Coronavirus: The Week In Review – Law360
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| TOP NEWS 4 Mistakes Partners Make When Managing Remote Associates How law firm partners manage teams of associates was turned on its head this spring as the legal world switched to remote work due to the coronavirus pandemic, and nine months later there are still some kinks that need to be worked out. Coronavirus: How Law Firms Are Handling The Downturn UPDATED November 13, 2020, 1:47 PM EST | 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. 2020 Bonuses: What Law Firms Are Giving Out This Year UPDATED November 13, 2020 | Law firms have been divided in how they are responding financially to the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus, especially when it comes to bonuses. Here is a roundup of where law firms stand on both special bonuses tied to work done during the pandemic and end-of-year bonuses. Alito Scorches COVID-19 Restrictions In Political Speech In a fiery speech Thursday night, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. said public health measures to combat the coronavirus had placed “previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty” and warned against giving too much power to state officials. NY Bar Urges State To Consider Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine The New York State Bar Association is calling for the state government to at least consider making a COVID-19 vaccine mandatory once it’s available, if medical experts agree that’s the best route to getting the pandemic under control. NY Appeals Judges Sue To Stave Off Forced Retirements A group of New York appeals court judges are suing the state court system for deciding to cut them loose as part of austerity measures in response to the state’s COVID-19-induced budget deficit, arguing the move will worsen a case backlog and fail to make a serious dent in the state’s budget shortfall. Coronavirus Litigation: The Week In Review Airbnb allegedly hasn’t kept its promise to reimburse customers for canceled bookings, Walmart can’t escape all claims over its temporary return policy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the University of San Diego is the latest to be sued by students demanding refunded tuition because of campus closures. CLOSINGS AND RESTRICTIONS Coronavirus: The Latest Court Closures And Restrictions UPDATED Nov. 13, 2020, 1:54 PM EST | 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 November 13, 2020, 12:46 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. EDTX Trial Suspended After Juror, Attorney Get COVID-19 A trial in the Eastern District of Texas has been suspended after multiple participants, including a juror and an attorney, tested positive for COVID-19, Law360 confirmed on Thursday. WHAT ATTORNEYS NEED TO KNOW Coronavirus Regulations: A State-By-State Week In Review A resurgence of COVID-19 cases swept through the nation over the past week, prompting the revival of mitigation measures in New Jersey and Illinois restaurants and additional community testing sites in Delaware. Patent Filings Dropped As Pandemic Gripped US As the coronavirus pandemic took hold, the number of patent applications filed in the U.S. fell noticeably from preceding months, with the biological and chemical fields taking the biggest hit, according to data compiled by a Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP attorney. 3 Challenges For Holiday Hiring In 2020 Retailers and restaurants face challenges with staffing up around the holidays every year, but 2020 is posing some unique legal problems related to the pandemic and deep political polarization. Here, Law360 takes a look at what businesses can do to cope during the holiday season. NLRB GC Fleshes Out Mail-in Vote Guidance National Labor Relations Board regional directors need to have solid data on how COVID-19 is impacting a city or county to justify a mail-in union election, according to a memo from the NLRB’s general counsel.3 Ways COVID-19 Is Reshaping The US Residential MarketResidential property owners are increasingly seeking more space in less dense markets as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and that could spell oversupply trouble for condo properties in certain dense downtown cores and opportunities in other markets, lawyers say. Here, Law360 looks at three ways the pandemic is reshaping the U.S. residential market. GOP Senator Urges End To Fed’s COVID-19 Lending Facilities A top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee said at a Tuesday hearing that the Federal Reserve’s coronavirus emergency lending facilities have done their job and should be wound down sooner rather than later, even as Democrats on the committee urged further support for the economy. Litigation Funding Demand Rises As Pandemic Suits Percolate More corporate clients than ever have pursued third-party litigation funding in England this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to think more conservatively and try to prioritize the cash on their balance sheets. Viking Cruises Lands $500M To Stay Afloat Amid Virus Skadden-guided Viking Cruises said Monday that it’s been anchored by investments from private equity firm TPG and asset manager Canada Pension Plan Investment Board that will see the cruise operator receive $500 million in net proceeds, as the industry tries to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Walmart Can’t Get Rid Of Claims Over COVID-19 Return Policy Walmart can’t shake all of a proposed class action over its temporary return policy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a California federal judge has ruled, saying the retail giant’s managers inconsistently applied its rules about whether consumers can return goods. Texas Court Blocks El Paso’s COVID-19 Shutdown Order A split appellate panel on Thursday night prohibited El Paso County’s top executive from enforcing a curfew and shutting down nonessential businesses to stem a recent spike in the county’s COVID-19 cases, finding the county must instead enforce Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s less restrictive statewide order. NJ AG Quarantined After Mixed COVID-19 Test ResultsNew Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal is quarantining after testing positive in one of two tests he took for the novel coronavirus following his exposure at work to a staff member who also tested positive for COVID-19, a representative said Wednesday. EXPERT ANALYSIS Law Firm Biz Development Tips For The Pandemic Era Jessica Starr and Monica Ulzheimer at Alston & Bird look at four areas where business development and other law firm administrative teams can take a leadership role in driving practice growth at a time when attorney interactions with clients and peers are limited. AGs In A Pandemic: Weiser Talks Colo. Health Orders Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser explains how his office collaborated with local governments to enforce COVID-19 public health orders, and how moral suasion and education have limited the need for civil and criminal penalties against businesses. Navigating PPP Loan Forgiveness Risks: Part 2 — Lenders Lenders and third parties should be aware of the risks surrounding misuse of Paycheck Protection Program funds and abuse of the loan-forgiveness process, and take steps to identify potential or suspected fraud, say attorneys at Blank Rome. Navigating PPP Loan Forgiveness Risks: Part 1 — Borrowers As deadlines approach for borrowers to submit Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness applications, they should take several precautions before signing certifications or talking to law enforcement in order to avoid triggering fraud investigations or criminal liability, say attorneys at Blank Rome. |
