Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Biden filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio interview, arguing the release would be improper. The action has sparked political commentary, including remarks from former President Trump.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Indie Venue Owners Have Wanted ‘Justice for Years.’ The Live Nation Verdict Could Change Everything
A Manhattan federal jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for monopolizing ticketing, amphitheaters, and illegally tying promotion services to ticket sales. The verdict highlighted a $1.72 overcharge per ticket, suggesting billions in potential consumer refunds, and underscored that 64% of independent venues were unprofitable last year. Plaintiffs, led by the National Independent Venue Association, are pushing for structural remedies such as separating Ticketmaster from Live Nation, capping Live Nation's promotion at 50% of an artist’s tour, and divesting its artist‑management arm. Live Nation has announced it will appeal the ruling, leaving the court to decide the final order.
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Jorge Ciccorossi, ITU Radiocommunications Bureau
The upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 27 (WRC‑27) will set the spectrum allocation framework for next‑generation satellite constellations, a decision that could make or break European mega‑constellation plans. Jorge Ciccorossi, head of the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau’s Space Strategy and Sustainability Division, outlined...
Zeidler Group Helps Asset Manager Expand UCITS Investment Scope
Zeidler Group provided a specialist regulatory assessment for a global asset manager seeking to invest in structured debt notes issued by a Luxembourg special‑purpose vehicle. The analysis determined whether the securities could qualify as permissible UCITS assets under Article 50 of...
US Judge Calls Proposed Bayer Roundup Settlement a “Filthy” Deal
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria blasted Bayer's proposed $7.25 billion Roundup settlement as a “filthy deal,” citing procedural shortcuts and lack of notice to dissenting counsel. The settlement, filed in a St. Louis court, aims to resolve about 60,000 remaining glyphosate cases, adding...
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CRYPTO CORNER: Truth or Hysteria: Sifting Treasury’s Sweeping New Draft Crypto Regulations
South Africa’s Treasury has released Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026, aiming to modernise the outdated 1961 Exchange Control Rules and target money‑laundering and terrorist financing in the crypto sector. The draft introduces sweeping requirements such as mandatory 30‑day crypto...
Policy Watch: FDA Looks to Expand Real-Time Drug Clinical Trials
The FDA has launched an AI‑driven pilot that streams clinical‑trial data in real time for AstraZeneca and Amgen’s lymphoma and lung‑cancer studies, and is now seeking public input to broaden the approach. The Ninth Circuit Court declined to compel the...
Securities Litigation Against Life Sciences Companies: 2025
Securities class actions against publicly traded life‑sciences firms remained steady in 2025, with 44 new filings matching the prior year. Defendants succeeded in 59% of dispositive motions, a rate consistent with historical trends. Pre‑approval product cases enjoyed a higher dismissal...
May 2026 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Comment Deadlines, Political Windows, and More
May 2026 brings several FCC regulatory deadlines for broadcasters, including comment periods on the state of competition in video and audio markets (due May 21) and the TV Parental Guidelines ratings system (due May 22). The Audible Crawl Rule waiver was extended,...
Legal Structure Sets Trust, Secures Capital
Your legal setup is your first impression. Get it wrong, and trust disappears before the pitch begins. Get it right, and the capital follows. Follow for tactical insights that help you build credibility from day one. raisingcapital #fundstructure #secattorney #sethbradley #capitalstrategy
Getting Real About Red Tape: Competition Commission’s Review Is a Chance to Boost SA Business
South Africa’s Competition Commission has launched a regulatory review aimed at trimming red tape that hampers small‑business entry and growth. The IMF recently labeled the country’s business environment among the most restrictive in emerging markets, citing lengthy licensing and procurement...
Japanese Regulator Proposes Stronger Oversight of Reinsurance, Sidley Reports
Sidley reports that Japan’s Financial Services Agency has issued a draft amendment to its insurance supervisory guidelines to tighten oversight of reinsurance. The change follows a surge in asset‑intensive reinsurance, with Japanese life insurers executing $20‑30 bn of such transactions in...
State and Federal Courts Jockey for Power in the Roundup Case and Other Mass Public Harms
The Supreme Court is hearing Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, a dispute over whether EPA pesticide labeling rules preempt a Missouri jury award of $1.25 million for a Roundup cancer claim. At the same time, plaintiffs face a June 4 deadline to accept...
UK Man Agrees to Plead Guilty in 'Singapore Solution' Tax Case
Roderic Sage, a UK citizen and former CEO of a Hong Kong shell‑bank firm, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring with Swiss bankers to help U.S. clients hide more than $60 million in offshore accounts. He was extradited from the United...
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ConCourt’s SAHRC Ruling a Dangerous Retreat From Meaningful Human Rights Enforcement
South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) cannot issue binding directives, stripping the body of enforcement power. The decision leaves the commission able only to investigate and document violations, forcing victims to seek costly...
