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Anonymous User wrote:I meant to ask if anyone has any insider info on how firms are going to handle this, or what communications have gone out with respect to COVID-19. Specifically interested in top tier DC firms (Wilmer, Cov, W&C, GDC). Not asking for speculation.

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:It’s not a firm you’re concerned about or in DC, but mine is basically just sending emails saying they’re monitoring the situation. They put out more hand sanitizer. They’re discouraging travel that isn’t necessary and encouraging virtual meetings.

That’s about it. No real push to work from home and the day to day at the office hasn’t changed whatsoever.

Coronavirus Update to the Paul, Weiss Community

We are living in uniquely challenging times. I wish each of you and your loved ones good health and resilience during this very stressful period. We are continuing to develop the most prudent policies to minimize the potential impact of the Coronavirus on our Firm and our broader community. As always, our first priority is the health and safety of our lawyers and staff. We are making every effort to address these concerns responsibly without overreaction.

We are monitoring daily, sometimes on an hourly basis, public health guidance from the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and local, state and federal authorities. We also speak several times a day to the chairs of our peer firms, leadership at our clients and others throughout the business community and local and state government as well as epidemiologists at Mt. Sinai Hospital to be as informed and thoughtful as possible regarding the Firm’s actions.

While we are not aware of any cases of Coronavirus among PW lawyers or staff at this time, we are taking additional safety measures to further protect our community and reduce the chances of exposure. Below is a summary of our current guidance.

Alternate Work Arrangements

Lawyers should use good judgment in deciding whether and when to work from home, taking into account individual health concerns, public transportation issues, and client and firm needs. You should not come into the office if you show any signs of illness and should check with medical professionals as appropriate. You should not come into the office if you have come into contact with any persons with the virus. If you otherwise have concerns about traveling and coming into the office and wish to work from home, please check with your colleagues on your matters to ensure you are not compromising firm or client needs and adjust your schedule as appropriate, consistent with your individual health concerns. Please use your good judgment in making these determinations.

Staff personnel will be instructed by their department heads regarding alternative work arrangements, taking into account departmental needs and individual health concerns.
In addition to alternate work arrangements, we are reviewing other opportunities to distance employees where there is a close concentration of staff. This includes alternating work-remote schedules for those who share office space throughout the Firm.
These policies have been effective and well-received, based on the very extensive feedback you have provided. We welcome any additional thoughts and ideas you have on this subject.

Firm Events and Meetings
We ask that Firm personnel not attend non-essential external events of more than 100 attendees. Departmental chairs and other managers may grant exceptions, as appropriate.
We also ask that employees cancel or postpone any upcoming internal meetings of more than 25 participants. Lawyers and staff may instead conduct these meetings via audio/video conference or other virtual meeting tools.

The firm has taken a number of steps to protect the health and safety of our workforce in response to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are fortunate that, to date, none of our partners or employees have tested positive for the virus. That said, given the continued spread of COVID-19 in the United States, we believe it is now appropriate to escalate our preventative measures. These new actions, summarized below, are taken with your best interests in mind, and those of your families, our clients and the communities in which we work and live.

Telework from Offices in Affected Regions

The firm has instituted voluntary remote working for partners and employees in the Seattle and Palo Alto offices. Currently, Information Technology is testing this capability in a staged fashion across the country so that voluntary remote working can be extended to other offices as recommended by government health authorities.

Staff who have questions about the opportunity to telework should contact their manager or local HR. Technical questions regarding remote working should be directed to the Help Desk.

Anonymous User wrote:I meant to ask if anyone has any insider info on how firms are going to handle this, or what communications have gone out with respect to COVID-19. Specifically interested in top tier DC firms (Wilmer, Cov, W&C, GDC). Not asking for speculation.

But I guess on the speculative side I’d love thoughts on this: any chance firms would still pay in an effort to differentiate themselves from more financially shaky firms should summer programs be cancelled or go virtual? As a law student I would def think my firm is TTT and not want to return after clerking if peer firms or even the more profitable NY V5 pay out stipends to their SAs and my summer firm did not.

Anonymous User wrote:My firm has announced essentially mandatory work from home is on through 3/31. And if we’re all back in the office on April 1 I’d be shocked.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:My firm has announced essentially mandatory work from home is on through 3/31. And if we’re all back in the office on April 1 I’d be shocked.

Personally, I can't wait to get back in the office. Anyone else having issues getting their families to understand that they aren't available to do things other than work during the workday? Having a 1br apartment kind of exacerbates things...

Anonymous User wrote:Baker Botts DC told us not to make flight or housing plans due to "uncertainty regarding future restrictions on travel and gatherings" and that they will update us with more news soon.