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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

THE SUITE LIFE –  The pandemic has taught the world that law firm employees can work from home without being permanently sucked into a vortex of "Parks & Rec" reruns. Still, not everyone is content with remote work. Aside from missing the lilting melody of an industrial printer's low ink warning, why are some folks anxious to get back to the office? As Patrick Smith reports, the reasons vary. For some, it's the mere fact that their firm's office space has more, well, space. For others, it's a longing for the camaraderie and team-building that can happen when people are physically near each other. What remains true, however, is that, for now at least, most firms aren't pushing the issue. For example, Jim Segerdahl, global managing partner of K&L Gates, which has 44 offices over five continents, said that, when it comes to reopening, the firm is "in different stages in different cities." "We have in place some overall plans and guidance centered around safety first, complying with local laws and circumstances, and using best practices to incorporate as much flexibility as we can," he said. Where do you land on this issue? What's one thing you miss about the office and one thing you don't? Let me know at [email protected].

THE PARENT TRAP? – While, by and large, working from home hasn't hampered attorneys' productivity, there is one gigantic X factor that is rapidly approaching (and, in some states, already here) for lawyer-parents: virtual schooling. As Dan Packel reports, female junior partners, in particular, may find themselves in an untenable situation, juggling billable hour, business development and child development duties. "My concern is that more women are going to be in a position where it's not logistically possible to meet the demands put upon them, and this is going to drive more and more women out of Big Law firms," said Goodwin Procter partner Delphine O'Rourke, mother of 9- and 11-year-old boys. "That will mean more opportunities for men to take these positions." But Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner Maaren Shah, a recent guest of Law.com's Legal Speak podcast, actually sees remote work as an equalizer, even with back-to-homeschool season upon us. "There are a lot of silver linings and time savings that can be employed right now," Shah said. "With the lack of need to do business development via in person meetings, and the lack of commutes, there are found hours in the day that you can use to do different types of marketing at home."

RISKY BUSINESS – Could we be seeing more lawsuits like this coming down the pike? Biotechnology company Biogen was hit with a class action ERISA lawsuit yesterday in Massachusetts District Court. The court case was brought by Whatley Kallas, and alleges the administrators of Biogen's 401(k) plan breached their fiduciary duty by selecting high-fee and high-risk investment options that have stung employees who are close to retirement due to market losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. Read the full complaint and stay up to date on major litigation nationwide with Law.com's Legal Radar.

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