More than 50 law firms require or allow work from home because of COVID-19 concerns
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The number of law firms requiring or encouraging work at home is growing larger by the day.
Both Above the Law and the American Lawyer have produced and updated lists of mostly BigLaw firms asking employees to work at home. The policies are spurred by concerns about transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Above the Law’s list had nearly two dozen law firms requiring work from home as of March 18. More than 20 others had voluntary or “strongly encouraged” work-from-home policies.
A few, including Mayer Brown, had lawyers and staff members on a rotation system between office appearances and work from home. Morgan Lewis and Weil Gotshal & Manges had started out with rotating systems, but they later switched to voluntary work from home.
The American Lawyer also listed more than 50 law firms that were requiring, encouraging or allowing their lawyers and staff members to work from home as of March 18.
Some law firms responded after employees had potential exposure or contracted COVID-19.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan shut down its New York office after a partner tested positive.
Davis Wright Tremaine closed its Washington offices in Bellevue and Seattle after a Bellevue executive legal assistant was found dead at home. A test for COVID-19 came back negative. The firm continues to ask employees to work from home.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath temporarily closed its offices after two visitors in Washington, D.C., were diagnosed with COVID-19. The firm is now asking all of its employees to work from home.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “More BigLaw firms close or require remote work because of coronavirus threat”
