Today's Legal Pulse
UK pushes commonhold reform to boost housing supply
The Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill proposes abolishing leasehold and mandating new homes be sold as commonhold, tying the change to a target of delivering 1.5 million homes annually—the highest since 1968. The model remains untested, with fewer than 25 developments and unresolved issues around dispute resolution.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
DOJ, CFTC Probe $2.6 B of Oil Futures Trades Tied to Iran Announcements
The Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are investigating more than $2.6 billion in oil futures positions that were entered minutes before major Iran‑related announcements by President Trump and Iranian officials. Regulators say the timing suggests possible misuse of non‑public government information, a rare probe that could reshape compliance in energy markets.
Latest Court Defeat Threatens Legal Basis of Trump Tariff Strategy
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that the Trump administration’s 10% global tariff regime was ultra vires, exceeding the authority granted under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The three‑judge panel found the tariffs were based on...
The Rigged Map --Why Do Election Results So Rarely Match The Mood Of The Country?
In April 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais, removing the primary legal tool that communities of color used to challenge racially discriminatory maps. The decision clears the way for states...
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire Tightens USDC Auditability to Counter Crypto Fraud
Circle chief executive Jeremy Allaire announced a suite of new auditability measures for USDC, including monthly attestations, regulated reserve composition and real‑time reporting. The move targets crypto’s fraud problem and aligns the stablecoin with growing institutional demands for transparency.
SRA Seeks Extra £25m From Profession “to Fix the Foundations”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is seeking an additional £25 million (about $32 million) in funding for the 2026‑27 practising year, raising the practising certificate fee from £190 to £240. Individual solicitors will see a 71% jump in their contribution, from £70...
SRA and CILEX End Talks on Transferring Regulation of Legal Executives
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced it will not pursue the proposed transfer of regulation for CILEX members, ending advanced talks that began in 2022. Both the SRA and CILEX cited shifting priorities and the need to focus on core...
SEC Staff Addresses PROPPs: Bank of England No-Action Letter
The SEC’s Corporation Finance Division issued a no‑action letter to the Bank of England, confirming that a firm can exchange bail‑in securities for non‑transferable PROPPs and later for ordinary shares without registering the transaction under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act....
Spreadex / Sporting Index Merger Inquiry
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a merger inquiry in February 2024 into Spreadex’s acquisition of Sporting Index’s B2C business, citing potential competition harms. After a Phase 1 decision in April 2024, the probe entered Phase 2, with provisional findings released in...
What Happens When an Employee Frames a Workplace Grievance as Religious Expression?
The Fifth Circuit upheld the dismissal of a school district police officer who was fired after posting a prayer‑laden critique of his supervisors on Facebook. The court ruled the post was not protected speech under the First Amendment, nor was...
The Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026
On 29 April 2026 the Football Governance Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations were issued, bringing into force key sections of the Act on 5 May 2026. The measures activate Part 4, which gives the Independent Football Regulator authority to assess and remove unsuitable owners and officers...
Deadline Looms for Digital Asset Businesses to Apply for a Licence
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has warned digital‑asset service providers that they must decide by 30 June 2026 whether to obtain a new Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence or amend an existing one, after which its no‑action relief expires. ASIC’s...
State Action: AGs Warn Credit Rating Agencies on ESG-Related Fossil Fuel Company Downgrades
Twenty-three state attorneys general have sent a joint letter to Fitch, Moody’s and S&P Global demanding that the agencies stop using ESG criteria to downgrade fossil‑fuel companies and related state economies. The AGs allege the rating firms rely on undisclosed...
More State Action: State Proxy Advisory Firm Laws Spawn More Litigation
State lawmakers are following Texas's 2025 proxy‑advisor regulation by enacting similar statutes in Indiana and Kansas, set to take effect on July 1 2026. Glass Lewis has filed a lawsuit against Indiana, while Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) sued Kansas, challenging the vagueness...
