Law.com: How Courts, Litigators and Clients Learned to Stop Worrying and Love (Some Aspects of) Remote Work

O’Melveny trial practice chair Dan Petrocelli recently spoke with Law.com about the effects of remote work on litigation over the past year. 

Petrocelli noted that removing travel from his workflow has led to cost efficiencies and productivity improvements. “We’re no longer wasting time in airports and hotel rooms, so there’s a lot of productivity that’s picked up, and a lot of that has had to do with dealing directly with clients and strengthening ties and relationships in a way that frankly had never happened before,” he said.

Petrocelli, The American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Year, is nevertheless eagerly awaiting his return to the courtroom. “If you ask me if I’ve had the most fun practicing law this year, that’s a different story. I’ve been sitting in this chair in this home office of mine. I’m on the phone all day. I’m in Zooms all day. I’m reading all day, but I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I’m not running around blowing off energy. I’m not meeting and greeting people in person, I’m not in some witness’ face cross-examining them or getting worked up in a courtroom making some impassioned argument—all the things that are fun to do and make me feel alive…I’m looking forward to when we’re on the other side of this.”

Law.com subscribers can read the full article here.