This week’s top story is the release of the first ethics opinion to outline and address the issues raised by working from home due to the coronavirus crisis. We’re joined by an author of that opinion, Pennsylvania lawyer Daniel Siegel, to discuss its key points. Also this week: the first major virtual legal conference of the coronavirus era is held, ILTA’s CEO says its annual ILTACON conference is a go for August, and a contracts-technology company, saying corporations face a state of emergency, releases a free version of its product to help legal departments make their contracts organized and accessible. 

Story Sources

Major ethics opinion (2:27):

• State Bar Issues Ethics Guidance on Working from Home During COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Full text: PBA Formal Opinion 2020-300 Ethical Considerations for Attorneys Working Remotely.

First virtual conference (4:44):

• Rocket Matter to Stage ‘Rocket Aid,’ A Charitable Virtual Conference for Lawyers.
• What If You Threw A Conference And No One Came (Because They All Logged In Remotely)?
• Litera Announces Virtual Legal Conference April 23 on Adapting to the Changing Market. 
• Rocket Aid.
• The Changing Lawyer LIVE!
• ILTA LegalSEC Summit.

ILTACON is on (6:25): 

• Law Insights Interview with Joy Heath Rush.
• ILTACON Is On, ILTA CEO Says, But It May Not Seem The Same.
• ILTACON planning going ‘full steam ahead.’

Knowable’s new products (6:56):

• Knowable Responds to Pandemic with New Products, Including Free Contract Management.
• GCs Face Contract ‘Chaos’ + Knowable Wants to Help.

Guest Conversation (7:52):

• Daniel J. Siegel.

Top stories this week include more layoffs in legal tech as Epiq, suffering the double blow of a ransomware attack and the pandemic is reported to let go as many as 200. Also in the news, cutbacks at other legal tech companies, a report on the state of legaltech Down Under, Fastcase says its taking a bigger cut of the BigLaw market, former Atrium lawyers land at a law firm, case management company Filevine makes its first acquisition, and Wolters Kluwer releases a comprehensive free resource on COVID-19 laws. Our guest this week is Ron Friedmann, author of the blog Strategic Legal Technology, who discusses Fastcase’s move into BigLaw and the state of investment in legal tech. 

Story Sources

Epiq layoffs (1:57):

• Reports Say Epiq Has Laid Off Some 200 Employees In Wake Of Ransomware Attack.

Cuts at Elevate, Reynen Court (2:30):

• Elevate, Reynen Court Follow Law Firm Lead by Cutting Costs.

Global Legal Tech Report (2:51): 

• First in Series of Global Legal Tech Reports Finds Good and Bad in Australia.
• Global Legal Tech Report.

Fastcase (3:39):

• Fastcase Gains Share in Big Law.

Atrium (4:03):

• Atrium, $75M Company that Vowed to ‘Revolutionize’ Law, Shuts Down.
• Crowell & Moring Acquires Core Atrium Senior Legal Team.

Filevine (4:26):

• Case Management Company Filevine Acquires Lead-Management Company Lead Docket.

Wolters Kluwer (4:56):

• Wolters Kluwer Releases Comprehensive Free Resource for Navigating Federal and State COVID-19 Laws.
• Free and Powerful: Wolters Kluwer Launches  Suite of COVID-19 Smart Charts Outside the Paywall.
• Wolters Kluwer COVID-19 Smart Chart.

Guest Conversation (5:31):

• Ron Friedmann.

Top stories this week include the first coronavirus casualties in legaltech as e-discovery company DISCO lays off staff. Also in the news: a new legal analytics product from LexisNexis, a virtual legal conference to benefit charity, and a rash of notable hires. Finally, we’re joined from London by Richard Tromans, legal economist and founder of the blog Artificial Lawyer, for his perspective on the pandemic’s potential impact on the legaltech industry.

Story Sources

Disco layoffs (1:18):

• Legal Tech Layoffs Begin As DISCO Announces Job Cuts.
• Layoffs at Fast-Rising Austin Startup DISCO. 

Context Company Analytics (2:15):

• LexisNexis Adds Companies to its Context Analytics on Lexis Advance.
• LexisNexis Launches Context Company Analytics –Language Analysis and Insights for Competitive Insights.

Rocket Aid (3:12): 

• Rocket Matter to Stage ‘Rocket Aid,’ A Charitable Virtual Conference for Lawyers.
• Rocket Aid registration. 

Notable hires (3:53):

• Keith Lee, LawyerSmack Founder, Joins Case Status as Chief Marketing Officer.
• Notable Hire: Allegory Founder Alma Asay Joins Litera.
• Simpson Thacher Welcomes Oz Benamram as First Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer.

Guest Conversation (5:38):

• Richard Tromans

Top stories this week include a legal profession in lockdown and how legal technology companies are stepping up to help with offers of free products and services. Among the most notable: Clio’s commitment of $1 million to a disaster relief fund. Also in the news: Litera makes another acquisition, Casetext raises new funding to drive development of its brief analysis product, and vLex rolls out a new legal research platform in the UK.