Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse

The Trump administration has urgently petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a federal ruling that found the president exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs. Solicitor General John Sauer emphasized the need for swift review due to its impact on trade talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that delay could disrupt up to $1trn in tariffs and ongoing negotiations. A federal court found Trump’s use of emergency powers under the 1977 law unlawful, stating it doesn’t authorize tariff imposition. Small businesses, hurt by the tariffs, also support a quick resolution.

 

NPR / National Public Radio

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration unlawfully revoked $2.2bn in research funding from Harvard University, violating its constitutional rights. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said the government’s actions were politically motivated and used antisemitism “as a smokescreen.” She barred future retaliation without legal process. Harvard welcomed the ruling, while the administration vowed to appeal. Treasury Secretary Linda McMahon leads the government’s broader crackdown on elite universities, with future grant access still in question. Burroughs emphasized the importance of free speech, writing that political agendas must not override constitutional protections.

 

Billings Gazette

Bloomberg Tax

Wall Street Journal

Federal officials have agreed to restore health and science-related webpages and data following a lawsuit settlement with various doctors' groups, led by the Washington State Medical Association. The lawsuit arose after the Trump administration removed critical health information on topics such as pregnancy risks and opioid-use disorder, which Dr. John Bramhall described as an "egregious example of government overreach." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will restore over 100 websites, with Graham Short stating: "We expect the sites will be restored in the coming weeks." This case parallels another lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., by Doctors for America, which also sought the restoration of health information. As of last week, 167 websites had been restored in that case, with 33 still under review.

 

The Columbian

U.S. News

President Trump plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a $5m sexual abuse and defamation ruling against him in the case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. His legal team has requested an extension until November 10 to file the petition, citing conflicts with other cases. In May 2023, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll and subsequently defaming her. Carroll's lead attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed doubt that Trump could present any substantial legal issues for the Supreme Court to consider, stating, “we do not believe that President Trump will be able to present any legal issues in the Carroll cases that merit review by the United States Supreme Court.” The case is Trump v. Carroll, 25A250, US Supreme Court.

 

Bloomberg Law

U.S. News

Newsmax has filed a lawsuit against Fox Corp, alleging that the media giant has engaged in antitrust violations by coercing distributors to limit competition in the right-leaning pay TV market. The lawsuit claims that Fox's actions have stifled Newsmax's growth and left consumers with fewer choices, seeking both monetary damages and a court order to prevent Fox's alleged misconduct. In response, Fox has denied the allegations, attributing Newsmax's struggles to its own inability to attract viewers.

 

Al.com

Los Angeles Times

NPR / National Public Radio

Reuters

AT&T Inc. is edging closer to resolving a legal challenge from retirees regarding a controversial transaction that transferred the responsibility for nearly 100,000 pensions to an insurance company. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson stated in a nonbinding recommendation that the retirees failed to demonstrate that AT&T violated its fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by selecting an annuity provider they opposed. The retirees presented a “smorgasbord of background information” to argue that the chosen provider was unsafe, but did not substantiate their claims.

 

Bloomberg Law

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer met with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse as bipartisan lawmakers initiated a push to release all federal files related to the convicted sex offender. Representative Thomas Massie filed a discharge petition to compel the release of unclassified records held by the Department of Justice. Johnson described the petition as "inartfully drafted," citing concerns for victim privacy, while asserting that the House Oversight Committee is already working on the matter. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi remarked on the emotional discussions with survivors, stating: "The victims marshaled a lot of bravery and courage to come before us to tell their stories." The committee has subpoenaed documents from the DOJ and Epstein's estate, reviewing 34,000 pages received thus far.

 

U.S. News

As billing rates soar in the legal sector, midsize firms are increasingly anxious about pricing themselves out of the market. Instead of solely highlighting their lower rates, these firms can attract clients by showcasing their specialised expertise. For instance, a Pennsylvania law firm leader charges $600 per hour, a rate echoed by another regional firm. Ken Callander, managing principal of Value Strategies, noted: “I’m seeing more and more clients push back. That’s why you’re seeing the realization rates drop.” With the potential for revenue loss due to inconsistent collection practices, firms must adapt to maintain their client base and revenue streams.

