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
N.Y. AG Accuses Brooklyn Condo Developer Of Ignoring Subpoena
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a petition accusing Brooklyn condo developers Louis Greco and Barry Leon of ignoring a subpoena and mismanaging the 475 Washington Ave. conversion project. Leon has failed to produce documents or testimony since the initial subpoena on Feb. 1, 2024, and is alleged to have diverted reserve‑fund money into his other businesses while neglecting required disclosures. The OAG is also probing unpaid taxes, missing common‑charge payments, and lack of façade inspections, and the project was foreclosed after a $35 million loan default. Greco has partially complied, but Leon faces possible contempt sanctions and a court‑appointed receiver.
SCOTUS Voting Rights Act Ruling: Live Breakdown Tonight
make sure to tune into @jasmineforus platforms at 3:30PM PST/6:30 PM EST tonight for a breakdown on SCOTUS' holding today on the Voting Rights Act
Tiny Biotech’s Experience Raises Questions About FDA’s Rare Disease Policies
BioCentury’s website now publishes a detailed cookie policy that separates cookies into five categories: strictly necessary, functional, marketing, advertising, and analytics. Strictly necessary cookies are always active and essential for authentication and navigation, while functional cookies enable personalization of the...
Consumers Still Prefer Lawyers Over AI for Estate Planning
Interesting debate for estate planning attorneys playing out in #AdvisorTech - to what extent will consumers trust AI-driven tools to draft most/all of their estate documents? Current state of affairs, per Trust & Will survey: - Only 30% trust AI more than...
Sixth Circuit, Sitting En Banc, Rejects Class Certification in Auto Insurance Total Loss Case
The Sixth Circuit sitting en banc denied class certification in Clippinger v. State Farm, holding that plaintiffs cannot base a class on a single challenge to the insurer’s typical negotiation adjustment (TNA). The 10‑7 ruling aligns the Sixth Circuit with...
Chop Wood, Carry Water -- Wednesday Mini Edition
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that effectively gutted key protections of the Voting Rights Act, sparking alarm among civil‑rights advocates. In response, the No Kings Coalition is convening an emergency call on April 30 with leaders from the...
Mississippi Federal Court Finds Social Engineering Endorsement Required Pre-Existing Business Relationship
A Mississippi federal court ruled that a law firm’s cyber policy did not cover a $158,850 wire fraud because the social‑engineering endorsement required the imposter to pose as an existing client, not a fabricated one. The court held the endorsement’s...
NYT's Split Narrative Reveals Biased Coverage of VRA
The New York Times front page VRA story has the sub-headline: "The court’s conservative majority said they had upheld the landmark law, as liberal justices accused them of gutting it." You deserve better than both sides coverage. Subscribe to Democracy Docket....
Pentwater Faces Potential Section 16b Insider Manipulation Drama
So is Pentwater fucked here. Section 16b and stock price manipulation by an insider is some serious shit. I know nothing except have dealt with section 16B a bunch also wonder if the sales sold are good...
Lawsuit Relating to the Events at Lab Zero Games in 2020 Now Resolved by Involved Parties
The long‑standing lawsuit between Lab Zero Games founder Mike Zaimont and former developers Mariel Cartwright and Francesca Esquenazi has been fully resolved. The parties signed a joint statement confirming the settlement and Zaimont’s intent to keep developing games under the...
“They Just Walked Away”: Maine Senate Kills Transparency Bill Amid DHHS Controversy - MWTV
The episode covers the heated fight over Maine’s LD‑127 transparency bill, which would let a bipartisan oversight committee access DHHS records on child welfare deaths. Host Tom Shattuck and panelists detail how the Senate rushed to adjourn and “sign‑die” the...
Federal Preemption of State Food Safety Laws Debated During Congressional Hearing
During an April 29 House Subcommittee on Health hearing, lawmakers and industry and consumer‑advocacy witnesses debated the draft FRESH Act, which would preempt state food‑safety regulations and reform the GRAS process. Industry representatives warned that a patchwork of state rules could...
