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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM - Last week in this space, we told you about how an arrangement between now-defunct law firm LeClairRyan and third-party vendor UnitedLex to farm out business operations went very sour. The saga is a prime example of just how mutually unbeneficial these partnerships can be if problems arise. In this week's Law.com Trendspotter column, we further explore Big Law's growing interest in outsourcing to get a sense of whether, given the potential pitfalls, this trend is destined to be more "internet and smartphones" or "Pogs and Tamagotchis."

DEALING IN HYPOTHETICALS – Transactional lawyers have plenty on their minds right now—so much, in fact, that the upcoming U.S. presidential election is only fourth on their list of concerns. As Patrick Smith reports, a new survey by M&A software company Datasite found that the uncertain prospects of a government stimulus package and a safe, readily available COVID-19 vaccine were tied for first on that list. Each of those two issues had 29% of respondents saying it was their chief worry. The third most concerning factor was the relationship between the United States and China at 22%. Only 19% said the Nov. 3 election was the most impactful element to deal-making moving forward and a full 53% of respondents said that the election will have no impact on their deal timelines.

IRRESPONSIBLE RESPONSE? - Lawyers with Ballard Spahr and Siegel Teitelbaum & Evans sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday in New York Southern District Court over the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The suit accuses the federal government of failing to carry out testing, reporting and policymaking obligations as required by statute and of engaging in a pattern of misconduct and neglect. Plaintiffs include Coney Island Prep, a public charter school in Brooklyn, and Housing Works Inc., a New York City nonprofit organization. The case is 1:20-cv-09144, Coney Island Prep et al v. United States Department of Health And Human Services et al. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. Stay up to date on major litigation nationwide with Law.com's Legal Radar.

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