Milan's New Normal: What Returning to the Office Looks Like
Social distancing floor markings and lift restrictions are just some of the actions being adopted by Italy's top law firms.
May 18, 2020 at 05:50 AM
3 minute read
Bonelli partner Andrea Manzitti in the Milan office. Credit: BonelliErede
Markings on the floor, mandatory masks and only one person in a lift at a time. These are some of the measures being used by Italy's top law firms as lawyers begin to return to the office following the pandemic lockdown.
The strict measures offer a glimpse into what life could be like in other major legal markets, such as London, once COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Several top firms' Milan bases began lifting restrictions and reopening offices on a limited basis at the beginning of May although remote working is still being recommended. But those who are travelling in are finding a very different environment to the one they left.
Leading Italian firm BonelliErede is paying for staff who wish to travel into the office to use taxis or other private transportation, according to two partners at the firm.
Another Bonelli partner told Law.com International that wearing masks is mandatory for staff other than in single occupancy rooms, with masks being provided at the entrance. The firm is providing everyone with two reusable masks, plus two disposable masks daily.
Bonelli's Milan office has placed distancing markings in proximity of the entrance, near lifts and water dispensers.
"We have implemented a very strict safety protocol", a partner said, "all common areas are closed and there is only one person at a time in lifts".
"Common areas are sanitised every two hours", another partner added, describing law firms as behaving "even more prudently than the government".
A partner who has returned to Bird & Bird's Milan office said the firm has divided its lawyers into two teams who never meet, with one team going in two days of the week and another going in for the remaining three days, before switching the following week.
The U.K.-headquartered firm has additionally restricted the number of people in communal areas, with only one person allowed in shared kitchens at a time.
"It's a question of social responsibility. We shouldn't be going around the city when we have remote working capabilities."
The partner also said that they personally do not wear their mask when in their own room, but in more shared spaces such as lifts, they remain vigilant in keeping it on.
"For me it is quite important to come to the office as I have plenty of things to do here", they continued.
Yet, some Italian lawyers are in no rush to return to the office, with just 64 out of Bonelli's 550 staff accessing its Milan office in its first week of opening.
"It's a question of social responsibility", said one partner. "We shouldn't be going around the city when we have remote working capabilities. There are people who need to go to work more than we do".
Read More:
Italy's Elite Law Firms to Reopen as Nation Eases Lockdown Restrictions
Spanish Firms Considering Office Returns As Lockdown Set to Continue
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View All
Hengeler Advises On €7B Baltica 2 Wind Farm Deal Between Ørsted and PGE
2 minute read
Israeli Firm Pearl Cohen Combines with San Francisco IP Boutique
Law Firms Mentioned
Trending Stories
- 1Uber Files RICO Suit Against Plaintiff-Side Firms Alleging Fraudulent Injury Claims
- 2The Law Firm Disrupted: Scrutinizing the Elephant More Than the Mouse
- 3Inherent Diminished Value Damages Unavailable to 3rd-Party Claimants, Court Says
- 4Pa. Defense Firm Sued by Client Over Ex-Eagles Player's $43.5M Med Mal Win
- 5Losses Mount at Morris Manning, but Departing Ex-Chair Stays Bullish About His Old Firm's Future
Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250
