Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
4th November 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Natural resource conflicts surge
Disputes between governments and investors over natural resources have surged to a 10-year high, driven by factors including resource nationalism and competition for critical minerals, according to law firm DLA Piper. In 2025 alone, 32 disputes have been filed with the World Bank's arbitration body, surpassing the total for the previous year, with Latin America experiencing the most cases. Gabriela Alvarez-Avila of DLA Piper noted that as the value of these minerals becomes clearer, "states have felt the need to exert greater control" over their deposits.
LEGAL TECH
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LAW
White House announces partial funding for SNAP
President Donald Trump's administration announced on Monday that it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) following rulings from federal judges requiring the program to continue. The exact amount beneficiaries will receive and the timeline for when funds will appear on their debit cards remain uncertain. The average monthly benefit is approximately $190 per person. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had previously stated that November benefits would not be distributed due to the federal government shutdown, prompting food banks and nearly 42m Americans to seek alternative grocery access.
LAWSUITS
New York court requested to dismiss X hate speech lawsuit
New York has requested a court to dismiss a lawsuit from Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) challenging a state law that mandates social media companies to disclose their methods for monitoring hate speech and disinformation. Attorney General Letitia James argues that the Stop Hiding Hate Act is in the public interest, enabling consumers to understand social media platforms while allowing companies to manage content responsibly. X's legal team contends that the law could subject the company to significant fines and legal risks, citing a similar California law previously blocked for free speech concerns.
New Jersey water customers to receive compensation over toxic chemical
Approximately 60,000 residential customers in New Jersey are set to receive a $4.9m settlement related to a class action lawsuit against Middlesex Water Co. and 3M for violations concerning the presence of the toxic "forever chemical" PFOA in their drinking water. The settlement, announced on October 3, aims to reimburse individuals for costs incurred while avoiding contaminated water, a response to reports from October 2021 that the water supply exceeded state contaminant limits. Lead attorney Stephen DeNittis described this agreement as potentially setting a precedent for similar cases nationwide, offering compensation for those who incurred out-of-pocket expenses due to water quality issues.
CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity professionals accused of operating ransomware scheme in U.S.
U.S. prosecutors have accused three cybersecurity professionals of running a ransomware operation in collaboration with the hacking group ALPHV BlackCat, targeting companies across the U.S. and attempting to extort millions in cryptocurrency. Two of the accused, Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin, face charges, with Goldberg already detained and Martin pleading not guilty; the third accomplice remains unnamed. Both of their employers, DigitalMint and Sygnia, have said that they had no prior knowledge of the illicit activities. DigitalMint emphasized its cooperation with the investigation.
TECHNOLOGY
Kennedys partners with Spellbook for AI training
Kennedys has partnered with Spellbook to create a legal training program for junior lawyers that addresses the impact of AI on entry-level tasks. The initiative aims to equip new lawyers with essential skills as automation threatens traditional roles including contract drafting and document review. Spellbook’s platform, powered by OpenAI's GPT-5, launches later this year in Kennedys’ U.S. and U.K. offices.
Legora raises $150m for AI legal tech
Legora, an artificial intelligence start-up focused on legal tasks, has secured $150m in Series C funding, valuing the company at $1.8bn. The financing round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Founded in 2023, Legora serves firms including Linklaters and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
CORPORATE
Cravath, Kirkland guide $40bn buy of Tylenol maker
Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Kirkland & Ellis led Kimberly-Clark's agreement to buy Tylenol-maker Kenvue in a deal worth around $40bn. Cravath's M&A team guided Kenvue; Kimberly-Clark was guided by Kirkland. The merger aims to form a substantial consumer health goods company with annual revenues of approximately $32bn, with 10 billion-dollar brands.
TAX
Use of IRS dispute resolution program increases
IRS alternative dispute resolution options are becoming more popular after years of regulators lamenting underuse of such programs. Use increased 25% in fiscal year 2024 as companies and individuals took alternative avenues to resolve their tax disputes, according to an IRS spokesperson. Participation kept growing in fiscal year 2025, though the agency was unable to provide specific figures due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
APPOINTMENTS
Latham & Watkins expands Houston team
Latham & Watkins is enhancing its Houston office by hiring Max Klupchak, former general counsel at Sterling Group. Klupchak, who has a background at Kirkland & Ellis, will contribute to Latham's M&A and private equity practice. Nick Dhesi, the office managing partner, emphasized the value of Klupchak's experience, particularly in middle-market deals and the industrials and manufacturing sectors. Latham, which entered the Texas legal market in 2010, continues to make significant strides in the region.
INTERNATIONAL
ExxonMobil warns EU law could force exit from Europe
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods says the U.S. energy giant will not be able to continue operations in the European Union if the bloc does not revise the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, a sustainability law that could impose fines of 5% of global revenue. The law mandates companies doing business in the EU to identify and address human rights and environmental risks throughout their supply chains. "If we can't be a successful company in Europe, and more importantly, if they start to try to take their harmful legislation and enforce that all around the world where we do business, it becomes impossible to stay there," Woods said.
OTHER
Migration to OECD countries declined in 2024
New permanent migration to OECD countries fell by 4% in 2024, following three years of significant increases. Despite the drop, the total of 6.2 million new permanent immigrants remains relatively high, at 15% above 2019 levels, according to a new OECD report. The International Migration Outlook 2025 shows that, from 2023 to 2024, permanent migration declined by 56% in New Zealand and 41% in the United Kingdom, and by more than 10% also in Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Norway, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic and Sweden. In contrast, in 2024, permanent migration increased by 20% in the United States, driven by humanitarian flows. Increases of more than 5% were also registered in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechia, Ireland and Japan.

 

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