(Image via Getty)
We have some unfortunate news to report today, as we’ve learned that three Biglaw attorneys were infected with the novel coronavirus during an international business trip.
The group hailed from the Hong Kong office of Mayer Brown and traveled to London in early March for an arbitration case. Recall that the firm, after trying to bring its Hong Kong workforce back to the office, was recently forced to reinstate its work-from-home policy after facing major blowback from employees who were quite worried considering that COVID-19 had started making a comeback in the area thanks to lifted social-distancing restrictions.
The Standard, a local Hong Kong paper, has identified partner and international arbitration practice co-leader Menachem Hasofer as one of the lawyers who contracted COVID-19, along with two coworkers. Law.com International has a statement from the firm on the well-being of its attorneys:
“We confirm that all three of our Hong Kong-based colleagues who had recently returned to Hong Kong together from an overseas business trip have unfortunately all tested positive for COVID-19,” the firm said in a statement. …
Mayer Brown said all three members of the Hong Kong office immediately volunteered for a 14-day quarantine upon their return. “They have not been to any of our offices nor, as far as we are aware, have had any direct interaction with other members of our firm for around a month,” the firm said Friday.
The firm said it encourages “any person in our Hong Kong office who has concerns to work from home” and is closely monitoring developments.
We wish Hasofer and his colleagues the best of luck as they recover from the virus.
Three Mayer Brown Lawyers in Hong Kong Test Positive for COVID-19 [Law.com International]
Earlier: Biglaw Firm Reinstates Coronavirus Work-From-Home Policy After Blowback From Employees
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.