Merger Guidelines for the Industrial Policy Curious
The European Commission released a draft of its merger‑guidelines, expanding the analytical framework to treat non‑price factors such as resilience, sustainability and innovation as independent competition parameters. The text introduces an “innovation shield” for small startups while excluding large gatekeepers,...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About Obesity Drugs and a Compounding List, an AstraZeneca Setback, and More
The FDA proposed removing semaglutide and tirzepatide—the active ingredients in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy/Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro/Zepbound—from the list of substances that compounding pharmacies may bulk‑manufacture, arguing there is no clinical need. This move effectively blocks large‑scale compounding of popular GLP‑1...
SEC Enforcement Shifts to Fraud and Investor Protection in 2026
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reported 456 enforcement actions in its latest fiscal year, generating $17.9 billion in monetary relief. For 2026, the agency is abandoning a high‑volume, technical‑violation strategy in favor of a "back‑to‑basics" focus on fraud that directly...
A K-Pop Teaser Allegedly AI-Cloned Their Gobelins Student Film: ‘Niccolò’ Co-Director Speaks Out
Gobelin's Paris animation school says a teaser for K‑pop group Billlie, released by Korean label Mystic Story, directly copies the visual design of the 2025 student short film "Niccolò." The teaser, posted on April 23, was flagged by fans as...
Senate Panel Votes 22-0 to Restrict AI Chatbots for Children
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously (22‑0) to move forward a bill that would restrict AI chatbot access for minors. The legislation, built on the GUARD Act, mandates strict age‑verification and requires AI providers to disclose their non‑human nature, with...
Supreme Court Dismantles 61‑year Voting Rights Act Protection
The Voting Rights Act was signed 61 years ago because Black and Brown people were beaten and killed fighting for the right to vote. This week, the Supreme Court decided that protection was not needed anymore... and dismantled it. If...
Propose a Flexible Covenant for Immediate Competition
I want someone to propose a covenant to compete. Just modify it in ways that you can compete immediately and then sign it.
At the 60-Day Mark, the Iran War Is Triply Illegal
On May 1, the 60‑day deadline of the War Powers Resolution expired for President Trump’s Operation Epic Fury against Iran, a conflict that began on Feb. 28 without congressional approval. The article argues the war is illegal under both the U.S. Constitution, which...
Clarity Act Set for May Markup, June Vote
CLARITY ACT: 🇺🇸 Senate Banking Committee chair Tim Scott says the bill could reach a bipartisan markup in May and a full Senate vote in June or July https://t.co/U7KsUSxVHh
Infowars Goes Offline as The Onion Fights for Control
Infowars Site Goes Offline Amid The Onion’s Legal Battle to Secure Control of Right-Wing Outlet https://t.co/TMgQOuKGg6 via @variety
The Top Business Succession Questions Trusts and Estates Lawyers Wish You Asked Your Clients
Canada’s aging business owners are asset‑rich but cash‑poor, creating urgent succession challenges. Trusts and estates lawyers warn that without early questions about ownership, control, trusts and AI‑generated documents, families often face costly litigation. The article outlines four practical questions non‑specialist...
Connecticut Moves Toward School Phone Ban, Sparks Mixed Reactions
Connecticut has taken a big step closer to outright banning phones during the school day, but reactions to the news are mixed. https://t.co/TN6EiprAe7
Google’s AI Leverages Competitors’ Data, Sparking Legal Conflict
this means google is using data from its competitors to compete with them as the AI they are using was trained on the data on the internet, including from their competitors. square this with TR v. ROSS Intelligence. you can’t....
FCC Tightens Telecom KYC Rules, Closes Foreign Equipment Loophole
The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to tighten Know‑Your‑Customer requirements for U.S. telecom operators, demanding name, address, government ID and alternate phone verification before service activation. The same order ends blanket authorizations for Russian and Chinese equipment firms, closing a...
Big‑law Mining Firms Scramble for Scarce Mineral‑law Talent
Big Law mining practices are straining to keep up with the surge of US critical minerals projects, as lawyers with specialized skills for the work are in short supply. https://t.co/kgtyuQXyRn
Rosen Law Firm Opens Securities Class Action Probe Into Disc Medicine After FDA Setback
Rosen Law Firm announced a securities class‑action investigation into Disc Medicine (NASDAQ: IRON) following an FDA Complete Response Letter that halted the company's bitopertin program and sent the stock down 22% on Feb. 13, 2026. The firm is urging shareholders to join...
13 States Sue to Block Nexstar's $6.2 Billion Tegna Takeover
Thirteen state attorneys general, including Republicans from Indiana and Kansas, have joined a federal antitrust lawsuit to halt Nexstar Media Group's $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna. A California judge issued a preliminary injunction, pausing the merger while the case proceeds.
Study Finds 17‑33% Hallucination Rate in Leading Legal AI Tools
A recent empirical study revealed that the three leading AI research tools used for legal work hallucinate between 17% and 33% of the time. The findings have ignited a blame‑game among law firms and tech vendors as attorneys question the...
First Brands Creditor Sues Auditor BDO Over Missed Red Flags
A Black Diamond Capital Management fund sued auditor BDO USA P.C., alleging the firm failed to spot red flags in First Brands Corp., an auto parts supplier that filed Chapter 11 with over $11.5 billion in liabilities. The lawsuit claims BDO’s audits...
