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
JURIST Launches 30th Anniversary Webinar Series with UN Human Rights Expert Robert McCorquodale
JURIST, the student‑run international legal news service, launched a 30th‑anniversary webinar series in February 2026. The inaugural session features Robert McCorquodale, a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and will be streamed on February 18 at noon EST. The event is free for students, with a suggested $30 donation for other participants, and marks the start of a year‑long program on rule of law and international justice.
Upcoming Roadmap: E‑Sign, Check‑In/Out, Conflict Flags
What it looks like and what’s on the roadmap: 1) E-Sign integration (right now it just sends a copy to the client via email); 2) Check in/Check out functionality (you edit in platform, but would prefer sometimes to edit outside and...
Ad Law Reading Room: “Administrative Decentralization,” By David Fontana
David Fontana’s new article examines the entrenched concentration of senior federal officials in the Washington metropolitan area and how administrative law both empowers and restricts officials located elsewhere. He outlines the historical legitimacy challenges of a centralized bureaucracy and evaluates...
Crypto-Procrastination: The Dangerous Delay in Preparing for Post-Quantum Data Security
A Citi Institute report warns that a quantum‑enabled cyberattack on a top U.S. bank could jeopardize $2‑3.3 trillion of GDP, turning quantum computing from theory into an operational emergency. The article highlights the “harvest now, decrypt later” (HNDL) threat, where adversaries...
Checking In On The Rovirosa Case
In December 2025, Mexican businessman Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez was found guilty in a U.S. bribery trial that featured no fact witnesses. The defense argues the government introduced inadmissible text messages and translations without proper certification, violating the Confrontation Clause....
SRA: Client Money Missing in “Potential Fraud” At PM Law
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched an investigation into a potential fraud at the recently collapsed PM Law, where client money is reported missing. The firm’s complex group structure has delayed quantifying the loss, while 80 affected clients have...
Booking.com De-Lists Two German Hilton Hotels For Ties To Iran Regime, Cancels Reservations
Booking.com has removed two Hilton properties in the Frankfurt region from its platform, cancelling several hundred existing reservations. The hotels – Hilton Frankfurt City Centre and Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch – are owned by the Mashali family, linked to Iranian banker...
Defensibility: The New Watchword for Data Management
Regulated enterprises, especially financial institutions, are shifting focus from merely adopting AI to proving that AI data pipelines are secure and well‑governed. New regulations such as the EU AI Act demand detailed disclosures of training data sources, processing methods, and...
"One Would Expect … Attorneys Believe They Bring Some Level of Value to Their Clients Beyond That of a Machine"
The episode examines a recent judicial reprimand of attorney Michael Policchio for filing briefs with fabricated, AI‑hallucinated citations, highlighting a broader pattern of similar errors in other cases. Judge Mark Dinsmore emphasizes that while technology can aid legal work, attorneys...
MiFIR Schema 1.4.0 Rollout: Testing Clarity Still Pending – April Deadline Remains
ESMA’s MiFIR reporting page shows the test environment for schema v1.4.0 will open in February 2026, but exact dates remain unconfirmed. The new XML schema removes the separate FITRS quantitative reporting channel, shifting equity transparency calculations to transaction reporting data...
Israeli Reservist Indicted for Polymarket Gambling on IDF | The Jerusalem Post
An Israeli civilian and an IDF reservist were indicted for allegedly exploiting classified military intelligence to place bets on the prediction‑market platform Polymarket. Authorities say the suspects used insider knowledge of operation timing to profit, prompting a joint Shin Bet, Defense...
Trump Administration CFPB Pullback Cost Americans $19 Billion, Report Says
A Senate‑staff report estimates that the Trump administration’s scaling back of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cost U.S. consumers roughly $19 billion in lost relief. The agency’s enforcement slowdown, abandoned overdraft‑fee caps and a blocked credit‑card‑late‑fee rule account for the bulk...
Disability Discrimination: Manager’s ‘ADD Brain’ Comments Keep Claim Alive
Geisinger Health Plan terminated case‑manager Amber Motko for chronic performance lapses, but a Third Circuit court refused to dismiss her disability discrimination claim because her supervisor repeatedly referenced her ADD diagnosis, including the phrase “ADD brain.” The court ruled Motko’s...
The Hidden Cost of Poor Compliance Reconciliation
Reconciliation has become a strategic priority for financial services as hybrid work, AI‑generated messages and multichannel tools expand. Theta Lake’s latest report shows 92 % of firms struggle to capture communications in line with record‑keeping obligations, with native retention windows as short...
MHRA Opens Consultation on Indefinite CE Mark Recognition
The MHRA has opened a public consultation proposing that CE‑marked medical devices be recognised indefinitely in Great Britain. Around 90% of devices used in the GB market currently carry a CE mark, and the agency aims to align transition timelines...
The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on Your Supply Chain
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has opened a public investigation that could overhaul how vessels call at Spanish ports and how Spanish‑flagged ships operate in foreign harbors. The probe follows Spain’s November 2024 decision to deny docking privileges to...
