A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Thursday considered whether a Fifth Avenue retailer could get relief from a lease that went into effect during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ArentFox Schiff partner James Hulme, who represents the company doing business as Desigual USA, asked the panel to reverse a Manhattan federal judge's ruling and allow Desigual to rescind its lease on the grounds of frustration of purpose.