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
ED Freezes ₹505 Cr Held Abroad In WinZO Money-Laundering Case
The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached ₹505 cr (≈$55.7 mn) held in WinZO’s US and Singapore shell accounts as part of a money‑laundering probe. The agency alleges the gaming platform used bots and algorithm‑driven personas to play against real users, inflating revenues while restricting withdrawals. Earlier investigations estimated genuine users lost about ₹734 cr, and the total assets frozen now total roughly ₹1,194 cr. WinZO’s co‑founders have been arrested under the Prevention of Money‑Laundering Act.
FCC Chair: Equal Time Rule Applies to Broadcast, Not Radio
FCC Chair Brendan Carr says, "the equal time rule is going to apply to broadcast across the board" but adds he hasn't seen same issues in radio.
OMB Rescinds the “Common Form” Secure Software Attestation Requirement
On Jan. 23, 2026 the Office of Management and Budget issued Memorandum M‑26‑05, rescinding the Biden‑era mandate that all federal agencies obtain a CISA “Common Form” software attestation. The new memo replaces the one‑size‑fits‑all requirement with a risk‑based, agency‑specific approach while...
Legislation Revived to Protect Drivers From Underride Crashes
The Stop Underrides Act 2.0, reintroduced by Senators Gillibrand and Luján and supported by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, aims to mandate side underride guards on all new commercial trucks. The bill expands federal safety requirements, restarts the DOT advisory committee,...
Pharma Demands FDA Stability as Leadership Sparks Drama
The pharmaceutical industry needs stability & clear guidance from #FDA as it attempts to bring through licensure new drugs & vaccines. Vinay Prasad, FDA's head of biologics, has brought drama to a setting where it's not welcome, @matthewherper.bsky.social writes. https://t.co/Qaw1QmYNpL
Retired CISA Contracting Chief Juan Arratia Launches Arratia & Associates
Juan Arratia, former Chief of the Contracting Office at CISA, has announced the launch of Arratia & Associates LLC, a consulting firm that will advise on acquisition, procurement, and audit readiness. The new venture follows more than three decades of senior...
Electronic Evidence Workbook 2026
Craig Ball released the 2026 edition of his Electronic Evidence Workbook, expanding it to 638 pages and integrating large language model (LLM) insights. The textbook was the first of its kind to be edited by two AI editors, ensuring up‑to‑date...
French Appeals Court Rejects Award for Nicaragua Banana Plantation Workers
A French appeals court has rejected an appeal to enforce a $805 million compensation award for Nicaraguan banana plantation workers harmed by the pesticide Nemagon. The court ruled the sums were manifestly disproportionate and violated French public policy, upholding the lower...
Former SEC Deputy Director and Top Trial Lawyer Antonia Apps Joins Paul, Weiss’s Litigation Department | Paul, Weiss
Paul, Weiss announced that Antonia M. Apps, former SEC Deputy Director of Enforcement and ex‑federal prosecutor, has joined the firm as a partner in its New York Litigation Department. Apps is renowned for high‑stakes securities and white‑collar litigation. Her arrival...
Last Payment for Production Employees in the Motion Picture Industry
California’s Labor Code section 201.5 creates a tailored final‑pay regime for workers engaged in motion‑picture production and broadcasting. The statute requires that terminated employees receive all earned wages by the next regular payday, with payment permissible by mail or at a...
Stripe’s Bridge Wins OCC Conditional Approval
Stripe’s Bridge subsidiary received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter, filed in October and approved on Feb. 12. The charter would let Bridge issue stablecoins, custody digital assets, and manage...
Compassion Isn't Fatiguing. It's Energizing.
In this episode the host challenges the notion of "compassion fatigue" by arguing that genuine compassion, not fake empathy, is energizing for professionals like lawyers and social workers. Drawing on insights from the host's sister, a social worker, the discussion...
