Rule of law in the Trump era: the demoralised prosecutors of SDNY [FREE TO READ] The Southern District of New York once took pride in its independence. But pressure from the administration is changing the way its lawyers operate

As Trump pressures the Department of Justice to target his opponents, my colleagues @chriscook.news, Paul Caruana Galizia and I dug deep into a DoJ unit - the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York - which had been known for its independence.

Full story: on.ft.com/42VG5IK

Macrons hired investigators to research US influencer Candace Owens [FREE TO READ] Podcaster who claimed French first lady was born male had links to rightwing figures in Europe and the US

New @financialtimes.com story: Lawyers for Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron hired investigators to research the US podcaster Candace Owens as they prepared to sue her, over her podcast in which she says Brigitte was born male

on.ft.com/4mb8Hp9

Macrons file US lawsuit over claims France’s first lady was born male [FREE TO READ] Case against rightwing influencer Candace Owens is a rare defamation suit from a serving world leader

“President Macron has not participated in, nor is he the product of, any government mind control programmes."

Here's a story about a fascinating lawsuit the French president and first lady have filed against influencer Candace Owens

on.ft.com/3TQ9krI on @financialtimes.com

How doing business in Hong Kong is changing [FREE TO READ] The money is flowing again, but the political environment is taking a toll

Hong Kong is back, I kept being told when I moved to the city two and a half years ago. Back to what?

Here’s my last dispatch from a place I’m so glad to have lived in:

on.ft.com/4nxXfVC

Freshfields’ risky bet backing law firms targeted by Donald Trump [FREE TO READ] Freshfields has big US ambitions but was the only top 20 outfit to publicly support firms targeted by the White House

When Freshfields decided to publicly stand up for a law firm Trump was targeting, it knew most of its peers wouldn't do the same. So, why do it?

This is the story of a near 300-year-old British firm whose push into America is causing major changes both financially and culturally

on.ft.com/4kqcr4S

David Cameron in talks to join law firm DLA Piper as consultant [FREE TO READ] Role would be one of several jobs for the former prime minister and foreign secretary since leaving office

Former UK prime minister and foreign secretary David Cameron is in talks about another new gig, as a consultant to the law firm and lobbyist DLA Piper

@financialtimes.com scoop, with @pickardje.bsky.social

on.ft.com/4k9Cz4l

Law firms face backlash over deals with Trump as judge blocks Perkins Coie order [FREE TO READ] US judge says clients may have ‘reservations’ about law firms that reached deals with the government

There are growing signs of a backlash against the law firms that struck deals with Donald Trump - and a judge has just permanently blocked one of his attempts to target law firms

Story with @sindap.bsky.social

on.ft.com/4k1Lnsf

A lawyer in Donald Trump’s inner circle is now in the president’s crosshairs [FREE TO READ] Bill Burck avoided the administration’s wrath until he agreed to represent Harvard University in a funding battle

Here's a tale that raises a big question: Can any lawyer represent Donald Trump's adversaries without themselves becoming a target?

on.ft.com/44HLaGl

Some news: I've moved from Hong Kong to New York, and today is my first day as US Legal Correspondent in the FT's NY office. Going to be a busy and fascinating beat...

Thanks Ian!

“Our client vehemently denies using the word ‘c*nt’ in front of his colleagues’ children at work,” Sadler’s lawyers said. In the event children were ever present, they added, he denied “having knowingly used profanities.”

Inside the downfall of trading titan and Blackpool FC owner Simon Sadler [FREE TO READ] He was a heavyweight in Hong Kong finance and a hometown hero. Now he faces the possibility of jail

This is a story about the rise and fall of a man from a working-class town. It’s about power in a grey area of global finance. It’s about football, swearing, a Blackpool bar called Shenanigans and a tangerine-coloured private boat. Enjoy.

w/ @bondhack.ft.com @ortenca.bsky.social

on.ft.com/3DTv1m6

Segantii founder Simon Sadler looks to sell Blackpool FC [FREE TO READ] Hedge fund’s founder and owner of the English club has had preliminary talks with at least one possible buyer

New: British hedge fund founder Simon Sadler is looking to sell Blackpool FC, as he fights a criminal insider dealing charge in Hong Kong where he has pleaded not guilty

on.ft.com/3BK5hb7

US charges against Gautam Adani put loyal Jefferies on the spot New York-based bank was vocal champion of Indian group whose billionaire head is accused of bribery scheme

Jefferies prided itself on standing by Adani when the company and its founder were accused of fraud by short seller Hindenburg Research.

www.ft.com/content/795d...

Worth noting that the lead author of this very good article has just joined Bluesky: @ortenca.bsky.social

The undercover hedge funds financing activist short sellers When Wall Street’s self-styled financial detectives allege malfeasance, these silent partners stand to reap the benefits

A closer look at the hedge funds who quietly reap the benefits when activist short sellers allege malfeasance

on.ft.com/40K6gSF

The financier turning China’s noodle joints and karaoke bars into a data gold mine [FREE TO READ] Micro Connect is packaging revenues from small businesses into tradeable instruments but critics say the risks are high

We took a detailed look at the start-up, Micro Connect, this year. It has a wealth of unfiltered data on China - its founder has said that when China ended Covid restrictions in 2022, he could see signs the virus was spreading faster than official statistics suggested

on.ft.com/4frOckI

Jane Street invested in start-up turning China’s noodle shop sales into securities Micro Connect has amassed wealth of real-time data on China’s economy by financing small businesses in exchange for revenues

Interesting move here by Jane Street, the New York trading powerhouse. It quietly bankrolled a Hong Kong start-up that has turned the revenues of China's noodle shops and karaoke bars into tradable financial securities

on.ft.com/48QSKhU