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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

LEAVING SPACE  – Offices are so early 2020. A new report by Savills U.S. shows law firm leasing activity has slowed by nearly a third in the first six months of this year when compared to 2019. And, as Dylan Jackson reports, many of the major transactions that did take place in 2020 were pre-pandemic. That's not shocking, of course. As Chris Wilson, of hybrid remote law firm Taylor English, told us on the most recent episode of our Legal Speak podcast, "Law firms simply do not need the physical space they currently occupy." Still, the Savills report notes that it's a buyer's (or lessee's) market for those firms that might still be on the hunt for offices right now. "If law firms remain one of the more resilient sectors through the coming quarters," the report reads, "those firms that can make a real estate commitment in this downturn period are in an excellent position to capitalize on softer markets and more favorable terms." Meanwhile, for those firms keen on downsizing or even ditching their current space altogether, there are other considerations to make, like whether to up attorneys' pay with the savings and whether to expand their geographic reach with remote lateral hires.

FLYNN'S STILL FIGHTING  – Yes, this continues to be a thing: U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan of the District of Columbia is set to hear arguments today over whether he should dismiss the false-statement prosecution of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communication with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sullivan is expected to hear argument from Fynn's lawyer and the DOJ, both of which are seeking to make Flynn's charges disappear. Sullivan appointed retired judge John Gleeson, now a Debevoise & Plimpton partner, to argue against DOJ's bid to dismiss the case. The hearing comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in August rejected Flynn's argument that Sullivan was required to dismiss the case at the DOJ's request.

RATINGS BATTLE –  Dinging your driver with a bad rating may have a bigger impact than you thought. Uber was sued Saturday in California Northern District Court over alleged employment discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court case was filed by Cheng Law Group and the Law Offices of David A. Makman on behalf of a deaf driver who contends that he was terminated due to negative rider ratings without an opportunity to appeal. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. Stay up to date on major litigation nationwide with Law.com's Legal Radar.

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EDITOR'S PICKS

Despite Drawbacks, Firms Push Ahead With Remote, Outsourced Support Staff By Victoria Hudgins