JMW to Become Exclusive Legal Business Partner of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
Law firm JMW will become the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) exclusive legal business partner starting May 2026. Having participated in REC’s partnership scheme for years, JMW will be the sole law firm offering members specialist recruitment‑law advice and preferential...
Zara Denies Infringing Jo Malone Trademark in Estee Lauder Case
Zara’s UK arm, ITX, has denied Estée Lauder’s claim that it infringed the Jo Malone trademark in a perfume line co‑created with the perfumer. The defense cites 2020 guidance from Estée Lauder that permits Zara to use titles such as “Ms Jo Malone CBE” in product...
Stockholders Agreement Challenge Ends Like Moelis
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed the Chancery Court in Wagner v. BRP Group, holding that the plaintiff’s as‑applied challenges to a stockholders’ agreement are barred. Citing the earlier Moelis decision, the Court emphasized that the contested consent provisions are merely voidable and...
White House AI Vetting Proposal Is Bad Policy
The White House is reportedly drafting an executive order that would subject generative AI models to a pre‑release government approval process, a sharp turn from its earlier pro‑innovation stance. The proposal was sparked by Anthropic’s decision to withhold its Mythos...
Former Penghu Councilor, Husband Found Guilty in Subsidy Case
Former Penghu County Councilor Chen Hui‑ling and her husband Tsai Teng‑tsai were convicted of fraudulently claiming NT$6.45 million (about US$200,000) in public subsidies for fictitious legislative aides. Both received suspended prison terms—Chen two years suspended for five, Tsai one year ten...
ASIC Urges Financial Firms to Boost Cyber Defences
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has issued an open letter urging all licensed financial firms to urgently strengthen cyber resilience in light of frontier artificial intelligence threats. ASIC stresses that AI‑driven attacks can expose vulnerabilities faster and at...
Building Trust: How AML Audits Strengthen Third-Party Compliance
Financial institutions are increasingly turning to independent anti‑money‑laundering (AML) audits to verify that their compliance programs meet regulatory standards. 31 CFR Part 1029.210 mandates AML audits for loan and finance companies, requiring objective testing of policies, risk assessments, KYC procedures, and training effectiveness....
MTUC Faces Temporary Dissolution After Failing to Comply with Financial Disclosure Requirements
The Registrar of Societies Malaysia (JPPM) has issued a temporary dissolution order against the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) for failing to submit audited financial statements and disclose foreign‑sourced funds covering 2020‑2025. The order follows a formal notice on 6 April 2026...
Consider These Tips for Complying with EEOC Priorities
The EEOC is pivoting its enforcement focus toward equity rather than equality, scrutinizing programs that advantage protected classes and emphasizing disparate treatment over disparate impact. Chair Andrea Lucas highlighted this shift in a February 26, 2026 letter to Fortune 500...
Listen: A Federal Agency Is After Workers’ Health Data, and Critics Are Alarmed
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has asked health insurers for unredacted medical records of federal employees, a move that would give the government detailed personal health information. The request, highlighted by KFF Health News, has sparked alarm among privacy...
Understanding Company Structures in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates now hosts over 1.4 million active companies, with roughly 250,000 new firms added in 2025, reflecting its appeal of low taxes and robust infrastructure. Entrepreneurs can choose among three primary legal forms—mainland, free‑zone, and offshore—each shaping ownership...
How the ICJ Ruling Gives Africa a Stronger Hand in Climate Action
In July 2025 the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion that elevates climate action from a political promise to a binding legal duty for states. The ruling outlines obligations across mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology transfer, giving African nations...
Former BBC Content Chief Loses IPSO Complaint After Saying Gaza Documentary Mistake Not Her Fault
Former BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore’s IPSO complaint against The Telegraph was dismissed. The newspaper’s article had linked her OBE to a Gaza documentary that Ofcom found in breach after the narrator was identified as the son of a...
