Coronavirus: Law360 Afternoon Briefing June 1
From Media & Entertainment Law360
TOP NEWS
As Virus Persists, Law Grads Urged To Rise To Its Challenges
With invocations of legal trailblazers past and present and encouragement to find opportunity in trying times, five high-profile law school commencement speakers, including Joe Biden and Eric Holder, urged graduates to address the inequalities made even more apparent by the pandemic.
Coronavirus: How Law Firms Are Handling The Downturn
UPDATED June 1, 2020, 12:00 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.
Stroock Slashes Atty Pay While Grappling With COVID-19
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP on Friday confirmed that pay cuts and buyouts are on deck for its attorneys and some of its staff, the latest in a list of firms to cut pay due to economic hardship spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Templar Energy Hits Ch. 11 Over COVID-19 Impact On Oil Price
Oklahoma-based oil and gas driller Templar Energy filed for Chapter 11 protection Monday with a plan to liquidate its assets after reeling from oil and gas price disruptions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lasik Vision Institute Hits Ch. 11 After COVID Cash Crunch
The Florida-based company that runs The Lasik Vision Institute and TLC Laser Eye Centers filed for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware, saying the coronavirus pandemic shutdown on nonessential medical services exacerbated an already-existing liquidity crunch and forced the company into bankruptcy.
CLOSINGS AND RESTRICTIONS
Coronavirus: The Latest Court Closures And Restrictions
UPDATED June 1, 2020, 1:59 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 June 1, 2020, 11:12 AM 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.
Delaware Outlines Plan To Reopen Courts Closed Since March
The Delaware judiciary on Friday unveiled plans for a phased reopening of the First State’s courts, with a limited opening tentatively scheduled for June 8 and the general public set to possibly be allowed back in courthouses the week following.
NJ Gives Attys More Time For Some Work Amid Pandemic
The New Jersey Supreme Court is further extending certain provisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but related measures have ceased as the state judiciary ramps up its capacity to handle matters remotely amid the crisis, according to an order made available on Friday.
Pittsburgh State Courts Start To Reopen, But Slowly
State courts in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will begin to reopen to the public for nonjury trials and other proceedings as the state loosens its COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, but will still conduct as much work as possible remotely through the end of August, according to the courts’ latest updated emergency plan.
WHAT ATTORNEYS NEED TO KNOW
Bankruptcies Pile Up As COVID-19 Pandemic Squeezes Cash
In the 2½ months since COVID-19 created a national emergency in the United States, dozens of companies have tilted into bankruptcy in the retail, travel and energy sectors, and a former bankruptcy judge predicts the turmoil will spread further through the economy in the coming months.
OSHA’s Critics Seize On News Of Lone COVID-19 Citation
The disclosure at a congressional hearing Wednesday that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had only issued one citation related to the COVID-19 pandemic shows the workplace safety watchdog is dropping the ball, worker advocates say.
COVID-19 IP Catch-Up: Remdesivir Access, Zoom TM Security
The novel coronavirus pandemic has continued to cause delays and waivers in the patent and trademark worlds, and also has led to questions about who owns the rights to a key antiviral drug and whether Zoom should be concerned about its trademark.
PPP By The Numbers: Visualizing Pandemic Biz Relief Funds
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread economic hardship for businesses of all sizes, with stay-at-home orders just now starting to be lifted after months in effect. Among the bipartisan actions taken by the federal government to support the business community was a concerted effort to provide forgivable loans to small businesses.
Corporate Bond Rush Brings A Big Wave Of Firsts
The tidal wave of corporate debt offerings in recent months has enabled companies to raise billions in cash and gain much-needed breathing room to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, setting records and ushering in several first-of-their kind deals along the way.
COVID-19 Securities Catch-Up: The 8 Biggest Investor Actions
At least 50 federal securities cases with references to COVID-19 have been filed in the past three months, including merger challenges, regulatory enforcement actions and sprawling investor suits, according to a Law360 review of filings. As the pandemic pushes into the summer, Law360 is taking a look at eight major investor actions that were brought in connection with the novel coronavirus since March.
Can Cannabis Survive The Virus? The Cash Crunch Intensifies
Nearly three months after the pandemic stay-at-home orders began, cannabis companies already facing a capital crunch are encountering fewer investors, more questions and harsher terms as they fight to raise the money to stay in business beyond COVID-19.
In-N-Out Sues Zurich To Cover COVID-19 Shutdown
In-N-Out Burgers hit Zurich American Insurance Co. with a breach of contract suit alleging the insurance company wrongly refused to cover the Golden State burger chain’s business losses during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a suit filed Friday in California federal court.
COVID-19 Sends Glassware Maker Libbey Into Bankruptcy
Glass tableware maker Libbey Inc. filed for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware on Monday with plans to restructure its roughly $500 million in debt, citing the COVID-19 outbreak’s impact on the company’s already existing liquidity strain.
FCA Picks 8 Insurers For Pandemic Coverage Test Case
The Financial Conduct Authority said Monday it has selected eight insurers to participate in a High Court test case scheduled for July that will determine whether business interruption insurance covers losses from the U.K.-wide lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coping With A Pandemic: McCarter & English’s Abdul Rehman
As society continues to adapt to COVID-19, Law360 is sharing reactions from around the business and legal community. Today’s perspective comes from Newark-based Abdul Rehman Khan, pro bono fellow for the city of Newark at McCarter & English.
PODCAST
Law360’s Pro Say: COVID Crimes Crackdown
Over the past few weeks, federal prosecutors have launched a wave of criminal cases accusing people of trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Avoiding Inadvertent Privilege Waivers In E-Communications
Attorneys at WilmerHale highlight recent developments in privilege law, the significant challenges raised by nontraditional working arrangements popularized during the pandemic, and ways to avoid waiving attorney-client privilege when using electronic communications.
Limiting Employer Liability For Secondhand Virus Exposure
While the law on secondhand exposure to workplace hazards like COVID-19 varies from state to state, employers can make educated guesses about the scope of liability and the steps needed to protect workers and limit claims from third parties, say attorneys at McGuireWoods.
