Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath closed all 22 of its global offices Tuesday due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Attorneys worked remotely after concerns that employees in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office had potentially been exposed a day prior.
No staff members or lawyers from the firm had tested positive for COVID-19, but a person who attended a firm event in Faegre Drinker’s Washington office had tested positive. Faegre Drinker released this statement concerning the situation:
“Faegre Drinker’s executive leadership team was notified on the evening of March 9 that an attendee at a recent event in our Washington, D.C., office has since tested positive for COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus. Because the health and safety of our personnel and clients is our top priority, Faegre Drinker is temporarily closing its D.C. offices. As a measure of caution, our leadership team has also taken the step of closing our global offices on March 10th while we evaluate this situation.
“No Faegre Drinker personnel have tested positive for coronavirus — this is simply a precautionary measure while we evaluate the appropriate path forward. Our attorneys, consultants and professionals are equipped with the required technology to work remotely and remain ready and available to assist clients. As we evaluate when to re-open offices, we will keep the health and safety of our personnel, clients, visitors and the public at the front of our minds.”
The former Faegre Baker Daniels law firm and Philadelphia-based Drinker Biddle & Reath opened for business last month following a combination that transformed the firms into one of the 50 largest in the United States.
The Indianapolis office is among the combined firm’s largest by number of attorneys.
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