May Edition 2020

32 Local and multi-national clients need domestic and cross- jurisdictional advice As the global pandemic has taken root around the world, national lockdowns and massive restrictions have had a devastating impact on many businesses, industries and the employees who work in them. The challenges facing businesses inevitably stretch right across the personal, financial and professional levels, but in these uncertain and fast-moving times, clear, pragmatic and timely advice is essential. Not only is the law changing rapidly but also differently across numerous jurisdictions, with global law firms such as Squire Patton Boggs well placed to provide a helicopter view of developments and to advise accordingly. How to maintain morale, health, wellbeing and workflow While it is important to ensure that you are up to speed with changes in legislation and developments, maintaining employees health, wellbeing and workflow is critical. We already have a very close EMEA-wide Employment teamwho work together all the time, but we have also put in place a “Buddy” system so that we can check in regularly with more junior lawyers. We also recognise that it is important to keep them involved as much as possible and make sure that they are also kept updated about legal developments.We are also using teamWhatsApp groups and Zoom to keep the team updated and also to hold morale-boosting virtual coffees and team drinks. We are also holding daily UK Employment Partner calls, and regular EMEA Employment Partner and all-office Partner calls, which have all been hugely helpful.Our PSLs are also playing a critical role in ensuring that our team and our clients are kept up to date about the ongoing legal developments around the globe. With employment affecting multiple industries - use technology to share knowledge WhatsApp, Zoom, LoopUp, Webex, Blogs and LinkedIn are all essential ingredients in the Coronavirus communicationmix.We also have both internal and external cross-practice and cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus hubs to ensure that other practice areas and offices understand the employment issues that are emerging. We collaborate closely with contacts at industry trade bodies and these organizations are often very useful sources of information for us. We are also using webinars and virtual round tables to discuss issues with our clients.