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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS - Some law firm leaders might still be a little skittish to publicly discuss what turned out to be one heck of a good fiscal year, especially at a time when many of their clients continue to experience pandemic-related financial stress. But, as Christine Simmons writes in this week's Law.com Barometer newsletter, law firms' impressive 2020 financial results actually vindicate the strength of their client relationships, especially during crises, and how they can be relied on going forward. Sure, the eye-popping profit growth was helped by firms' deep cost-cutting measures and tight control of their equity partner ranks, but some of it also arose from clients' willingness to pay more for partners' expert advice, instead of leaning on associates. The question now is whether a similar dynamic will play out as we head deeper in 2021 and the pandemic (hopefully) begins to wane. To receive the Law.com Barometer directly to your inbox each week, click here.

SCAMMER SEASON - For government prosecutors and white-collar defense lawyers, predicting litigation trends requires a health dose of skepticism about the inherent goodness of humanity. With Round 2 of the Small Business Administration's COVID-19-inspired Paycheck Protection Program now underway, government and private litigators alike are gearing up for an influx of fraud claims alleging individuals and entities gamed the system to receive pandemic relief money they weren't eligible for. In this week's Law.com Litigation Trendspotter column, we look at how the U.S. Department of Justice is planning to crack down on PPP fraud and what defense lawyers in the private sector are doing to prepare.

TECH FOUL? -  McDermott Will & Emery and the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center sued Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot on Thursday in Maryland District Court over a new state tax on digital advertising revenue. The suit, brought on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Internet Association, NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, contends that the measure, enacted on Feb. 12, is intended to penalize large tech companies. The case is 1:21-cv-00410, Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America et al v. Franchot, in his official capacity as Comptroller of the State of Maryland. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar.


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EDITOR'S PICKS

Avoiding Disbarment, Ex-Willkie Co-Chair Caplan Gets 2-Year Suspension Over College Admissions Scandal