Internal Controls: The Quiet Infrastructure Behind Financial Trust
Recent SEC enforcement actions have spotlighted ineffective internal controls over financial reporting, emphasizing approval workflow and reconciliation gaps. Experts argue that robust control environments, paired with knowledgeable teams, shift compliance from a reactive task to a predictable process. As organizations...
Hiring Software Lawsuits: What It Means for Hiring Transparency and Data Sovereignty
A class‑action lawsuit against Eightfold AI has thrust data protection and personal data sovereignty into the spotlight of the recruitment‑tech sector. While the case mentions artificial intelligence, the core dispute centers on how candidate information is collected, stored, and shared....
Cleary Gottlieb Discusses the Shifting SEC Enforcement Landscape | CLS Blue Sky Blog
The SEC is sharpening its enforcement focus on core misconduct such as insider trading, accounting and disclosure fraud, market manipulation, and adviser fiduciary breaches. Chairman Gary Gensler, echoing Acting Director Sam Waldon, has directed staff away from low‑harm record‑keeping investigations....
India-US Trade Deal: Indian Chief Negotiator to Visit US Next Week to Finalise Legal Framework for BTA Deal
Indian chief negotiator Darpan Jain will lead a delegation to Washington next week to finalize the legal framework of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States. The interim agreement announced on Feb 7 reduces U.S. tariffs on Indian exports...
TikTok Joins EASA to Advance Advertising Standards
TikTok has joined the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) as a full digital member, aligning with 28 self‑regulatory bodies across Europe. The move underscores the platform’s push for responsible advertising, complementing its expanded TikTok Safety Suite and clear commercial‑disclosure settings....
Antitrust Filing Says Google Cannibalizes Publisher Traffic via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
Penske Media Corp (PMC) filed a federal memorandum opposing Google’s motion to dismiss its antitrust lawsuit, alleging the tech giant broke the long‑standing “fair exchange” of search traffic for indexed content. The complaint says Google’s AI‑driven, zero‑click answers repurpose publisher...
Sony Group Develops Tech to Track Original Music in AI-Generated Songs (Report)
Sony Group has created technology to identify copyrighted music embedded in AI‑generated songs. The system works by either connecting directly to AI model training data or by comparing generated outputs against existing catalogs. Sony AI aims to use the tool...
Exponential Data vs Linear Compliance: The Crunch
FinTechs and digital banks are witnessing exponential growth in compliance data, driven by 150% annual customer expansion and increasingly complex regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, compliance operations remain linear, relying on manual, siloed processes that cannot keep pace with the data surge....
Stillfront’s Top Shareholders Call for Extraordinary Meeting to Elect New Board and Chair
Stillfront Group’s two largest shareholders, Laureus Capital GmbH and Knuth Capital LLC FZ, representing roughly 23% of voting rights, have formally requested an extraordinary general meeting to elect a new board and chair. They propose a six‑member slate led by Lars‑Johan...
FCA Exchanges Letters on Cooperation with India Regulator, IFSCA
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has signed an Exchange of Letters with India’s International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), the regulator for GIFT City. The pact commits both bodies to share regulatory knowledge and best‑practice insights, aiming to strengthen links...
Home Court Disadvantaged?
The episode examines Epic Systems' recent courtroom setback in the CureIS litigation, focusing on the court's denial of a motion to stay discovery and the nuanced protective order regarding "Highly Confidential – Attorneys' Eyes Only" information. It highlights how Epic's...
Case of the Day: BMW V. Onesta
The Texas district court granted BMW an anti‑suit injunction against Onesta’s German infringement suit, but the Federal Circuit stayed the order. The dispute centers on whether a US patent can be enforced in a foreign court, echoing the EU’s BSH...
A Welcomed Turning Point for Earned Wage Access
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a December 2025 advisory opinion clarifying that employer‑integrated earned wage access (EWA) is not a loan under the Truth in Lending Act. This guidance removes a major regulatory uncertainty that has limited EWA adoption....
Public Speaking for Lawyers: 5 Tips for Becoming a Sought-After Speaker
Law strategy coach Tea Hoffman outlines five actionable steps for lawyers to become sought‑after speakers. She stresses the importance of carving out a distinctive niche, honing delivery through deliberate practice, and curating a professional online presence with video clips and...
Podcast: Decoding the Commission’s Digital Networks Act
The European Commission has released a draft Digital Networks Act, aiming to replace fragmented national telecom rules with a unified market framework. The legislation targets spectrum harmonisation and introduces perpetual licences to reduce regulatory uncertainty. By standardising rules, the EU...
Amazon Deemed Seller VAT Fraud Reform Would Raise Tax Revenues and Tackle Fraud
UK policymakers are considering extending the VAT deemed‑seller rules to cover both overseas and domestic sellers on online marketplaces. Amazon argues that the change would close a loophole exploited by fraudulent sellers, streamline VAT collection and generate roughly £700 million in...
