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
A Reversal in Course? SBA Rescinds Several 8(a) Suspension Notices
In December 2025 the SBA launched a sweeping audit of its 8(a) Business Development Program, demanding extensive financial documentation from participants. By January 2026 the agency had suspended more than 1,000 firms and announced plans to terminate 628 for non‑compliance. Since then the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals has rescinded suspension notices for several companies, including X3M Systems and Connexus Hub, after they appealed. The reversals suggest that the agency may be tempering its hard‑line stance and that appeals can still succeed.
$1B Benchmark: US Firms' Quest for UK Growth Marches On Year-on-Year
US‑founded law firms have collectively surpassed the $1 billion revenue mark in the United Kingdom, continuing a year‑on‑year growth trend. Cooley’s London office exemplifies this trajectory, reporting steady revenue gains over the past three years. The firm attributes its success to...
CMS Rules Compliance Will Improve Patient Experiences
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will enforce new interoperability rules in 2027 that require real‑time disclosure of prior‑authorization requirements through FHIR‑based APIs. According to eHealth Exchange consultant Scott Rossignol, the mandate will let patients see when a prior...
Wash. Court Upholds Recoupment of Vocational School Overpayments
The Washington Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s one‑year limitation on recouping workers‑compensation benefits does not apply to payments made to vocational‑rehabilitation providers. As a result, the Department of Labor and Industries can seek more than $200,000, including interest,...
Legaltech Connect: How Paul Weiss, Dell Evaluate AI
At Legaltech Connect’s research and innovation conference, senior leaders from Paul Weiss and Dell Technologies outlined how they assess artificial‑intelligence solutions for legal work. Both firms described a multi‑stage evaluation framework that balances technical performance, data security, ethical risk, and...
California Comp Audits Cite $1M in Assessable Penalties
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation Audit & Enforcement Unit reported $1.01 million in assessable administrative penalties after completing 40 audits of insurers, self‑insured employers and third‑party administrators in 2024. The audits covered 2,698 claim files, cited 4,531 violations and generated $1.35 million...
Worker Fired After Refusing Drug Test
A British Columbia privacy adjudicator ruled that Altrad Services Ltd. lacked legal authority to collect and use a painter’s personal information after a drug‑dog search at an LNG Canada site. The worker refused a drug and alcohol test, was terminated,...
US and EU Sanctions Intensify Focus on Crypto Transactions : Research
Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic highlighted new U.S. and EU sanctions aimed at curbing crypto‑facilitated sanctions evasion. The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC placed two Iran‑linked Tether wallets holding about $344 million on its sanctions list, while the EU approved its 20th package banning...
Man Who Had Alleged Brain Injury After Contracting Meningitis as Baby Settles Case for €9.75m
A 25‑year‑old man from Limerick, who alleges a lifelong brain injury from meningitis contracted at birth, settled his High Court claim against the Health Service Executive for €9.75 million (approximately $10.6 million). The case centered on alleged delays at St Munchin’s Regional Maternity...
ABC Can Beat Trump FCC's License Threat if Owner Disney Is Willing to Fight
The FCC ordered Disney to file early renewal applications for ABC’s eight broadcast stations, citing possible violations of anti‑discrimination rules. Legal experts note that the 1996 Telecommunications Act makes license denial extremely difficult unless a broadcaster commits willful or repeated...
Porsche’s Factory Mileage Reset: Can They Legally Turn Back The Odometer?
Porsche’s Sonderwunsch factory‑recommission program lets owners overhaul a vehicle and have the odometer reset to zero, effectively giving the car a “second birthday.” Under the Federal Odometer Act, any mileage change—except repairs to a faulty odometer—must be disclosed to the...
Supreme Court to Consider Whether the Government Can Fine Farms that Use Guestworkers
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging the Department of Labor’s authority to fine farms that violate H‑2A guest‑worker rules without a prior court trial. The dispute stems from Sun Valley Orchards in New Jersey, which was...
Life in Shell
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling that effectively dismantles the remaining protections of the Voting Rights Act, allowing states to redraw congressional districts without federal preclearance. The decision, split along ideological lines, threatens minority voting power ahead of...
HUD, USDA Kill Energy Rule Builders Called a Barrier
HUD and USDA announced they are rescinding a 2024 Biden‑era rule that tied FHA and USDA loan eligibility to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. The rule was projected to add $20,000‑$31,000 to the price of a new home, potentially...
Parents Fight To Reinstate 'Choking Challenge' Suit Against Google, TikTok
A coalition of parents has asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to revive a lawsuit against Google and TikTok, alleging the companies’ reporting tools are defective and misrepresented. The suit, originally dismissed under Section 230 immunity, claims the platforms failed to...
