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
Maine Legislature Rejects Online Data Privacy Act, Leaving Marketers Free to Harvest Data
The Maine Legislature voted to defeat LD 1822, the Maine Online Data Privacy Act, halting the state’s first comprehensive data‑privacy law. Business groups rallied against the measure, while privacy advocates warned of unchecked data harvesting. The defeat keeps current marketing practices intact but raises questions about future regulation.
Sussex Wins in Free Speech High Court Challenge
A UK Administrative Court ruled that the Office for Students (OfS) acted with predetermination and legal errors in its investigation of the University of Sussex’s free‑speech policies. The court upheld several of Sussex’s grounds, limiting OfS’s jurisdiction to constitutional documents...
Ex-M&T Employee Alleges Discrimination over Gender, Sexual Orientation
Maria Scorcia, a former vice president at M&T Bank, filed a lawsuit alleging she was denied a promotion and later terminated because she is a gay woman. She claims her supervisor, Danny Quiles, repeatedly excluded her from meetings, harassed her during...
Crime and Policing Act Receives Royal Assent
On 29 April 2024 the Crime and Policing Act received royal assent, ending a year‑long legislative process that began with its first reading in February 2023. The law tightens penalties for shoplifting, violence against women, cyber‑crime and knife offences, and eliminates...
Canzano: Dam Nation Sues Blueprint Sports -- Look Out Oregon State
Dam Nation Collective, LLC filed a civil complaint in Portland federal court accusing Blueprint Sports and Entertainment, LLC of breaching a $166,828.50 agreement. The lawsuit, brought by Kyle Bjornstad’s legal team, seeks damages, interest, and attorney fees, with the plaintiff...
Virginia Enacts Paid Family and Medical Leave Program to Apply to Most Private Employers
Virginia enacted a state‑administered paid family and medical leave (PFML) program that will cover most private employers. The Virginia Employment Commission must launch the insurance trust fund by January 1 2028, with payroll contributions starting April 1 2028 and benefits payable beginning December 1 2028. Eligible...
Senators Seek Probe Into FAA Chief’s Airline Stock Divestiture
Senators Maria Cantwell, Tammy Duckworth and Ed Markey have asked the DOT Office of Inspector General to investigate FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford’s delayed sale of Republic Airways stock. Bedford, required to divest within 90 days of confirmation, waited until February—after...
Save Our Bacon Act Stays in Farm Bill After Rules Vote
The House Rules Committee voted on April 28 to keep the Save Our Bacon Act in the Farm Bill 2.0, rejecting a bipartisan amendment that sought its removal. The Act, introduced by Rep. Ashley Hinson, would block state and local regulations—most...
Unanimous Supreme Court Affirms Standing to Challenge Subpoena for Info on Financial Supporters
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9‑0 opinion affirming that First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a pro‑life nonprofit, has Article III standing to contest a New Jersey Attorney General subpoena seeking its donors' identities. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that the...
Pension Scheme Bill to Receive Royal Assent
The Pension Schemes Bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle on 29 April and is set to receive Royal Assent. The legislation introduces a Value‑For‑Money framework, mandates clearer default retirement options, and enables the creation of multi‑employer “megafunds”. It also consolidates local‑government...
The DMA’s AI Dilemma: Too Soon, Too Late, or Both?
The European Commission’s first review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) concludes the law remains fit for purpose, but warns it could age rapidly as AI reshapes digital intermediation. AI embedded in existing gatekeepers can be regulated under current DMA...
UK Government Should Clarify Whether It’s Investing in AI Companies that Use Unlicensed Training Data, Say Campaigners
The UK’s new Sovereign AI Unit, backed by a £500 million (~$635 million) fund, is investing in seven AI start‑ups and courting 30 more. Campaigners, led by Lords’ peer Beeban Kidron, warn the unit has not clarified whether funded firms must license...
Private Equity Overtakes Merger as UK Law Firms’ Preferred Route to Growth, New Research Reveals
Private equity has become the leading growth strategy for UK law firms, with 75% preferring it over the traditional merger or partnership route, which now appeals to only 52% of firms. The shift reflects a broader transformation in the sector,...
AIG Unit Must Cover Portion of $26 Million SEC Settlement
A Delaware Superior Court judge ordered AIG's Illinois National Insurance unit to indemnify Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings for $16.4 million in disgorgement and $3.8 million in prejudgment interest stemming from an SEC enforcement action. The court held that the D&O policy covers...
Kalshi’s Legal Victory Paves Way for Predictive Markets
I sat down with the co-founder and CEO of Kalshi (@mansourtarek_), a prediction market reportedly worth over $20 billion. After years of struggle, Kalshi won a regulatory battle, culminating with their successful suit to overturn a CFTC decision, giving them the...
DOJ Forgets To Remove ‘DRAFT’ Watermark Splashed Across Every Page Of Filing
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a 14‑page joint motion to terminate the consent decree with the Springfield, Massachusetts police department, but the filing was riddled with a large gray “DRAFT” watermark on every page. The motion seeks to...
