Taylor Wessing has become the latest international law firm to revise its remote working policy, as it recognises that lawyers show “clear preference” to divide their hours between the office and home.
The firm’s new “hybrid” model of working will allow staff, including trainees, to conduct between 20% and 50% of their work outside of the office – allowing for anywhere between one day per week to a maximum of five days across two weeks to be spent working from home.
The new policy will come into effect once the government encourages a return to office-based working, which is likely to occur in 2021.
“We were already on a journey towards more flexible working before the pandemic as part of our strategic commitment to inclusivity,” said Shane Gleghorn, managing partner at Taylor Wessing. “Our experience this year has shown that we can continue to exceed our clients’ expectations regardless of where we work. We are confident that a hybrid model, underpinned by a spirit of teamwork and collaboration, will deliver benefits for our people, our business and our clients.”
Taylor Wessing is not the only firm to institute a shift away from the office. Dentons closed several of its UK offices during the summer as part of a broader move towards remote working, and Slater and Gordon also announced office closures to allow for easier remote operations. Both firms, and many others, have discussed implementing a framework for remote working even after the COVID-19 pandemic has abated.
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Squire Patton Boggs and Linklaters have instituted policies most similar to Taylor Wessing’s, allowing lawyers and staff to work remotely for 20-50% of their usual hours in the office.
