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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

COLLECT 'EM ALL - Turns out actually being paid the money you're owed is preferable to the alternative. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As Law.com's Andrew Maloney reports, large law firms doubled down on collection efforts in 2020, allowing partners to have more certainty in cash flow during the pandemic last year. And now, even as confidence in demand returns, firm leaders are striving to keep up their firms' billing hygiene in 2021. That may sound like a no-brainer, but it's easier said than done. It can be tedious and tough to stay on top of collections efforts without the proper motivation. With regard to the latter, the COVID-19 crisis was actually helpful. At Jenner & Block, for example, co-managing partners Katya Jestin and Randy Mehrberg said the pandemic helped strengthen their attorneys' commitment to one another, and that bond has carried over to other aspects of firm management. "It's really brought out the best in all of us at the firm," Jestin said. "So what may look like a menial task, like getting our time in and bill management—it's just part of our covenant to one another. I think it's just brought out better hygiene from each of us."

HELP YOURSELF - Speaking of tedious tasks, the pandemic forced attorneys to take on a lot of them over the past year, as remote work separated them from the legal secretaries and law librarians they previously relied on to handle administrative duties. As a result, you might expect a fair amount of grumbling from attorneys who are increasingly being asked to do nonbillable work. But, as Law.com's Zach Warren and Victoria Hudgins report, that hasn't necessarily turned out to be the case. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan chief information officer Neeraj Rajpal, for example, said his firm's lawyers are embracing technology as part of the client support experience, entering their time into billing software and contacting paralegals, IT support and research support only when needed for assistance. "I don't see that as an administrative burden," Rajpal said. "I think the lawyers and partners have become more technologically savvy. They understand the tools and people are available for them."

THE WORLD IS NOT YOUR OYSTER BED - Kean Miller filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Louisiana Eastern District Court on behalf of Venture Global Gator Express, a natural gas company with plans to build a pipeline system in Barataria Bay. Venture Global targets Johnny's Oyscers (yes, it's "oyscers," with a "c"… I Googled it and everything) over three leases it holds for water bottoms used for oyster collection. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. The case is 2:21-cv-00644, Venture Global Gator Express, LLC v. Johnny's Oyscers No. 3, Inc. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar.

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