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
Reuters: US SEC Proposes Allowing Public Companies to Opt Out of Quarterly Earnings Reports
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a rule proposal that would let publicly traded companies voluntarily opt out of filing quarterly earnings reports, shifting to an annual reporting model unless they choose otherwise. The proposal follows a multi‑year review of disclosure practices and is aimed at reducing compliance costs for firms, especially smaller cap‑size issuers. The SEC estimates that the change could save companies billions of dollars in reporting expenses over the next decade. The agency will seek public comment through the end of the year before finalizing the rule.
Hospitals Sue Anthem over Policy Prohibiting Use of Out-of-Network Radiologists
California hospitals have filed a lawsuit against Anthem, challenging a new policy that will levy a 10% administrative penalty on claims involving out‑of‑network radiologists and other physicians starting June 1. The hospitals argue the policy breaches California’s AB 72, which permits...
UK Regulator Launches Review of ‘Aggressive’ Claims Management Firms Amid Compensation Concerns
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a comprehensive review of claims management companies (CMCs) after uncovering aggressive marketing, misleading advertisements, unfair exit fees and unauthorized sign‑ups targeting victims of the motor‑finance scandal. The regulator says it has already...
Blu Label Loses Court Bid as 1973 Law Reaches Into Digital Age
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the Companies Act of 1973 applies to modern electronic voucher transactions, rejecting Blu Label Unlimited’s attempt to retain R347,531 (about $18,000) paid to a liquidated outlet. The court held that Blu Label...
FCA Accuses Odey of “Creating False Reality” As Tribunal Hears Ban Appeal
The UK Financial Conduct Authority defended its £1.8 million (≈$2.3 million) fine and sector‑wide ban on hedge‑fund manager Crispin Odey, accusing him of a pattern of threats, fact‑distortion and falsifying records. At the Upper Tribunal, the FCA highlighted sexual‑harassment, bullying and governance...
Capitalising on Mauritius Protected Cell Companies to Unlock Investment Opportunities in Africa
Investors eyeing Africa’s booming infrastructure, real estate, private‑equity and finance markets face fragmented legal regimes, high compliance costs and contagion risk. Mauritius Protected Cell Companies (PCCs) offer a single legal vehicle that houses multiple segregated “cells,” each with its own...
Georgia Supreme Court Vacates Ruling Over AI Errors
The Georgia Supreme Court overturned a lower‑court decision that denied a new trial after AI‑generated citations—many fictitious—were inserted into the prosecutor’s filing. Assistant district attorney Deborah Leslie was sanctioned, barred from appearing before the state’s highest court for six months,...
Law Firms Do Innovation X4
Law firms are accelerating AI and knowledge innovation. Linklaters launched Applied Intelligence, a team of lawyers and data scientists building bespoke AI solutions beyond off‑the‑shelf tools. Foley introduced LearningLab, a free on‑demand CLE platform for in‑house counsel. K&L Gates created...
Inside a Historic Supreme Court Case on Pesticide Risks
The U.S. Supreme Court heard Monsanto v. Durnell, a pivotal case on whether federal pesticide law preempts state “failure‑to‑warn” claims over Roundup’s alleged cancer risks. Plaintiffs argue Bayer, the successor to Monsanto, should have warned users about glyphosate, while the...
Johannesburg Arbitration Week 2026: Can Institutional Cooperation Deliver the Next Phase of African Arbitration?
Johannesburg Arbitration Week 2026 highlighted the rapid growth of arbitration in Africa, driven by sectors such as mining, energy, infrastructure and the AfCFTA‑generated cross‑border disputes. The AFSA panel debated whether the continent should rely on heightened institutional competition or pursue...
Money Box Live: Changes to Rights at Work
The episode breaks down the new Employment Rights Act, highlighting key changes such as statutory sick pay from day one, expanded eligibility, and the introduction of two weeks of paternity leave from the start of employment. Experts John Palmer (ACAS)...
Gig Economy | 7,000 Couriers Take Just Eat to Tribunal in Battle for Minimum Wage & Holiday Pay
More than 7,000 Just Eat couriers have filed an employment tribunal claim seeking classification as workers to secure the national minimum wage and holiday pay. The case, launched this week, is slated to run until early June with a judgment...
A Venetian Surprise: Does the UPCA Transitional Period Really Require an Opt-Out to Access National Courts?
The Court of Venice issued a December 2025 ruling that a national court cannot hear a European patent infringement case unless the patentee has formally opted out of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). The decision interprets Article 83 of the UPCA as...
Supreme Court Appoints New Justice
Lord Justice Snowden has been appointed as the newest Justice of the UK Supreme Court. He brings a decade‑long tenure on the Court of Appeal and extensive experience in commercial, insolvency and financial services law from his time at Erskine...
Fox Rothschild Promotes Deputy GC to Become Firm’s In-House Legal Head
Fox Rothschild has elevated partner Richard Coughlin from deputy general counsel to the firm’s chief legal officer, replacing Rachelle Bin. In his new role, Coughlin will direct risk management, ethics, compliance and litigation strategy across the firm’s U.S. operations. Bin,...
