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
What’s Trending in Trademarks: May 2026
May’s trademark roundup highlights a shift toward proactive brand defense. The TTAB’s Everwise Credit Union ruling rejects token use and demands genuine marketplace presence before a statement of use is accepted. Taylor Swift’s new sound‑ and image‑mark filings illustrate how trademark law can block AI‑generated impersonations. Meanwhile, Dua Lipa’s $15 million false‑endorsement suit against Samsung and Buc‑ee’s trade‑dress action against a Georgia competitor underscore the growing importance of evidence in false‑endorsement and trade‑dress disputes.
Wrong Is Not Weak: The Federal Circuit Reins In Fee Shifting After IPR
The Federal Circuit reversed a district court’s award of attorneys’ fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and sanctions under 28 U.S.C. § 1927 in mCom IP, LLC v. City National Bank of Florida. The court held that merely pursuing claims that survived an inter‑partes review does...
Brand Protection Online: Enforcement Options for Domain Name Takedowns
Trademark owners facing unauthorized use of their marks in domain names have a tiered toolbox: they can request suspension from registrars or hosts, negotiate directly with the registrant, pursue fast arbitration under UDRP or CDRP, or, if needed, file court...
First Circuit Revives Political Discrimination Case After Lower Court Overreach
On May 21, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed a district‑court summary‑judgment that had dismissed Jensen Arocho‑Rodríguez’s § 1983 lawsuit alleging constructive discharge based on political affiliation. The appellate court held that the lower court improperly...
Fired City Manager Loses Bid to Void Binding Email Settlement
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that former East Point city manager Deron King is bound by a settlement accepted via email, despite no signed document. The parties had negotiated six core terms, and King's lawyer’s brief acceptance email was...
State High Court Revives Claims Against Former Insurance Agency Staff
Relation Insurance secured a partial win when the North Carolina Supreme Court revived trade‑secret and computer‑fraud claims against Pilot Risk Management Consulting and seven former employees. The high court rejected a lower‑court dismissal, sending disputed client‑list and renewal‑data issues to...
Standing on Solid Ground: Constitutional Standing in Patent Disputes
The Federal Circuit reversed a district‑court dismissal in A.L.M. Holding Co. v. Zydex Industries, holding that patent owners who retain enforcement rights, a continuing royalty stream, and control over sublicensing maintain constitutional standing to sue for infringement. The court emphasized...
Ex-Manager Sues Capital One, Alleges "Forced Ranking" Drove Layoff Pick
A Black cybersecurity manager, John Hickman, has filed a lawsuit against Capital One alleging that a hidden "forced ranking" system, known internally as calibration, was used to justify his layoff despite consistently strong performance reviews from 2019 to 2022. Hickman...
Mahmoud Khalil’s Attorneys to Turn to US Supreme Court After Ruling Paves Way for Deportation
Attorneys for Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia student who became the face of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro‑Palestine speech, will petition the U.S. Supreme Court after the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that clears the way for...
Texas AG Sues Meta over Claims that WhatsApp Doesn't Provide End-to-End Encryption
The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit accusing Meta of falsely claiming that WhatsApp provides end‑to‑end encryption. The complaint leans heavily on a Bloomberg article suggesting the U.S. Commerce Department halted an investigation into Meta’s access to unencrypted messages. Meta...
Goodbye Broadview 6, Hello Broadview Sanctions
In Chicago, Judge April Perry ordered a review of the unredacted grand‑jury transcript in the Broadview 6 case, where six protesters were initially charged with felonies after blocking an ICE agent. The judge uncovered evidence that prosecutors vouch‑safed their case to...
AI Platform Sued by Music Group for Using Their Songs as Training Material
American Dollar, an instrumental group, has filed a lawsuit against AI music platform Suno, alleging the company used 236 of the band’s recordings and compositions to train its generative models without permission. The complaint, filed by rights manager Poseidon Wave...
