In Big Law Office Return Policies, the Meaning of 'Flexibility' Is Flexible | Firms Increasingly Vetting Cases for Political Risks | Pryor Cashman Hits Nestle With Trademark Suit on Behalf of Cosmetics Client: The Morning Minute
The news and analysis you need to start your day.
June 08, 2021 at 06:00 AM
0 minute read
Want to get this daily news briefing by email? Here's the sign-up.
|
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
PERSUASIVE AUTHORITY - Last month, Sullivan & Cromwell told lawyers and staff it was "strongly encouraging"—but not mandating!—a return to the office. That approach garnered some criticism from industry observers for potentially sending mixed messages. Still, a number of other firms appear to be taking a similar tack. As Law.com's Bruce Love reports, Arent Fox and Baker McKenzie, for example, both say they expect to allow for some level of flexibility when it comes to post-pandemic remote work but, like a number of other firms, appear reluctant to define exactly what that means, instead emphasizing individual responsibility in their recently announced office return policies. Colin Murray, CEO of the North America region at Baker, said coming back to the office is "voluntary," but "we're hoping people follow the guidance of coming in at least three days a week." Meanwhile, when Arent Fox's offices reopen fully Sept. 6, the firm is expecting staff and lawyers to maintain a "routine physical presence" there, but isn't planning to specify how many days they must show up each week. Instead, firmwide managing partner Cristina Carvalho said, the firm is asking its people to exercise "good judgment."
POLITICAL REPRESENTATION - Barnes & Thornburg announced June 4 that it has parted ways with labor and employment partner Alec Beck after the attorney put his name on a new federal lawsuit on behalf of prominent Donald Trump supporter/conspiracy theorist/comfy pillow tycoon Mike Lindell without prior authorization. The incident attracted a firestorm of attention and criticism toward Barnes & Thornburg on social media, but, as Law.com's Dan Packel reports, the episode is indicative of a larger trend in which more and more law firms are seeking to vet their lawyers' engagements for potential political fallout in addition to client conflicts. "Firms don't want to restrict the freedom of their people to believe whatever they want to believe," said former Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe chairman and CEO Ralph Baxter. "But now, there are business consequences of taking positions on issues that are themselves political, so it's going to be harder for firms to navigate that."
PERSONA NON GRATA - Nestle, the global food and beverage company, was hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit Monday in California Central District Court. The court action, filed by Pryor Cashman on behalf of Persona Cosmetics Inc., brings claims in connection with the defendants' marketing of Persona Nutrition, a subscription vitamin delivery service acquired by Nestle in 2019. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. The case is 2:21-cv-04644, Persona Cosmetics, Inc. v. Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. et al. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar.
|
EDITOR'S PICKS
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View AllLateral Partner Retention: Why Some Firms Have a 100% Record While Others Don't
6 minute readAfter Fining Investment Firms Billions for Lost Text Messages, Regulators Turn Scrutiny to Audio Recordings
Employers Scramble to Get Immigration Records in Order Ahead of Trump Crackdown
6 minute readAfter Regime Change, Syria Remains Liable in US Federal Courts for Alleged Assad-Era Terrorism Support
3 minute readLaw Firms Mentioned
Trending Stories
- 1What Does Ohio Supreme Court's Opioid Decision Mean for Public Nuisance Claims?
- 2Bucking Industry Trend, Sidley Austin Elects Biggest Class of Partners in Firm History
- 3US Judge Throws Out Sale of Infowars to The Onion. But That's Not the End of the Road for Sandy Hook Families
- 4‘Really Deflating’: Judges React to Biden Threat to Veto New Judgeships Bill
- 53 Incidents Lead to Charges Against the Alexander Brothers; Cousin Remains at Large
Who Got The Work
Michael G. Bongiorno, Andrew Scott Dulberg and Elizabeth E. Driscoll from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr have stepped in to represent Symbotic Inc., an A.I.-enabled technology platform that focuses on increasing supply chain efficiency, and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The case, filed Oct. 2 in Massachusetts District Court by the Brown Law Firm on behalf of Stephen Austen, accuses certain officers and directors of misleading investors in regard to Symbotic's potential for margin growth by failing to disclose that the company was not equipped to timely deploy its systems or manage expenses through project delays. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, is 1:24-cv-12522, Austen v. Cohen et al.
Who Got The Work
Edmund Polubinski and Marie Killmond of Davis Polk & Wardwell have entered appearances for data platform software development company MongoDB and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The action, filed Oct. 7 in New York Southern District Court by the Brown Law Firm, accuses the company's directors and/or officers of falsely expressing confidence in the company’s restructuring of its sales incentive plan and downplaying the severity of decreases in its upfront commitments. The case is 1:24-cv-07594, Roy v. Ittycheria et al.
Who Got The Work
Amy O. Bruchs and Kurt F. Ellison of Michael Best & Friedrich have entered appearances for Epic Systems Corp. in a pending employment discrimination lawsuit. The suit was filed Sept. 7 in Wisconsin Western District Court by Levine Eisberner LLC and Siri & Glimstad on behalf of a project manager who claims that he was wrongfully terminated after applying for a religious exemption to the defendant's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The case, assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor, is 3:24-cv-00630, Secker, Nathan v. Epic Systems Corporation.
Who Got The Work
David X. Sullivan, Thomas J. Finn and Gregory A. Hall from McCarter & English have entered appearances for Sunrun Installation Services in a pending civil rights lawsuit. The complaint was filed Sept. 4 in Connecticut District Court by attorney Robert M. Berke on behalf of former employee George Edward Steins, who was arrested and charged with employing an unregistered home improvement salesperson. The complaint alleges that had Sunrun informed the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection that the plaintiff's employment had ended in 2017 and that he no longer held Sunrun's home improvement contractor license, he would not have been hit with charges, which were dismissed in May 2024. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer, is 3:24-cv-01423, Steins v. Sunrun, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Greenberg Traurig shareholder Joshua L. Raskin has entered an appearance for boohoo.com UK Ltd. in a pending patent infringement lawsuit. The suit, filed Sept. 3 in Texas Eastern District Court by Rozier Hardt McDonough on behalf of Alto Dynamics, asserts five patents related to an online shopping platform. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, is 2:24-cv-00719, Alto Dynamics, LLC v. boohoo.com UK Limited.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250