Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against 10 major food manufacturers, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Nestlé, claiming that ultraprocessed foods are contributing to a public health crisis. City Attorney David Chiu said: "They took food and made it unrecognizable and harmful to the human body," as he highlighted the link between these foods and serious health issues including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. The lawsuit seeks to hold the companies accountable for deceptive marketing practices, and also calls for consumer education on health risks and financial penalties to assist local governments with healthcare costs related to ultraprocessed food consumption. The lawsuit marks the first time a municipality has sued over claims food companies have knowingly marketed addictive and harmful ultra-processed foods. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that most Americans derive over half their calories from such foods.

 

BBC News

NPR

Reuters

San Francisco Chronicle

U.S. wireless carrier AT&T has confirmed its decision to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in order to secure approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its $1.02bn acquisition of wireless spectrum assets. The move aligns with similar actions taken by T-Mobile and Verizon, which have also ceased DEI initiatives while pursuing regulatory approvals for major deals. AT&T said in its letter to the FCC that it “does not and will not have any roles focused on DEI.”

 

CNN

Reuters

Tania Nemer, a former immigration judge, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming wrongful termination by the Trump administration. Nemer alleges she was fired due to her gender, dual citizenship, and political affiliation shortly after Trump began his second term. She argues that her dismissal violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and her First Amendment rights. The Justice Department's Equal Employment Opportunity office previously dismissed her discrimination complaint, asserting that immigration judges lack protection from at-will removal. Nemer's attorneys, Nathaniel Zelinsky and James Eisenmann, said: "Title VII is unquestionably constitutional. The government cannot discriminate against its employees. Full stop."

 

U.S. News

A U.S. judge has allowed a $6.7bn lawsuit against Bristol Myers Squibb to proceed, claiming that the company delayed federal approvals for three drugs, including the cancer treatment Breyanzi. The lawsuit, which arises from Bristol Myers' $80.3bn acquisition of Celgene, alleges breaches of contract and failure to act in good faith, particularly regarding the treatment of contingent value rights (CVRs). U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman concluded that the plaintiff, UMB Bank, has legal standing to pursue certain claims, with a jury set to decide on the alleged breaches.

 

Reuters

President Donald Trump has signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which mandates the U.S. State Department to review its guidelines on interactions with Taiwan every five years. Taiwan expressed gratitude for the legislation. Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said the law affirms the value of U.S. engagement with Taiwan. In contrast, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the law, asserting that it undermines China's core interests and warning against official U.S.-Taiwan interactions.

 

U.S. News

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has written to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting an investigation into Shein and Temu, which source most of their products from China, for intellectual property theft, and counterfeiting. The ending of the de minimis exemption, which allowed packages shipped directly to shoppers valued at under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free, has "forced Shein and Temu to change their business model", Mr Cotton said in the letter, adding: "These companies now stock massive inventories in U.S. warehouses and distribution centers. Their goods are no longer slipping through ports. They are sitting on American soil under U.S. jurisdiction". Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has added to the pressure on the companies, citing numerous reports about Shein's alleged reliance on forced labor, and claims of the use of unsafe materials and deceptive marketing.

 

BBC News

Reuters

Anthropic has tapped U.S. west coast law firm Wilson Sonsini to begin work on one of the largest initial public offerings ever, which could come as soon as 2026.

 

Financial Times

AI is transforming the legal sector, prompting changes in hiring practices. Max Junestrand, CEO of Legora, a collaborative AI for legal professionals, observes that firms are increasingly seeking lawyers with diverse backgrounds. "I think the way you hire lawyers will change a bit . . . more increasingly we're seeing lawyers with varied backgrounds. They might have a minor in computer science . . . entrepreneurial background . . . because knowing the law, yes, that will be one thing, but AI will also know the law. So the question is, what do you bring on top of that?” he said. Legora has expanded rapidly, increasing its valuation from $50m to $1.8bn in two years.

 

City AM

Christopher DiPompeo has joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as a partner and co-chair of the firm's bankruptcy litigation practice in Washington, DC. Previously with Jones Day, DiPompeo specializes in representing creditors, debtors, and equity holders in corporate reorganizations across various industries. His expertise includes advising on liability management exercises and handling disputes with distressed suppliers and customers, both in and out of bankruptcy.

 

Bloomberg Law

Prosecutors in Switzerland have filed charges against Credit Suisse and its owner UBS over alleged organizational “deficiencies” linked to a $7m (€6m) payment at the center of the Mozambique $2bn (€1.72bn) “tuna bonds” scandal. The Office of the Attorney General said Credit Suisse, which was taken over by Swiss rival UBS in a state-engineered rescue in 2023, failed to maintain adequate controls and did not report the suspicious transaction until 2019. UBS said: “We firmly reject the Office of the Attorney General’s conclusions and will vigorously defend our position.” 

 

Financial Times

SWI swissinfo.ch

Wall Street Journal

The Guardian

Despite evidence linking phthalates to serious health issues, including infertility and developmental disorders, regulatory actions have been slow. Today, phthalates are still present in food production, raising concerns about public health. A recent study estimated that phthalate-related diseases cost the U.S. $66.7bn annually. Experts argue that stronger regulations are needed, as current levels of exposure remain dangerous, particularly for vulnerable populations including pregnant women and children. The Washington Post has spoken to 14 current and former regulators at the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, who blamed an institutional culture based on weak laws and a fear of litigation for why they did not ban or restrict phthalates.

 

Washington Post