Can Technology Mess Up Your Credit? How Tech Threatens FCRA Compliance
The article warns that expanding use of AI and automation in credit reporting threatens compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). While real‑time data from banking apps and online platforms can improve credit profiles, unchecked technology can create inaccurate...
Nevada Court Bars Kalshi From Offering Event Contracts to Residents
Nevada state court enters preliminary injunction barring Kalshi from offering sports-, election-, and entertainment-related event contracts to "Nevada residents" (not "in Nevada"), gives Kalshi until May 4th make necessary technological enhancements to comply with the order. https://t.co/BOYm9fCXgr
Confidentiality Still Matters – And the Risks Are Growing
Confidentiality agreements remain a cornerstone of corporate risk management, yet recent case law shows that even inadvertent disclosures can trigger costly litigation and reputational damage. Modern work habits—remote setups, personal devices, and informal communications—have expanded the avenues for accidental leaks....
LegalOn Launches AI-Powered Contract Intelligence Tool Vault
LegalOn unveiled Vault, an AI‑powered contract intelligence platform that plugs into its existing suite. The tool automatically extracts key data from both new and historical contracts, then monitors renewal dates, obligations, and risk indicators. By delivering real‑time analytics, Vault aims...
US State Law Roundup
State and local legislatures were highly active in Q1 2026, passing a wave of employment‑focused statutes. Notable actions include Alabama’s per‑minor $50 child‑labor penalty, Colorado’s revised AI transparency framework, Florida’s ban on local DEI spending, Maine’s mandatory employee notification for all...
Federal Court Mulls Psychedelics Access for Homebound, Terminally Ill
A federal district court in Oregon has allowed a lawsuit challenging the state's Psilocybin Services Act to move forward. The suit, filed by licensed facilitators, claims the law’s requirement that psilocybin be administered only in licensed service centers violates the...
Supreme Court Limits Use of Race in Redistricting, Raising 2026 Voting Stakes
On April 29, 2026 the Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling that invalidated a Black‑majority congressional district in Louisiana, redefining the application of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The majority held the map violated the Constitution, while also adopting...
My Closing Argument for James Comey
Former FBI Director James Comey faces federal charges for an Instagram photo of seashells that prosecutors allege threatened President Trump. The blog argues the evidence is a harmless beach picture, the caption “Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” and...
Supreme Court Weighs Trump Administration Push to End Protections for Migrants From Haiti and Syria
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing the Trump administration’s appeal to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti and Syria. If the Court sides with the administration, up to 1.3 million TPS holders from 17 countries could lose protection...
House Democrats to TotalEnergies: ‘We’re Coming for You’
House Democrats led by Rep. Jared Huffman and Rep. Jamie Raskin have launched a formal investigation into TotalEnergies’ $928 million offshore‑wind settlement with the Trump administration. The lawmakers allege the deal was illegal, citing a fabricated national‑security rationale and violations of...
Everyone Knows Todd Blanche Is Auditioning for Donald Trump
Federal prosecutors have filed a second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of a 2022 social‑media post featuring seashells. Legal analysts argue the charge under 18 USC §871 is frivolous and unlikely to survive a trial. The...
Kreston Forms Legal Group Alongside Tax Group
Kreston Global, the London‑based accounting network, has launched a Global Legal Group co‑chaired by Pedro Pizá Nerín of Spain and Klaas Stoke‑Borchert of Germany. The new unit will map legal expertise across the network’s 155 member firms, fostering collaboration and aligning services...
The Cost of Chaos in Medical Malpractice Litigation
Two recent malpractice cases illustrate how legal tactics can inflate costs. A teenage mother’s premature birth led to a $200 million plaintiff verdict that was later overturned after a two‑year appeal, revealing that delayed prenatal care, not hospital negligence, caused the...
