Wake Up Call: Four Days In-Office for Milbank Junior Lawyers

In today’s column, a slump in chapter 11 filings hasn’t dented the lateral market for bankruptcy pros; the NFL’s top lawyer had a “cozy” relationship with the head of a team he was supposed to be overseeing, a report says; attorneys are frustrated with court systems requiring them to appear in person as the pandemic rolls on.

• Leading off, a Milbank memo notified its attorneys in New York, Washington, and Los Angeles that it wants them back in the office starting Nov. 8, for at least three days a week, but first and second-year associates have to come in four days per week. Milbank is among at least half a dozen firms targeting early November returns after over 18 months of working remote during the pandemic. But Milbank expects first-year associates back in the office starting “Thursday, next week,” Oct. 21, a report says. (Above The Law)
• BakerHostetler this week joined the list of firms that have delayed their reopenings until 2022, advocating a hybrid approach to work. Meanwhile, Legal Intelligencer reports that data from nQ Zebraworks show that many firms are actually requiring attorneys to come in more days of the week than they previously announced in their hybrid policies. (Legal Intelligencer)
• Attorneys around the country say they’re frustrated by some court systems that are requiring in-person appearances despite the continuing pandemic. (Daily Report) Based on preliminary data, it looks like pandemic-era jury make-ups are having an impact on trial outcomes. (Law.com)

Lawyers, Law Firms

• The slowdown in Chapter 11 filings hasn’t sapped the lateral market for experienced Big Law bankruptcy attorneys. (American Lawyer)
• Big Law firms’ focus on profits-per-equity-partner reflects a short-term vision, in which partners balk at investing in innovation, research, development, a report says. But two firms are doing a better job of responding to clients’ wishes for “big picture” thinking from their outside counsel, a report says. The article is in a new special report on innovative lawyers in Europe. (Financial Times)
• Emails show the National Football League’s general counsel, Jeff Pash, had a “cozy” relationship with the former president of the Washington Football Team and once helped the team sidestep a fine, the Times reports. (NYT)
• Arnold Porter attorneys for former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe won a settlement from the Justice Department restoring his pension with back pay. Former President Trump fired McCabe hours before his retirement. (NPR)

Laterals, Moves, In-house

• Nelson Mullins hired two health-care regulatory lawyers in Atlanta. Edgar Bueno, a former Georgia federal prosecutor, civil division chief, joined as partner, while Matthew Wilmot joined as of counsel, both coming from Morris, Manning & Martin; Katten added veteran Big Law commercial litigator Eli Burriss in Dallas as a partner. He focuses on health-care litigation; Goodwin Procter recruited two tech partners in New York, Heather Miles, who was emerging companies and venture capital chair at Foley Hoag, and Alex Rea from Cooley. It also brought in complex litigation partner Adrianne Marshack, from Manatt. (GoodwinLaw.com)
• Mayer Brown brought in energy company top lawyer and executive Sam Patranella in Houston as a partner in its corporate & securities practice, advising on energy and private equity transactions. Patranella was vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Luxe Energy LLC and Luxe Minerals LLC; Mayer Brown also hired Huntons Andrews Kurth projects & infrastructure lawyer Lauren Bachtel as counsel in New York. She’s previously been an attorney adviser at the U.S. Department of the Interior and in-house at the American Wind Energy Association. (MayerBrown.com)
• Dentons grabbed Deloitte’s global human resources managing director Neelima Paladugu to start Nov. 15 as its global chief people officer. She’s replacing Jay Connolly, who jumped to Baker McKenzie in September to take the same role in London; Sheppard Mullin hired Big Law marketing veteran Christie Cáceres as its chief business development and marketing officer in Chicago. She arrives from Sidley Austin; U.K. headquartered Withers Worldwide hired six tax lawyers from Italian firm Gianni & Origani, led by its tax department co-head Stefano Grilli, who will now lead Withers’ corporate tax team in Milan. (Global Legal Post)