Want to get this daily news briefing by email? Here's the sign-up.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

FRUSTRATING –  Lawyers are experiencing technology headaches as more are working from their homes due to COVID-19. As Victoria Hudgins reports, IT challenges, in addition to child care duties and cramped quarters for some attorneys, are complicating daily workflow and disrupting billing. Some lawyers are working for firms or companies that don't have enough quality laptops to go around, while others are toiling on rickety VPN connections.  

WORK DAY – As the U.S. Supreme Court carries on business in the coronavirus era, the justices today will conference on petitions dealing with a child-welfare class action, a football arbitration a challenge, state immigration "sanctuary" laws, job discrimination charges and religious advertising. Marcia Coyle reports that while the court's iconic building in Washington is closed and March arguments temporarily suspended, the justices will discuss, by phone if they choose to, pending petitions seeking the magic four votes for review next term.

HIATUS – Law firm merger activity appears to have ground to a halt. David Thomas reports that while firms may still be interested in combining with each other, the activity that makes those mergers happen—exploratory talks, the face-to-face meetings, the negotiations—is on indefinite hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDITOR'S PICKS

David Lat Speaks From the Hospital About Fears, Hopes and What People Should Know

Texas Judge Gets Public Warning, But Her 15-Month Delay Didn't Break Ethics Rules

Queens Supreme Court Justice Tests Positive for COVID-19, Presumed First Case Among NY Judges

Zofran MDL Bellwether Trial Canceled Due to Coronavirus

Number of Securities Class Actions Against Non-US Issuers Holds Steady for Third Year

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

TAX SCANDAL - A German court has handed two British traders suspended sentences, in a first-of-its kind judgment that followed the criminal case at the center of the major tax fraud scandal. As Eva von Shaper reports, the case goes to the heart of the ongoing so-called CumEx scandal, in which high-profile banks were found to have claimed twice on tax rebates, costing Germany several billions. The German court gave the two traders suspended sentences of 22 months and 12 months and ordered one of the traders to repay $15 million of the money he made from the trades. Private bank M.M. Warburg & Co was told to repay about $188 million.

WHAT YOU SAID

"If you are looking like you are having fun, I figure that has a lingering effect on the students. My theory is that enthusiasm is contagious."