UK Firm Launches Dedicated Coronavirus Practice As Others Ramp Up Hygiene Measures
Firms including Mishcon de Reya and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are also implementing new measures to combat the spread of the virus.
March 10, 2020 at 01:00 PM
4 minute read
Firms have continued ramping up their efforts in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
On Tuesday, U.K. reputation and privacy firm Schillings launched a dedicated coronavirus offering, to advise clients on how to manage the business and reputational challenges the spread of the COVID-19 virus poses to companies.
The firm will collaborate with communications consultancy Unity and crisis management and corporate advisers Vigo Communications to provide legal, financial and communications advice to businesses about the impact of the virus, Schillings said in a statement.
It added: "Facing a blizzard of information and media coverage, companies are looking for strategic support that enables them to deliver concrete actions founded on experience and science rather than fear and anecdote."
The Schillings cross-practice team will be co-headed by partner Amy Pope, who had formerly acted as former deputy Homeland Security advisor to the Obama administration during the Ebola outbreak.
Mishcon de Reya has laid on hand-sanitizer in its London office reception and is encouraging no physical contact in greetings. One person posted a picture on LinkedIn of a bottle of hand-sanitizer located in Mishcon's London office next to a sign that read: "For now, we think it's sensible if we quarantine the handshake, the hug and the kiss when we meet and greet each other in reception. We know it's a little less personal but only because everyone's personal business matters. Thank you."
A person at Mishcon added that its lawyers have also advised against any non-essential business travel. The firm is the latest to initiate the measure. Linklaters last week banned all international travel until further notice as the firm looks to limit its lawyers' exposure to the virus.
"Whilst there may be exceptional circumstances when travel may be necessary, this is not expected to be the norm," a spokesperson for the Magic Circle firm said in a statement.
One person with knowledge of the matter at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer said the firm is providing hand-sanitizer in its London office. The firm has historically provided branded hand wipes in the reception area of the base, labeled with the phrase 'Clean hands — Definition: to be free from unfair conduct'.
In Italy, which is now subject to a country-wide lockdown to limit the spread of Covid-19, firms are further restricting the movement of their lawyers.
Italian firm BonelliErede said in a statement to Law.com International that while its three Milan offices will remain open, "access will be allowed only in cases where circumstances make it unavoidable and only with the approval of a manager."
Any type of meeting – except for justified exceptions – must be converted into a conference or video-conference," the statement continued.
At the end of last month, Law.com International reported that Bonelli was paying for employees to take taxis to the office rather than taking public transport, with the firm confirming Tuesday that this policy is still in place.
A partner at the firm said: "Almost all of us are working from home – there is strong encouragement from the firm to do so. Last week, maybe 30-40% were working from home, but now there are only 80 people in the office.
"The systems are working well – thank God we have technology."
At fellow local law firm Chiomenti, meanwhile, another partner said that enhanced smart working policies are in place, with meetings going ahead through teams software, while travel is being prevented.
Meganne Tillay, Krishnan Nair and Varsha Patel contributed to this report.
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Virus Fears Prompt More Firms to Cancel Events, Partners Meetings
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