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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

WE'LL DO IT LIVE -  It might be time to dig out the Tupperware and practice putting on pants because that whole "remote work revolution" thing that was supposed to sweep the legal industry as a result of the pandemic seems in danger of petering out. Recently, we noted that many large law firms' office return policies seemed to be not-so-subtly signaling that remaining fully remote or even mostly remote was not going to fly for much longer. Now, it seems like that message is sinking in. As Law.com's Dylan Jackson reports, the number of law firm leaders, attorneys and staff who expect to work from home frequently dropped significantly between 2020 and 2021, according to the The 2021 National Legal Sector Benchmark Survey Results published by Cushman & Wakefield in conjunction with ALM Intelligence and Law.com. Roughly 70% of respondents, which include 336 firm leaders, attorneys and staff from various law firms, said that they expect to regularly work remotely when asked in the second quarter of last year. Asked again earlier this year, just half responded the same way. Still, while rumors of the death of the office have been greatly exaggerated, the study's co-authors did say remote work is here to stay to some extent. "[I]t's clear that the virtual and remote work environment will continue to be a meaningful component of how and where work is performed by both lawyers and staff," the authors wrote. "The challenge for every firm is to determine the right mix that's most appropriate to their attorneys."

STATE OF CYBERSECURITY LAW - The U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling last Friday requiring plaintiffs to show "concrete" injuries in consumer privacy and data breach class actions was a pleasant way for the business community to kick off its weekend. But, as Law.com's Victoria Hudgins reports, the celebration could prove to be short-lived, as the decision is likely to simply push more plaintiffs to state courts, where the issues in these types of cases are still largely unsettled. "On its face it looks like it could be pro-business,"  said Cynthia Cole, a partner and deputy department chairwoman of Baker Botts' corporate section. "It looks like it could be a decision that gives some consistency to businesses in this context. But I think it's a decision that punts the real issues and stickiness and problems underlying data breaches: inaccuracy of information and the harm inaccurate information can cause."

MULTIPLE MAJOR MERGERS -  You know what they say about omni-channel and omni-vertical customer acquisition platform mergers: once you pop, you can't stop. System1 is going public through a SPAC merger with Trebia Acquisition Corp. in a deal worth approximately $1.4 billion. As a result of the merger, System1 will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Simultaneously, System1 has also agreed to merge with cybersecurity company Protected.net. Both transactions, announced June 29, are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. System1, which is based in Los Angeles, is represented by Latham & Watkins and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. The SPAC is advised by Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Protected.net is represented by Trethowans and Greenberg Glusker. 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

DEAL DASH -  Tech-related deal work is ballooning in Latin America, bringing with it greater demand for U.S.-based legal advice and talent, Law.com International's Amy Guthrie reports. Lawyers active in the space say venture capital invested into the region over the years has spawned a growing number of exit transactions that in turn give tech pioneers currency to undertake acquisitions. The result has been a notable increase in both inbound and outbound work—and a recruiting drive for talent at tech-focused law firms as well as at full-service firms hoping to get in on the action. "We're starting to see companies blowing out of the gate with billion-dollar valuations, and the market is becoming more and more mature," said André Thiollier, a partner at Foley & Lardner who focuses on tech in Latin America—and in particular Brazil.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"If you're working with a partner who you don't think will be your advocate, branch out to find someone who will."