The Lockdown Interview: McDermott's London Head
Hamid Yunis talks about what hours he works from home, whether he dresses smartly, how often he gets interrupted and whether things will ever to return to how they were.
July 28, 2020 at 03:45 AM
4 minute read
Hamid Yunis, McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery's London managing partner, Hamid Yunis, discusses the lessons law firms should take on board from COVID-19 going forward into the future, and whether or not law firms could ever completely shift to remote working.
What's the best part of working from home?
No commute. It's also been surprisingly easy to do so and also being with the family all the time. It is probably the first time that I have been able to do that for circa 30 years.
Describe your home workspace in three words.
Calm, spacious and near.
What time do you tend to start your day, take lunch and finish up?
7am, normally breakfast and lunch at my desk and finishing at circa 8pm.
Do you prefer phone calls or video calls?
Video so far but, lately, don't mind more phone calls as a break.
Do you get dressed properly every day?
Yes dressed but I will leave it to others to say whether that is "proper'.
Shirts and T-shirt's normally and shorts or tracksuit bottoms are the order of the day. The good weather has helped a lot.
What are some key challenges for law firms at the moment?
Making sure everyone feels in touch and visible. At the beginning of the lockdown, there was a danger that some people would feel forgotten and we worked very hard to make sure that was not the case.
Keeping in touch with clients and contacts and showing empathy with what they are also going through. In particular, trying to distinguish ourselves from the crowd and the mountain of COVID-19 related communications.
Staying relevant.
What lessons should law firms take forward now?
A remote working strategy is definitely required.
The forms of engagement with client and contacts will change the way we work in the future (travel for instance). Trying to track what they want and trying to deliver our services in a compatible way.
Do you think law firms will or should go completely remote?
Some may want to go completely remote but I think the majority will operate on a dual basis. A willingness to allow remote working but with a more innovative and efficient use of office space.
What's the first thing you'll do when the lockdown is lifted?
Go to meet as many people as possibly in person… observing social distance rules of course!
How many times a day are you interrupted by pets/ spouses/ children?
About 3/4.
What's the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you on a video call?
Being at home by myself on what I thought was a fairly important video call and having to answer the front door three times for deliveries for my children.
How are you spending your weekends? Is there a Netflix recommendation you'd share?
Trying to switch off from staring at a screen and being on calls and spending 'real' time with my family.
The family tastes vary from 'This is us' through to 'Unorthodox'/ documentaries.
Background music or silence?
Both at different times of the day. TV news is usually on in the background.
What would be your three top tips for others working from home?
Get some structure in the day otherwise every day is the same as all others.
Try to move around every few hours and get some fresh air.
Try to keep in touch with others and utilise the tools you have to do this: (firm wide, practice group, BD-related, virtual happy hours, lectures, D&I and pro bono activities) and take part in as many as you can!
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