Biglaw

COVID-19 Tech Stipends All The Rage In Biglaw

All this working from home requires technology!

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What’s your firm doing during the COVID-19 crisis?

We’ve reported (extensively) on all the bad ish that’s happening (all the layoffs, furloughs, and salary cuts we know about), but we are also trying to make time for some of the bright spots — like the assurances associates won’t be fired. And when we let you know litigation boutique Hueston Hennigan was handing out tech budgets to make sure this whole working from home thing went smoothly, Biglaw folks wanted to make sure we knew they weren’t the only ones.

Thus far tipsters from the following Biglaw firms have lets us know about the COVID-19 tech stipends:

Skadden:

In addition to not indicating any impending negative measures — at least not yet — they have initiated a firmwide technology reimbursement to set all attorneys up with tech for home offices.  The tech includes a new laptop, two monitors, wireless keyboard/mouse, and a printer (with toner and paper).  Pretty nice, especially considering the circumstances.

Fried Frank (payable to all special counsel, associates and staff):

[T]he Firm will be providing a one-time stipend of $350 to be paid in paychecks dated April 15, 2020. The stipend is non-taxable and is to be used for technology expenses associated with enabling employees to work from home, including the costs for monitors, printers, scanners, shredders and related supplies purchased on or after March 13, 2020

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Debevoise:

Debevoise also gave a $500 tech allowance to associates payable on the first April check.

Willkie:

No tech stipend from Willkie, but they were proactive from day 1 offering to ship to associates any office tech – monitors, printers, keyboards, mouse, Cisco phones, and any other accessories – we’d need.

Milbank:

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Milbank gave all associates and special counsel a $750 tech stipend to improve their home offices.

White & Case:

White and case has also been really proactive about getting people everything they need directly, plus a 250 tech stipend for anything that’s easier for you to source yourself. They have offices in a lot of hard hit locations and have been incredible about supporting attorneys and staff so far.

Has your firm stepped up with extra money for technology or other benefits during this global pandemic? Let us know! Our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477).

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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