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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

INVENTIVE – The days of backslapping at the Capital Grille are over," says one lobbyist who had some influence in the crafting of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. As C. Ryan Barber reports, in an industry that places a premium on face time and access, the coronavirus crisis forced lobbyists to find new and, at times, creative ways to influence the relief bill. The in-person meeting, even with one's own colleagues, was off the table.

NOT MUTUAL – Today's law firm associates have generally positive things to say about the partners they work for. Unfortunately, that admiration isn't reciprocal. That's according to a survey of about 2,500 lawyers conducted by NALP and PP&C Consulting. As Karen Sloan reports, the study reveals that most partners don't think that their associates work as hard as they did at that stage of their careers. And although 59% of associates said they didn't want to become partners at their current firm, 45% listed partners among the top-four responses when asked what they most like.

SLOW DOWN – The COVID-19 pandemic is freezing law firm merger activity, David Thomas reports. Altman Weil tracked only 17 U.S. law firm merger announcements in the first quarter, a 37% drop from a year ago, and 11 of them came in January. Fairfax Associates, which measures finalized mergers rather than newly announced deals, tracked 21 mergers last quarter, four fewer than in 2019. Those deals that were reached well ahead of the spread of the virus. 

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EDITOR'S PICKS

'Strong, Big-Name Firms' Are Looking at Imminent Cuts to Partner Draws, Consultant Says

Here's What Lawyers Need to Know About Student Loan Relief

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

LEAVE – U.K law firm Fieldfisher has told its workers to take 25% of their annual leave between now and the end of June, as the firm prepares for a spike in annual leave requests in the second half of the year. Simon Lock reports that the decision applies to staff, including lawyers.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"We take for granted walking around the office. I've always been a supporter of people working remotely, but we now recognize the value of having personal connections." 

—  Frank Aquila, partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, on the adjustments and his firm are making amid the pandemic.

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