Coronavirus Update
Dear Clients, Colleagues and Friends:
Here is an update about HPM&B’s ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of its employees, friends, and colleagues outside the firm, while continuing to protect its clients’ interests, during this challenging time.
Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, and for the next two weeks, our firm, including the New York, White Plains, Garden City and Bridgeport offices, will work remotely on a rotating schedule. Our support staff will work in the offices every third day and our attorneys will be in their offices up to two days per week. Our buildings remain open. Our switchboards are open. Our clerical, IT, accounting, calendar, and legal assistant departments are all functioning. The past few days, most of our staff worked remotely so we could stress test our overall operations, including our virtual office capabilities. Our staff has full remote access to the firm’s computer network and its files, phone calls, voicemails and emails.
Of course, this schedule is subject to change as warranted. If so, we will post more updates.
Many court appearances and depositions, as well as jury trials, are being postponed. We are closely monitoring court closings and other directives, but unless we are directed otherwise we will continue to appear in court and meet our other obligations. Our offices remain open for in-person depositions and meetings with clients or witnesses, subject to further guidance by our clients. We can also conduct meetings by phone and video conference.
We do not anticipate problems generating and e-filing documents as usual. We do have concerns about generating, serving and filing hard copy documents at our usual capacity. We will be communicating with the courts and our clients in advance of any deadlines to address any logistical issues.
Working together, we have no doubt that we can continue to provide excellent legal services to our clients. Above all, we hope you, your families and colleagues stay healthy and safe.
Daniel S. Ratner
Managing Partner
212-286-8585
Dratner@hpmb.com
www.hpmb.com