Law that Replaces Law Society of BC, Diminishes Bar’s Self-Regulation Is Constitutional: BC Court
The British Columbia Supreme Court upheld the 2024 Legal Professions Act, clearing the way to replace the Law Society of BC with a single regulator covering lawyers, paralegals and notaries. The decision found the legislation constitutional and not ultra vires,...
Climate Regulation Rollbacks and the Rise of Nuisance Lawsuits
Professor Sarah Light of Wharton warns that congressional moves to repeal the EPA’s endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act would shrink federal climate‑regulatory power. Without the finding, the EPA loses a key legal basis to curb greenhouse‑gas emissions from...
A LeGeyt View Of The ABCs Of FCC Regulatory Policy
The Federal Communications Commission has ordered The Walt Disney Co. to engage in an early license‑renewal proceeding for its ABC‑owned stations, setting a compliance deadline of May 28. The order was issued by the Video Division Chief, a level two...
Batton Plaintiffs Move to Block NAR Deal in Commissions Case
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) joined the Tuccori settlement on April 10, agreeing to pay $52.25 million to resolve homebuyer commission claims. Plaintiffs in the Batton case argue this payment is a “reverse auction,” undervaluing their damages compared with larger awards...
Clavicular Sued For Fraud & Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress
Influencer Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza has filed a Florida lawsuit against celebrity Clavicular, accusing him of battery, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint alleges that Clavicular offered career promotion in 2025, then engaged in non‑consensual sex with Mendoza...
Borrower Says PHH Mortgage Forced Foreclosure with Short Sale Still Pending
A Tennessee homeowner has filed a federal lawsuit against PHH Mortgage, alleging the servicer rushed his property to foreclosure while a short‑sale offer was still pending. The complaint claims PHH engaged in illegal dual‑tracking, violating RESPA and Regulation X by setting...
Looking Back at Citizens United Part 1: The Case
The article revisits the landmark 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, outlining the case’s origins, legal arguments, and the Court’s 5‑4 ruling that corporate political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment. It details...
Group Intends To Sue Trump Administration Over Expanded Livestock Grazing Plan
The Center for Biological Diversity has announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a new grazing memorandum that would open up to 24 million acres of federal land to cattle, including parts of Grand Canyon National Park. The group argues...
Former Cetera Employee Files Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Daisy Zazueta, a former advisory account administrator at Cetera Financial, filed a sex‑discrimination lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging hostile work environment, retaliation, and unfair termination. She claims her supervisor, Kristin Lanners, disparaged her childcare responsibilities, singled out...
Blue Owl and the Growing D&O and E&O Risks in Private Credit
Blue Owl Capital Corp. is confronting a wave of securities class actions and a derivative lawsuit that allege it concealed liquidity pressures and inflated valuations of its private‑credit funds. The suits claim the firm’s adviser doubled as the valuation designee,...
Ex-FBI Chief Comey Released After Court Appearance on ‘Trump Threat’
Former FBI director James Comey was released after a Virginia magistrate judge ordered his release following an indictment on two federal charges – threatening the president’s life and transmitting threats across state lines. The charges stem from an Instagram post...
FMCSA's DataQs Reform Sparks Call for 'Frivolous'-Challenge Penalties
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rolled out new DataQs rules that prohibit the issuing officer from participating in challenge decisions and set tighter timelines for state reviews. Early feedback from the 48 contiguous states and Alaska shows most...
FMCSA's State DataQs Reform Sparks Call for 'Frivolous'-Challenge Penalties
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued new DataQs rules that ban issuing‑officer decisions on challenges and shift the burden of proof to the requestor. Six states that have responded say the standards will not alter their existing processes,...
Minnesota Faces First Amendment Suit over Social Media Warning Label Law
Minnesota enacted a pioneering law that obligates social‑media platforms to show a government‑mandated mental‑health warning and require users to acknowledge it every time they access the service. The statute, set to take effect on July 1, bars platforms from adding supplemental...
The Most Prestigious Biglaw Firms In Chicago (2027)
Vault’s latest regional rankings reveal the most prestigious Biglaw firms in Chicago for 2027. Kirkland & Ellis tops the list, followed by Sidley Austin, Latham & Watkins, Skadden, and Mayer Brown. The rankings are derived from associate surveys rating firms...
No en Banc in Trump Appeals of E. Jean Carroll Verdict, $83 Million Judgment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected President Donald Trump’s petitions for an en banc rehearing of the E. Jean Carroll case, leaving the $83.3 million verdict intact. The majority held that presidential immunity is waivable and that Trump cannot...
Voting Rights: They Said Section 2 Survived. They Were Lying.
The Supreme Court, in a 6‑3 ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, invalidated a new congressional map that relied on race to create a majority‑Black district, effectively narrowing the reach of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Justice Alito’s majority opinion...