Google Appeals Landmark Ruling Declaring It a Monopolist in Search
Google has filed an appeal with the D.C. Circuit to overturn a 2024 district court ruling that labeled it a monopolist in online search. The judge found Google violated antitrust law by paying Apple, Mozilla and others to make its...
Microsoft Agrees To Pay $250 Million To Settle Activision Blizzard Acquisition Lawsuit
Microsoft has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Swedish pension fund Sjunde AP‑Fonden, which alleged the 2022 $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard was rushed and undervalued. The settlement resolves claims that the deal was designed to sidestep...
AI Creates Further Risk in the 'Wild West' Of Finfluencers
FINRA regulators warned that the convergence of generative AI tools and social‑media financial influencers—so‑called “finfluencers”—creates heightened fraud risk for self‑directed investors. At its annual conference, Morgan Stanley compliance leader Megan Powers highlighted how AI models like ChatGPT can absorb influencer...
The Ninth Circuit Appeal Ruling in ‘Epic V. Apple’ That Apple Is Seeking to Overturn at the Supreme Court (PDF)
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s injunction that bars Apple from prohibiting developers from using buttons, links, or other calls to action that direct users to purchases outside the App Store. The panel affirmed Apple’s civil...
Shell Emissions Case Under Way at Dutch Supreme Court
Dutch environmental group Milieudefensie returned to the Supreme Court on Friday, demanding that Shell’s legally‑mandated emissions cuts be quantified with a specific target. The request builds on a 2021 Dutch court ruling that ordered Shell to align its global operations...
International Criminal Court Orders Ongoing Detention of Former Philippines President
The International Criminal Court’s pre‑trial chamber ordered former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte to remain in custody in The Hague, citing a "real and substantial risk" of flight or obstruction of justice. The judges reaffirmed that the confirmed crimes‑against‑humanity charges push...
US House Lawmakers Launch Probe Into Kalshi, Polymarket Insider Trading
U.S. House Oversight Chair James Comer has sent letters to the CEOs of prediction‑market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, demanding internal records on alleged insider trading. The inquiry follows a New York Times report that identified more than 80 trades placed shortly before...
Richard Desmond’s Group Faces £40mn-Plus Bill From Failed Lottery Lawsuit
Richard Desmond’s media conglomerate has been hit with a court order to pay more than £40 million after a failed attempt to launch a UK lottery. The lawsuit, which alleged regulatory bias by the Gambling Commission, was dismissed by the High...
Smarsh Integrates with Anthropic's Claude
Smarsh announced an integration with Anthropic’s Claude Compliance API, allowing its Capture platform to ingest and archive Claude Enterprise interactions. The new capability brings AI‑generated text, files, deleted messages and activity logs into Smarsh’s compliance workflow alongside more than 100...
Why Lawyers Keep Citing Fake Cases Invented by AI
Lawyers are increasingly sanctioned for filing briefs that contain AI‑generated, non‑existent case citations. A database compiled by HEC Paris researcher Damien Charlotin lists more than 1,400 court decisions over the past three years that address such AI hallucinations, with a...
IAMPROSAY Expands AI-Powered Legal-Tech Platform With New Automated Tools and Features
IAMPROSAY announced a major platform upgrade that adds AI‑driven automation tools for document generation, filing guidance, and structured response workflows. The new features streamline multi‑step legal and administrative processes for consumers, solo practitioners, and small law firms. By embedding these...
TPA, NCPA Applaud Tennessee Law Banning PBMs From Owning Pharmacies
Governor Bill Lee signed the FAIR Rx Act into law, making Tennessee the second state to prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. The legislation follows a costly opposition campaign in which PBMs spent over $7 million and...
Insurer Must Face D&O Coverage Claims over $1.77M Judgment
A federal judge in North Carolina ruled that AmTrust Financial Services' subsidiary must defend directors and officers (D&O) coverage claims stemming from a $1.77 million judgment against two Avadim Health executives. The judgment arose after a jury found the executives liable...
