header-logo header-logo

23 July 2020
Categories: Legal News , Covid-19 , Profession
printer mail-detail

Reopening the office

Law firm Devonshires has announced it will reopen its London, Leeds and Colchester offices on 3 August to both staff and clients

Law firm Devonshires has announced it will reopen its London, Leeds and Colchester offices on 3 August to both staff and clients

Its announcement, this week, gives employees the option of returning to work or continue working from home. It has installed Perspex screens in reception and socially distanced seating in its offices and meeting rooms.

Chief Operating Officer Duncan Edwards said: ‘There is no requirement to come in… it is a decision for the individual as to whether or not they come into the office and if so, how often.’

The Law Society updated its toolkit for safe return to the office this week.

The toolkit, which reflects government guidance on self-isolation, test and trace, social distancing and managing an outbreak, is available at: www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/coronavirus/safe-return-to-the-office-toolkit-for-firms.

Several firms, reported to include Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett, Linklaters and Slaughter & May, have allowed some employees to return. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Firm strengthens growth strategy and group litigation capability with senior hires

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
Pathfinder courts—renamed ‘Child focused courts’—are to be rolled out nationally, following a successful pilot where backlogs halved and cases were resolved up to seven and a half months faster
The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a £385,000 costs order against a father, in a case that centred on what is required to meet the threshold of ‘reprehensible or unreasonable’ behaviour
Centuries-old burial laws would be overhauled, under Law Commission proposals to address the burgeoning problem of shortage of cemetery space
The government has committed an extra £32m to women’s charities and services tackling addiction, trauma, abuse and homelessness
The Financial Ombudsman is poised for major reform to return it to a simple, impartial dispute resolution service
back-to-top-scroll