The law firms are doing their best to protect the health and safety of their employees.
The post Biglaw Firms In California Close Their Offices, Shift To Remote Work Amid Deadly Blazes appeared first on Above the Law.
(Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
As Southern California is ravaged by life-threatening wildfires, Biglaw firms across the region affected by the dangerous Palisades Fire — which at last check was 0% contained thanks to fiercely whipping winds — have opted to close their offices and transition employees to remote work.
Firms with offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica are taking extra steps to make sure that their lawyers and staff will be safe during this natural disaster. The Recorder has additional details:
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe closed its offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica on Wednesday, a firm spokesperson told The Recorder. The firm’s Santa Monica office, at 631 Wilshire Blvd., was in a Level 2 evacuation warning zone as of Wednesday afternoon, according to data from nonprofit incident tracker Watch Duty.
Thompson Hine’s Santa Monica office, near the Brentwood Country Club at 3130 Wilshire Blvd., was not in an evacuation zone but adjacent to an evacuation warning area. The firm said it closed the office and allowed all staff to work remotely on Wednesday.
John Conkle, Thompson Hine’s Los Angeles partner in charge, issued the following statement: “In light of the recent fires in Los Angeles, Thompson Hine is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our lawyers and staff, which remains our highest priority. To prioritize the safety and well-being of our people, the Los Angeles office is currently operating in business continuity mode. This approach allows us to maintain our operations effectively while ensuring that our team members are safe and supported.”
Goodwin Procter and Cozen O’Connor have offices located within Santa Monica’s evacuation warning zone, but neither firm could be reached for comment on their plans for their ongoing office operations amid the blaze. Cooley’s Santa Monica office is under a red flag warning for poor air quality, and the firm has temporarily closed its affected office.
We here at Above the Law extend our thoughts to all law firm attorneys and staff members affected by the raging wildfires in California.
Law Firms Close Southern California Offices Amid Devastating Wildfires [The Recorder]
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 Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
