The new coronavirus has elevated the already important role of a general counsel to be more involved as stores close down and reopen and state and local governments update safety protocols for bringing employees back to work.

Tim Hirsch, general counsel of New York-based fashion company CaaStle, said nearly every decision the company makes is now partially a legal one, whether it is best practices to opening up distribution centers to finding ways to collect and safely handling employee health information. To combat these challenges while working remotely, Hirsch said constant communication with the two other attorneys in his legal department is critical.