Firm COVID-19 Statement
3.16.20
Cosmich Simmons & Brown continues to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Accordingly, pursuant to the firm’s crisis management protocols, and for the health and safety of its employees, CS&B is strongly encouraging its workforce to work remotely effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020. While the plan is optional at this point, based upon conditions in each of CS&B’s locations, the plan may become mandatory for all locations based on future guidance and directives from public health officials.
CS&B’s first priority is the health and safety of our employees, clients and business partners. The firm has longstanding plans and extensive resources in place that allow it to seamlessly operate remotely without interruption for as long as necessary. The firm has protocols and procedures in place to handle all firm functions, including ensuring all client pleadings and appearances are handled appropriately, all client billing and related questions are addressed, and the firm can continue to evaluate conflicts in the opening of new matters. Further, all attorneys, paralegals and administrative staff have the ability to properly handle all day-to-day business and operations remotely, and are available to address any questions relating to ongoing matters with our telephone systems automatically forwarding calls for staff working remotely.
As part of its response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, CS&B has canceled all non-essential business and interoffice travel, and we have recommended that our lawyers forgo in-person meetings while focusing on protecting our clients’ interests. CS&B is committed to contributing to the overall effort to protect public health, and has provided guidelines on personal hygiene and social distancing to all staff to assist in flattening the curve of the spread of COVID-19 cases. We continue to monitor the latest guidance from WHO, the federal government, the CDC, and state Health Departments to ensure that we make office and firm-wide workplace decisions that promote the safety of our employees, our clients and our business partners.
While we work through these uncertain times, we want to assure our clients that their files and information are secure while CS&B attorneys and staff work remotely. To that end, CS&B’s IT infrastructure has recently been evaluated by an outside auditing firm to ensure its stability for uninterrupted operation of the firm, and to ensure the security of all electronic files and communications during this trying time. Our IT department has worked diligently to ensure that our offices can operate remotely without interruption, so that we may continue to represent our clients diligently and effectively.
As circumstances relating to COVID-19 continue to evolve, CS&B will adapt using best business practices to ensure its efficient and effective operation in an effort to protect our clients’ interests. We will continue to update our clients and business partners as on any operation changes as circumstances change, including delays in hearings and trial dates based upon Court guidelines and closures, or as other state and federal efforts are implemented to protect public health. If an emergency arises and you are not able to reach the partner in charge of your matter, we ask that you contact Michael Simmons on his direct line – 601-519-0316 – or by email at [email protected].