Some BigLaw firms cover travel costs for abortions

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Law Firms Some BigLaw firms cover travel costs for abortions

By Debra Cassens Weiss

June 29, 2022, 11:53 am CDT

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Several larger law firms plan to cover the cost of travel for employees' abortions following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Law firms are acting as litigation over abortion rights moves to the states, where restrictions vary. Trigger laws in 13 states ban abortion if a Supreme Court decision was to allow it, although some of the laws don’t take effect immediately, according to NPR. Other states have long-dormant laws banning abortions or newer restrictions on the procedure.

Reuters and Law.com learned of law firms’ plans after contacting them or obtaining memos with the details.

According to the articles, larger law firms providing travel costs are:

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

• Cozen O’Connor

• Dorsey & Whitney

• Mayer Brown

• McDermott Will & Emery

• Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

• Morrison Foerster

• Proskauer Rose

• Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

• Ropes & Gray

• Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (information is from an anonymous source)

• Susman Godfrey

• Vinson & Elkins

• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Some firms made ambiguous statements about travel coverage, according to Law.com. Cooley, for example, told staff members in a memo that it is “working to ensure that all of Cooley’s workforce has access to covered benefits, regardless of location.” Dechert said it is exploring ways to keep abortion services available to all U.S. employees.

Other law firms said they were evaluating their next steps.

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