Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
6th January 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
U.S. Chamber gets fast-tracked appeal in $100,000 H-1B fee dispute
A U.S. appeals court has agreed to expedite an appeal regarding President Donald Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for hiring skilled foreign workers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued that a swift review is crucial to protect employers' rights ahead of the H-1B visa lottery in March. "Those employers' ability to participate in the H-1B program this year therefore hinges on the outcome of this appeal; without relief by March, it will be too late,” the Chamber said. The appeal follows a December 24 decision by a district judge affirming the fee's legality. The Trump administration has said  the H1-B program has been abused by U.S. employers who seek to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign workers.
LAW
U.S. allies criticize military action in Venezuela
U.S. allies used an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to object to the Trump administration's military incursion into a sovereign state and the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro as a violation of international law. U.N. secretary general António Guterres said the administration had violated the U.N. charter with the raid to take Maduro and his wife into custody. Security Council members described the raid as a violation of international law.
LAWSUITS
Judge allows Amazon price case
A U.S. judge has denied Amazon’s attempt to dismiss a class action lawsuit accusing the company of COVID-era price gouging. Consumers claim Amazon inflated prices on essentials including face masks and painkillers, with increases as high as 1,800%. Judge Robert Lasnik rejected Amazon’s argument that Washington state laws were too vague, saying consumers had “no meaningful choice” during shortages. Plaintiffs also allege Amazon profited knowingly, despite assuring officials it would curb such practices. The case seeks damages for purchases made between January 2020 and October 2022.
CASES
Teachers win right to tell parents if their child might be LGBTQ+
U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez has affirmed the rights of California teachers to inform parents about their child's gender identity at school, saying: "California public schools may be gun-free zones, but they are not First Amendment-free zones." The decision, which has been appealed by the state, could reshape school policies across California. The case was launched by teachers Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, who objected to a district policy that restricted such disclosures. Critics argue that the ruling undermines student privacy and LGBTQ+ protections, while supporters say it reinforces parental rights.
APPOINTMENTS
Paul Hastings adds partner duo from Hogan Lovells
Paul Hastings has bolstered its life sciences practice in Washington DC with the addition of Lynn Mehler and Phil Katz from Hogan Lovells. Mehler, previously co-head of Hogan Lovells’ global life sciences and healthcare group, will serve as chair of Paul Hastings’ life sciences regulatory group. Katz previously ran the firm’s pharmaceuticals and biotechnology regulatory practice. Paul Hastings’ chair Frank Lopez said: “The movement of a top-of-the market life sciences regulatory team is incredibly rare and we are grateful that Lynn and Phil share our vision for creating a premier full-service life sciences platform, from regulatory and compliance to IP litigation, investigations and antitrust to equity capital markets, ECVC and private and public M&A.”
FIRMS
McGuireWoods tightens fact-checking systems
McGuireWoods says it has tightened its fact-checking systems and overall legal writing training after a court identified a number of false references by one of the firm's attorneys in briefs for two cases in federal court in Atlanta in November. “This was not a case of a typographical-type error or a couple of small inaccuracies,” observed U.S Magistrate Judge Justin Anand.

 
Law
TECHNOLOGY
AI chatbots are biased against dialect speakers
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT exhibit significant bias against speakers of various English dialects. In their study, dialect speakers received 18% worse stereotyping, 25% more demeaning content, and 15% more condescending responses compared to standard English speakers. Emma Harvey, a PhD student at Cornell University, noted that as LLMs become more prevalent, they may amplify existing biases. The study suggests that custom LLMs tailored for dialects could improve user experience and reduce discrimination.
TAX
Nearly 150 countries agree on update to global minimum tax deal
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has finalized a deal exempting U.S. multinational corporations from a 15% global minimum tax. Nearly 150 countries agreed to the plan, which is aimed at preventing profit shifting to low-tax jurisdictions. The most recent version of the deal waters down the 2021 agreement that sought to prevent multinational corporations from shifting earnings to low- or no-tax havens. Critics, including Zorka Milin from the FACT Coalition, argue the deal undermines progress in corporate taxation, and allows major U.S. companies to continue using tax havens. OECD head Mathias Cormann said in a statement the arrangement "enhances tax certainty, reduces complexity, and protects tax bases."
INTERNATIONAL
Oil industry makes the case for Maduro's successor
Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela in Caracas on Jan. 5. Bloomberg reports that executives, lawyers, and investors tied to the oil industry made the case for Rodríguez as Nicolás Maduro's successor following his ouster, observing that as an oil minister herself, she would be best placed to guide the U.S. plan to optimize Venezuela's oil production. However, the biggest U.S. oil majors were not among Rodriguez's advocates. A spokesperson for Chevron, the only major U.S. oil company licensed to operate in Venezuela, said it “had no advance notice of the recent operation and did not engage in any discussions with administration officials regarding governance for a post-Maduro Venezuela.” 
Brazilian judge weighs blocking asset sales in Banco Master case
At Brazil's federal audit court TCU, Judge Jhonatan de Jesus said he may consider measures to prevent the sale of assets during the liquidation of Banco Master. The lender was shut down by the Brazilian central bank in November after months of problems with liquidity. "Given the risk of potentially irreversible acts, it cannot be ruled out that, at an appropriate moment, a precautionary measure may be considered, directed at the Central Bank of Brazil . . . aimed at preserving the value of the liquidation estate and the usefulness of external oversight," the judge wrote.
OTHER
Only 33% of Americans approve of U.S. strike on Venezuela
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only one in three Americans approves of the U.S. military strike in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. The poll of 1,248 adults revealed that 65% of Republicans support the operation, while only 11% of Democrats and 23% of independents do so. The poll also showed President Trump's approval rating at 42%, the highest rating since ​October and up from 39% in a December poll.

 

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