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
BHP Loses Bid to Appeal Brazil Dam Disaster Ruling
BHP cannot appeal the UK Court of Appeal decision that upheld its liability for the 2015 Fundão dam collapse in Brazil, confirming the High Court’s earlier ruling. The court said BHP had no realistic prospect of success on appeal. BHP points to a $32 billion settlement that has already compensated over 625,000 victims, with about 240,000 claimants already indemnified. A second‑phase damages trial is scheduled for April 2027 and could add billions more to the company’s liabilities.
Chapter 11 Filings Increase 42% YoY in April
Commercial Chapter 11 filings jumped 42% YoY in April, reaching 644, while total commercial bankruptcies rose 21% to 3,060. Subchapter V cases, the streamlined route for small‑business restructurings, increased to 301, a 46% gain from a year earlier. The American Bankruptcy...
FCC Urges Appeals Court to Toss Challenges to Nexstar-Tegna Deal
The Federal Communications Commission is asking the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss antitrust challenges to the $6.2 billion Nexstar‑Tegna merger. The appeals were filed by broadband trade groups, DirecTV and Newsmax after a district court denied an emergency stay....
Elon Musk Wanted Tesla to Take Over OpenAI, Romantic Partner Testifies in Court
Former OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis testified in federal court that she failed to disclose Elon Musk as the father of her twins while serving on the nonprofit's board. Zilis said her allegiance was to the best outcome for AI,...
Google’s AI Summary Invents State Ethics Rules… And It’s Not A Hallucination Problem
Google’s AI overview mistakenly reported that Pennsylvania requires mandatory disclosure of generative‑AI use in all court filings, citing a vendor blog post as its source. In reality, the state has no statewide rule; only an advisory ethics opinion flags AI...
Stop Treating Identity as a Compliance Step. It’s Infrastructure Now
The UK’s digital identity consultation is closing, marking a turning point where identity verification moves from a back‑office compliance task to core infrastructure. Across fintech, telecoms, insurance, digital assets and government services, organisations now treat ID checks as a reusable...
LPL Advisors in Ameriprise Recruiting Dispute No Longer Must Relinquish Devices
A U.S. district judge revised an earlier order that had required 30 advisors who moved from Ameriprise to LPL Financial to surrender personal devices for forensic analysis. The revision removes the device‑turnover mandate, citing factual changes such as nine advisors...
EU Court of Justice Clarifies Jurisdiction Rules for Competition Damages Claims
On 16 April 2026 the EU Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling in the Power Cables and Smurfit Kappa cases, refining the Sumal doctrine under Article 8(1) of the Brussels I bis Regulation. The judgment lowers the jurisdictional threshold for competition‑damages claims, allowing non‑addressee...
Newly Merged Top 20 Biglaw Firm’s Growing Pains Include Layoffs
McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel merged in July 2025 to form McDermott Will & Schulte, a top‑20 firm in the Am Law 100. After a surge of new partners and rapid growth, the combined firm announced...
In the Eleventh Hour: Implementation Status of the EU Pay Transparency Directive
The EU’s Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970) faces a looming June 7 2026 transposition deadline, yet most member states remain without final legislation. Sweden, Estonia, Belgium and other countries are pushing for delays, but the European Commission has signaled no extensions. Only Slovakia...
Here’s How Far the Trump Administration’s ‘Startling Turn’ on AI Regulation Might Go
In his first month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that nullified the Biden administration’s 2023 AI regulatory framework, arguing it stifled innovation. The move marked a sharp policy reversal, shifting from a hands‑off stance to a more interventionist...
NFL Concussion Settlement Lawsuit Delayed Until Mid‑2027
The NFL-insurer lawsuit over coverage of the concussion settlement, set to go to trial in Oct--over a decade after it was first filed--may get push back by at least a month, and maybe till june '27 because of a long...
Lost in Translation: Was a WhatsApp Message a Dismissal?
The Fair Work Commission ruled that Emma Day was not dismissed by Minoba Pty Ltd, finding the WhatsApp group message about her "no longer working" was ambiguous and not a formal termination. Day, a casual therapist, believed the message and...
Strategic Real Estate Representation Preserves Estate Value
⚖️ Protecting Estate Value Through Strategic Real Estate Representation In probate and trust matters, real estate is often one of the most valuable assets in the estate. How a property is prepared, marketed, negotiated, and sold can significantly impact the final outcome...
Matt Taibbi Loses His Vexatious SLAPP Suit As Judge Explains What A ‘Metaphor’ Means
Matt Taibbi’s defamation lawsuit against author Eoin Higgins was dismissed by Judge George B. Daniels, who clarified that metaphorical language and opinion are protected under the First Amendment. The case, filed as a vexatious SLAPP suit, alleged that Higgins’s book...
FCC Approves New E‑Rate Bidding Portal, Schools Warn of Burdens
The Federal Communications Commission voted on April 30 to launch a competitive bidding portal for the E‑Rate program, which funds school and library broadband. Advocates for more than 80 education groups called the change unnecessary and overly burdensome, arguing it...
