Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

Several Democratic-led states are advancing legislation to allow individuals to sue federal agents in state courts for civil rights violations. Illinois has already enacted such a law, which quickly prompted a lawsuit from the Trump administration claiming it violated the U.S. Constitution's "Supremacy Clause" that makes federal laws supersede conflicting state laws. The proposed laws aim to hold agents accountable in court when they act outside the scope of their duties, and allow citizens to seek damages for constitutional rights violations. Arlington, Virginia-based lawyer Anya Bidwell, who brings civil rights claims on behalf of clients against law enforcement, described the proposed state measures as "a potential ​sea change" in the American legal system. 

 

U.S. News

Where does AI really add value in contracting?   

The top challenge to implementing AI in contracting isn’t the technology; it’s not knowing where to start.   

If you're looking for a shortcut to clarity, Promise vs. Reality: is AI the future of contract lifecycle management? is a practical end-to-end guide for legal professionals. It breaks down the stages of the contract lifecycle, illustrating exactly where AI can be beneficial, and how it can help reduce your to-do list.  

Grab the guide

 

Reuters reports on how Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rules - such as the 2022 law which requires employers to reasonably accommodate pregnant workers - may dramatically change under Republican EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, who said in 2024 the regulations were written too broadly. Now, as chair since November and with a Republican majority on the commission, Lucas has already begun an overhaul of the agency to reflect "a conservative view of civil rights." Democratic EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal observes: "Efforts to weaken the [Pregnant Worker Fairness Act's] meaningful worker protections, which have been shown to reduce miscarriage rates by nearly 10 percent, are misguided . . . We should be standing up for women and families, not weakening their civil rights."

 

U.S. News

In a filing in San Francisco federal court, unions representing U.S. government workers have asked a federal judge to block President Donald Trump's administration from cutting more than 10,000 jobs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency sends emergency personnel, supplies and equipment to areas affected by disasters. The unions say the administration has misled the public about the scope of the staffing cuts, and claim the cuts are unlawful because they were not approved by Congress and also violate legislation passed in November to end a 43-day government shutdown that prohibited layoffs at federal agencies through January 30.

 

Reuters

UBS has asked a Connecticut court to throw out a suit filed by former trader Tom Hayes that accuses the Swiss lender of handing him over to global prosecutors to protect the bank and its senior leadership during the Libor rigging scandal. Lawyers for UBS described Hayes' allegations as "spurious" and said that he cannot prove that UBS prosecuted him or acted maliciously, because UBS wasn't a party to the U.K. criminal proceedings. “Despite the bank’s efforts to deflect attention elsewhere, UBS’s purely procedural motion is a desperate attempt to avoid having discovery into the facts and having the case heard on its merits,” a spokesperson for Hayes said.

 

Bloomberg

The Supreme Court is set to hear a case regarding the applicability of the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) to users who subscribe to newsletters from websites using Meta's tracking technology. The lawsuit, filed by Michael Salazar, accuses Paramount Global of violating the VPPA by disclosing subscribers' identities and video media information to Facebook without consent. The core question is whether subscribing to a free newsletter qualifies a user as a "consumer" under the VPPA. The Sixth Circuit Court previously ruled that Salazar did not meet the definition of a consumer, as he only subscribed to a free service. Paramount contends that the VPPA is outdated and not applicable to modern internet advertising practices.

 

Jurist

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has sharply reduced its investigations into sexual violence in schools following mass layoffs by the Trump administration. With half its legal staff gone and a backlog exceeding 25,000 cases, the department has opened fewer than 10 sexual violence probes since March 2025, down from dozens annually. Meanwhile, it has increased Title IX investigations into transgender accommodations. Victims now increasingly turn to lawsuits as complaints stall or go unacknowledged. Advocates say this undermines accountability, risks a return to a two-tiered justice system, and erodes decades of civil rights progress. Though the department has pledged to restore some staff, it continues defending the layoffs and its revised Title IX focus.

 

Los Angeles Times

President ​Donald ‌Trump has appointed ‍Colin McDonald ​to ​serve ⁠in the newly-created role of assistant ‌attorney general for ​national fraud ‌enforcement. McDonald currently ⁠serves as associate deputy attorney general ​at the Department of Justice and has worked as a federal prosecutor.

 

U.S. News

Despite bold claims from executives about artificial intelligence's productivity gains, a new survey reveals a stark disconnect with employees, most of whom report little to no time saved using the technology. While over 40% of executives say AI saves them more than eight hours per week, two-thirds of non-management staff say they save less than two hours or none at all, according to a Section survey of 5,000 white-collar workers. Many workers said they feel overwhelmed or anxious about AI integration, using it mainly for basic tasks including draft writing or search, and often spending time correcting AI errors. CEOs acknowledge limited bottom-line impact so far, with just 12% reporting both cost and revenue benefits from AI, according to PwC. The findings suggest a growing credibility gap between C-suite optimism and employee experience.

 

Wall Street Journal

Joshua Hazan has joined King & Spalding as a partner in its business litigation practice in New York, transitioning from his previous role as counsel at Simpson Thacher. His expertise lies in antitrust litigation and investigations conducted by the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department. Hazan also advises clients on securing antitrust approvals for complex transactions both domestically and internationally.

 

Bloomberg Law

A court in the Netherlands has ruled that binding greenhouse gas emissions targets to reach net zero by 2050 must be set by the government to protect the Dutch-Caribbean island of Bonaire, and has ordered the state to develop a proper climate adaptation plan for the island. “This is an incredible victory for the people in Bonaire,” said Eefje de Kroon, a climate justice expert at Greenpeace Nederlands. “Not only has the court established that people from Bonaire are being discriminated against because of the climate crisis but also the Dutch government needs to do much more to protect them.” The court ruled that the Dutch government was breaching articles 8 and 14 of the European convention on human rights, which protect the right to respect for private and family life and prohibit discrimination.

 

Financial Times

New York Times

NL Times

The Guardian

French lawmakers have approved legislation banning access to social media for children under 15 and prohibiting mobile phone use on high school premises. Backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government and fast-tracked through parliament, the bill was introduced by MP Laure Miller following concerns over the psychological impact of platforms such as TikTok on minors. After legal concerns from France’s top administrative court about compatibility with EU law and fundamental freedoms, the bill was softened and rewritten. The adopted version does not directly impose obligations on platforms but states that access to social networks is prohibited for under-15s, with the government indicating platforms will need to implement age-verification measures. The legislation also includes provisions to protect minors from excessive commercial pressure and harmful content, and could extend to certain social features of messaging apps and popular video games.

 

Le Monde