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Philadelphia law firm, Faegre Drinker, temporarily closes 22 offices as precaution

Attorneys will continue to practice outside the corporate offices.

FILE photo shows the skyline in Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. Law firm, Faegre Drinker, with one of its headquarters in Philadelphia, said it will temporarily close all its 22 offices to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.
FILE photo shows the skyline in Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. Law firm, Faegre Drinker, with one of its headquarters in Philadelphia, said it will temporarily close all its 22 offices to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.Read moreMatt Rourke / AP
    by Sam Wood
    Updated 
    Published 

Update via Faegre Drinker: 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.

One of the nation’s largest law firms announced Tuesday that it was temporarily closing all of its global offices due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, which has an office in Philadelphia, boasts 22 offices, including locations in the United Kingdom and China. It was formed Feb. 1 following the merger of the Midwest legal power Faegre Baker Daniels and Philadelphia’s Drinker Biddle & Reath. The combined firm has 1,300 lawyers, consultants and other professionals.

The firm will continue to practice law and consult with clients outside the offices.

An attendee at a recent event at the firm’s Washington, D.C., office tested positive for COVID-19 which is caused by the coronavirus, according to a statement released Tuesday.

“No Faegre Drinker personnel have tested positive for coronavirus —this is simply a precautionary measure while we evaluate the appropriate path forward,” read the statement. “”Our attorneys … remain ready and available to assist clients.”

The firm did not say when it planned to reopen the offices. According to the statement, the firm will evaluate while keeping “the health and safety of our personnel, clients, visitors and the public in the front of our minds.”