Indonesia Reverses Decision to Cut BEV Incentives
Indonesia’s government has scrapped Home Ministry Regulation No. 11/2026, which would have imposed motor vehicle and ownership transfer taxes on battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The reversal restores the tax‑exempt status that had been a cornerstone of the country’s EV push....
Watch: Minister ‘Just Not in Favour’ of Regulating Social Media, Says BSA Axing ‘Simplest Thing to Do’
The New Zealand government announced plans to abolish the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), arguing that the regulator was designed for a bygone broadcasting era. Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said extending the BSA to cover podcasts and social media would...
Why Exiting the FATF Grey List Is Just the Start to South Africa's Recovery
South Africa's removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list marks a pivotal step toward restoring its reputation in global finance. The delisting reflects progress in anti‑money‑laundering oversight, law enforcement and transparency, reducing transaction friction and due‑diligence costs for...
When Claude Hallucinates in Court: The Latham & Watkins Incident and What It Means for Attorney Liability
In May 2025 Latham & Watkins filed a declaration in *Concord Music Group v. Anthropic* that contained AI‑generated citation errors. The firm used Anthropic's Claude to format a real source, but the model supplied the wrong title and authors, a...
DERIVSOURCE: CFTC to Streamline OTC Derivative Rules
The CFTC, led by Chairman Michael Selig, announced a plan to streamline regulations for the $846 trillion OTC derivatives market. The agency will trim reporting obligations, consider sunset provisions for legacy 2013 swap rules, and clarify obligations for entities clearing swaps....
Singapore Proposes Amendments to IMDA Act to Strengthen Media Competition Oversight
Singapore’s Parliament tabled amendments to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Act on 6 May 2026, aiming to tighten competition oversight and boost consumer protection in the media sector. The changes broaden IMDA’s authority over ownership transactions, requiring approval for any acquisition...
Cross-Border Hiring Trends: TN Visa Rules Every HR Team Should Know
The article breaks down the TN visa process, emphasizing that a job offer is mandatory but does not guarantee eligibility. Approval hinges on matching the role to a USMCA‑listed profession, aligning duties, and providing supporting credentials. It distinguishes low‑risk, straightforward...
One Million Defend Argentina’s Glaciers After Law Reform
Argentina’s Congress approved reforms on April 8 that strip federal protection from glaciers, handing water‑course decisions to provinces and opening the door to mining. In response, almost one million citizens signed a collective legal injunction, led by Greenpeace and environmental lawyers,...
Arnold & Porter Hires Former Wilkie EU Antitrust Partner in London
Arnold & Porter has added dual‑qualified competition litigator Nicola Chesaites as an employed barrister and partner in its London office. Chesaites brings over 17 years of experience in EU competition damages, collective actions, and cross‑border litigation, having previously served as...
Canva Smacked with $792,000 in Fines for Lodging FY24 Financials 11 Months Late
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) issued four infringement notices totalling $792,000 to entities within the Canva Group for filing FY24 financial reports 11 months late. Canva finally lodged its 2021‑2024 statements in September and March, while the 2025...
DLA Piper Makes up 62 Partners
DLA Piper announced the promotion of 62 lawyers to partnership, a slight decline from 65 last year. The promotions, effective May 1, are heavily weighted toward the United States with 24 new partners, followed by Europe, the UK, Canada and Australia....
OOCL Challenges FMC Court System After $45m Ruling
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court seeking to halt Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) administrative proceedings and overturn a $45 million penalty. OOCL argues the FMC’s in‑house adjudication violates constitutional protections because administrative law...
Ticketing’s Real Problem Isn’t Live Nation – Guest Column
A federal jury ruled that Live Nation operates as a monopoly, reigniting antitrust scrutiny of the live‑event ticket market. While the verdict focuses on competition, Matt Zarracina argues the deeper flaw lies in the lack of a robust ticket‑custody infrastructure....
Apple Pays $250M for False “Personalized Siri” Promises
Apple just settled a class action lawsuit over the false advertising of a "more personalized Siri" which turned out to be vaporware. Apple will pay out $250M which means buyers of Apple Intelligence-capable devices between June 10, 2024 and March 29,...
Is Citizenship Becoming The New Banking Requirement?
Forbes contributor Virginia La Torre Jeker reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled an upcoming executive order that would require U.S. banks to verify the citizenship or nationality of every account holder. The proposal would shift the current Customer Identification...
No, Florida Lawmakers Did Not Repeal the No-Fault Auto Insurance Law
Florida’s 55‑year‑old no‑fault personal injury protection (PIP) law has not been repealed, despite recent headlines claiming otherwise. Bills to eliminate PIP surfaced in the 2025 and 2026 sessions but died in committee, and Governor DeSantis vetoed a 2021 repeal attempt....
Hope for IPP Prisoners
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the case of Daniel Grace, an 18‑year‑old sentenced in 2010 to a three‑year minimum under a detention‑for‑public‑protection order, to the Court of Appeal after he has served nearly 16 years. This follows...
IBPO Group Appoints Afsha as Shariah Advisor
IBPO Group Berhad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Afsha Shariah Advisory to serve as its official Shariah Advisor. The collaboration is designed to strengthen IBPO’s Shariah governance and ensure its financing products, including the newly launched i‑Personal Financing,...