Oura, WHOOP and Zepp Health Locked in New Wearable Patent and Trade‑Dress Battles
Zepp Health has sued Oura in Texas, alleging six patent infringements in the Oura Ring Gen 3, Gen 4 and its app. WHOOP’s trade‑dress case against Polar moved forward after the defendant filed an answer, while Oura’s ITC investigation was narrowed. The...
DOJ Moves to Block Colorado AI Law, Citing Constitutional Concerns
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an intervention in a federal suit seeking to strike down Colorado's AI Act, arguing the statute forces AI developers to use demographic data in ways that breach the Equal Protection Clause. The move...
IRS Plans Settlements in Conservation Easement Cases
The IRS announced a time‑limited settlement program for taxpayers involved in syndicated conservation‑easement transactions that the agency deems abusive. The new website details recent court decisions, highlights inflated valuations, and warns of disallowed deductions, penalties, and back‑dated approvals. Eligible individuals...
AI in Aviation: Is a Patent Owner Liable?
Recent analysis examines whether owners of AI‑related patents can be held liable for failures of the technology in aviation. While patents grant exclusion rights, they do not shield owners from liability arising from how the invention is used. The article...
Proposal for Streamlined U.S. Regulatory Approval for Novel Commercial Space Activities
The U.S. Office of Space Commerce unveiled a draft "Space Commerce Certification" to streamline approvals for novel commercial space activities such as in‑space manufacturing, orbital computing and lunar stations. The proposal introduces a presumption of approval, limiting denials to security,...
Life Science Update | April 2026
The Broad Institute won a PTAB interference case securing priority on its CRISPR patents, while the FDA released a “plausible mechanism” framework to ease approval of individualized therapies for ultra‑rare genetic diseases. A Federal Circuit decision also narrowed the written‑description...
58% of Finance Leaders Lag on Tax‑Compliance Mandates Amid Rising AI Adoption, Sovos Survey Shows
Sovos’ new survey of 300 senior finance executives reveals that 58% find new tax‑compliance mandates too complex and 44% say regulations are changing too fast, even as AI adoption accelerates. The findings flag a widening gap between regulatory pressure and...
4 Legal Pricing Pitfalls to Avoid
Companies are increasingly using sophisticated pricing tools, but antitrust enforcement is tightening, prompting CFOs to scrutinize pricing practices. Attorney J. Wyatt Fore warns that even informal price discussions with competitors can trigger cartel allegations. Recent high‑profile cases, including Live Nation’s $9.9 million...
Hikma V. Amarin: The Amici Speak – Part II
The Supreme Court is hearing *Hikma v. Amarin*, where generic maker Hikma is accused of inducing patent infringement by selling a skinny‑label version of a drug while knowing physicians were using it off‑label. Seventeen amicus briefs were filed, with seven...
Maine Revises Workplace Drug Testing Law
Maine Governor Janet Mills signed legislation that overhauls the state’s drug‑testing regime, banning arbitrary testing and limiting tests to random selection, reasonable‑suspicion, or criteria‑based triggers. The law introduces a contestability process for non‑negative results and requires employers to offer a...
The Economic Consequences of Gutting Voting Rights Are Staggering
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais overturns the longstanding Gingles framework, requiring proof of intentional discrimination to succeed under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. By effectively gutting the evidentiary standard, the ruling makes challenges to...
Federal Complaint Accuses NEA of Bias, Allowing Threats Against Jewish Members
The Louis D. Brandeis Center filed a federal EEOC complaint accusing the National Education Association (NEA) of creating a hostile environment for its Jewish members. The charge stems from a July Representative Assembly meeting where Jewish delegates faced intimidation and...
Musk Defends Tweets that Allegedly Tanked Twitter Stock Before Buyout
Elon Musk took the stand in federal court to defend his conduct during the 2022 acquisition of Twitter, now X. Shareholders allege he deliberately depressed the stock price by inflating the platform’s bot count, violating securities laws. The lawsuit focuses...
Vertex and Brinta: Advancing AI-Driven E‑Invoicing Across Latin America
Vertex announced the acquisition of Brinta, an AI‑native e‑invoicing provider focused on Latin America. The deal expands Vertex’s real‑time compliance capabilities, adding AI‑driven onboarding, data extraction and product classification. Brinta’s technology, built for the region’s complex tax environment, enables multinational...
Six States, One Deadline: A Q&A With EY’s Anna Kendall on ERP Compliance and What Food Manufacturers Gain by Getting...
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reporting will hit a unified deadline of May 31 2026 for six states—California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington—forcing food and beverage manufacturers to scale compliance across multiple jurisdictions at once. Ernst & Young’s Anna Kendall explains that...
Massachusetts Court Addresses Limits of Chapter 93A Claims in Vacation Rental Injury Case
On March 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts granted summary judgment to the owners of a vacation‑rental property and to the listing platform WeNeedAVacation.com in a Chapter 93A suit brought by Isabel Arana after she fell through a pool...