GENIUS and CLARITY Acts: What Firms Must Know Now
The U.S. Congress has enacted the GENIUS Act and is poised to pass the CLARITY Act, ending years of regulatory uncertainty for digital assets. The GENIUS Act creates a federal framework for payment stablecoins, requiring 1:1 reserves and limiting issuers...
Pension Schemes Bill Passes Through Parliament After Mandation ‘Ping Pong’
The UK Parliament gave royal assent to the Pension Schemes Bill on 29 April after an extended Commons‑Lords “ping‑pong” over the government’s proposed mandation powers. Peers succeeded in stripping out the original clause that would have forced schemes to meet specific...
BREAKING: Supreme Court Guts Key Voting Rights Protection in Landmark Case
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling that effectively gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a cornerstone provision that bans racial discrimination in voting. The decision arose from a Louisiana redistricting dispute where courts had previously required two...
China Threatens the EU with Broad Retaliation if Huawei and ZTE Are Banned From European Networks
China’s Ministry of Commerce submitted a 30‑page warning to the European Commission, saying the EU’s draft Cybersecurity Act – which would make the removal of high‑risk vendors like Huawei and ZTE mandatory – could trigger reciprocal trade restrictions on European...
Estate Planning Tips Every Parent Should Know
Estate planning is essential for parents to protect their children and manage assets effectively. A will sets out asset distribution and appoints a court‑approved guardian, while trusts allow controlled funding for education and living expenses. Designating a power of attorney...
Labour Hands Police ‘Long-Overdue’ Violent Shoplifting Powers
The UK government has granted police new powers to tackle violent shoplifting after the Crime and Policing Bill received royal assent. Assault on retail workers is now a specific offence and the previous immunity for thefts under £200 (≈ $255) has...
IRS Chief Claims Crackdown on Wealthy Tax Evaders Will Continue
IRS Chief Frank Bisignano told Congress that despite a 27 % workforce reduction—over 25,000 employees lost in the past year—the agency’s enforcement revenue rose 12 % and it collected roughly $2 billion from its five biggest cases. He emphasized a shift toward artificial‑intelligence...
April Global Regulatory Brief: Digital Finance
In April 2026 regulators across Japan, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom released new guidance targeting digital‑finance risks. Japan’s Financial Services Agency issued a comprehensive cybersecurity policy for crypto‑asset exchanges, while Switzerland’s FINMA published a digital‑fraud risk‑management guide for...
Tupac Shakur’s Family Files New Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Maurice Shakur, Tupac’s stepbrother, filed a wrongful‑death lawsuit in Los Angeles marking the 30th anniversary of the rapper’s 1996 killing. The civil complaint alleges a sprawling conspiracy involving 99 unnamed co‑conspirators and cites recent grand‑jury testimony and a Netflix documentary...
The Scoop: Disney Says It’s ‘Prepared to Fight’ FCC License Review
The Federal Communications Commission announced an accelerated review of broadcast licenses for Disney’s ABC stations, citing an investigation into the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The action follows President Donald Trump’s public criticism of ABC after a Jimmy Kimmel...
April Global Regulatory Brief: Green Finance
April’s green‑finance regulatory brief notes a wave of new rules across four jurisdictions. South Africa’s FSCA opened a consultation on ESG rating services, while Japan’s JFSA launched a public comment period on revised SSBJ sustainability disclosure standards that tighten Scope 3...
California Coastal Commission Settles SpaceX Lawsuit by Apologizing and Conceding All Points
SpaceX settled its lawsuit with the California Coastal Commission after the commission issued a formal apology and admitted it lacks authority to regulate launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The settlement also acknowledges that the commission’s prior opposition to increasing...
What's Up with AI and HR Tech Litigation?
Recent lawsuits are spotlighting the legal exposure of AI‑driven hiring platforms. In Mobley v. Workday, the plaintiff argues that Workday’s automated resume‑sorting tool acted as a Title VII agent, potentially making the vendor liable for age and race bias. Kistler v....
Elizabeth Prelogar Honored With Servant of Justice Award
Elizabeth Prelogar, a Cooley partner and former U.S. Solicitor General, received Legal Aid DC’s Servant of Justice Award, the organization’s highest honor. The award recognized her extensive pro bono work and her record of arguing 36 Supreme Court cases, the...
The Legal Tech Giants Powering ICE, Part 2 — The Pushback: Employees, Shareholders, Lawyers and the Fight Over May 31
In March 2026, more than 200 Thomson Reuters employees and a similar number of Law360 journalists sent letters demanding that their companies not renew multi‑million‑dollar contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security. The contracts—$22.8 million...
Can You Get In Any Legal Trouble By Flipping The Bird To Gaudy Trump-Branded Properties?
The article explains that making an obscene gesture toward Trump‑branded buildings in the United States is protected by the First Amendment and cannot lead to a criminal conviction. It cites a recent Alabama case where a grandmother was acquitted after...
Rippling Rolls Out Automated Compliance Tool for SOC 2 Audits
Rippling, the San Francisco‑based workforce platform, unveiled an automated compliance tool that streamlines SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 audits. The solution leverages existing HR, device‑management and identity data to recommend controls, collect evidence in real time, and automatically remediate gaps. It consolidates...
