The Australian offices of U.K.-based Ashurst remain open, although many lawyers are working from home, the law firm said.
The global firm is following advice from governments in all jurisdictions, and teams are ready to work remotely if the relevant government suggests this, global managing partner Paul Jenkins said in a statement.
“As the managing partner of a global firm, I’ve spent much of the last few weeks talking to the leaders of our European, Asian and U.S. offices. I’ve had to act in relation to government decrees or recommendations in Madrid, Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels, London, Glasgow and Milan earlier in the month,” he said.
The Ashurst offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra remain open, although many staff are already working from home.
Several other firms in Australia, including Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith Freehills and Squire Patton Boggs have suggested that staff work from home, while others, including King & Wood Mallesons, Linklaters-aligned Allens and Baker McKenzie, have directed staff to do so.
Hogan Lovells and K&L Gates in Australia have not responded to requests for comments.
As of Thursday morning, there have been 565 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, including 111 new cases since the update given 24 hours earlier.
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