Commuters using public transport (Image: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg)

A host of top law firms have begun formulating plans for a return to their U.K. offices, including surveying staff and drawing up transition strategies.

Firms including Norton Rose Fulbright, Travers Smith, Ashurst and Osborne Clarke have all  confirmed that planning is in progress for an eventual return to the office, subject to government guidelines. Others, such as White & Case and Taylor Wessing, are among those surveying their staff about the topic.

Norton Rose has undertaken a survey of all its staff across the Europe, Middle East and Asia regions. The results of the survey have in part informed the firm's strategy for a phased return to the office.

Peter Scott, managing partner of EMEA at the firm, said in a statement: "On the basis of our ongoing risk assessments, the fact that we have seen high levels of productivity from our period of remote working, and reflecting on these survey results, we are planning for a gradual and phased return to working in our EMEA offices.

The firm also said it will introduce strict protocols and make social distancing adjustments to its EMEA offices, such as restricting the number of people in each of our office buildings and in communal areas, increasing cleaning rotas and providing more hand sanitizers and masks, and introducing temperature-testing where the firm can do so.

Only 12% of staff at Norton Rose Fulbright Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) feel relaxed to return to the office in the short to medium term, according to the firm's latest survey results on potential office re-opening plans.

U.K. firm Travers Smith has also run a survey of its workforce to assess how people feel about returning to the office. The firm has asked its staff and lawyers about whether they would need to use public transport to travel to the office.

In a statement a spokesperson for the firm said it had some people who wanted to return to the office and could do so without using public transport, some who were unable to do so without using public transport, and some that want to continue working remotely for the time being.

The firm added that it is currently finalizing its return to work protocols and undertaking a risk assessment regarding a potential return to the office.

Another firm focusing on a phased return is Osborne Clarke, which has enlisted a team to develop a transition plan, according to managing partner Ray Berg, who added that the fundamental message was about "protecting the physical and mental wellbeing of our people."

According to Berg, the plan looks at a staged, gradual return to the office dictated by government guidelines. 

"Equally, we've got to be prepared that as they gradually ease the restrictions, our plan obviously also is prepared for the fact that those restrictions might come back before we get to the complete lifting of lockdown measures," Berg added.  

Elsewhere, Taylor Wessing is undertaking a number of surveys of its staff, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. These include sentiment around returning to work as well as employee wellbeing and mental health.

Meanwhile at Ashurst, an "extensive" plan has been put in place for a phased return to the office, which goes into floor-by-floor detail, according to a partner at the firm.

The plan is also being shared with Ashurst clients as an example of return-to-work approaches, according to the partner. 

A spokesperson for the firm added: "Ashurst is closely monitoring developments regarding restrictions, being mindful that there could be different arrangements in place in different jurisdictions. 

"The firm is, of course, considering a range of measures as part of a staged approach to returning to each of its offices when government guidelines permit."

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has set up a "back to work taskforce" led by global chief operating officer David Rowe, and comprising 14 staff members and lawyers from various departments, the firm confirmed.

The taskforce has drafted a five-stage global framework which will apply to all of its offices, but will follow local government guidance.

The firm is currently in the first stage: working from home. All lawyers needing access to the London office must get London head Segun Osuntokun's approval.

The next stages will include: a phased return to the office with small teams rotating every fortnight; a one-way flow through the office, and restrictions on the number of people in meeting rooms and lifts; and adapting to new social distancing measures in a new normal.

Another firm undertaking staff surveys is U.S firm White & Case, which has run a series of three questionnaires asking its London workforce about new ways of working in preparation for an eventual return to the office, according to a firm spokesperson.

The surveys have asked employees about how they feel about remote working and what impact the lockdown may have on working practices for when people get back into the workplace, the person said.

The latest planning efforts come as a number of firms have taken additional financial measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, Slaughter and May confirmed that it had made cuts of £5,000 to the salaries of its newly qualified associates due to the coronavirus.

Osborne Clarke also announced a firmwide salary cut of 7% for all U.K. staff earning over £30,000, as well as a 10% reduction to partner's monthly drawings.

Read more

Slaughter and May Cuts NQ Salaries Due to Coronavirus

A Firm-By-Firm Guide on the Latest Pandemic Measures