EU's Digital Markets Act Has "Not yet Reached Its Full Potential"
The European Commission’s two‑year review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) finds the rule‑book “fit for purpose” but acknowledges it has not yet delivered its full impact. The review, based on input from more than 450 developers, SMEs and civil‑society...
General Counsel ‘Evolving From Traditional Legal Gatekeepers’, Says KPMG’s Legal Arm
General counsel are moving beyond traditional legal oversight, with 75% of surveyed GCs regularly advising on non‑legal matters, according to KPMG Law’s new outlook. The report, based on nearly 500 senior legal leaders in 28 countries, identifies regulatory complexity as...
With the VRA Gutted, the GOP Could Target over a Dozen Black and Latino House Districts
The Supreme Court’s ruling in *Louisiana v. Callais* effectively gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, removing the primary safeguard against racial vote dilution. As a result, Republicans in eight states can now redraw more than a dozen congressional districts...
Plaintiffs Are Still Litigating–And Losing–Website Framing Cases (S&S V. Promo Hunt)
The 2026 N.D. Illinois court dismissed S&S Activewear’s trespass‑to‑chattels claim against Promo Hunt’s browser extension that overlays price‑comparison popups on the retailer’s site. Relying on the Best Carpet Values v. Google precedent, the judge held that the retailer lacks a...
Canadian Review of Labor Laws Linked to Hoped-For Longshore Peace, US Diversification
The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, announced a formal review of its World War II‑era labor relations law, the first such effort in decades. The review aims to curb seaport disruptions after a 13‑day work stoppage in 2023...
The Supreme Court Is Dangerously Broken. Here’s How to Fix It
The article argues that the U.S. Supreme Court has drifted far from its original, limited role, becoming a central political actor with record‑low public confidence. It blames congressional inaction for the Court’s unchecked power and proposes a suite of reforms,...
Lessons From an Ohio State Ethical Crisis
Ohio State University disclosed a 47‑page compliance report after President Ted Carter resigned amid allegations he tried to channel university resources to his romantic partner, Krisanthe Vlachos. The investigation found Carter made at least 14 improper requests, but staff consistently...
Swiss Karimova Corruption Case Discontinued
Swiss Federal Criminal Court dismissed the corruption trial against Gulnara Karimova on April 28, citing her inability to appear in court, a procedural obstacle that ends the case against her and a second Uzbek defendant. The dismissal does not affect...
Stephanie Adler-Paindiris Discusses Collaboration, Culture and Competition in Litigation
Stephanie Adler‑Paindiris, a partner at Jackson Lewis, explained the firm’s collaborative culture in a Law.com interview titled “Why Collaboration Can Beat ‘Eat What You Kill’ in Litigation.” She detailed how the firm’s team‑oriented approach helps it win high‑stakes employment and...
Dutch Tax Plan Forces Forced Bitcoin Sales, Sparks Exodus
Regardless of whether it gets approved or not, but the 26% unrealized gains proposal is the most insane and stupid proposal I've seen from the Dutch government ever. It's literally forcing you to sell #Bitcoin while simply holding it if it...
Ex‑FOX40 Staffer Repeats Harassment with Bogus Copyright Suit
In 2016, @MatthewKeysLive, then age 29, a former web producer and network site administrator for KTXL @FOX40, a Sacramento TV station, was sentenced to two years in prison for “inciting, assisting, and conducting a weeks-long campaign of online attacks against...
Supreme Court Sides with Anti-Abortion Center Raising First Amendment Fears About State Probe
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that lets faith‑based crisis pregnancy center First Choice Women’s Resource Centers sue New Jersey over a subpoena demanding donor information. The decision is a procedural win, allowing the center to challenge the...
Opening US Waters Risks Destroying Domestic Shipping
Jones Act. Open US maritime to foreign vessels. Dumb act except US has see US shipping destroyed. Why give away more?
Apple’s Stalling Scheme Collapses, EU Regulators Remain Paralyzed
EU regulators are currently paralyzed into inaction as Apple manipulates US trade relations to discourage Europe from enforcing its own competition law. Thankfully, Apple’s attempt to stall the US law enforcement process with frivolous appeals has collapsed yesterday.
Two Upcoming Oral Arguments on Sports-Event Contracts
Reminder: there are 2 oral arguments next week in prediction market appeals. Monday: Mass. Sup. Ct. (9 am) (Commonwealth v. Kalshi) Thursday: 4th Circuit (9:30) (Kalshi v. Maryland) The question on appeal in both cases focuses only on sports-event contracts. https://t.co/6kHZtxozi2
Progressives Propose Ban on Personalized Surveillance Pricing
1. Some useful moderate legislative proposals coming out from the progressive caucus around corporate power. I'll highlight a few of them. The first is one from @GregCasar to ban personalized surveillance pricing. That's a big deal. https://t.co/42Gsa62juv
SCOTUS: No VRA Race Protection; Whites Need
This crazy SCOTUS has now found that there is no discrimination based on race that needs to be protected by the Voting Rights Act anymore… but Whites need to be protected from majority minority Congressional districts.