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
On the Compass V. Zillow Preliminary Injunction Ruling
The episode dissects the court’s denial of Compass’s request for a preliminary injunction against Zillow over the Zillow Listing Access System (ZLAS). It explains that while the ruling is a legal victory for Zillow, it doesn’t spell immediate disaster for Compass, which has already closed its Anywhere acquisition. The host highlights the broader stakes: a win for Compass could have unleashed a wave of private listing networks (PLNs) threatening Zillow’s business model, whereas Zillow’s win erodes Compass’s 3PM value proposition and could have jeopardized the acquisition. The discussion also touches on potential DOJ reactions and the importance of “multi‑homing” in the decision’s implications for MLS and inter‑portal competition.
Next Step Properties Placed in Receivership, iCare Tasked With Interim Operations
Eleven of Next Step Healthcare's fourteen Massachusetts nursing homes have been placed in court‑appointed receivership after landlords reported nearly $15 million in unpaid rent and $3 million owed to lenders. Audits show chronic late payments and inspection failures that jeopardized resident safety....
Did Australia Just Set a Record for the Lowest Fine in a Foreign Bribery Case?
Former Leighton Holdings CEO David Savage pleaded guilty to concealing a $45 million bribe to Iraqi officials and was fined a symbolic AUD $1,000. The penalty is dramatically lower than sentences imposed on foreign intermediaries involved in the same scheme, who faced...
Voluntary Disclosure by Applicant of Criminal Conviction History Triggers Protections Under State Ban-the-Box Law (US)
A Pennsylvania truck driver voluntarily disclosed a 15‑year‑old armed‑robbery conviction during a job interview, prompting an immediate rejection. The employer argued the ban‑the‑box law didn’t apply because the information wasn’t obtained from a state agency. The Third Circuit reversed, holding...
What to Expect From the SAG-AFTRA 2026 Contract Negotiations: AI, Residuals, Health and Pension Plans, and When to Expect a...
SAG‑AFTRA will reopen contract talks with the AMPTP on February 9, 2026, a month ahead of the current agreement’s June 30 expiration. The negotiations, now led by new union president Sean Astin and AMPTP chief Greg Hessinger, will focus on three hot‑button...
Today’s Legaltech Week: The Claude-Pocalypse, AI Agents Gone Wild, and Much More – All Live at 3 ET
Anthropic’s Claude legal app debuted this week, sending legal‑tech stocks sharply lower and sparking industry debate. At the same time, AI agents have launched a dedicated social network, Moltbook, and a new marketplace that lets them contract human labor. These...
EEOC Rescinds Harassment Guidance
On Jan. 22, 2026, the EEOC voted 2‑to‑1 to rescind the 2024 harassment guidance that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ employees, especially transgender individuals. The rescission was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget without public notice, following a Texas...