FMC Judge Orders OOCL to Pay $45.6 Million in Landmark Bed Bath & Beyond Shipping Case
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge ordered Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) to pay $45.6 million after finding it violated the Shipping Act by reallocating contracted vessel space to higher‑paying customers during the pandemic. The ruling follows Bed Bath & Beyond’s bankruptcy estate...
Newsboys Co-Founder Sues Julie Roys, World Vision and Rival Christian Concert Promoters
Wes Campbell, co‑founder of the Newsboys and owner of Thriving Children Advocates, filed a federal lawsuit accusing journalists, a rival promoter, the charity World Vision, and several Dutch‑backed concert companies of conspiring to destroy his Christian‑music promotion business. The complaint...
No Attorney General Can Deliver on Trump's Retaliation Agenda
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi aggressively pursued President Trump’s retaliation agenda, filing indictments against high‑profile Democrats and launching investigations into officials such as James Comey and Jerome Powell. Most of those cases were dismissed or rejected by grand juries and...
ClearyX Bets That Biglaw Disruption Is Inevitable
Cleary Gottlieb’s captive ALSP, ClearyX, has moved beyond traditional services by launching the CX+ AI platform, which includes CX+Insights for contract portfolio analysis and CX+Transact for M&A diligence. The firm claims the tools deliver 40‑60% time and cost savings across...
Taylor Swift Wants to Trademark Her Likeness. These TikTok Deepfake Ads Show Why
Taylor Swift has filed three trademark applications to protect her image, voice, and signature phrases amid a wave of AI‑generated deep‑fake ads on TikTok. Researchers at Copyleaks identified sponsored videos that use realistic‑sounding synthetic voices and manipulated footage of Swift...
Appeals Court Dumps California Law That Would Have Banned Federal Officers From Wearing Masks
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower‑court injunction that blocks California's law prohibiting federal immigration officers from wearing masks during enforcement actions. The state law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, was intended to address public‑safety worries about masked...
FinCEN Proposes Reforms to AML/CFT Program Requirements
FinCEN issued a proposed rule to overhaul AML/CFT program requirements under the BSA, replacing its 2024 draft. The rule introduces a two‑pronged establishment‑versus‑maintenance framework, codifies risk‑based policies, and mandates board approval of programs across banks, casinos, MSBs and other institutions....
Michigan Custody Bill Could Change How Judges Decide Parenting Time
Michigan House Bill 5211, introduced on Nov. 4, 2025, would amend the state’s Child Custody Act to require judges to weigh equal parenting time as a factor in the best‑interest analysis. The measure expands the current multi‑factor test, obligating courts...
China Threatens EU over “Buy European” And Cyber Rules
China to EU: We’re going to need you to make substantial changes to your proposed “Buy European” and cybersecurity rules, or else face the consequences. https://t.co/gGBr0Rq5nh
Microsoft Leveraged Altman's Breach for Profit and IP Control
.@ramahluwalia runs the winners-and-losers breakdown on the Microsoft-OpenAI restructuring. ⛓️💥 His conclusion: Sam Altman was in breach of contract, and Microsoft used that leverage to get more revenue, less expense, and a free call option on all future OpenAI IP. @perkinscr97 @BitsAndBips...
EU Commission Says Meta’s Age Restriction Systems Are Inadequate
The European Commission released preliminary findings that Meta’s age‑verification and detection systems for Instagram and Facebook do not effectively block users under 13, violating the Digital Services Act. The regulator warned that a fine could reach up to 6% of...
Former Professor Asks Third Circuit for Relief over ‘Devil’s Advocate’ Lessons
Former adjunct law professor Cheryl Borowski sued Kean University, arguing that her controversial “devil’s advocate” classroom prompts were protected by the First Amendment. The Third Circuit examined whether she retains standing after her contract was not renewed and whether New...
Florida Law Prohibits Government Funding for DEI Initiatives
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1134, prohibiting local governments from funding, promoting, or operating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The law bans DEI offices, staff, training contracts, and requires grant recipients to certify that public funds will...
