Theft
Anthropic is guilty of stealing training data at massive scale and has had to pay multi-billion dollar settlements for their theft. This is just a fact.
Google's Proxy Attacks Meta, Shifts Child Safety Debate to Age‑Gating
Google proxy Chamber of Progress has really unleashed on Meta over its debate on the right and wrong way to protect children from harm. Playing out in LA, New Mexico and NdCal courts. Making it all about age-gating rather than...