Pandemic-enforced remote working has increased lawyers’ reliance upon tools like email and document management systems in order to keep both productivity and the lines of communication flowing. But what happens when those or other key systems are taken offline?

Some firms may have to find out the hard way. Big Law member Seyfarth Shaw issued a statement Monday announcing that the firm was hit by a “sophisticated and aggressive” ransomware attack. While Seyfarth found no evidence that any firm or client data was accessed or exfiltrated, many of its systems were encrypted and subsequently shut down as a precautionary measure.