Senior Writer Says Coaching Plan Followed Her Return From FMLA Leave at Hospital
Senior writer Sandra Clark sued Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, alleging she was forced into retirement after returning from FMLA leave. She claims the hospital placed her on a 60‑day performance coaching plan that immediately turned into a performance‑improvement plan, while...
Westinghouse Fired Her over a Line Dance, Manager's Lawsuit Says
Rucha Kale, a senior manager at Westinghouse Electric Company, filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was fired after participating in a line‑dance at a company‑sponsored event, while male coworkers who engaged in more overtly inappropriate behavior kept their jobs. The...
Darden Faces ADA Lawsuit From Former Director of Operations
Ryan McDonald, a former director of operations at Darden Restaurants, filed a federal ADA lawsuit on May 4, 2026, alleging failure to accommodate his back and neck injuries, disability discrimination, and retaliation. He claims Darden’s HR ignored his accommodation request,...
'Your Time Is Up': Longtime Bloomberg Manager Sues over Alleged Age Bias
Heather Bodell, a Bloomberg Industry Group veteran since 1995, filed a federal age‑discrimination and retaliation lawsuit alleging she was passed over for a team‑lead role in favor of a younger colleague, subjected to hostile remarks, placed on a Performance Improvement...
Litigation Update | April 2026
The April 2026 Litigation Update outlines several pivotal Federal Circuit rulings and procedural clarifications affecting patent and trade‑secret litigation. It confirms that a voluntary dismissal does not reset the deadline to seek a mandatory stay in ITC proceedings, and that...
Law Laggard (Copyright Research)
The Copyright Society released a 46‑page research paper by Bill Rosenblatt and Howie Singer examining how copyright law consistently trails technological advances. The study maps six media formats—from phonographs to user‑generated content—showing typical 20‑30‑year gaps before legal frameworks catch up....
OpenAI Lawsuits Test ‘Just Code’ Defense, Warning DeFi Developers
OpenAI's new product liability lawsuits are testing the "it's just code" defense — and DeFi devs should be paying very close attention. Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos, Jessi Brooks & Vy Le on AI liability, DeFi's $300M bailout, and the stablecoin yield deal...
Apple to Pay $250 Million for Delayed Siri Features
Apple is paying $250 million due to delayed Siri features, with affected users eligible for up to $95 per device. https://t.co/TkhJUZ8528
Can a Vaccine Mandate Be Avoided because of an Anxiety Disorder?
A Calgary teacher who quit rather than receive a COVID‑19 vaccine lost her discrimination lawsuit. The Alberta judge ruled her diagnosed anxiety disorder did not constitute a functional inability to be vaccinated, and upheld the school’s policy that only severe...
AI Tools Demand Product Liability and Agency Oversight
What should we learn from @lifeof_jer post last week about Railway and Cursor? In my blog post, I observe that this is going to happen more and more often. For most products, we have product liability law and/or agency oversight....
Trump Pardon Won’t Block Civil Lawsuits, DOJ Can Release Evidence
It's worth reminding FBI and Justice Department officials that a Trump pardon does not protect them from civil suits. A future Justice Department can turn over evidence of their illegal actions to all the people who want to file civil...
The First STATS Outcomes Will Be Set Before They Are Published
The Department of Education’s STATS earnings accountability rule is moving fast, with a comment deadline of May 20 and a final framework expected by July. Under the current timeline, the inaugural STATS outcomes will be calculated using IRS earnings data from...
Banks Redefine Yield: From Rebates to Staking Rewards
Banks aren't giving up on banning passing yield to consumers. 😡 For them, the stablecoin yield debate now moves to "what counts as evasion?" It is now about what counts as yield? Fee rebates? Rewards points? Trading incentives? Staking rewards? --...
Liability Requires Proving Developer Knew Intended Use
Can you hold software/DeFi developers liable for product defects? "You have to determine that the software developer knew it was going to be used like that." -- @kkirkbos 💥 https://t.co/6bvQAYco0w
Why Districts Are Rewriting Gaggle Contracts
Districts across the U.S., including Lawrence, Durham, Vancouver, and Montgomery County, are renegotiating or terminating contracts with student‑monitoring vendor Gaggle amid lawsuits, privacy breaches, and operational challenges. While Gaggle claims to have saved 5,790 lives, independent research has yet to...
Courts Hold Tech Designers Accountable; DeFi Must Heed
Courts are starting to look at tech and say, "Who designed the tech? Who knew the risk that was preventable?" 👀 This is what DeFi developers need to pay attention to https://t.co/6bvQAYco0w
Prosecutors Order Mental Health Treatment for Ex‑Banker, Dismiss Sex‑Slave Claims
INSIGHT: Prosecutors have referred ex-JPMorgan banker Chirayu Rana for mental health treatment They found no evidence behind his claims that he was used as a sex slave by senior JPMorgan executive Lorna Hajdini https://t.co/c9cUckNkL6
NY Man on Trial for Running Secret Chinese Police Station
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Operating Secret Chinese Police Station in New York—Prosecutors allege the defendant, a U.S. citizen, cooperated with Beijing to harass dissidents @jamestareddy https://t.co/s1qzAOHyr6 https://t.co/s1qzAOHyr6