From Media & Entertainment Law360

TOP NEWS

As Virus Wanes, Employers Warm Up To Long-Term Telework

Many businesses plan to let employees continue working remotely when they reopen their offices and may keep doing so even after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, according to a survey released Tuesday by Littler Mendelson PC asking more than 1,000 employers how they’re navigating the return to work.

Reed Smith Makes Deeper Austerity Cut As Virus Persists

Reed Smith LLP, which already announced a series of salary reductions earlier in the year, confirmed Monday that it would be making another round of cost-cutting measures to weather the financial impact of COVID-19, including extended pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs.

Coronavirus: How Law Firms Are Handling The Downturn

UPDATED June 2, 2020, 11:56 AM 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. 

COVID-19 Securities Catch-Up: SEC Enforcement

As the coronavirus pandemic pushes into the summer, Law360 is taking a look at the enforcement actions and trading suspensions the SEC has issued in connection with the virus since it captured the public consciousness earlier this year.

Vegas Casino Says $1.1B Policy Covers COVID-19 Losses

A Las Vegas casino and resort has sued its insurer, alleging that it wrongfully denied coverage for its COVID-19 pandemic losses and claiming that it should get up to $1.1 billion in reimbursement because damages from the “communicable disease” are covered under its policy.

CLOSINGS AND RESTRICTIONS

Coronavirus: The Latest Court Closures And Restrictions

UPDATED June 2, 2020, 2:01 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 2, 2020, 11:52 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.

Tax Court To Hold Trials Remotely During Fall Session

The U.S. Tax Court said it will conduct remote proceedings during its fall trial calendar session because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and will allow the public to listen to the sessions.

WHAT ATTORNEYS NEED TO KNOW

OCC Head Says Prolonged Lockdowns Risking Banks’ Health

Extended stay-at-home orders are risking the stability of the financial system, the newly appointed head of the OCC told mayors in a Monday letter, highlighting compounding risks as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent civil unrest exacerbate economic uncertainty.

JPMorgan Seeks To Halt MDL Push Over Virus Relief Loans

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA has urged a federal judicial panel not to create multidistrict litigation for an array of lawsuits it’s facing over its participation in a federal coronavirus relief loan program for small businesses, arguing that the cases are “a jigsaw puzzle of unmatched pieces.”  

3 Ways State Audits Are Adapting To The COVID-19 Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the world, state tax agencies continue to find ways to perform audits, through remote operations, added flexibility and other means. Here’s how state agencies are adapting.

Jobs Crisis Fuels Capitol Hill Push For Employment Incentives

A spike in unemployment claims has sparked a push on Capitol Hill to develop new training and employment tax incentives in coronavirus relief legislation as both parties face off over the pending expiration of a temporary expansion of jobless aid.

Hollywood Orgs Send Back-To-Work Proposals To Calif., NY

A group of entertainment industry organizations and companies sent a proposal on Monday to the governors of California and New York setting forth guidelines for how to safely get motion picture productions up and running again amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Publishers Decry Internet Archive’s ‘Industrial Scale’ Piracy

Four major publishing houses on Monday accused the Internet Archive of engaging in “willful digital piracy on an industrial scale” with its Open Library, where users can borrow e-books made by scanning physical books.

EXPERT ANALYSIS

How Lawyers Can Network Better, Virtually And In Person

The current decrease in formality and increase in common ground due to the work-from-home environment can make it easier to have a networking conversation, says Megan Burke Roudebush at Keepwith.

NOL Carryback Rule Changes Bring Benefits For M&A Parties

New federal tax rules in the CARES Act, allowing the use of net operating loss carrybacks, bring previously unavailable tax benefits and negotiation opportunities for parties to mergers and acquisitions, say attorneys at Polsinelli.