Property

Expert Analysis

• How Construction Industry Can Adapt To COVID-19 Disruption

  

  As COVID-19 decreases funding and increases costs for the construction industry, participants should review their contract clauses pertaining to risk allocation, as well as their insurance policies to assess the scope of their coverage, say James Barriere and Chad Caplan at Hinckley Allen.

• COVID-19 Spurs Associates To Think Bigger — Like Partners

  

  What is the firm's data on profit per partner? How do the rainmakers seal deals without pre-COVID-19 pricey dinners? Is the firm financially stable? These are the kinds of partner-level questions associates are now asking before choosing a new firm, which points to a major shift in the lateral landscape, say Kate Reder Sheikh and Rebecca Glatzer at Major Lindsey & Africa.

• GCs Are Uniquely Qualified To Lead Diversity Initiatives

  

  As guardians of their companies' codes of conduct and ethical standards, general counsel have the ability to endorse changes that will help their corporations create more diverse and equitable workplaces, says Deborah Marson at Iron Mountain.

• What We Learned From First Pandemic M&A Ruling In Del.

  

  The Delaware Chancery Court's recent decision in AB Stable v. Maps Hotels effectively ending a $5.8 billion deal indicates the focus on ordinary course covenants as a basis for not consummating deals is likely to intensify, both in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and of other extraordinary events, say attorneys at Fried Frank.

• The State Of Consumer Class Actions Amid COVID-19

  

  While the pandemic has slowed the filing of consumer class actions, they remain a significant part of the litigation landscape — with false labeling claims remaining particularly popular, likely because they are easy to file and frequently survive motions to dismiss, say attorneys at Skadden.

• What 2020 Election Results Mean For The Insurance Industry

  

  The incoming Biden administration could push a number of federal initiatives — such as a renewed focus on climate risk in financial regulation — with important repercussions for insurance industry stakeholders, say Paul Howard and Amber Hay at Arnold & Porter.

• Picking The Right Location And Tools For Virtual Courtrooms

  

  Attorneys should consider the pros and cons of participating in virtual court proceedings from home versus their law firm offices, and whether they have the right audio, video and team communication tools for their particular setup, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

• Insurance Considerations For Schools Harmed By COVID-19

  

  Schools facing lawsuits associated with both shutting down and reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to find relief through their consumer general liability and educators legal liability insurance policies, says Michael Rush at Gilbert.

• Beware Atty Ethics Rules When Reporting COVID-19 Fraud

  

  Attorneys considering blowing the whistle on False Claims Act violations by recipients of COVID-19 relief may face a number of ethical constraints on their ability to disclose client information and file qui tam actions, say Breon Peace and Jennifer Kennedy Park at Cleary.

• Best Practices For Legal Technology Adoption

  

  The pandemic has accelerated the need to improve the practice of law through technology, but law firms and in-house legal departments must first ensure they have employee buy-in and well-defined processes for new digital tools, say Dan Broderick at BlackBoiler and Daryl Shetterly at Orrick.

• The Pandemic's Long-Term Impact On Law Firm Operations

  

  Brian Burlant at Major Lindsey looks at how pandemic-era remote work has changed the way law firms operate — from shifts in secretarial functions to associate professional development — and explains why some alterations may be here to stay.

• Divergent Insurance Rulings Portend More Virus Litigation

  

  A North Carolina state court and Mississippi federal court recently reached opposing conclusions in COVID-19 insurance coverage lawsuits despite analyzing similar business interruption policy language, likely encouraging further litigation over unsettled coverage questions, says Mark Binsky at Abrams Gorelick.

• Lack Of Access To Remote Court Proceedings Is Inexcusable

  

  Blanket rules that bar recording or dissemination of remote public court proceedings impede presumptive common law and First Amendment right of access, greatly expand courts' powers over nonparties, and likely run afoul of U.S. Supreme Court precedent, says Matthew Schafer at ViacomCBS.