Yet another COVID-19 surge may have slowed office returns, but it hasn’t quelled the momentum on Big Law mergers or lateral movement.

Legal industry observers this week said the rise of the Delta variant and the return of virus mitigations across the country hasn’t dampened expansion plans or put a lid on lawyers seeking new homes. For one, firms are still confident, as revenue and profit gains this year are already significant, widespread and expected to stick through the rest of the year, and even eclipse those of a surprisingly great 2020.