Arizona Senate Advances State Crypto Reserve Bill
NOW: 🇺🇸 Arizona’s SB1649, creating a state-run crypto reserve holding XRP, BTC, and more, cleared the Senate Finance Committee and now heads to the Rules Committee https://t.co/KSlJxJiDTM
The Anticipated Criminal Law Decisions and Arguments for the Rest of This Term
The Supreme Court’s 2025‑26 term is poised to issue several high‑profile criminal law rulings, with five pure criminal cases and six related cases among the 23 arguments slated for the next two months. Pending opinions include Villareal v. Texas on...
Work Product Vs. Evidence: Why Your Firm’s DMS Is Not an eDiscovery Platform
The article clarifies that a firm’s document management system (DMS) is not a substitute for a dedicated eDiscovery platform. While DMS tools excel at storing and retrieving files, they typically lack features such as legal holds, privilege tagging, and forensic...
Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Confiscations by Cuban Government
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two separate cases that invoke Title III of the Helms‑Burton Act, targeting property confiscated by Cuba after 1959. Havana Docks Corp. alleges cruise lines trafficked its former dock concession and seeks...
Cross-Government Report Shows Quadrupling of Detected Fraud and Error in Two Years
The Public Sector Fraud Authority reported a record £1.7 bn in detected fraud and error for 2023‑24, more than four times the £438 m reported in 2021‑22. The surge is driven largely by error, especially £327 m linked to closed energy‑affordability schemes, while...
OCC Conditionally Approves Stripe Subsidiary Bridge for Trust Charter
Stripe’s subsidiary Bridge received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter. The license would allow Bridge to issue stablecoins, custody digital assets, and manage reserves under OCC oversight. The decision...
STAT+: The FDA’s Moderna Pirouette Is One More Sign of Chaos at the Agency
The FDA initially issued a refuse‑to‑file letter for Moderna’s mRNA influenza vaccine, then reversed course within a week and agreed to review the product. The agency will now consider two separate pathways: full approval for adults 50‑64 and accelerated approval...
From Commitment to Action: The Next Steps in Holding Russia’s Leaders Accountable for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine
The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (STCA) was formalised on 25 June 2025 by Ukraine and the Council of Europe, creating a dedicated venue to prosecute Russian leaders for the war of aggression. The ICC lacks jurisdiction because...
FDA Relents, Agrees to Review Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine
#FDA backs down on #Moderna: The agency had refused to review the company's licensure application for an mRNA flu vaccine, but after significant pushback has relented. https://t.co/omo7bEBQGW
Did You Hear That? Smart Glasses, AI Voice Recorders and Workplace Recordings
Employers now face a wave of discreet recording tools—from Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses to AI‑powered voice recorders like Plaud and auto‑joining meeting bots that generate searchable transcripts. Connecticut’s one‑party consent rule for in‑person conversations and stricter electronic‑monitoring statutes mean many...
Eightfold AI Bias Lawsuit Likely Just the Tip
Eightfold #AIbias suit: Just the ‘tip of the iceberg’? @HR_Exec https://t.co/stdZRYvq2H #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
SimpleDocs Launches ‘Contract Intelligence Layer,’ Putting Policy, Precedent and Market Data Inside Microsoft Word
SimpleDocs unveiled its Contract Intelligence Layer, a Microsoft Word add‑in that fuses internal policy playbooks, precedent data, and Law Insider’s market standards into a single interface. The feature lets lawyers benchmark clause changes against an organization’s historical agreements and global contract...
![[Educational Webcast] eDiscovery Lessons for 2026: Spotlighting the Top ESI Cases and Trends From 2025](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.legaltechdaily.com/files/2026/02/2122.png)
[Educational Webcast] eDiscovery Lessons for 2026: Spotlighting the Top ESI Cases and Trends From 2025
HaystackID hosted an educational webcast titled “eDiscovery Lessons for 2026,” where moderator Philip Favro and a panel of experts dissected the most influential 2025 court decisions on electronically stored information. The discussion highlighted emerging challenges around AI‑generated content, evolving definitions...
