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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

MASK MANDATES AND OTHER MAYHEM - Turns out a global pandemic that alters human life as we know it can create a few sticky wickets. Courts continue to struggle with inconsistent COVID-19 protocols and pushback on reinstituting in-person proceedings, suggesting that even as the Delta variant shows signs of receding in the U.S., getting back to normal—or even proceeding with a new normal—may not be possible any time soon. Our reporters across the country have been tracking these issues throughout the pandemic, including the flare up of a number of new issues in recent weeks. As we explore in the latest Law.com Litigation Trendspotter column, some court systems continue to deal with confusion over mask mandates that have, apparently unbeknownst to some, been in place since summertime. Meanwhile, courts are also facing fallout from litigators who are less-than-eager to give up the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of remote proceedings.

BONUS ARMY - Here we go again! Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison announced a new round of discretionary bonuses last week and, to the surprise of no one, other firm leaders are now planning their own special rewards for those who have contributed most to meeting exceptional client demand. In fact, at least one, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, has already made its own announcement of an hours-based bonus of up to $40,000 for associates to be awarded in March 2022, just before the firm's fiscal year ends. And, as Law.com's Patrick Smith, Andrew Maloney and Jessie Yount reported, industry observers expect plenty more of Paul Weiss' peers to match the firm's move. "Every time you see an associate compensation bump, for lockstep associate compensation, firms follow suit. Whenever you see the bonuses increasing, firms will follow suit," said Rob Delicate, co-founder of the New York recruiting firm Erica Robert Associates. Delicate noted that while his shop doesn't focus on associates, "it would be surprising if we didn't see a handful [of law firms] following suit, and potentially dozens."

METAL MAGIC - Crowley Fleck and Kukala Law filed a copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit Friday in Wyoming District Court on behalf of Motamoa Holdings, a New Zealand business that sells metal sculptures under the (totally headbangin') trade name Metalbird. The complaint pursues claims against the operators of a competing ecommerce website that sells similar artwork using the brand name Magicbird. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. The case is 0:21-cv-00198, Motamoa Holdings Limited v. VL Media LLC et al. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar.  

EDITOR'S PICKS

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

LEVELING UP AT LATHAM - Latham & Watkins is the latest firm to promote a bumper crop of lawyers to its partnership, with 44 making the cut across the firm's global network, Law.com International's Hannah Roberts reported. The promotions mark a change of pace for Latham, which has added 33 lawyers to its partnership in the past two years. In Europe, 15 lawyers are being promoted to partner, with London lawyers making up nine of the promotions in what is a record for the London base. Four lawyers are being promoted in Germany, and one apiece in Paris and Milan, while two lawyers are being promoted in the firm's Hong Kong office. Meanwhile, nine lawyers are being bumped up to partner in the firm's California offices and four in its Texas bases. Elsewhere, seven are being promoted in New York, three in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and one in Boston. The firm is also promoting 39 lawyers to counsel across its global offices. All appointments will take effect from January 1 2022.