Global Scans · Legal · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Substantive regulatory change is likely to happen in the next decade as a result of the recent U.S. Presidential election, Brexit and efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, increase trade and reduce bureaucracy while legislating for new forms of technological advancement such as robots, driverless cars and drones.

• [New] In 2026, the race for AI-driven advantage will slam into a wall of legal reality. Techzine Global
• [New] Asbestos identification and management represents the most significant hazardous material consideration in NSW kitchen demolition, with legal requirements and health consequences making compliant approaches essential regardless of apparent cost implications that non-compliant methods might avoid. The Quote Yard
• [New] The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act is expected to be phased in between 2025 and 2027, providing a clearer legal framework for AI and robotics deployment across member states. DIGITIMES Inc.
• [New] South Korea will finalize stablecoin regulations in Q1 2026, mandating 100% reserves and guaranteed user redemption rights. BeInCrypto
• [New] With the EU Forced Labour Regulation set to take effect late next year, companies will start to take preparatory compliance steps this year, with most waiting until expected compliance guidelines and other European Commission resources are published. / USA JD Supra
• [New] Expect significant rulemaking initiatives from the US SEC addressing shareholder proposals, periodic reporting, proxy advisors and proxy voting, which may result in a once-in-a-generation realignment of governance regulation. JD Supra
• [New] The legal pressure from the Epic Games case has essentially forced open doors that might have remained closed for years, creating a natural experiment in mobile gaming economics. Gadget Hacks
• [New] California's greenhouse gas emissions and climate risk disclosure mandates (SB 253 and SB 261, respectively) are likely to survive legal challenge. JD Supra
• [New] Colorado's transparency rules place heavy administrative and legal burdens, especially on smaller companies that lack compliance staff and could be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per violation. financialpost
• [New] In 2026, law firms can expect clients to demand the adoption of AI for contract drafting and review. Artificial Lawyer
• [New] By 2026, AI embedded in core platforms will be a standard requirement for law firms to operate efficiently and competitively. Litera
• [New] By the end of 2026, the use of AI for legal work will be normalized and largely assumed across the majority of practice areas. Artificial Lawyer
• [New] In 2026, corporate legal departments will stop treating legal AI as an experiment and will begin requiring outside counsel to show measurable efficiency gains. Artificial Lawyer
• [New] U.S. states will continue to impose more prescriptive cybersecurity regulations and pursue aggressive cybersecurity-related enforcement actions. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporati
• [New] The right to cure certain violations of some existing state privacy laws (including Oregon, Minnesota, and New Jersey) will expire in 2026. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporati
• [New] Various state laws governing minors' privacy and online safety will go into effect in 2026, assuming they are not successfully challenged in court or otherwise preempted. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporati
• [New] Point Solutions Will Hit Their Ceiling, Platforms Will Drive Buying Decisions: 2026 is the year legal AI stops being about neat tools and starts being about operating infrastructure. Artificial Lawyer
• [New] The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation aims to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030, albeit with different grades of recyclability. Chemistry World
• [New] With regulation tightening, the pace of M&A activity is expected to accelerate even further in 2026. Blockrise
• [New] The Dutch pension fund PFZW has removed EUR 14.5 billion (USD 17 billion) in assets from BlackRock management, as well as EUR 15 billion from UK-based Legal & General, on the grounds that the AMs were not acting in PFZW's best interests with regards to climate change risk. Zero Carbon Analytics
• [New] AI Risk Will Create Direct Executive Liability The AI deployment race is going to collide with the legal reality in 2026. https://www.uscsinstitute.org/cybersecurity-insights/bl

Last updated: 13 January 2026