Law firms are retraining lawyers in areas including restructuring and insolvency during the coronavirus crisis to handle a rush of business from companies in financial distress.
Some of the largest global law firms including Latham & Watkins and Hogan Lovells are retooling lawyers and moving them from quieter departments, with some forecasting a fourfold increase in the number working on restructuring matters in the coming months.
The pandemic has triggered a string of company collapses such as restaurant chain Carluccio’s in the UK and US shale driller Whiting, and forced others into negotiations with lenders and leaseholders in an attempt to stay afloat.
Manolete Partners CEO Steven Cooklin told DirectorsTalk “In line with many other commentators, Manolete anticipates a large wave of restructurings and insolvencies to follow from this terrible medical crisis. The related litigation and claims impact (as with the 2008 Financial Crisis) will last a number of years.”