Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

In July, Americans' perception of the U.S. economy improved, with the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rising to 97.2, up from 95.2 the previous month. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a reading of 96. Despite this increase, concerns about tariffs persist, particularly regarding their impact on economic futures. A measure of short-term expectations for income and job conditions rose 4.5 points to 74.4, yet remains below the 80 threshold that could indicate a recession. Consumers' assessments of their current economic situation inched down by 1.5 points to 131.5.

 

BBC News

NPR / National Public Radio

Washingtonpost.com

A former labor relations employee at Netflix has filed a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination after raising concerns about discrimination against women of color and sexual harassment. Hired in May 2021, Nhu-Y Phan alleges she was fired in September 2024 for “unspecified performance issues,” despite receiving positive reviews. The lawsuit says that her managers engaged in discriminatory practices, limiting her professional opportunities and retaliating against her after she reported harassment. Phan is seeking punitive damages and a jury trial. Her attorney, Brian Olney, said: “Netflix fired Nhu Phan and tried to force her into secretive arbitration proceedings to silence her voice.”

 

Los Angeles Times

Legal groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), claiming the agency is unlawfully neglecting its duty to enforce federal workplace protections for transgender workers. The lawsuit alleges that the agency has stopped payments to state and local civil rights agencies responsible for investigating gender identity discrimination claims. Acting Chair Andrea Lucas has been accused of swiftly complying with President Donald Trump's recent executive order, which asserts that there are only two unchangeable sexes.

 

The Baltimore Sun

A coalition of liberal states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a provision in the “Big Beautiful Bill” that restricts Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other large nonprofit abortion providers. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said: “Defunding Planned Parenthood is not about fiscal responsibility - it's about targeting healthcare providers that some politicians don't like.” The lawsuit follows a recent victory for Planned Parenthood, where a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ban. The measure threatens $300m in federal funding for clinics in California and could harm healthcare access for millions, particularly affecting low-income individuals and communities of color.

 

OregonLive.com

Companies are rethinking how to keep employees safe after a second killing of an executive in Manhattan in less than a year, the Financial Times reports. Wesley LePatner, a senior executive at Blackstone, was among those killed in the shooting on Monday at an office tower. In December, Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealth's insurance unit, was fatally shot ahead of an investor event. Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and President Jon Gray held a 30-minute all-hands Zoom call on Tuesday to inform employees that the firm is offering support services to staff in need.

 

Financial Times

New York Times

Reuters

LegalOn Technologies, a provider of legal AI for contracting, has announced a $50m Series E funding round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives. The funding round, which also saw participation from World Innovation Lab, Mori Hamada, Mizuho Bank, and Shoko Chukin, brings the company's total funding to $200m. LegalOn intends to use this capital to enhance its agentic AI product development and expand its market presence in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. Additionally, the company has formed a strategic collaboration with OpenAI to redefine its offerings.

 

Bloomberg Law

Law

Legal Tech Monitor

Union Pacific is set to acquire Norfolk Southern in a monumental $72bn deal that is anticipated to be the largest in the railroad sector's history. Legal representation for Union Pacific includes Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, while Norfolk Southern is advised by Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. Covington & Burling is also assisting Union Pacific with regulatory issues, a significant challenge for rail mergers, while Sidley Austin serves as regulatory counsel for Norfolk Southern. The companies aim to finalize the transaction by 2027.

 

Bloomberg Law

Law

Trump administration officials are reportedly considering eliminating multi-language services at the IRS, a move that would make it dramatically more difficult for non-English-speaking individuals to file their taxes. Sources say the IRS is evaluating how to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring English the official language of the U.S., a power that some legal scholars say the president does not have. This could force the IRS to review translations for more than 100 forms in Spanish and other languages, free phone and in-person translation services, the IRS’s multi-language website, its Spanish-language social media accounts and programs that allow taxpayers to receive forms and notifications in the language of their choosing. “I believe maintaining multilingual options for how taxpayers engage the IRS is essential to the mission,” said former IRS commissioner Danny Werfel. “The IRS is charged with helping people and businesses meet their tax obligations. The more comprehensively the IRS does that, regardless of what language they do it in, the better the financial bottom line of our nation’s government will be.”

 

Washington Post

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded a 14-month investigation into Waymo's self-driving vehicles, which had been scrutinized for minor collisions and unexpected driving behavior. The investigation was initiated after 22 reports indicated potential violations of traffic safety laws, including 17 collisions, but NHTSA decided not to take further action, citing two recalls by Waymo that addressed safety concerns. Waymo expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasising its commitment to safety as it continues to operate over 1,500 autonomous vehicles across several major U.S. cities.

 

Reuters

Peter Hays has joined Paul Hastings as a partner in its corporate department in Houston, transitioning from King & Spalding after eight years. Hays brings extensive experience advising public and private companies, equity and debt investors, and entrepreneurs on energy sector transactions, including upstream and midstream deals and projects related to energy transition.

 

Bloomberg Law

Law

In July, Americans' perception of the U.S. economy improved, with the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rising to 97.2, up from 95.2 the previous month. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a reading of 96. Despite this increase, concerns about tariffs persist, particularly regarding their impact on economic futures. A measure of short-term expectations for income and job conditions rose 4.5 points to 74.4, yet remains below the 80 threshold that could indicate a recession. Consumers' assessments of their current economic situation inched down by 1.5 points to 131.5.

 

Bloomberg

Reuters

US News and World Report

Wall Street Journal