Global Trends in Non-Competes
Non‑compete clauses are facing heightened scrutiny worldwide as governments introduce tighter limits or outright bans. In the United States, several states have restricted use for low‑wage and medical workers, while the FTC pivots to litigation after its 2024 ban was...
Vandemoortele / Délifrance Merger Inquiry
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a merger inquiry on 10 October 2025 into the proposed combination of Vandemoortele Group and Délifrance S.A., two major players in the pastry market. A Phase 1 decision on 8 December 2025 concluded the deal would likely...
💥New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - Carbon Health Technologies, Inc.💥
The episode details Carbon Health Technologies, Inc.'s pre‑arranged Chapter 11 filing in February 2026, outlining its rapid rise to a $3 billion valuation and subsequent collapse due to post‑pandemic revenue decline and tighter capital markets. It explains the company’s business model—an...
LawNext on Location: Lunch with Alex Su of Latitude Legal In Alameda, Calif.
In this live LawNext episode, Bob meets Alex Su, CRO of Latitude Legal, over lunch in Alameda to discuss Alex’s unconventional career—from BigLaw associate to legal‑tech sales leader—and his viral TikTok presence that critiques law firm culture. Alex explains how...
If US Regulators Won’t Hold Auditors to Account, Will the Courts?
The Trump administration slashed the PCAOB budget and installed a career auditor as its head, prompting concerns that auditors are now policing themselves. The SEC argues the changes refocus the board on substantive wrongdoing rather than paperwork errors. Critics fear...
2025 Activism Retrospective
Activist investors had a banner year in 2025, launching a record 255 campaigns and driving a 25% increase in substantive activism across Russell 3000 firms. Healthcare, financial services and technology were the most targeted sectors, while micro‑ and nano‑cap companies bore...
Remarks at the Texas A&M School of Law Corporate Law Symposium
In a recent Texas A&M Law symposium, the SEC suggested a rule granting a safe harbor for companies that omit generic risk factors from their filings. The proposal would treat failure to disclose widely publicized events, likely to affect most...
A Year After Designation of Cartels as Terrorists, What Is the Risk Landscape for Multinationals Operating in Mexico?
In February 2025 the U.S. designated six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, extending material‑support statutes and national‑security enforcement to any company dealing with them. The DOJ’s new guidelines prioritize terrorism‑finance violations, while FinCEN’s geographic targeting orders have already...
UK Caps Launch Liability in Timely Boost for Nascent Domestic Market
On February 18, the UK enacted a €60 million liability cap for launch operators under the Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025, replacing the previous unlimited exposure. The cap, which must be included in launch licences, is intended to make the nascent UK...
Your Foreign AI Vendor’s Black Box Is an Ethics Problem, Not a Technical One
Boards and senior leaders are confronting a growing dilemma: critical AI systems supplied by foreign vendors operate as opaque black boxes, delivering efficiency while limiting auditability. Ethicists Vera Cherepanova and Brian Haman argue this is fundamentally an ethical issue of...
LawNext on Location: Lunch with Alex Su of Latitude Legal In Alameda, Calif.
In a LawNext on Location lunch, Alex Su, chief revenue officer of Latitude Legal, outlines the company’s AI‑driven contract automation platform and its recent $30 million Series B round. He explains how Latitude Legal is expanding from large enterprises to mid‑size law...
Contracting for Cloud Computing Capacity: Key Concerns for Customers
Cloud contracts often cite "capacity" without precise definitions, leaving enterprises uncertain about resource availability. As AI and data‑intensive workloads strain specialized processors, providers typically rely on "commercially reasonable efforts" rather than firm guarantees, creating allocation risk. Long‑term commitments can lock...
