Harvard Law Bulletin quoted McGuireWoods managing partner J. Tracy Walker IV in a story that examined how the COVID-19 pandemic and other global disruptions have contributed to increased demand for legal services and changes in the business of law. The article, “Practicing Law in the Wake of a Pandemic,” was published in the magazine’s summer edition.
Walker, a 1990 Harvard Law graduate, said deal work picked up considerably for McGuireWoods toward the end 2020, and the firm saw greater demand throughout the year from many longstanding clients, particularly those in heavily regulated industries such as big banks and utilities. He said there was a “huge uptick” in 2021 for many practice groups, including private equity, healthcare, debt finance, securities and employment litigation.
The article included insights from academics and Harvard Law graduates at private firms on how the pandemic, the global economic crisis, and demands for racial and social justice have affected the legal industry and created new opportunities for lawyers.