"There are a handful of lawyers whose brands as renegades can withstand more pressure than others, and David Boies holds that position," one consultant said.

"Ninety percent is a wonderful vaccination rate. I think anywhere north of 75% is positive. Obviously the higher the better," Duane Morris employment partner Jonathan Segal said.

The firm, which hadn't spoken on its office return plans until now, joins several of its peers in requiring that its personnel be vaccinated before returning to the office.

Roughly 31% of Black lawyers said they have contemplated suicide during their professional career, far and above the 19% of white respondents that said the same.

The death of George Floyd caused law firm leaders to speak out about racial justice. And they've continued to do so on other issues such as election interference and voting rights.

The hires come on the heels of news that Morrison & Foerster New York office leader Brett Miller plans to join Willkie along with two other bankruptcy partners.

"There's lots of good reasons for having a no-nepotism rule, not least of which that you're creating opportunities for people that might not otherwise have it," one former law firm leader said.

Working attorney parents tell their pandemic stories as families sacrificed to re-balance their work and family lives. No two situations were identical.