Global GCs More Confident About Handling Accelerating Risk Landscape – Survey
A new FTI Consulting and Relativity survey of 224 global general counsel shows 60 % view the risk and operating environment as more complex, while 87 % say risk is accelerating. Despite higher workload – 97 % report more work and 57 % see...
ADLM Urges Federal Action to Ensure Safe, Equitable AI in Clinical Labs
The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) has issued a position statement urging Congress and federal regulators to update the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to explicitly govern AI tools used in clinical laboratories. ADLM warns that without modernized...
Legal Speak Presents "The Supreme Court Brief Spotlight" - Amanda Frost
In this inaugural episode of Legal Speak’s "Supreme Court Brief Spotlight," host Jimmy Hoover chats with UVA Law Professor Amanda Frost about her recent scholarship on the original meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment’s citizenship clause. Frost explains how the historical...
SimpleDocs Launches ‘Contract Intelligence Layer,’ Putting Policy, Precedent and Market Data Inside Microsoft Word
SimpleDocs introduced a Contract Intelligence Layer that embeds a law department’s internal policies, historical contract precedent, and verified market standards directly into its Microsoft Word add‑in. The AI‑powered feature surfaces relevant clauses and benchmarks as lawyers draft, cutting manual research...
Universal Migrator Reduces Pricing on Migration Tools for iManage, SharePoint, and NetDocuments
Universal Migrator announced a price cut for its migration script library, now starting at $3,500. The library covers major legal document management platforms iManage, Microsoft SharePoint, and NetDocuments. The new pricing eliminates per‑migration or size‑based fees, allowing consultants to run...
FinScan Expands Real-Time AML Across Global Rails
FinScan, Innovative Systems' AML platform, has added real‑time screening for modern payment rails such as IACH and Fedwire ISO 20022, boosting its capacity to process over 100 million transactions daily. The upgrade introduces advanced conditional logic, API‑first data quality tools, and enhanced...
EBA Issues Opinion to the European Commission on the Draft Amended European Sustainability Reporting Standards
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued an Opinion to the European Commission on the draft amended European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) prepared by EFRAG. While the EBA welcomes the simplifications that reduce reporting costs, it warns that permanent reliefs...
Chlorine Dioxide, Raw Camel Milk: The FDA No Longer Warns Against These and Other Ineffective Autism Treatments
The FDA removed a consumer webpage that warned against chlorine dioxide, raw camel milk, chelation and hyperbaric oxygen as ineffective autism treatments, citing a routine cleanup of outdated content. The page, unchanged since 2019, remains only via the Internet Archive,...
EntertainHR: Knives Out: The Mystery of the Independent Contractor
The HR Daily Advisor piece uses the latest Knives Out film as a metaphor to explain independent‑contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It outlines the six‑factor economic‑reality test that courts apply to determine whether a worker is an...
Stella Legal and Ironclad Enter Into Partnership
Stella Legal, a rapidly scaling UK‑US legal‑tech consultancy, announced a partnership with CLM leader Ironclad on 18 February. The collaboration merges Ironclad’s advanced AI infrastructure with Stella’s service‑first methodology to create a proactive, data‑driven contracting model. Stella, founded a year...
Webinar: The State of Legal Tech – An End to the Status Quo?
Legal IT Insider announced a free webinar on March 4 featuring Clio’s senior director of product management, Robin Chesterman, to discuss the firm’s new State of Legal Tech report. The study surveyed more than 2,000 legal professionals in the UK...
Electronic Evidence Workbook 2026
LegalTech Daily announced the release of the Electronic Evidence Workbook 2026, a comprehensive guide for lawyers and forensic specialists handling digital data. The workbook updates the 2025 standards, adds new AI‑driven preservation tools, and includes practical checklists and templates. It...
SARS Turns Screws on Crypto Tax-Dodgers
South Africa’s tax authority, SARS, has released its domestic Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), outlining how crypto‑related transactions will be reported and shared with tax authorities. The framework mandates crypto‑asset service providers to gather detailed user and transaction data and...