DPP Link Rolls Out GS1 Shield for ESPR Rules
DPP Link has launched its GS1‑integrated Shield platform to help exporters and manufacturers meet the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The solution automates product registration using GS1 Digital Link standards and tracks material composition with a ten‑year data...
2025 in Review: United States
International arbitration in the United States remained relatively quiet in 2025, but the Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not require a separate minimum‑contacts analysis for personal jurisdiction. The D.C. Circuit clarified...
Rethinking SARs in the Fight Against Financial Crime
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) remain the cornerstone of global AML frameworks, yet many institutions misunderstand their purpose, treating them as accusations rather than suspicion flags. Regulatory pressure and soaring transaction volumes have driven firms to prioritize filing speed over narrative...
The Spreadsheet Trap in Financial Crime Risk
Spreadsheets have long been the default tool for financial crime risk assessments, prized for their flexibility and low cost. However, they cannot enforce governance, version control, or audit trails required by modern compliance frameworks. As institutions expand across products and...
What Does Being a Disputes Lawyer Actually Involve?
The Legal Cheek podcast episode delves into the daily reality of disputes lawyers, highlighting the blend of courtroom advocacy and behind‑the‑scenes negotiation. Hosts Julia Szaniszlo and Ryan Scott outline the tasks that trainees typically face, such as document review and...
Solicitor Who Bombarded Legal Blogger with Emails, Voicemails and Birthday Gift Convicted of Stalking
Andrew Jonathan Milne, a 63‑year‑old solicitor, was found guilty of stalking after sending roughly 124 emails, voicemails and a birthday gift to legal blogger Daniel Cloake over five months. The court described the communications as aggressive, including threats of litigation...
Webber Wentzel Reshapes Fusion as Standalone Subsidiary
Webber Wentzel has spun off its Fusion unit into a standalone limited‑liability subsidiary to meet rising regulatory, cost and AI challenges across Africa. The new entity will deliver a broader suite of services, including custom AI workflows, digital playbooks, contract...
OKX Snags European Payments License for Stablecoin and Crypto Card Expansion
OKX has obtained a Payments Institution (PI) licence in Malta, bringing the exchange into compliance with the EU’s upcoming Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) regulation and the revised Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The licence authorises OKX to offer stablecoin‑linked payment...
Monday Morning Round-Up
Legal Cheek’s Monday round‑up highlights a wave of high‑profile legal developments across the UK and beyond. Key stories include the chief barrister’s warning that Lammy jury reforms will not ease case backlogs, the UK prosecutor’s reminder that no one is...
A Practical Guide to Completing Identity Verification for Your Clients
In this Accountancy Age episode, the hosts walk listeners through the two‑step Companies House identity verification process that directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must complete before filing confirmation statements. They explain how ACSPs report verifications, obtain the 11‑character...
A ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ for Your Own Co.
Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows a global decline in clean governance, prompting compliance leaders to look inward. The article proposes building a corporate‑level corruption perception index to gauge how employees view ethical standards and misconduct. It outlines the...
Court Throws Out Adverse Action Claim From Employee Sacked "without Just Cause"
The Federal Circuit Court ruled that being subject to an apprehended domestic violence order does not provide protection from adverse action under the Fair Work Act. Judge Lisa Doust dismissed the employee’s claim, finding no reasonable prospect of success. The...
Crypto-Derivatives Regulation Is Too Fragmented
A new comparative study finds crypto‑derivatives regulation is highly fragmented across major financial hubs, despite the products mirroring traditional derivatives in structure and risk. Regulators have forced crypto‑derivatives into existing regimes, leading to divergent rules based on settlement method, underlying...
Open Door for Aspiring Law Students Seeking Guidance
I’ve said this many times and I will say it again…if ✨🪩 current events 🪩✨ have you inspired to go to law school and you want to talk to a practicing attorney, my door is always open. DM us or...
Regulators Must Back Bank Innovation Faster Than Crypto Laws
For community banks to have a fighting chance, we must have regulator support of innovation. Even the smallest steps of progress are scrutinized as “novel”. VC Bowman’s efforts should help, but adoption of her new norm must be faster than...
Why the Stakes Are so High in the Coles ‘Fake Discounts’ Case
Australia’s largest supermarket chain, Coles, faces a consumer‑law case over alleged fake discounts. The ACCC alleges the retailer used high‑low pricing to mislead shoppers about price cuts. The lawsuit was sparked by a wave of Reddit‑driven outrage that highlighted questionable...
US Court Rulings Will Shape AI IP, Economy, Security
we’re at this part of the awareness of the IP issues surrounding training AI and the national economic and security issues that flow from the decisions US courts will make in the coming months and years
Who Qualifies for the New FDA PreCheck Pilot Program?
The FDA has opened submissions for its PreCheck Pilot Program, targeting new U.S. drug‑manufacturing facilities that will begin construction by the March 1 2026 deadline. Eligible sites must be stand‑alone plants, located in the United States or its territories, and commit to...