Has Your Loved One Not Made a Will? How to Protect Your Inheritance
A High Court case involving Michael Gwilliam, who died in 2022 with an estate worth between £750,000 and £1 million (approximately $950,000‑$1.27 million), illustrates the risks of delaying estate planning. Gwilliam’s 2014 will, created while he was under a mental health section,...
SCC Orders New Trial for Alberta Man Accused of Murder, Says Trial Court Relied on Hearsay Evidence
The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously (8‑1) ordered a new trial for Dylon Saddleback after finding the Alberta trial judge relied on inadmissible hearsay – a phone call between the victim and his girlfriend – without a proper voir dire....
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THE WEEKEND WRAP: Corruption Audits, Estate Battles, and SA’s ‘Juicy’ Economic Milestone
South Africa’s weekend news cycle was dominated by a series of high‑profile accountability probes and a surprising economic win. A SARS audit tied former PRASA chief Lucky Montana to the infamous R3.5 bn (≈ $189 m) "tall‑trains" procurement scandal, while a judge barred...
Relativity Integrates Claude Enterprise via New Compliance API, Expanding AI‑Driven E‑Discovery
Relativity announced a Claude Compliance API integration that lets RelativityOne ingest Claude Enterprise activity logs alongside ChatGPT and Gemini Enterprise data. The move enhances AI‑driven compliance, governance and analytics for legal teams.
Real Estate Broker Challenges ‘Insane’ Law Requiring an Office With Landline Phone
Pennsylvania broker Kevin Gaughen has filed a lawsuit to overturn a century‑old state law that forces real‑estate professionals to maintain a dedicated office with a landline phone, filing cabinets and a separate entrance. Gaughen argues the rule costs him about...
How Fintechs Can Navigate Africa’s Regulatory Maze
Fintechs expanding across Africa face a fragmented regulatory landscape that demands market‑specific compliance strategies. Enyioma Madubuike, Kora’s chief legal officer, built a compliance program from scratch, emphasizing deep local intelligence, product‑fit awareness, and strategic partnerships with local processors. He warns...
Section 230 Ends Lawsuit by Twitter Premium Subscriber–Taddeo-Waite V. X
A Texas magistrate judge dismissed the lawsuit of premium X subscriber Taddeo‑Waite, holding that Section 230 shields X from liability for not removing a third‑party post, for algorithmic amplification of that post, and for alleged contract breaches. The court ruled that...
KG-D6 Row: Niko Tells SC ONGC Didn’t Develop Fields, Rejects Gas Theft Claim
Canada’s Niko Resources told India’s Supreme Court that state‑run ONGC failed to develop its adjacent gas fields, prompting natural gas migration into the KG‑D6 block operated by Reliance’s consortium. Niko argues the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons had the reservoir data...
WhatsApp, Meta Can Access Texans’ Private Messages, AG Ken Paxton Claims in Lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Meta and its WhatsApp service, accusing the company of falsely marketing end‑to‑end encryption and secretly accessing users' private messages. The complaint, lodged under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, seeks a...
Judge Closes Trump IRS Case but Flags Transparency Concerns Over $1.8 Billion Deal
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury after the Justice Department announced a $1.8 billion settlement alleging the government was weaponized against the president. The judge questioned whether the case presented a genuine...
“Motion for Forfeiture of Property by USA as to Thomas C. Goldstein”
Federal prosecutors filed a motion for forfeiture of property against Thomas C. Goldstein in the U.S. District Court for Maryland. The filing seeks to seize assets allegedly tied to criminal conduct. Simultaneously, a separate motion allowing Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar...
Federal Circuit’s Decision Provides Clear Warning for Non-Intervening Awardees to Protect Their Rights
The Federal Circuit affirmed the Court of Federal Claims’ decision in Global K9 v. U.S., holding that a non‑intervening awardee cannot rely on protest participants’ redaction failures to protect its contract award. K2 Solutions, which declined to intervene, was found...
Congress Takes Another Shot At AI Likeness Protection
Congress reintroduced the bipartisan NO FAKES Act to give individuals a federal right over AI‑generated replicas of their voice and visual likeness. The bill would hold platforms liable if they knowingly host unauthorized deepfakes, while carving out First Amendment‑protected uses...
