Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
2nd January 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Chief justice says Constitution remains ‘firm and unshaken’
In his annual end-of-year message, Chief Justice John Roberts has emphasized the U.S. Constitution's enduring strength following a challenging year for the judicial system. His remarks came as the nation awaits significant Supreme Court decisions in 2026, including challenges to President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship and his use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs. Roberts did not directly address concerns about the independence of the judiciary but praised the Constitution for “granting life tenure and salary protection to safeguard the independence of federal judges and ensure their ability to serve as a counter-majoritarian check on the political branches . . . This arrangement, now in place for 236 years, has served the country well.”
LAW
DOJ working 'around the clock' to review Epstein documents
The U.S. Justice Department has said it is working “around the clock” to review documents it is required by law to release related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a statement on X Wednesday, said the DOJ was taking an “all hands on deck approach . . . We’re asking as many lawyers as possible to commit their time to review the documents that remain,” adding “Required redactions to protect victims take time but they will not stop these materials from being released.”
Federal judges repeatedly scolded DOJ lawyers in 2025
Federal judges repeatedly criticized Justice Department lawyers for their courtroom conduct in 2025, highlighting issues including misrepresentations and legally flawed arguments. Judges are questioning whether the government should still receive the “presumption of regularity,” a doctrine that assumes proper government action in court.
Trump administration must fund CFPB, judge says
A federal judge has said that the Trump administration must allow funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to continue.  The administration has been trying to dismantle the agency, which acts as a guardrail for the safety of the financial system, through staffing and funding cuts. Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the Federal District Court in Washington wrote that the watchdog could continue to receive funding from the Federal Reserve even though the Fed had been operating at a loss since 2022. The Fed’s willingness to pay has not changed, she wrote, adding that “the only new circumstance is the administration’s determination to eliminate an agency created by Congress with the stroke of pen.”
EMPLOYMENT LAW
DOJ is using fraud law to target companies on DEI
The Trump administration has launched investigations under the False Claims Act into the use of diversity initiatives in hiring and promotion at major U.S. companies, including Google and Verizon. The companies, in sectors including automotive, pharmaceuticals, defense, and utilities, have received Justice Department demands for documents and information about their workplace programs, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing people familiar with the investigations. Lawyers who practice in the area say it is unusual to see the antifraud law being used to pursue concerns about compliance with federal antidiscrimination laws. “These investigations are somewhat unique,” said Lisa Dykstra, a partner at Morgan Lewis. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the False Claims Act would be a “weapon” used to go after companies that “continue to adhere to racist policies.”
Challenge to Trump's H-1B visa fee moves to appeals court
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is appealing a federal court's refusal to block the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on applications for H-1B visas. Last month, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C. rejected a challenge from the nation's largest business lobbying group that the fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers conflicted with federal immigration law and would lead many employers to cut jobs and the services they provide to the public.
CASES
Andrew Left fails to end U.S. criminal fraud case
A federal judge has rejected prominent short seller Andrew Left's attempt to dismiss a U.S. criminal case accusing him of fraudulently manipulating stock prices.  U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter threw out Left's claim that the Department of Justice specifically targeted him, known as selective prosecution, because he published bearish views about certain stocks, meaning he expected prices to fall. "It is a bedrock constitutional principle that the government cannot single a person out for prosecution based on the content of that person’s speech," Left's lawyers had said when seeking the dismissal.
CORPORATE
M&A volumes in 2025 surge 50% to $4.5tn
Worldwide mergers and acquisitions increased by almost 50% from 2024 to $4.5tn in 2025, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group. A record number of megadeals lifted investment banking fees to their second-highest level ever, although smaller transactions waned, with the total number of deals falling 7% to the lowest since 2016. Private equity activity grew more modestly, up over 25% to $889bn.
FIRMS
Goldman warns about law firm data breach
Goldman Sachs has warned investors that their data may have been exposed in a breach at one of the bank's law firms. Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobs informed Goldman of a "cybersecurity incident" and said its network was now secure and the vulnerability had been corrected. Goldman said its systems were not affected by the incident, and it is working with the law firm “to better understand whether our data or our clients’ data may have been exposed.”
Top U.S. law firms hand associates $300,000-plus bonuses
Mid-level lawyers at some U.S. firms will be paid bonuses of more than $300,000 for December as top firms battle to hire and keep star performers, the Financial Times reports.
APPOINTMENTS
Former Paul Weiss pro bono chief tapped as top NYC law leader
Steve Banks, former pro bono chief at Paul Weiss, has been appointed as the corporation counsel for New York City by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The role places Banks, a seasoned liberal advocate, at the forefront of the city's legal affairs. Previously, Banks served nearly eight years as commissioner of the New York City Department of Social Services under Mayor Bill de Blasio.
INTERNATIONAL
India's top court halts order redefining mineral rich hills
India's Supreme Court has halted implementation of its recent order that opened up the 800-kilometer Aravalli hill range near Jaipur for more extensive mining and real estate. Following widespread protests, the court will hear the case again on Jan. 21 and a new expert committee will examine the environmental impact of the recommendations made by a previous panel. More than 70 different minerals are found in the Aravalli hills, including copper, zinc, lead, silver, tungsten, and asbestos.
OTHER
Lawyer is also a working clown
Jaymie Parkkinen, a lawyer at Toberoff & Associates, is a professional clown in his spare time. Parkkinen has been representing Elon Musk in his ongoing legal disputes with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Outside of law, he runs a business called Clown Cardio in Los Angeles. Parkkinen believes that clowning enhances his legal skills, because both require strong connections with people. Despite his busy litigation schedule, he has received franchise requests for Clown Cardio across Europe since a feature in The New York Times in 2024.

 

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