26-292 - Correa Flores V. Grant
The U.S. District Court denied the petition for a writ of habeas corpus in case 26‑292, Correa Flores v. Grant. Magistrate Judge Amanda Leigh Maxfield recommended denial on April 8, 2026, and Judge David L. Russell adopted the recommendation on May 4, 2026. The...
25-482 - Riddles V. Bridges
On May 4, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued an order adopting a Report and Recommendation, overruling the petitioner’s objections, denying the petition, and refusing to grant a certificate of appealability. The order was...
26-534 - Lor V. Bondi Et Al
The U.S. District Court dismissed Lor’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus after the petitioner was transferred to Laos, ending his ICE detention. A magistrate’s report on April 21, 2026 recommended dismissal as moot, and Judge David L. Russell adopted the...
25-1292 - Lutnes Et Al V. Oklahoma State of Et Al
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma dismissed the plaintiffs' original complaint in case 25‑1292 without prejudice, allowing them to refile. The court also consolidated the related case 25‑1353 into 25‑1292 and terminated the former docket. All...
26-405 - Singh V. Grant Et Al
On May 4, 2026, Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell issued a Report and Recommendation in Singh v. Grant et al, urging the Western District of Oklahoma to dismiss the petitioner’s writ of habeas corpus without prejudice. The recommendation permits the petitioner...
Durable Vs. General Power of Attorney: Definition, Scope and Differences
A power of attorney (POA) authorizes an agent to act for a principal in legal, financial, or medical matters. The key difference between a general POA and a durable POA is how they treat the principal’s incapacity: a general POA...
How to Make Private Equity in Retirement Savings Work
The U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed fiduciary‑safe‑harbor rule would let 401(k) plans offer private‑equity funds, but the author argues the change is unlikely to succeed. First, past safe‑harbor incentives—such as those for in‑plan annuities—have not moved plan sponsors, suggesting a...
State-Based Restrictions on Corporate Political Speech
Corporate political spending in the 2024 election cycle exceeded $14 billion, with SpaceX and Citadel among the top contributors. Law professor W.C. Bunting argues that state corporate law can be used to curb "pure" political speech, citing ultra vires doctrines and...
SEC Chair Atkins Discusses Proposed Amendments for Semiannual Reporting
On May 5, SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins announced a proposal to create Form 10‑S, an optional semiannual reporting filing that would replace the three quarterly Form 10‑Q reports for public companies. The change is intended to give issuers flexibility in choosing reporting...
The Growing Role of Technology for State Attorneys General with NAAG Executive Director Brian Kane
In this episode, Brian Kane, Executive Director of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAG), explains how the association supports 56 state AG offices through bipartisan collaboration, training, and policy initiatives, highlighting recent successes like the $5 billion Master Settlement Agreement...
Seven Ways Banks Break Their Own Compliance Software
Anandhan Kannan outlines seven common pitfalls that cause banks to undermine their own compliance software, from merely digitizing paper processes to storing policies in static documents. He shows how these missteps lead to continued manual work, fragmented systems, low user...
Stark Sanctions: Knowing Your End-User
Tony Stark’s fictional failure to monitor end‑users in *Iron Man* illustrates real‑world compliance gaps that can lead to sanctions violations. The article warns that companies must verify the ultimate recipient of both hardware and SaaS licenses, using automated OFAC screening...
Nvidia Can’t Shake Authors’ Claims It Trained AI on Pirated Books
Novelist Brian Keene, Abdi Nazemian and Stewart O’Nan sued Nvidia, alleging the company trained its large language models on pirated copies of their books. A federal judge in California denied most of Nvidia’s motions to dismiss, allowing direct and contributory...
Desertion or Bigamy? Why the Law Sides with Those Who Remarry After Spouse Disappears
A Bungoma man resurfaced after a 50‑year disappearance, revealing that both of his wives had remarried. Kenyan law classifies bigamy as a crime, but Section 171 of the Penal Code and the 2014 Marriage Act provide limited exceptions for prolonged, unexplained...
Presenting the 2026 Canadian Law Awards Winners
The seventh annual Canadian Law Awards, hosted by Canadian Lawyer and Lexpert at Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre, honored top law firms, in‑house teams, and individual lawyers across Canada. Highlights included McInnes Cooper as Atlantic Canada Regional Law Firm of the...
Andy Stone Likely Avoids Press; Liability Cases Resurface
Cecilia, since I’m fairly confident Meta’s Andy Stone won’t proactively notify press as he did when playing a role in obfuscation of the cover-up by Facebook brass...these cases are back on - including personal liability. Evidentiary hearing tomorrow. /1 https://t.co/sHSK6wKEYx
What Your Peers Are Figuring Out About Risk — and What It Means for Your Firm
Law firms are confronting four emerging risk themes: rapid lateral onboarding, board‑mandated growth without added headcount, costly missed conflict checks, and AI‑related obligations in client OCGs. Firms that accelerate lateral clearance gain a recruiting edge and see higher early‑billable productivity....