Expert Analysis

• And Now A Word From The Panel: 2021 MDLs In Review

  

  The most notable trend in multidistrict litigation in 2021 was a 25% decrease in the number of new petitions for MDL proceedings — but a deeper dive into the numbers suggests that, on the whole, MDLs are thriving, and continuing to have a major impact, says Alan Rothman at Sidley.

• How AI Can Transform Crisis Management In Litigation

  

  Attorneys should understand how to use rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technology to help clients prepare for potential catastrophic events and the inevitable litigation arising from them, from predicting crises before they occur to testing legal theories once they arise, say Stratton Horres at Wilson Elser and David Steiger.

• Supervisor Relationships Are Key To Beating Atty Burnout

  

  In order to combat record attorney turnover and high levels of burnout, law firm partners and leaders must build engaging relationships with supervisees, fostering autonomy and control, enabling expression of values, and building a sense of community and belonging, says Anne Brafford at the Institute for Well-Being in Law.

• The New Antitrust Agenda's Impact On Energy And Chemicals

  

  The Biden administration's antitrust enforcers have already left their mark on the energy and chemicals industries, with longer and more frequent investigations, lower standards for second requests on mergers, and a wider range of concerns in merger reviews, say attorneys at V&E.

• Corporate Boards Need Not Fear 7th Circ. Boeing Decision

  

  The Seventh Circuit’s recent decision in Seafarers Pension Plan v. Bradway, over Boeing shareholders' rights to bring federal derivative suits over the 737 Max aircraft, may encourage creative Securities Exchange Act claims to avoid exclusive forum provisions, but boards of Delaware corporations still have tools to avoid duplicative litigation, say attorneys at Skadden.

• Make-Whole Claim Lessons From Hertz Bankruptcy Ruling

  

  After the Delaware bankruptcy court's recent decision in Wells Fargo v. Hertz, courts may continue to hear the assertion that early payoff premiums constitute unmatured interest, which could shape best practices in formulating make-whole clauses to avoid such arguments, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

• The Rising Demand For Commercial Litigators In 2022

  

  Amid broken supply chains, pandemic-induced bankruptcies and a rise in regulation by litigation, strong commercial litigators — strategists who are adept in trying a range of tortious and contractual disputes — are becoming a must-have for many law firms, making this year an opportune moment to make the career switch, say Michael Ascher and Kimberly Donlon at Major Lindsey.

• Key Contract Lessons In Del. Justices' Hotel Deal Ruling

  

  The Delaware Supreme Court recently ruled in AB Stabile v. MAPS Hotels that a Chinese financial conglomerate breached a hotel sale agreement's standard ordinary course covenant, providing significant insight on the meaning and application of these contracts, and the need for consent on material changes prior to closing, say attorneys at Quinn Emanuel.

• When Fair Notice Precludes Punitive Damages

  

  The ongoing pandemic has done little to slow the continued proliferation of novel theories of tort liability, but even when courts approve, the U.S. Constitution's requirement of fair notice may prohibit punitive damages, says Mitchell Morris at Butler Snow.

• Evaluating Director Protections After Del. Bankruptcy Ruling

  

  The Delaware Bankruptcy Court's recent decision in Friedman v. Wellspring Capital, outlining the conditions under which an alleged duty of loyalty breach can survive a motion to dismiss, may undermine corporate decision makers' ability to negotiate for what are customary and necessary protections as they manage distressed entity transactions, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• M&A Ruling Illustrates Limits Of Disclaiming Fraud In Del.

  

  The Delaware Chancery Court's recent ruling in Fortis Advisors v. Johnson & Johnson shows that parties negotiating M&A transactions should be mindful that extracontractual fraud claims may only be eliminated through explicit anti-reliance provisions, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

• How In-House Counsel Can Make The Case For Settling Early

  

  Following the recent settlement in McDonald's v. Easterbrook, in-house counsel should consider decision-tree analyses and values-driven communications plans to secure effective, early resolutions in litigation, saving time and money and moving the company mission forward, say Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein and Richard Torrenzano at The Torrenzano Group.

• To Retain Talent, GCs Should Prioritize Mission Statements

  

  With greater legal demands and an increasing number of workers resigning during the pandemic, general counsel should take steps to articulate their teams' values in departmental mission statements, which will help them better prioritize corporate values and attract and retain talent, says Catherine Kemnitz at Axiom.

• Opinion

  Del. High Court Gets It Right With Opioid Nuisance Ruling

  

  In ACE v. Rite Aid, the Delaware Supreme Court has issued a groundbreaking insurance ruling that helps define the fundamental bargain at the heart of commercial insurance coverage and demonstrates why such coverage does not extend to public nuisance claims, says Adam Fleischer at BatesCarey.

• Anticipate Another Busy Year Of M&A Activity

  

  M&A action is likely to continue at a hectic pace this year, with 24/7 remote work practices, regulatory covenant litigation, and acquisitions of supply chain actors all showing no signs of slowing down, says Ethan Klingsberg at Freshfields.