Law Firms Turning to In-Office Tracking: The Morning Minute
The news and analysis you need to start your day.
September 06, 2023 at 06:00 AM
4 minute read
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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
BIG BROTHER PROGRAM? - You've heard of the partnership track—but how about being tracked by the partnership? Goodwin Procter announced last week that it was rolling out a system called "Colleague Connect," which would allow employees to search a firm-wide database to see who is in the office at any given time. The email said the firm believed it would "enhance the way we interact with each other, making our office communication more efficient and productive." However, as evidenced by comments from a Fishbowl posting, not everyone saw it that way, with some arguing the technology is overly intrusive. Still, Goodwin is not the first—and definitely won't be the last—firm to make use of tracking tech. AshLea Allberry is the COO of Maptician, Inc, which offers an application that helps organizations manage hybrid working environments via office reservations and, among other elements, seeing who is in the office. (Goodwin's app was built in house.) She told Law.com's Patrick Smith the company has seen massive interest from Big Law over the last several months.
URGING MERGING - When 10-lawyer L.A. boutique Barton Klugman & Oetting combined with Am Law 100 firm Clark Hill this summer, the smaller firm was feeling some pressure. According to Barton Klugman managing partner Tod Beebe, clients were seeking the "cachet" of a large firm to handle their matters, even if the boutique's lawyers are equally skilled. As Law.com's Brenda Sapino Jeffreys reports, that dynamic may prompt leaders of more small firms to pick up the phone when bigger firms call to talk about an acquisition or merger. And it may be an opportune time to talk, given that, according to a recent report by Fairfax Associates, law firm mergers are expected to accelerate as 2023 winds down. Lisa Smith, a principal at Fairfax, said she is seeing more and more clients "looking for a brand that isn't going to be questioned by the board or … a brand to signify to the other side that they are serious."
ON THE RADAR - Western Midstream Partners, through one of its operating subsidiaries, has agreed to acquire Meritage Midstream Services II for $885 million in cash. The transaction, announced Sept. 5, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023. The Woodlands, Texas-based Western Midstream was advised by a Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher corporate team led by partner Tull Florey. Meritage Midstream was represented by Vinson & Elkins. The Vinson & Elkins team was led by New York-based partners James Fox and Dan Komarek. Stay up on the latest state and federal litigation, as well as the latest corporate deals, with Law.com Radar.
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Who Got The Work
Michael G. Bongiorno, Andrew Scott Dulberg and Elizabeth E. Driscoll from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr have stepped in to represent Symbotic Inc., an A.I.-enabled technology platform that focuses on increasing supply chain efficiency, and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The case, filed Oct. 2 in Massachusetts District Court by the Brown Law Firm on behalf of Stephen Austen, accuses certain officers and directors of misleading investors in regard to Symbotic's potential for margin growth by failing to disclose that the company was not equipped to timely deploy its systems or manage expenses through project delays. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, is 1:24-cv-12522, Austen v. Cohen et al.
Who Got The Work
Edmund Polubinski and Marie Killmond of Davis Polk & Wardwell have entered appearances for data platform software development company MongoDB and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The action, filed Oct. 7 in New York Southern District Court by the Brown Law Firm, accuses the company's directors and/or officers of falsely expressing confidence in the company’s restructuring of its sales incentive plan and downplaying the severity of decreases in its upfront commitments. The case is 1:24-cv-07594, Roy v. Ittycheria et al.
Who Got The Work
Amy O. Bruchs and Kurt F. Ellison of Michael Best & Friedrich have entered appearances for Epic Systems Corp. in a pending employment discrimination lawsuit. The suit was filed Sept. 7 in Wisconsin Western District Court by Levine Eisberner LLC and Siri & Glimstad on behalf of a project manager who claims that he was wrongfully terminated after applying for a religious exemption to the defendant's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The case, assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor, is 3:24-cv-00630, Secker, Nathan v. Epic Systems Corporation.
Who Got The Work
David X. Sullivan, Thomas J. Finn and Gregory A. Hall from McCarter & English have entered appearances for Sunrun Installation Services in a pending civil rights lawsuit. The complaint was filed Sept. 4 in Connecticut District Court by attorney Robert M. Berke on behalf of former employee George Edward Steins, who was arrested and charged with employing an unregistered home improvement salesperson. The complaint alleges that had Sunrun informed the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection that the plaintiff's employment had ended in 2017 and that he no longer held Sunrun's home improvement contractor license, he would not have been hit with charges, which were dismissed in May 2024. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer, is 3:24-cv-01423, Steins v. Sunrun, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Greenberg Traurig shareholder Joshua L. Raskin has entered an appearance for boohoo.com UK Ltd. in a pending patent infringement lawsuit. The suit, filed Sept. 3 in Texas Eastern District Court by Rozier Hardt McDonough on behalf of Alto Dynamics, asserts five patents related to an online shopping platform. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, is 2:24-cv-00719, Alto Dynamics, LLC v. boohoo.com UK Limited.
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