Oil Company Appeals Drillers’ Pay Dispute
A three‑judge Fifth Circuit panel is reviewing Schlumberger’s classification of directional drillers as “highly compensated” employees, who receive a $47,000 base salary plus daily rig bonuses that can make up 60‑80% of total pay. The workers argue the bonuses are...
Digital Assets Oversight Moves From Early-Stage Policy Discussions to Implementation Phase : Analysis
CertiK’s Skynet State of Digital Asset Regulations Report shows that global crypto oversight has moved from early‑stage policy talks to full‑scale implementation. Major jurisdictions—including the U.S., EU, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Japan, Turkey and Brazil—now enforce mature regimes that mirror traditional...
Legalist Closes $415 Million AI‑Powered Litigation Fund, Doubling Assets to $2 Billion
Legalist announced the closing of a $415 million litigation‑finance fund, its largest to date, bringing total assets under management to $2 billion. The California‑based firm leveraged its AI‑driven “truffle sniffer” to target low‑ to mid‑value cases, signaling a shift toward class‑action investments...
Texas Forum Bylaw Clauses—Delaware Chancery Court Provides Practical Takeaways for Corporations Moving to Texas
The Delaware Court of Chancery upheld a Texas‑forum bylaw adopted by a corporation that recently reincorporated in Texas, ruling that the new clause governs internal claims even if litigation began in Delaware. The decision emphasizes that valid bylaw amendments, once...
Mehmet Oz Calls for Texas Hospice Fraud Probe, Expands Nationwide Medicaid Audit
CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz announced a targeted investigation of hospice providers in Texas, citing a surge in licenses since 2020. The move follows a Los Angeles task force that shut down 450 hospices and paused $600 million in payments, and it expands...
Supreme Court Weighs Cisco Liability in Falun Gong Torture Lawsuit
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether Cisco Systems can be held liable for aiding the Chinese government's torture of Falun Gong practitioners. The justices were divided, highlighting a potential precedent that could expand corporate exposure to overseas human‑rights...
Greece Expands Beach Ban, Adding 13 Sites to Protect 251 Untrodden Shores
The Greek government has prohibited sunbeds and umbrellas on 13 additional beaches, bringing the total of protected "Untrodden Beaches" to 251. The move targets overtourism on popular Mediterranean coasts and could reshape hotel occupancy patterns during the summer peak.
TransPerfect Legal Expands Construction Disputes Practice Group in Asia-Pacific
TransPerfect Legal announced the appointment of Christian Breen as Senior Director of Consulting for the Asia‑Pacific region, based in Australia. Breen brings nearly two decades of experience handling high‑value construction and insurance disputes across Australia and New Zealand. His role will...
On Prediction Market Regulation
The CFTC’s request for comments on prediction‑market regulation has sparked a debate about their role beyond risk hedging. An economist argues that these platforms act as information institutions, aggregating real‑time beliefs on political and policy issues, and should enjoy First...
OneTrust Integrates Consent Signals Into Snowflake Data Clean Rooms for Privacy‑First Collaboration
OneTrust announced a partnership with Snowflake that embeds its consent‑aware signals directly into Snowflake Data Clean Rooms, giving companies a way to enforce user permissions during multi‑party data collaboration. The move addresses a growing gap between data accessibility and privacy...
ABA Settlement Over Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund Goes About How You’d Expect It To
The American Bar Association settled the American Alliance for Equal Rights lawsuit over its Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund (LOSF). The settlement requires the scholarship to be awarded on a race‑and‑ethnicity‑neutral basis, with demographic data used solely for tracking. Eligibility will...
ABA Settles Claim Alleging Diversity Scholarship Fund Harmed White Students
The American Bar Association settled a lawsuit filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, which alleged the ABA’s scholarship fund excluded White law students in violation of the 1866 Civil Rights Act. Under the settlement, the ABA will broaden...