Tariff Legal Carousel: Multiple Statutes Keep Rates Alive
✍️Alan Wolff @piie on Trumpian tariffs' legal carousel: 1⃣IEEPA blocked? Use Section 122. 2⃣Section 122 expires? Use Nat'l Defense, Section 232. 3⃣Need a new carte blanche? Try Section 301. PSA: US tariffs are here to stay (but not too high to reduce affordability...
Does Shein Send Data to China? Irish Watchdog Investigates
The Irish Data Protection Commission has opened an investigation into Shein Ireland, the European hub of the fast‑fashion e‑commerce giant. Regulators suspect the retailer may have illegally transferred personal data of EU users to China, breaching GDPR rules. The probe...
Live Nation, Ticketmaster Vow to Fight Breakup After Monopoly Verdict
Live Nation’s executive vice‑president Dan Wall told CBC News the company will fight any breakup after a federal jury found Ticketmaster liable for an anti‑competitive monopoly. The jury’s verdict, issued on April 15, cited unlawful tying of tour promotion, ticketing and venue...
Law Firm Baker McKenzie Leads Consumer M&A Deal Ranks in Q1
Law firm Baker McKenzie topped the Q1 2026 league table for consumer M&A by advising on nine transactions, the most of any firm. The firm’s marquee client was Italian plant‑based dairy group The Bridge, which sold a majority stake to asset...
ITC Affirms Initial Determination that Innoscience Infringed Infineon GaN Patent
The U.S. International Trade Commission affirmed its December 2025 finding that China‑based Innoscience infringed Infineon Technologies' gallium‑nitride (GaN) patent, ordering bans on imports and sales of the company's 8‑inch GaN‑on‑silicon chips. The decision is subject to a 60‑day presidential review...
Consultation on the Draft Guidelines on Transparency Obligations Under the AI Act
The European Commission opened a public consultation on draft guidelines for transparency obligations under the AI Act, running from May 8 to June 3, 2026. The guidelines aim to clarify how providers and deployers must label interactive and generative AI systems, including...
Ken Crutchfield: When Open Source Meets Legal — How MikeOSS Signals the End of Legal’s Secret Sauce
Will Chen unveiled MikeOSS, an open‑source legal‑tech platform on GitHub that claims feature parity with industry leaders Harvey and Legora. The tool bundles an AI‑driven assistant, tabular review capabilities, and reusable workflow templates. Early developer reaction has been viral, signaling...
![Composition of the Board of Regulators Pursuant to Article 7 and 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 [1]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/67297ce93492d325d3cc67776a56e164.webp)
Composition of the Board of Regulators Pursuant to Article 7 and 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 [1]
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has published the updated composition of its Board of Regulators (BoR) under Article 7 and 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971. The roster lists 18 national regulatory authorities from EU member states and candidate countries,...
The Great Crypto Thaw: Regulation Ignites an Infrastructure Boom
Regulatory clarity from the U.S. Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act and Europe’s MiCA framework is igniting a crypto infrastructure boom. Circle secured an AMF license that passports its services across the EU, propelling its stock 40% higher YTD and delivering...
Copia’s Insolvency Case Heads to Kenya’s High Court
Copia Kenya’s administrators have filed a formal insolvency petition in the High Court, marking the end of a two‑year rescue attempt for the rural e‑commerce platform that once served 50,000 agents across Kenya and Uganda. Safaricom reported a record $3.2 billion...
Morale Damage | KPMG Redundancy Backlash Highlights Growing Risks of Poor Communication During Job Cuts
KPMG UK announced a redundancy programme affecting more than 500 employees, including 440 audit assistant managers and roughly 120 advisory staff. Employees have voiced frustration over what they describe as rushed, inconsistent and impersonal communication during the consultation process. Employment...
I Helped Craft the 25th Amendment. It Was Never Meant to Oust a President.