 

Law

A report from Cushman & Wakefield reveals that law firm leasing reached a record level in the first half of 2025, with Q2 activity being the highest recorded, second only to Q4 of 2024. Law firm leases accounted for 61% of total leasing in major markets, totalling 10m square feet. This marks the "strongest start to a year on record" for leasing, potentially leading to a fourth consecutive year of increased activity. Notably, firms like Reed Smith have benefited from this surge, with partner Nick Foreste stating: “I've actually landed some new clients because of this venture.”

 

Law

In 2024, the U.S. government reported 290,896 civil cases filed in district courts, prompting businesses to increasingly adopt alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to mitigate the high costs and lengthy processes associated with litigation. Elizabeth Carter, senior vice president of operations at JAMS, emphasises the importance of reviewing ADR clauses, stating: "Dispute resolution clauses should not be an afterthought." Companies are particularly concerned about mass arbitrations, where numerous claims are filed simultaneously, often leading to significant arbitration fees. A well-drafted ADR clause can streamline dispute resolution, preserve business relationships, and reduce costs. Key considerations include clarity, customization, and the selection of arbitrators.

 

Law

The World Gold Council, alongside Linklaters and Hilltop Walk Consulting, has proposed a new framework to modernize gold trading through a structure called Pooled Gold Interests. This system enables investors to hold fractional shares of physical gold stored in vaults, improving liquidity and usability. It aims to simplify trading, enable use as collateral, and support secure transfers. Unlike allocated gold, which involves specific bar ownership, or unallocated gold, which carries institutional credit risk, the new structure offers a balanced alternative. This initiative follows broad industry consultations and recent evaluations by the Financial Markets Standards Board.

 

Reuters

United Airlines Inc. is appealing a federal court's "unprecedented" order that certifies a class action lawsuit regarding its Covid-19 vaccination policy. The airline has enlisted Noel Francisco, a Jones Day attorney and former U.S. solicitor general, to present its case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The airline argues that the certification order contradicts existing circuit precedent that limits class claims for damages under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The company aims to prevent class litigation against its vaccination policy.

 

Bloomberg Law

A new spear-phishing campaign has emerged targeting senior executives and C-suite personnel across multiple industries, leveraging Microsoft OneDrive as the primary attack vector. The attackers, who are employing sophisticated anti-detection mechanisms that exploit email client display differences, are using carefully crafted emails masquerading as internal HR communications about salary amendments to trick high-profile targets into surrendering their corporate credentials. The malicious emails feature subject lines containing “Salary amendment” or “FIN_SALARY” references and appear as legitimate OneDrive document-sharing notifications. Stripe OLT analysts identified this campaign while monitoring threat landscape activities, discovering that attackers are utilizing Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) infrastructure for delivery while rotating through approximately 80 different domains and subdomains to evade detection. Security teams can combat the hackers by implementing targeted hunting queries, such as KQL, to identify potential compromise attempts.

 

Cybersecurity News

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has launched a new office in downtown Chicago, led by partner-in-charge Wendy Gallegos, who specialises in real estate private equity. This move follows a trend of mergers and new office openings in the city, with firms like A&O Shearman also establishing a presence. The firm, part of the Am Law 50, announced the opening on Wednesday, marking its entry into the competitive Chicago legal market.

 

Law

Ted Dowd, the former Acting Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, has joined Perkins Coie as a partner in their Washington, D.C. office. He will provide counsel to banks, fintech platforms, and other financial entities on various issues, including mergers, anti-money laundering policies, and risk management.

 

Bloomberg Law

Bloomberg Tax

Leif Overvold has joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its Supreme Court & Appellate practice in Washington DC. With extensive experience, Overvold has served as lead counsel in over two dozen cases and has presented seventeen oral arguments before various courts.

 

Bloomberg Law

In a humorous legal dispute, Rodney Wittingham, a history professor and proud Englishman, found himself in a feud with his French neighbour, Jean Claude Boulet, over the noise and smell of Wittingham's backyard chickens. The conflict escalated when Boulet's dog, François, attacked one of the chickens, leading to a physical altercation between the two men. The trial, filled with absurdities, saw both sides presenting irrelevant evidence, including claims about the dog's breed. Ultimately, the judge dismissed all charges, suggesting the parties shake hands. Marcel Strigberger, a seasoned lawyer turned humour writer, reflects on this comical courtroom drama in his latest work.

 

ABA Journal