To our clients and our colleagues:
Over the past many weeks the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed on us have compelled our Firm to work remotely and to take other extraordinary actions in order to continue meeting the needs of our clients and our staff.
Under the phased plan issued by the Governor of Pennsylvania, law firms in our region are now permitted to return to in-person operations. As a result, our Firm has returned to work in our physical offices. We are following the prescribed guidelines, we have modified some of our business practices and we have adapted some of our personal behaviors in order to protect our clients, our employees and our community.
We believe that the changes to the way we conduct ourselves will help promote the long-term health and welfare of our clients and our staff while also enabling us to continue meeting our clients’ needs. Among the changes we are implementing are adjustments to work schedules and the adoption of telecommuting arrangements, conducting critical meetings by telephone rather than face-to-face and in some cases mutually agreeing to postpone non-critical meetings. All the while we intend to maintain telephone and email communication with our clients and their advisors.
We are confident that our professionals are able to fully serve our clients, and we invite you to contact us so that we may once again help you address your estate planning and related needs.
FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS
We understand the importance of working closely with our clients, sharing sometimes intimate details and being able to look into the eye of the person across the room when making difficult decisions or sharing complex concepts and ideas. Once again we are able to conduct critical meetings face-to-face while observing proper precautions. Importantly, we are able to meet wherever you feel most comfortable – in our offices, in your home or in your place of business. Regardless of your preferred location, we will be guided by your wishes and adopt the health and hygiene measures necessary to make you feel comfortable.
If you choose to meet in our offices, you can be assured that our spacious workplace, low headcount density and large conference rooms will enable us to maintain appropriate physical distancing at all times. Convenient parking is available in our building. Our landlord has implemented safeguards and taken precautions in accordance with best practices for commercial facilities. We have staggered the schedules of certain employees, and everyone in the Firm has been instructed to follow the current guidance with respect to how we must conduct ourselves. We may not shake hands or provide you with a cup of coffee upon arrival, but we hope that you will agree that these are acceptable compromises which will allow us to provide the most critical services to you, in person.
ALTERNATIVES TO FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS
If you remain uncomfortable with meeting face to face, all of our professionals will continue using remote meeting technology and the many other forms of communication which served us admirably while working remotely and which will enable us to get the job done for you even now.
Regardless of the choices you make and your preferred means of communication, we are committed to using all of the resources available to us to maintain effective and efficient communication with our clients and their advisors.
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Understandably, some of our professionals must continue operating with adjustments to their work schedules, and in other cases the Firm has agreed to implement telecommuting arrangements for the foreseeable future in order to support our professionals while they balance the other demands placed on them during this pandemic. Regardless of the circumstances, we pledge that we will do whatever is necessary to meet your needs, now more than ever.
Please contact your lawyer, paralegal, accountant or other LBHM professional to discuss the most appropriate manner in which we can meet your needs or if you would like to learn more about the protocols we and our landlord have adopted should you choose to meet with us in our offices.
