Ride the Lightning

Coronavirus Spurs Law Firms to Limit Travel, Close Offices

March 3, 2020

Bloomberg Law reported on February 28^th that Baker McKenzie has closed its office in London and has instructed its staff to work from home following concerns that a staff member may have contracted the coronavirus after a trip to Italy.

The firm emailed a statement saying, "Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our people and our clients and we have asked our London office employees to work from home for the time being while we are taking precautionary measures in response to a potential case of the COVID-19. We have a well-established agile working programme–including technology and IT systems for home working–which allows us to take these precautionary measures without impacting our client service delivery."

Several firms in Milan, Italy have closed their offices and more are suggesting that people work from home without making that mandatory. A number of firms are restricting or discouraging travel, particularly to China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Italy.

Law firms are taking all kinds of measures, including stocking hand sanitizers, paying for employees to come to work via a taxi rather than public transportation, canceling law firm retreats and events – and the list just keeps growing.

Even the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has disseminated advice in case the virus erupts. Its plan includes working remotely, teleconferencing rather than having live meetings, suggesting three feet of separation between individuals, and following CDC and Transportation Security Administration travel notices. It also emphasizes regular cleaning of workplace surfaces, hand washing, and "good respiratory etiquette." Each court is free to organize its own "pandemic/infectious disease emergency response team to tailor activities to their particular court of district."

The prevailing attitude in the legal industry is hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Does your law firm have a plan in place?

Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
3975 University Drive, Suite 225|Fairfax, VA 22030
Email: Phone: 703-359-0700
Digital Forensics/Cybersecurity/Information Technology
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