Man Who Quit After Anti-Traveller Slur Used at Work Meeting Wins €15,000
Kieran Reilly, a member of Ireland’s Traveller community, was awarded €15,000 (approximately $16,350) after the Workplace Relations Commission found his former employer, Energy Centre Limited, liable for harassment. The incident occurred during a sales meeting on March 12, 2025, when...
Supreme Court Puts a 'Bullet' In the Voting Rights Act
The Supreme Court, in a 6‑3 decision authored by Justice Samuel Alito, invalidated Louisiana's majority‑Black congressional map, effectively narrowing the reach of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling, issued in Louisiana v. Callais, signals that courts may be...
Scale Your Law Firm with Top Mexican Virtual Staff
If you want to scale your Lawfirm using virtual staff… you need to be at the Mastermind in Cancun. A lot of people don’t believe when I say our employees from Mexico are better than your US. based employees 😬👀....
The Supreme Court Republicans Make America Safe for White Republicans
The Supreme Court, in Louisiana v. Callais, voted 6‑3 to replace the longstanding effects‑based test of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act with a narrow intent‑based standard. Justice Alito’s majority opinion requires plaintiffs to demonstrate a strong inference of purposeful...
Episode 410 — Building a Best-in-Class AI Use Policy
In the latest Corruption, Crime & Compliance podcast, Michael Volkov outlines how firms can craft a best‑in‑class AI Use Policy to mitigate emerging AI risks. He argues that traditional governance models are inadequate for AI’s rapid deployment across functions. Volkov...
NY AG Secures over $5M From Uphold HQ for Promoting Fraudulent Investment Scheme
New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a settlement of more than $5 million from cryptocurrency platform Uphold after it promoted CredEarn, a fraudulent investment product. Uphold advertised CredEarn as a safe savings vehicle while the underlying loans were high‑risk micro‑loans...
Office for Students’ University of Sussex Humiliation Is a Symptom of Deeper Failings
The Office for Students (OfS) saw its £585,000 (£≈$743,000) fine against the University of Sussex overturned by the High Court, which found the regulator lacked jurisdiction in the Kathleen Stock free‑speech case. The ruling highlights a pattern of delayed or...
Newsboys Sue MercyMe, Promoters, World Vision over $50M Fraud Claim
Longest lawsuit I've read in a while. But when you've got dozens of defendants, a $50 million business fraud claim and a sex scandal to attempt to refute... Newsboys File Lawsuit Against MercyMe, Christian Tour Promoters, World Vision Charity and...
Disney Spends $16M on Bogus Lawsuit, Still Getting Squeezed
Disney, what do you call paying $16M to settle a bogus lawsuit, only to keep getting squeezed? A: Paying Dongeld
‘A Betrayal’: California to Share Data on Immigrant Drivers Nationally
California is preparing to transmit detailed driver‑license data, including information on undocumented holders, to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to satisfy the Real ID Act. The move threatens more than one million immigrants who obtained licenses under...
White House, Populist Congress Fuel Housing Market Distortions
"the odd alliance between the White House and populist anti-market members of Congress has already been successful at introducing new growth-reducing distortions into the housing market before the bill has even reached the president’s desk" https://t.co/BxHCKGU25Q
SFUSD Spends $147K on Biased Curriculum Review
SFUSD paid $147K for an "independent" review of its ethnic studies curriculum that was stacked with insiders, had no passing threshold, and silenced critics. The Board voted to approve it anyway. Litigation incoming. https://t.co/W8pnmgsm1v
Powell Stays on Board for Strategic Legal Protection
Powell gets access to legal counsel provided through the Federal Reserve (so at the government's expensive) while still on the Board. His decision to remain on the board until the legal actions are fully behind him is probably as much a...
Discovering My Unexpected Top‑1% Expertise in IRC 45F
There's a real argument that I'm in the top 1% of expertise on IRC 45F, which is not something that I thought I would ever know existed, let alone have written dozens, fucking dozens, of memoranda on various issues.
Legal Lawsuits Against Fed Drive Decision to Stay
Says he is concerned about the legal attacks on the Fed and that influenced his decision to remain. He clarifies it's not verbal attacks but the lawsuits on the institution
OpenAI Seeks Jury Instruction: Verdict Won’t Set Precedent
Legal scholars: OpenAI wants to claim that the suit would cause no legal precedent. Is that true, or BS? It’s not a US Supreme Court decision, obviously, but outcome can still be cited in other suits, no? Am I missing...
Powell Stays on Board Until Lawsuit Fully Resolved
Powell says he welcomed the DOJ's dropping the lawsuit. Commits not to leave the board until the lawsuit is 'well and truly over'. He plans to stay on as a governor for an undefined period.
Appeals Court Upholds FMC's Detention Charges Against Evergreen
Appeals Court Backs FMC in Landmark Detention Charges Ruling Against Evergreen. Detention charges when a port was closed. https://t.co/Wt9Ri2XRfh