Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
9th October 2025
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THE HOT STORY
Musk settles former Twitter executives' suit over unpaid severance
Elon Musk has agreed to settle a $128m lawsuit brought by four former top executives at Twitter, now X, over unpaid severance when he took over the company. The executives, who include former CEO Parag Agrawal, argued that Musk fired them "without reason" after he bought the social media platform in 2022 and denied them severance payments. "The parties have reached a settlement and the settlement requires certain conditions to be met in the near term," attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in a court filing. They did not disclose the terms of the settlement. The suit, filed last year, is one of several legal challenges over unpaid severance for workers who were laid off after Musk took over.
REGULATORY RISK
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FIRMS
U.K. law firms lead responsible business index
According to a report by Lamp House and Chambers and Partners, U.K. law firms are outperforming their U.S. counterparts in responsible business activities. The report highlights that U.K. firms including Clyde & Co, DWF, Pinsent Masons, Simmons & Simmons, and Taylor Wessing have seen a 12% increase in scores, while U.S. firms experienced a 30% decline. Lisa Hart Shepherd, chief product and innovation officer at Chambers, observed: “Political headwinds in the U.S. appear to have had a significant effect on what U.S. firms are prepared to disclose.” Additionally, 58% of U.K. firms have publicly declared net zero targets, while initiatives to support women and ethnic minorities are on the rise, and 73% of firms offer apprenticeship schemes to enhance social mobility.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Lawsuit challenging Trump H-1B visa fee describes potential harms
A lawsuit filed by employers and unions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California argues that the Trump administration overstepped congressional authority when it introduced a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. The complaint details the kinds of harms the fee could have on health care, education and religious groups that seek to employ foreign talent to complement their workforce. Although Trump's proclamation last month focused on information technology and software, and also science, technology, engineering and math fields, the plaintiffs contend that its harms will be more widespread.
Anodyne Coffee union vote certified by NLRB
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has dismissed objections from Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. regarding a unionization vote held in June. Anodyne, which is owned by FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective, challenged the election, claiming some employees were statutory supervisors and alleging intimidation by a union representative. However, the NLRB ruled that “a majority of the valid ballots has been cast for Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union,” certifying the union and paving the way for contract negotiations. Union president Peter Rickman said: “After months of bureaucratic delays . . . it's time for the company to join us at the bargaining table.”
LAWSUITS
Judge dismisses NRF's challenge to NY surveillance pricing law
A federal judge has dismissed a National Retail Federation lawsuit challenging a New York state law that requires retailers to tell customers when their personal data are used to set prices, known as surveillance pricing. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said the organization failed to plausibly allege that New York's Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act violated its members' free speech rights under the Constitution's First Amendment. The law required retailers to disclose in capital letters when prices were set by algorithms using personal data, or face possible civil fines of $1,000 per violation.
Insurers balk at multibillion-dollar claims faced by OpenAI and Anthropic
OpenAI and Anthropic are exploring the use of investor funds to settle potential multibillion-dollar lawsuits, as insurers balk at providing comprehensive coverage for the risks associated with artificial intelligence.
REGULATION
Regulators probe MassMutual’s accounting practices
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance over its accounting practices in investment operations, and has issued subpoenas seeking information about MassMutual's bookkeeping around income on billions of dollars of loans it holds in its general investment account. The agency is investigating whether MassMutual properly reconciled accrued interest as it received payments on loans held in its general investment account, according to people familiar with the matter, and wants to determine whether its accruals are overstated.
TAX
IRS authority challenged in landmark ruling
The recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 3M Co. v. Commissioner marks a significant shift in transfer pricing disputes. The case examined whether the IRS could disregard foreign legal restrictions, specifically concerning 3M's Brazilian subsidiary, which faced limitations on royalty remittances. The IRS attempted to impose taxes on nearly $24m in "phantom" royalties, but the court ruled that the agency overstepped its authority, emphasizing that the IRS cannot tax amounts legally barred from being received. Rezan Ökten, a partner at Dentons, notes that the ruling underscores the necessity for robust documentation to reflect economic realities in cross-border operations. Taxpayers are advised to prepare for potential IRS challenges and ensure compliance with local laws to avoid disputes.
CYBERSECURITY
Salesforce refuses to pay hackers for extortion
Salesforce has confirmed it will not pay a ransom to hacking group ShinyHunters, which claims to have stolen client data via a breach of the third-party Drift app from SalesLoft. Most of the data, taken between August, 8th-15th, involved customer contact details, access tokens, and IT configuration info; it was later compiled and listed for sale on a cybercrime forum. Salesforce said its core platform was not compromised, and integrations with SalesLoft have been re-enabled, excluding Drift.
APPOINTMENTS
Fox Rothschild welcomes real estate partner
Crystal Persaud has joined Fox Rothschild as a partner in its commercial real estate practice in New York. She brings extensive experience in advising clients on various real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing. Persaud has worked with a diverse range of clients, including owners, developers, investors, landlords, and tenants across multiple sectors such as retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use.
INTERNATIONAL
Lehman Brothers London unit finally closes
The London branch of Lehman Brothers has officially closed, 17 years after its parent company's collapse in 2008. A judge ruled that Lehman Brothers International Europe has settled all creditor claims, with most receiving full payment plus 8% interest. Judge Robert Hildyard described it as a "seminal moment" in insolvency history. Ryan Perkins, a lawyer for Lehman, noted that administrators have "nothing left to do" and highlighted the unusual situation of having surplus assets. The bank's failure was one of the largest bankruptcies ever, leading to a global recession and the loss of 26,000 jobs. Insolvency practitioners at PwC recovered almost £28bn ($37bn) while the firm has been paid £1bn ($1.34bn) for its work.
OTHER
JPMorgan's Dimon says he welcomes easing of quarterly earnings requirement
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says he would welcome proposed changes to ease the Securities and Exchange Commission's quarterly earnings report requirements. "The bigger problem wasn't just reporting quarterly. It was forecasting, where CEOs get their back up against a wall. They have to meet these things - earnings - and then they start doing dumb stuff to meet earnings, and that kind of public pressure," Dimon said in a Bloomberg interview. President Donald Trump last month renewed a call, which he first made in 2018, that U.S. companies should be allowed to report earnings every six months instead of on a quarterly basis.

 

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