A former congressional aide who helped draft the 25th Amendment clarifies that the amendment was never intended as a tool to oust a president. Adopted in 1967 after Kennedy’s assassination, it solely addresses presidential inability and vice‑presidential vacancies. The author...
Court Rejects Tariff Claim, Trade Deficit Not Crisis
Shocker: a 2026 trade deficit is not a 1974-style Balance of Payment crisis🤷♂️ 👉”Lawyers representing the businesses bringing the case argued that a trade deficit and a serious balance-of-payments crisis were not the same” ➡️ But probably very little impact on tariffs. ✍️Timothy...
Italy Fines Enel €2.3M for EV Charging Margin Squeeze
"July 2025, Italy's competition authority fined Enel over €2.3M for a margin squeeze in EV charging. The case began w/ a complaint from @GoEvway, small independent mobility service provider, which found itself paying wholesale tariffs higher than retail price that Enel's own consumer app charged drivers"
NSW Moves to Mandate Pain Relief when Mulesing Sheep
New South Wales introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026, which makes pain‑relief mandatory for any mulesing of sheep. Producers who fail to administer an APVMA‑registered analgesic face fines up to 750 penalty units—about...
Disparate Impact Era Skipped Over Proposition 13
It's a shame that the disparate impact era of jurisprudence came and went without touching Proposition 13.
Rebel Wilson Accused of 'Complete Revision of History' As Defamation Case Closes
Rebel Wilson faces a defamation lawsuit filed by actress Charlotte MacInnes, who alleges Wilson fabricated a sexual‑harassment narrative to extract professional favors. The case, centered on a September 2023 bath incident with producer Amanda Ghost, includes accusations that Wilson ordered a smear website...
FINRA Imposes $100k Fine on IFP Securities
IFP Securities, LLC agreed to a $100,000 fine and a formal censure after a FINRA settlement. From November 2022 through 2025 the firm’s automated surveillance system for mutual fund and unit investment trust (UIT) transactions failed following a vendor change, leaving...
OSC Fires Off 2026 Risk Questionnaire with a Six-Week Deadline
On May 6, 2026, the Ontario Securities Commission issued a 2026 Risk Assessment Questionnaire (RAQ) to all active registrants, giving them until June 17, 2026 to file. The questionnaire feeds a risk‑ranking system that determines whether firms receive an on‑site or desk compliance review,...
ED Arrests 3 Gameskraft Cofounders In Alleged Betting-Linked Fraud Probe
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Gameskraft Technologies co‑founders Deepak Singh, Prithvi Raj Singh and Vikas Taneja in a money‑laundering probe tied to an alleged betting fraud of roughly ₹1,000 crore (about $120 million). The agency conducted searches at 17 locations in Delhi NCR...
Diesel Fleet Card Abuse – Home Ministry Proposes Court Prosecution Instead of Compounds
Malaysia's Home Ministry announced that cases of subsidised diesel theft via fleet cards will now be prosecuted in court rather than settled with fines. The move follows a police bust of a syndicate in Kedah that resold subsidised diesel, priced...
BC Legal Bodies Appeal Dismissal of Legal Professions Act Challenge
The British Columbia Trial Lawyers Association and the Law Society of British Columbia have filed appeals against a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the 2024 Legal Professions Act, which replaces the LSBC with a new government‑appointed regulator. The court previously...
Meta Challenges UK Regulator Over Online Safety Fees, Fines
Meta is contesting Ofcom’s method of calculating Online Safety Act fees and fines, arguing that using worldwide revenue inflates potential penalties. The UK regulator can levy fines up to 10% of a platform’s global earnings, a figure Meta says is...
Michigan High Court Sides With Progressive in Policy Misrepresentation Case
The Michigan Supreme Court upheld an appellate ruling that insurer Progressive could rescind a personal‑injury‑protection (PIP) policy after the insured, Janice Sherman, misrepresented her garaging location and household composition. Had she disclosed accurately, her premium would have risen about 83%,...