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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

YOUNG MONEY - Whereas previous generations of lawyers were driven by a singular focus on the almighty dollar, millennials have realigned their priorities. Indeed, the things they value can't be purchased with money—things like quality of life and the opportunity to do fulfilling wor… wait, what's that? Respondents to the 2021 Millennial Survey by Major, Lindsey & Africa and Above the Law said the most important factor in evaluating a potential employer is the compensation package? Nevermind then! As Law.com's Dylan Jackson reports, young lawyers do still care about things like work-life balance—which topped their priorities list in years past—but right now, quite simply, they're trying to get paid. Ru Bhatt, a partner in the associate practice group at Major, Lindsey & Africa, told Smith he interprets this change as partially driven by the millennial generation aging into more senior positions, as well as an admission that a good work-life balance in large firms may never be possible. "As you know, there have been many strides in the compensation war, and associates very much value that," Bhatt said. "I think what's very interesting is, with the deal flow and how busy things are, associates understand the work-life balance isn't something they may ever achieve in a service industry."

FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH - Among several other dubious distinctions, 2020 was the year many folks who aren't contract lawyers learned what "force majeure" means. The pandemic brought about an onslaught of contract cancellations and subsequent fighting over whether the COVID-19 outbreak constituted such an event. But as we explore in this week's Law.com Litigation Trendspotter column, much of the litigation filed over this issue appears to be settling, as few parties have the stomach to face daunting court delays or the uncertainty of jury trials. Texas, however, endured not one but two major disruptions over the past year that sparked fierce force majeure debates: COVID-19 and Winter Storm Uri, which disabled Texas' energy grid in February. The latter, in particular, has triggered an avalanche of contract litigation unlike any even veteran litigators in the state say they've ever seen. And, unlike the COVID suits, most of those winter storm cases are not likely to wrap up neatly in the near future.

GAMING THE SYSTEM? - Pomerantz LLP and Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman filed a securities class action Thursday in California Northern District Court against Skillz, a gaming and esports platform that merged with a special purpose acquisition company in Dec. 2020. The suit accuses Skillz and its senior officers and directors of misleading investors regarding the platform's potential to attract new users and the popularity of its games. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. The case is 3:21-cv-04662, Schultz v. Skillz Inc. et al. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar.  

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EDITOR'S PICKS

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

(IN)VESTED INTEREST - International and local law firms see the growing investment coming into Africa from India as a major opportunity, Law.com International's Jennigay Coetzer reports. Chris Parsons, chair, India practice and mental health champion at Herbert Smith Freehills, said global law firms will be able to act as international legal counsel for new deals, and African firms will benefit too. "It is frequently the case that deals of this nature will be structured under English law and be complex in nature, especially if the investment is into multiple geographies," he said. Now law firms on the continent are gearing up for an influx of work, and international firms ought to pay attention as well.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"She seems as near to a perfect nominee as you can expect for that court in light of her experience."