Bucks County Adjuster Charged with $140,000 Insurance Fraud
Greg A. Micucci, a Bristol Township public adjuster, was charged with stealing $140,000 in insurance claim payouts from nine clients. Prosecutors say he diverted checks meant for home repairs, exploiting senior homeowners and prompting a renewed regulatory focus on adjuster...
Microsoft Puts an AI Legal Agent Inside Word for Contract Review
Microsoft has introduced a new AI‑powered Legal Agent that lives inside Word, aimed at automating contract review for lawyers. The tool scans contracts clause‑by‑clause, flags potential risks, compares versions, and proposes edits with tracked changes while preserving formatting. It also...
James Comey Faces Indictment over Instagram Beach Photo, Defense Cites Vindictive Prosecution
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on felony counts linked to an Instagram post of a beach scene featuring the numbers “86 47.” His defense team is expected to argue the case is a vindictive prosecution, according to a...
UAE AI Strategy Targets Hotel Licensing, Promises Margin Gains
The United Arab Emirates announced a two‑year AI rollout that will automate hotel licensing and compliance checks, eliminating manual processes that erode margins. Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum framed the initiative as a test of speed, quality...
New York and Maryland Become Latest States to Ban Public Workers From Using Prediction Markets
New York and Maryland issued executive orders this month barring state employees from using prediction‑market platforms or sharing insider information for bets. The orders add to existing ethics codes and direct violations to the attorney general for possible disciplinary action....
NextEra Seeks $100 M Exemption for Maine’s Wyman Station Amid Clean‑air Fight
NextEra Energy has asked the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to grant Wyman Station a clean‑air exemption, arguing that installing modern NOx controls would cost over $100 million. Regulators are weighing the request against state climate goals and community health concerns.
DGA Group Hires Commerce Depts Phan
Public relations firm DGA Group has appointed Pamela Phan, former deputy assistant secretary for Asia at the U.S. Commerce Department, as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office. In her government role, Phan managed more than 200 employees across 17...
Bunq Partners with Blockrise to Launch Bitcoin Banking‑as‑Service in the Netherlands
European neobank bunq and Dutch Bitcoin platform Blockrise announced a Banking‑as‑a‑Service partnership on 29 April 2026. The joint offering lets users open fully regulated bank accounts that integrate Bitcoin transactions, with deposits protected up to €100,000 ($108,000). The deal signals a deeper...
Cleveland-Cliffs’ $12M Middletown Works Deal Signals DOJ’s Remediation-First Enforcement Push
Cleveland‑Cliffs reached a proposed DOJ settlement requiring at least $12 million in corrective measures at its Middletown Works plant, ending a federal lawsuit over hazardous‑waste discharges. The deal highlights the Justice Department’s shift toward mandating remediation and operational fixes rather than...
Kenyan Court Allows Landmark BP Toxic Waste Lawsuit to Proceed
Kenya's Environment and Land Court in Isiolo has cleared a procedural hurdle, allowing a class‑action lawsuit against British Petroleum to move to a full hearing. The case, filed by 299 residents of Kargi and Kalacha, alleges that oil‑exploration waste dumped...
New UK Law Makes Companies Liable for Criminal Acts of Senior Managers: Four Key Implications
The Crime and Policing Bill 2025 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, expanding corporate criminal liability to any offence committed by a senior manager acting within actual or apparent authority. The new regime supersedes the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act...
IRS Plans a Full-Year Pass on 280E for Medical Marijuana
The Treasury and IRS announced on April 23, 2026 that medical marijuana products re‑classified to Schedule III will receive a full‑year of ordinary tax deductions for 2026, eliminating the mid‑year split. Section 280E, which bars most deductions for Schedule I/II substances, will still...
Legal Foundations of Honorable Military Service
The article, authored by three senior military legal experts, examines how senior U.S. officers increasingly confront orders that may breach constitutional limits. It underscores the judge advocate’s role in advising officers on legal boundaries and ethical redlines. The authors draw...
Data Centers and Communities: Why the Conversation Demands More Nuance
Maine’s House approved LD 307, imposing a moratorium on AI data centers larger than 20 MW until November 2027 and creating a Data Center Coordination Council to assess grid, ratepayer and community impacts. The move reflects growing statewide anxiety, echoing similar legislative efforts...
Market Intelligence: EDiscovery Market Growth From 2012 to 2030
The global eDiscovery market is projected to expand from $4.73 billion in 2012 to $28.08 billion by 2030, reflecting a 10.4% annual compound growth over 18 years. Software spend is accelerating, rising from roughly 30% to 39% of total spend, while services...
Trump's DOJ Turns Indictments Into Absurd Contest
I heard Trump's Justice Department is having a contest for the most absurd indictment. This is the leading contender so far.
The FAA DETER Program: A New Era of Drone Accountability
The FAA launched the Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response (DETER) program on April 16, moving from its historic “educate‑first” stance to a rapid enforcement model for first‑time drone violations. DETER issues a formal violation notice and gives operators ten...