Firms are issuing responses, sharing resources and implementing business continuity plans
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many firms across Canada have resorted to working remotely, keeping in contact with clients through various technological platforms.
Bennett Jones LLP
The firm has implemented business continuity protocols to allow employees to work from home. The firm’s offices remain open, but with restricted access. Meetings will be rescheduled or conducted by alternative means, such as teleconferencing.
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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
The firm’s workforce is predominantly working remotely.
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Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Most of the firm’s employees are working remotely, in accordance with the firm’s business continuity plan. The firm’s emergency response team meets regularly to keep track of developments and to update its employees and clients.
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Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
The firm has adopted proactive measures designed to ensure the safety of its employees and clients. The firm has a business continuity plan in place, which will enable it to continue serving its clients if it becomes unable to work from its offices.
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
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Clark Wilson LLP
Most of the firm’s lawyers and staff are working remotely, with meetings conducted through videoconferencing and telephone calls.
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Сox & Palmer
The firm has closed its offices to the public and has implemented remote working arrangements.
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Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
The firm has adopted proactive measures, such as rescheduling events, making use of teleconferencing for meetings, conducting enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols and restricting business travel. The firm has implemented plans for critical business units to work remotely.
Dentons
With best practice business continuity processes in place, the firm has activated its global pandemic preparedness task force and has shared tools and resources to help the public and the global business community in dealing with this pandemic.
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DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
The firm has adopted various measures to fight the spread of the virus. It stated that it does not expect office closures at the moment, but has business continuity plans ready, if needed.
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Farris LLP
The firm has adopted proactive measures, such as hosting meetings through video and audio conferencing, restricting business travel and adopting increased cleaning protocols. While all its offices remain open, it has a business continuity plan in place to enable it to deal with the evolving situation.
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
The firm’s business continuity plans provide for flexible remote working arrangements. Meetings can be conducted via videoconference, WebEx or conference calls.
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Field Law
Effective Mar. 17 and until further notice, the firm is directing its employees to work remotely. A skeleton staff remains at all offices to deal with physical mail, deliveries, faxes and accounting matters.
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Fillmore Riley LLP
Effective Mar. 23, no in-person meetings will be conducted, with lawyers and the support team working remotely. Only a small team is present in the office to handle daily functions.
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Gowling WLG
Effective Mar. 17, all of the firm’s offices in Canada have commenced remote working operations. Offices remain open, with limited staff present to handle essential client meetings and other related activities. Whenever possible, meetings will be conducted via phone or videoconference, using secure programs like Zoom and Skype. The firm has also assembled a global task force.
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Harper Grey LLP
Effective Mar. 18, most employees are working remotely, with the office staffed on a limited basis for essential client meetings, critical operations and urgent legal matters.
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Heuristica Discovery Counsel LLP
Effective Mar. 13, the firm allowed its whole legal team to work remotely, when and if necessary, while maintaining collaboration via Microsoft Teams.
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
The firm’s offices will stay open “as long as it is safe to do so.” The firm has business continuity plans in place and has encouraged its employees to work remotely.
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McInnes Cooper
For the immediate future, most of the firm’s members will be working remotely.
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McMillan LLP
The firm has assembled a pandemic task force who will oversee the firm’s contingency measures.
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MLT Aikins LLP
The firm has business continuity plans in place to prepare for any possible interruption in its operations.
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Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
The firm has prepared a business continuity plan that provides for large-scale remote working, if such becomes necessary.
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
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Samfiru Tumarkin LLP
The firm has stated that it is offering virtual consultations to the public during this time. The firm’s lawyers are helping those who have been terminated or whose jobs have been otherwise affected by the pandemic.
Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP
The firm has adopted measures such as postponing events, restricting business travel and asking some of its employees to work remotely. It is promoting the use of videoconferencing, emails and phone calls to deliver services.
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Siskinds Law Firm
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Smart & Biggar
Until further notice, the firm’s physical offices are open on a limited basis only. Effective immediately, all the firm’s lawyers, agents and business support team members are working remotely.
Stewart McKelvey
Effective Mar. 18 and for an undetermined period of time, the firm’s six offices have adopted a remote working arrangement.
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Stikeman Elliott LLP
For the time being, the firm’s offices are open, but employees are encouraged to work remotely.
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Taylor McCaffrey LLP
Effective Mar. 18 and until further notice, the firm has directed professional and support staff to work remotely to the extent possible. A small staff will remain in the office to handle physical mail, deliveries, faxes and finance matters.
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Torys LLP
The firm has implemented remote working arrangements in all its offices.
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