US Appeals Court Revives US$82mil of Verdict Against Ford in Trade Secrets Case
A US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals revived $82.2 million of a $104.6 million verdict against Ford in a trade‑secrets lawsuit filed by Versata Software. The appellate panel affirmed the breach‑of‑contract award and remanded the trade‑secret damages for a new trial. The...
Court Upholds Shoulder Treatment in Comp Dispute over Preexisting Condition
A Louisiana appeals court upheld compensation for a delivery driver’s shoulder replacement, ruling that a work‑related vehicle accident aggravated his pre‑existing condition. The court affirmed the lower judge’s decision that Replacement Parts Inc. and Zurich American Insurance must pay for...
Delay in Calling Police Does Not Wreck UM Claim, WV Supreme Court Says
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that an insurer must demonstrate prejudice before denying uninsured‑motorist (UM) coverage for a delayed police report. The Dobbins’ policy required a 24‑hour report, but the court held that the insurer, West Virginia...
Matter Management Software Vs. Case Management Software: Key Differences
Matter management software and case management software serve distinct legal functions. Matter tools target in‑house legal departments, handling internal requests, spend tracking, and cross‑departmental workflows, while case tools are built for law firms and litigation teams, focusing on client files,...
Ecojustice Says New Public Funding for Fossil Fuel Projects May Lead to Lawsuits
Ecojustice’s three lawyers sent a formal letter to Canada’s prime minister, cabinet officials and Crown corporations warning that new or expanded public financing for large fossil‑fuel projects such as Ksi Lisims LNG and LNG Canada phase 2 could be challenged under the Canadian...
Biglaw’s Lockstep Era Continues To Crack As Top Firm Announces Partner Bonus Pool
Debevoise & Plimpton, a longtime champion of lockstep pay, announced a new discretionary bonus pool for partners. The pool, described as “meaningful,” adds flexibility to the firm’s traditional compensation framework without abandoning lockstep entirely. Partner Peter Furci said the change aims...
US Congress Opens Formal Probe Into Kalshi and Polymarket, Targeting KYC and Trade Surveillance
On May 22, the House Oversight Committee issued formal information requests to prediction‑market operators Kalshi and Polymarket, demanding internal records on identity verification and trade‑surveillance practices. The companies must submit documentation by June 5, less than two weeks away. The probe...
Pomerantz LLP Launches Investor Fraud Probe After Willis Towers Watson Shares Drop 12%
Pomerantz LLP filed an investor‑focused investigation into alleged securities fraud at Willis Towers Watson (WTW) following the company's weak Q1 2026 earnings and an 11.7% share decline. The law firm is urging affected shareholders to contact its New York office,...
DocuSign Deploys AI Assistant and Agents to Accelerate Agreement Workflows
DocuSign announced its AI Assistant and Agents at the Momentum conference, rolling out early‑access in the U.S. today and promising faster agreement creation. The launch leverages the Iris engine and follows a Deloitte study showing AI‑driven workflows can deliver nearly...
Ukraine’s Parliament Is Pulling Back on LGBTQ Rights as Courts and Citizens Move Forward
Ukraine's Supreme Court, for the first time, recognized a same‑sex couple as a legal family, marking a judicial breakthrough. Two months later, the Verkhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly to advance a civil code that defines family exclusively as a man‑woman partnership,...
U.S. Supreme Court Awards Havana Docks $400 Million Verdict Over Cuba Expropriation
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an 8‑1 decision siding with Havana Docks Corporation, restoring a $400 million judgment against four cruise lines for using docks seized by Fidel Castro’s regime. The ruling clarifies that “confiscated property” includes a company’s usage rights, reviving...
The Case of the Vanishing Competitor
The U.S. Justice Department blocked JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines in early 2024, citing antitrust concerns that the merger would raise fares on overlapping routes. Spirit subsequently entered bankruptcy, ceased operations, and eliminated roughly 17,000 jobs, turning the case into...