Preparation for Potential Pandemic Incidents
Addressing Concerns Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)
At Snell & Wilmer, our top priority is to ensure the health and safety of our staff, attorneys, clients, vendors, and communities, while continuing to provide the highest quality legal services in a timely and efficient manner. To this end, in response to COVID-19, we have implemented key aspects of a pandemic contingency plan. This includes: communicating with all personnel to provide information and updates as necessary; reviewing roles and responsibilities of staff and identifying backup resources; assessing our workplaces and personnel; and implementing a policy for Firm personnel with details on virus symptoms and prevention, administrative controls, guidance on when personnel should not report to the office, guidelines on travel restrictions, details for personnel on working remotely and maintaining security standards, and alternate methods of conducting business to minimize risk.
During any health emergency, Snell & Wilmer also understands the vital importance of informing our clients, and others, of the steps we are taking to ensure quality and operations control, and the actions we will take if we are affected by the spread of COVID-19. Key areas of focus include, but are not limited to, the following:
-
System Access — Capacity
We have the ability for everyone in the Firm to work remotely if required by closure of one or more offices.
-
System Access — Security
Our security system access is the same whether we are working within the office or remotely.
-
Calendaring
The Firm has in place cross functionality to ensure docketing can be accomplished in multiple office locations. In the event a Firm office is closed, United States Postal Service mail will be directed to an open Snell & Wilmer office or a designated alternate site or sites, including mail that will require docketing. Documents that arrive electronically in any office can be accessed from all offices.
-
Telephonic Considerations
Using Cisco Jabber, we have the ability to receive and place calls from a smart phone or Firm-issued laptop.
-
Remote Conferencing Services
We have the ability to use any remote conferencing service. The Firm has standardized on LoopUp, MS Teams, and Cisco Jabber.
-
Custom Paper Functions / Document Production
The Firm’s current facilities management company can provide multiple locations in each of the cities in which we have offices which can provide printing and other document production services.
-
Mail Pick Up / Delivery
Mail will be picked up from the post office by a third-party delivery vendor. The delivery vendor will be directed to utilize FedEx (First Overnight) to ship the mail to an identified open Snell & Wilmer office or a designated alternate site or sites.
-
Data Privacy
Our privacy team can work remotely without any change in its daily operations or in its ability to support client information protection and privacy needs.
We appreciate that this is a rapidly evolving crisis where there is significant uncertainty and where facts can quickly change. The Firm’s executive management team is monitoring developments, including federal, state, and local guidance, and is in regular communication with attorneys and staff to assess and address changing circumstances.
Should you have any questions on the content of this communication, please do not hesitate to contact us at BusinessContinuity@swlaw.com.
Sincerely,
Snell & Wilmer
