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TOP NEWS

Dorsey & Whitney Lays Off Attorneys And Staff, Reduces Pay

Dorsey & Whitney LLP is laying off a “limited number” of staff and attorneys across its U.S. and international offices and temporarily reducing pay for others by as much as 20% in an effort to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the firm announced late Tuesday.

Troutman Sanders Institutes Voluntary Leave During COVID-19

Atlanta-based Troutman Sanders LLP has reportedly implemented a voluntary temporary leave of absence program for its professional staff, joining a growing list of firms that have made cost-cutting moves in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pond Lehocky To Cut Roughly 25% Of Staff Amid COVID-19

Prominent Philadelphia-based workers’ compensation firm Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP confirmed on Tuesday that it was laying off approximately a quarter of its workforce after the end of the month as the firm deals with economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: How Law Firms Are Handling The Downturn

UPDATED May 20, 2020, 12:15 PM EDT | The spreading coronavirus pandemic has upended the legal industry, forcing firms to cut salaries, lay off attorneys and make changes to summer associate programs. Here is a roundup of how law firms are responding. 

Counsel Who Care: How Attys Are Helping During A Crisis

As coronavirus cases have spiked, law firms across the nation have been stepping up to help, from providing pro bono legal assistance to fundraisers and donations.

Metals Co. Sued For Firing Atty Who Contracted COVID-19

A New York attorney claims he was fired from his counsel position with a metals company after he contracted the novel coronavirus and asked to work remotely in Europe while he recovered, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Pittsburgh federal court.

CLOSINGS AND RESTRICTIONS

Coronavirus: The Latest Court Closures And Restrictions

UPDATED May 20, 2020, 1:52 PM EDT | As courts across the country take measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, some are restricting access and altering their procedures. Here is a roundup of changes.

Coronavirus: The Latest EU Court Closures And Restrictions

UPDATED May 20, 2020, 3:01 PM GMT | As courts across the region take measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, some are restricting access and altering their procedures. Here is a roundup of changes.

Houston Attys Asked For Input On In-Person Proceedings

Houston judges are turning to the attorneys who practice in their courts for feedback on in-person proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic, asking them to weigh in on what a return to usual courthouse operations should look like.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR ATTORNEYS

Coronavirus Regulations: A State-By-State Week In Review

In signs of hope this week that COVID-19 won’t totally sabotage the summer’s economy, four coastal states announced the reopening of beaches and Delaware lifted the ice cream truck moratorium, marking a sweet development in pandemic recovery efforts.

DOL Greenlights Bonuses For Workers Without Set Schedules

The U.S. Department of Labor unveiled a final rule on Wednesday that lets employers offer workers with “fluctuating workweeks” bonuses and hazard pay, saying the regulations free businesses up to explore new ways of paying those workers amid the ongoing pandemic.

OSHA Ramps Up Physical Inspections, COVID Case Reporting

The U.S. Department of Labor’s workplace safety office is stepping up in-person inspections in areas where COVID-19 infections have slowed and making more employers disclose when workers come down with the coronavirus, according to new enforcement memos issued Tuesday.

Powell, Mnuchin Open To Eligibility Tweaks For Fed Programs

The heads of the U.S. Treasury Department and Federal Reserve told senators on Tuesday they’re keeping an open mind about expanding eligibility for some of the central bank’s emergency lending facilities to cover a wider range of companies and collateral.

Pier 1 Shifts To Permanent Shutdown Plan In Ch. 11 Case

Home furnishing retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc. asked a Virginia bankruptcy judge Tuesday afternoon for permission to wind down its operations and liquidate its assets after the COVID-19 outbreak dashed any hopes of restructuring its business and continuing on as a going concern.

Ex-Goldman Sachs Banker To Be Sentenced Via Video

A New York federal judge on Tuesday ordered a former Goldman Sachs banker’s sentencing for insider trading to proceed via videoconference, noting that “delaying every sentencing would multiply the existing backlog of cases in the federal court system and generate a deluge of hearings once in-person proceedings can safely resume.”

Ex-Manafort Associate Gets Out Of Probation 2 Years Early

A D.C. federal judge ruled on Tuesday that a consultant who pled guilty to concealing his work as a foreign agent for a pro-Russian political group and had ties to convicted former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort will be released from probation two years early.

EXPERT ANALYSIS

Key Return-To-Work Considerations For Law Firms

There may be precious little notice before the legal community ramps up, so it’s important to have return-to-work plans that address the unique challenges law firms will face in bringing employees back to offices, say attorneys Daniel Gerber, Barbara O’Connell and Richard Tucker.

Revisiting The Benefits Of An Efficient Contract Breach

The efficient breach theory — accepted and thoroughly addressed by the Delaware courts — provides companies and their boards an opportunity to mitigate losses incurred from unstable and unprofitable contracts during times of economic uncertainty, say Aaron Rigby and Jack Zeringue at Sidley.

Pa. Insureds’ Path To Pandemic Biz Interruption Coverage

Although some insurers argue that COVID-19 losses do not satisfy business interruption coverage’s direct physical loss requirement, Pennsylvania’s broad interpretation of insurance contracts may allow policyholders to successfully fight for coverage despite potential virus exclusions, say attorneys at Montgomery McCracken.