Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

Donald Trump ally Elon Musk has targeted law firms involved in cases against the Trump administration in a post on his social media platform X. He did not identify a specific firm. "Which law firms are pushing these anti-democratic cases to impede the will of the people?" Musk wrote in a post directed at firms that have teamed up with advocacy groups to challenge sweeping policy changes in court. "Democracy in America is being destroyed by judicial coup," Musk wrote in a separate post. Musk's post on law firms comes in the wake of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley that temporarily blocked the administration's cuts to federal grant funding for universities, medical centers and other research institutions. Reuters notes that Musk has used social media in the past to criticize prominent law firms by name.

 

Reuters

More than two dozen Christian and Jewish organizations, representing millions of Americans, have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration's immigration policy that allows agents to arrest individuals at places of worship. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, argues that the policy instils fear among congregants, leading to decreased attendance at services and hindering the ability to minister to migrants. Most Rev. Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said: “We cannot worship freely if some of us are living in fear.” The plaintiffs include major denominations such as the Episcopal Church, Reform Judaism, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, collectively representing over 1m followers. The lawsuit seeks to protect the religious freedom of these groups, which have historically provided support to undocumented individuals. The Trump administration has yet to respond to the lawsuit.

 

Boston Globe

Los Angeles Times

Les Echos-Le Parisien, part of the LVMH group, has decided not to proceed with a lawsuit against Elon Musk's X, which was initially intended to seek compensation for unpaid content. A spokesperson for Les Echos-Le Parisien confirmed: "We have indeed made such a threat against X in the past", but did not elaborate on the reasons for the change in direction. Previously, Les Echos-Le Parisien chief executive Pierre Louette stated that X "must comply" with EU copyright rules to ensure the availability of quality information. The shift follows a similar lawsuit against Microsoft's LinkedIn, indicating ongoing tensions between media publishers and digital platforms.

 

Reuters

President Donald Trump on Tuesday lost the latest round in a court battle over his administration's bid to freeze federal spending, after the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause a court order requiring the government to continue delivering funds. Lawyers with the Department of Justice had asked the Boston-based 1st Circuit to stay a decision by John McConnell, a federal judge in Rhode Island, who determined that the Trump administration likely violated the Constitution when it tried to block trillions in federal funding through a now-rescinded directive of the Office of Management and Budget. David Barron, Julie Rikelman and Lara Montecalvo, the appeals judges assigned to the case, cited “well-recognized uncertainty” about whether the kind of stay the Department of Justice sought is legally available at this juncture, and said they were not persuaded it was justified. The court will consider issuing a stay pending appeal later this week, according to the order. The Trump administration had asked for an immediate administrative pause, which was rejected, as well as a stay pending appeal by Friday.

 

ABC News

USA Today

National Review

Politico

Law.com reports on a case at the U.K. High Court in London which it says could have a "chilling" effect on anti-money laundering enforcement. The case is centered around Dentons U.K. and Middle East and a banker known only as "Client A" who was eventually sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and ordered to pay $39m to the bank he had chaired. Last year, the U.K. Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ruled that Dentons breached money laundering rules by failing to properly investigate the source of the banker's wealth. The tribunal did however say that there was no breach of U.K. Solicitors Regulation Authority principles or code of conduct. No sanction was given and the case was dismissed. The SRA then appealed to the High Court and a hearing is now being held.

 

Law

A former UBS bond strategist has faced a setback after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a jury verdict that awarded him $903,300 in damages. The court found that the jury instructions during Trevor Murray's 2020 trial were flawed, making it too easy to conclude that his whistleblowing contributed to his firing. Circuit Judge Michael Park said: "A contributing factor must actually cause or help cause the termination decision." Murray alleged he was fired in 2012 for raising concerns about the bank's practices regarding commercial mortgage-backed securities.

 

U.S. News

International law firm Hill Dickinson has restricted general access to artificial intelligence (AI) tools after noticing a sharp rise in staff usage. A senior director warned employees that much of the usage did not align with the firm's AI policy. Staff must access the tools via a request process from now on. The firm reported over 32,000 hits to ChatGPT and 3,000 to DeepSeek in just a week, along with nearly 50,000 hits to Grammarly. The move highlights ongoing concerns about AI use in professional settings, particularly around security and compliance. A spokesperson from the U.K.'s Information Commissioner's Office told BBC News that firms should "offer their staff AI tools that meet their organizational policies and data protection obligations."

