Paul Weiss Delays Office Reopening, Pushes Up Vaccine Mandates

Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison is postponing its return to office, making it the latest law firm to alter its reopening plans in light of the recent uptick of coronavirus cases across the U.S. attributed largely to the Delta variant.

In a memo sent by Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp and viewed by Bloomberg Law Thursday the Wall Street firm is delaying the start of its return to office, which was previously scheduled for Sept. 13. Karp said the firm will select another date “based on the most current medical and public health information,” which will be communicated 30 days ahead of the new start.

The emergence of the Delta variant and breakthrough infections of vaccinated individuals has forced Big Law leaders to determine whether to push back office re-openings, many of which were scheduled for the summer or soon after Labor Day.

Thus far, several Big Law firms, like Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Cravath Swaine & Moore, McDermott Will & Emery, and Schiff Hardin have delayed their reopenings until later this fall.

Though the firm had previously said last month it would require vaccinations to enter its offices, Paul Weiss is accelerating the timeline for doing so, requiring all personnel and visitors to be fully vaccinated to enter U.S. offices starting Aug. 9, Karp said.

Personnel who do not provide proof of vaccination documentation will have their card keys deactivated starting Aug. 9. The firm is also requiring masks and social distancing in all common areas, including floor lobbies, hallways, and shared and open workspaces.

“As always, our goal is to ensure that our return-to-office plans incorporate best practices to protect the health and safety of every member of the Paul, Weiss community,” Karp said in the memo.