One of the city’s largest law firms, Reed Smith, said it will fully reopen its U.S. offices — including Pittsburgh — on Sept. 7 and its workforce will begin a phased-in return beginning this month.
The firm, which has 17 offices nationwide, has a total 619 lawyers and staff based Downtown. It also announced a flexible work policy for attorneys and staff worldwide.
Reed Smith has operated under “full remote working” since March 2020 when the COVID-19 virus prompted governments to order lockdowns and business closures.
The full reopening is subject to local COVID-19 restrictions in markets where it operates, the firm said in a statement. On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf said all COVID-19 restrictions across Pennsylvania would be lifted May 31, except for masking orders.
Reed Smith, founded in Pittsburgh 140 years ago, has 1,700 lawyers in 30 offices worldwide and 1,300 other staff employees.
The law firm said its phased-in return begins this month “when U.S. offices will be prepared to accommodate more people working in the office.”
Small teams of lawyers and staff have already started working on site in some offices depending on regional pandemic regulations.
In June the firm will hold “Welcome Back Wednesdays” during which all lawyers and staff are encouraged to work in the office at least one Wednesday during the month.
On those days, Reed Smith will provide boxed lunches and hold social events for the staff.
Beginning July 6, offices will operate under a “soft opening” during which lawyers and staff will be required to make reservations to work on site.
The firm will not mandate COVID-19 vaccines for lawyers and staff but said vaccines “are strongly encouraged.”
While working on site, employees will be required to wear masks in communal areas. The firm will implement staggered schedules, revised floor plans, social distancing, daily cleaning and “a reservation system to control capacity levels.”
A summer associates program will begin remotely this month and voluntary in-office activities will be held for associates in June and July.
Casey Ryan, global head of legal personnel for Reed Smith, said the flexible work policy will “capitalize on the best parts of what we have learned from remote working.”
“Our working environment and the ways we support clients have changed significantly from the pre-pandemic world,” she said. “We have adopted this flexible work policy with this new reality in mind.”
Under the flexible work arrangements, lawyers will not be required to work a certain number of days on site but will “be expected to maintain some routine physical presence in the office,” Reed Smith said.
Events for which they may need to show up in person include client and team meetings, and training sessions.
Staff personnel will be assigned to various categories which will determine when they are required to work in person. Those categorized as “essential staff” will be expected to be in the office full-time.
Staff designated as “hybrid” will report to the office “on a routine basis,” Reed Smith said.
Those designated as “fully flexible” can work remotely all the time.
The firm plans to invest in more training for its leaders on how to manage remote teams and upgrade technology systems for flexible and remote work, said Nick Bagiatis, chief operating officer.
“We know what it takes to make a flexible-work program a success,” he said. “We have to continue to effectively and efficiently serve the needs of our clients, foster collaboration with colleagues and team members, and ensure strong work practices and processes.”
Other major Downtown employers that have disclosed return-to-office plans include PNC Financial Services Group, which will start a voluntary return on June 14. PNC said a full return will occur sometime in the fall.
Bank of New York Mellon will begin a hybrid return on Sept. 1.
Joyce Gannon: jgannon@post-gazette.com.
First Published: May 7, 2021, 9:42 a.m.
