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TOP NEWS

What We Learned From Supreme Court’s First Telehearings

A few bloopers notwithstanding, the U.S. Supreme Court has emerged unscathed from the uncharted waters of teleconference hearings and livestreaming prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what worked and what didn’t, according to the attorneys who were along for the ride.

Why It May Pay To Flee BigLaw Now And Form A Boutique

The prospect of leaving the safety of BigLaw to form a boutique in the midst of a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic may sound treacherous, but attorneys who did it a decade ago during the Great Recession say there may be big opportunities for a small startup in this environment.

Coronavirus: How Law Firms Are Handling The Downturn

UPDATED May 18, 2020, 12:27 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. 

Venable And NY Law School Craft COVID-19 Summer Course

New York Law School has wasted no time crafting an educational experience for students related to the novel coronavirus, announcing Friday it has partnered with Venable LLP to offer a virtual summer program that will focus on how the pandemic is affecting the field of law.

2 More Firms Change Up Their Summer Associate Programs

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP confirmed Friday that it plans to offer jobs to its summer associates at the same rate as usual, while Fennemore Craig PC said it decided to take the unusual approach of starting its shortened program earlier instead of delaying it.

Shale Firm Gavilan Falls Into Ch. 11 Beset By Virus, Oil Slump

Shale oil and gas company Gavilan Resources LLC hit Chapter 11 in Texas bankruptcy court with $552 million in secured debt and citing plummeting oil prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other market conditions as reasons for its trip into bankruptcy.

CLOSINGS AND RESTRICTIONS

Coronavirus: The Latest Court Closures And Restrictions

UPDATED May 18, 2020, 1:46 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 18, 2020, 11:07 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.

NLRB Judges To Resume Labor Violation Hearings On June 1

The National Labor Relations Board’s judicial branch will start hearing labor disputes again on June 1, following the buildup of its capacity to hold proceedings over teleconference, the agency said Friday.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR ATTORNEYS

COVID-19 Patchwork Awaits Employers Seeking To Reopen

Employers looking to resume operations are struggling to come to grips with an array of state and city standards for health screenings, worker protection, sick leave and other facets of doing business amid the pandemic.

What To Watch As COVID-19 Cash Crunch Fuels Hospital M&A

Hospitals desperate to steady themselves after being buffeted by COVID-19’s financial shockwave are likely in coming months to seriously consider mergers and acquisitions, but lawmakers are already pushing back and antitrust enforcers will probably be skeptical. Here are key issues to keep an eye on.

Coronavirus Throws Wrench Into Tribal Clean Energy Plans

Many power projects in Indian Country have ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic as tribes focus on immediate health dangers and grapple with losses of income from the shuttering of casinos and resorts, lawyers say.

Why Gilstrap Is Getting Ready For Trial — And Not On Zoom

With courthouse closures stretching from weeks to months, U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap knows he has to keep cases moving, but like other judges and attorneys, he says this is a delicate balancing act that isn’t solved as easily as loading up trials on Zoom.

Shkreli Release Denied After ‘Delusional’ Virus Cure Boast

A Brooklyn federal judge on Saturday rejected fraudster Martin Shkreli’s bid for release from prison, finding there are no reported COVID-19 cases at the Pennsylvania detention facility where he is serving time and dismissing as “delusional” his boast that he can help cure the deadly virus.

Legal Service Firm Sues Insurer Over COVID-19 Closure Loss

A legal service company with offices in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago is suing Hartford Fire Insurance Co., claiming it wrongfully denied coverage for business income losses because of state-mandated closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU Watchdog Sets Out Plans To Bolster Economy Amid Crisis

A European regulator has announced a new set of blocwide measures to prop up the financial sector as it recovers from the damage inflicted by the COVID-19 crisis.

EXPERT ANALYSIS

Making Law Firm Panels Work For The Cost-Conscious GC

General counsel may be tempted to resort to matter-level requests for proposals in the wake of the COVID-19 economic crisis, but alternatively, a singular, global RFP process — to select a panel of law firms for all legal needs — can reduce legal spend while fostering long-term relationships, say Vivek Hatti, formerly at Avis Budget Group, and Jaron Luttich at Element Standard.

Inside The First Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Charges

The first three criminal actions against individuals for alleged schemes to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program send a strong message about the rigor with which the U.S. Department of Justice will proceed in order to root out abuse of the CARES Act relief programs, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

Workplace Body Temperature Devices Raise Privacy Concerns

As employers begin using no-contact temperature taking devices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they’ll need to comply with state biometric data and breach notification laws, the California Consumer Privacy Act, and federal guidance, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.