For Mary Toscano, COVID-19 has brought an uptick in litigation stemming from government investigations of fraud related to health care and the Paycheck Protection Program, as well as SPACs and cryptocurrencies. She joined Sills Cummis & Gross in Newark in February after a career as a federal prosecutor, and says changing jobs during the pandemic was "terrifying, to say the least."

But Toscano says the firm's white-collar criminal defense group warmly welcomed her. With a 7-year-old daughter who is active in sports, she also appreciates the flexibility her new firm gives her to work from home when necessary.