 

BBC News

At the Artificial Intelligence Action summit in Paris, U.S. Vice President JD Vance cautioned global leaders and tech executives that “excessive regulation” could stifle the burgeoning AI industry. He warned European Union countries against overregulation and said the Trump administration wants AI to remain free from ideological bias. "The Trump administration is troubled by reports that some foreign governments are considering tightening the screws on U.S. tech companies with international footprints," Vance said. "Now, America cannot and will not accept that, and we think it's a terrible mistake — not just for the United States of America — but for your own countries." Vance said the U.S. wants to ensure that the internet is a safe place, but suggested the European Union's Digital Services Act had overreached, enacting "massive regulations" and "policing so-called misinformation." He said: "It is one thing to prevent a predator from preying on a child on the internet, and it is something quite different to prevent a grown man or woman from accessing an opinion that the government thinks is misinformation."

 

Time.com

Fast Company

Los Angeles Times

Washingtonpost.com

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking to enlist Internal Revenue Service (IRS) criminal investigators and other Treasury Department personnel for immigration enforcement tasks. In a letter dated February 7th, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requested assistance from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to combat human trafficking and illegal employment. Ms. Noem stated: "It is DHS's understanding that the Department of the Treasury has qualified law enforcement personnel available to assist with immigration enforcement." The move aligns with President Donald Trump's broader strategy to enhance immigration enforcement across various government agencies. The IRS, primarily focused on tax collection, also investigates drug trafficking and corruption.

 

Bloomberg Tax

US News and World Report

Wall Street Journal

White & Case has announced the conclusion of its exclusive partnership with Witara Cakra Advocates (WCA), effective 1 May 2025, marking the end of its on-the-ground presence in Indonesia. The U.S. firm, which has been active in the Indonesian market for over 40 years, has said it remains committed to servicing clients through its established Indonesia practice. The partnership with WCA, which began in 2015, has seen notable departures recently, including banking partner Fajar Ramadhan and M&A counsel Rika Rusman. As the firm winds down its association, it will maintain eight bases across Asia.

 

The Global Legal Post

Law

Pinsent Masons has announced the opening of a new office in Shenzhen, marking the fourth foreign firm establishment in the city within two years, and Pinsent Masons' third mainland China office. Kanyi Lui, the firm's China head, will relocate from Beijing to lead the new venture. The office will be situated in the Qianhai Free Trade Zone, which is poised to become a key hub for the Belt and Road Initiative and a global centre for finance, logistics, technology, and legal services.

 

Law

The top 10 deal leads ranking by data provider Mergerlinks saw Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz each land two attorneys based on their total deal value in 2024. The annual ranking saw a significant shakeup between 2023 and 2024, with only one attorney making both years' lists. Brandon Van Dyke of Skadden was ranked No. 1 in the ranking for 2024, leading six deals valued at just under $74bn, including DuPont's sale of its electronics business and Holcim's offloading of its North American unit.

 

Law

Peter Hardy has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its litigation practice based in Philadelphia. He brings extensive experience in advising corporations and individuals facing allegations of financial fraud, including money laundering and tax fraud. Hardy also provides guidance to financial institutions on anti-money laundering obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act. Previously, he was with Ballard Spahr.

 

Bloomberg Tax

Amazon is currently facing its second workers' union vote in two months, as employees at a warehouse in Garner, North Carolina, decide whether to join the Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE). The vote, which runs through Friday, aims to secure better wages, longer breaks, and improved scheduling flexibility. Italo Medelius-Marsano, CAUSE secretary, said: “We deserve better for the work we do day in and day out”. A successful vote could lead to further organizing efforts across Amazon's 1,000 U.S. warehouses, while a failed vote may hinder such initiatives. Amazon has opposed unionization, arguing that employees are better served by direct communication with the company. Allegations of retaliation against union supporters have also surfaced, with workers filing complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.

 

US News and World Report

Senegal has filed a claim at the International Criminal Court to restart a dispute with steelmaker ArcelorMittal that was settled more than ten years ago. The country's recently-elected government has raised allegations that the settlement was tainted by fraud and corruption. 

 

Global Arbitration Review