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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

WORKING TOGETHER – The DOJ and the FTC have bent antitrust rules to enable a group of about 20 organizations to form an unprecedented coalition to meet the challenges of COVID-19. Sue Reisinger reports that the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition includes big tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, health care companies like the Mayo Clinic and HCA Healthcare, electronic medical record companies, universities and others who are coordinating U.S. pandemic response efforts using data and analytics. The group says its goal is to "preserve health care delivery and protect populations." A letter from the DOJ and the FTC details antitrust procedures and provides guidance to the collaborating businesses.

UP TO SPEED – Let's call it a learning curve, as lawyers and other legal pros adapt to connecting with each other through video conferencing while much of the legal industry shelters in place. Glitches seem inevitable with teleconferenced court proceedings, and lawyers trying to assist clients in the COVID-19 era are discovering that firms' webinars can be more of an annoyance than a help. At the same time, any lateral moves underway mean that some partners are joining firms without stepping foot inside their offices.

ACTION DEMANDED – A group of 16 state attorneys general are calling on President Trump to "fully utilize" the  Defense Production Act to fight the coronavirus pandemic, warning there's a pressing need to dramatically expand health care capacity and testing for the virus. Leading the group is Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul. Ryan Tarinelli reports that among those signing the letter are attorneys general from New York, the global epicenter of the pandemic, California, Pennsylvania and Washington state. 

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EDITOR'S PICKS

California Judge Censured for Years of 'Sexist and Unseemly' Remarks

What It's Like to Be Sentenced in DC's Federal Courthouse During COVID-19 Pandemic

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

REVERSAL – Mayer Brown's recent policy in its Hong Kong office calling for lawyers and staff to return to work unless they have permission from their supervisor to continue working remotely spurred a letter from employees, critical of the move, to management, which on Monday reinstated its work-from-home policy. Anna Zhang reports that the "permission from supervisor" policy has been in place for a few weeks, and the letter was written Sunday as the number of cases in the region spiked.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"I can see him but I can't hear him. Mr. Butler, I can't hear you. How do we get Mr. Butler's attention?"

— Cathy Seibel, U.S. District Judge in New York, during closing arguments in a voter rights case, which was held via Zoom, with a few hiccups. David Butler, senior counsel at Morgan Lewis, represented the defendant in the case.

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