Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath has reopened nearly all of its offices, except for its two Washington, D.C., locations, after its personnel there were potentially exposed to Covid-19 on two separate occasions, the firm said.

Although none of the firm's lawyers and staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus, Faegre Drinker said Wednesday that two people who visited the firm last week did. The firm closed all 22 of its offices Tuesday after learning a guest who visited its D.C. office at 1500 K Street on March 3 was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Since then, Faegre Drinker said it has learned about another guest who visited a D.C. office March 2 who later tested positive for Covid-19.

"Because the scope of each guest's contact with firm colleagues was not readily known, and because our attorneys, consultants and professionals have been traveling cross-office to support firm integration efforts, we chose to exercise caution while our leadership team evaluated the situation," the firm said in a statement.

The two D.C. offices—located half a mile away from each other on K Street—will remain closed indefinitely, Faegre Drinker said Wednesday, adding that their status is "being evaluated daily." Faegre Drinker has 158 people working across the two offices, relics of the merger between Faegre Baker Daniels and Drinker Biddle & Reath that became official last month.

The firm said it has been consulting with internal specialists as well as a "board-certified infectious disease expert with specialized knowledge in communicable diseases, including coronavirus, and consulted with internal specialists." Additionally, the firm has had each office cleaned and disinfected before they were reopened today.

Faegre Drinker reiterated that its D.C. colleagues are equipped to work remotely and with clients. The spread of the virus has been testing the remote-work capabilities of various Big Law firms, who have begun allowing their lawyers and staff in certain offices to work from home if they're feeling sick or uncomfortable.

"The coronavirus condition is an ongoing and fluid situation across the globe, and our leadership team will continue to make decisions in real time to ensure the health and safety of our colleagues, clients, visitors and their loved ones," Faegre Drinker said in its statement. "Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by the virus, and with the health care providers working to combat this global health issue."

The virus—whose spread has led to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Lewis and Garbuz closing their New York offices after lawyers tested positive for it—was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday.

Here is Faegre Drinker's full March 11 statement:

On Tuesday, March 10, Faegre Drinker asked colleagues across all offices to work remotely after learning of a guest who visited our Washington, D.C. office on 1500 K Street on March 3 and was subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus. We then learned of an additional guest in our Washington, D.C. office on March 2 who was also diagnosed with coronavirus following their visit to the firm. Because the scope of each guest's contact with firm colleagues was not readily known, and because our attorneys, consultants and professionals have been traveling cross-office to support firm integration efforts, we chose to exercise caution while our leadership team evaluated the situation.

The health and safety of Faegre Drinker's colleagues, clients, visitors and their loved ones is a top priority. The firm's executive leadership team acted quickly to protect those we care about, making time to gather key facts, assess risk and determine appropriate next steps. We received helpful advice from a board-certified infectious disease expert with specialized knowledge in communicable diseases, including coronavirus, and consulted with internal specialists. Additionally, we took the precautionary measure of engaging a specialized service to clean and disinfect each office prior to our colleagues returning.

 After a thorough review, nearly all firm offices have returned to normal business operations today, Wednesday, March 11. As an ongoing measure of caution, Faegre Drinker's Washington, D.C. offices remain closed with status being evaluated daily. Our Washington, D.C. colleagues are equipped with the required technology to work remotely and remain ready and available to assist clients. We are not aware of any Faegre Drinker personnel who have tested positive for coronavirus — this is simply a precautionary measure while we evaluate the appropriate path forward.

The coronavirus condition is an ongoing and fluid situation across the globe, and our leadership team will continue to make decisions in real time to ensure the health and safety of our colleagues, clients, visitors and their loved ones. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by the virus, and with the health care providers working to combat this global health issue.

Read More

Faegre Drinker Closes All 22 Offices After Potential Coronavirus Exposure

As Coronavirus Shutters Quinn's NY Office, Firms Weigh Remote Work Options