Balch & Bingham's Response to COVID-19

Dear Balch Friends,

During this period of concern and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, we are committed to being responsive to the needs of our clients, attorneys, staff and communities. We also are focused on continuing to deliver legal services to our clients and operating as close to “normal” as possible.  As we continue to monitor the situation, I wanted to reach out to you directly about the steps Balch is taking.

Employee, Attorney and Visitor Safety

We are requiring members our team to stay home if they feel sick and require testing for anyone displaying flu-like symptoms before returning to work. Travel restrictions have been expanded to prohibit all non-essential business travel – both domestic and international. We have expanded our sick leave policy for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19. Attendance at large meetings or conferences is currently prohibited.

We have provided guidance to our employees and attorneys on ways to protect themselves and others with cleanliness and personal interaction best practices. We are working with our facilities staff across our offices to ensure detailed cleanings. We are asking anyone who has recently traveled internationally to stay home for 14 days after returning to the U.S., per CDC recommendations.  

We recognize in-person meetings are sometimes necessary to continue to provide services. We are asking any office visitors about their recent international travel and will provide preventative products, such as hand sanitizer, upon entering our facilities. We will continue to use video conference where feasible when that is preferable to an in-person meeting. As with any unusual situation like this, we will remain flexible and adjust our practices and procedures as necessary.

Business Continuity

We recognize that our clients depend on us, especially at times like this. We are committed to continuing to deliver outstanding service to our clients and have evaluated our own technologies and processes to ensure we have the resources to optimally operate in remote situations if necessary. We are taking proactive measures and maintaining close contact with our clients. We are actively following CDC guidelines and our local authorities and will adjust our business continuity plan accordingly.

Events

We are currently evaluating all upcoming Balch & Bingham-hosted events and sponsorships to determine how to best approach each activity. 

Planning Ahead

The ongoing global spread of COVID-19 is creating unique considerations and challenges for businesses. Balch is actively providing guidance to our clients as they lead their organizations through this situation. We have mobilized a multidisciplinary Coronavirus Response Team to provide guidance as leaders and businesses manage a wide range of issues. We stand ready to help.

We are continuing to monitor the advice of the CDC and local authorities to best protect our attorneys and staff, and our broader community. At the very heart of Balch is a strong sense of support for each other. Our hearts go out to those impacted across the world. We will provide additional information to our clients and team as this situation evolves. Thank you for being a member of the Balch community.

Stay safe and healthy,