Sidley Austin Rolls Out Four Days in Office for London Lawyers

Sidley Austin is implementing a four-day in-office working week for its London lawyers and staff, as more US-headquartered firms ramp up their office attendance.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “We believe that there is substantial benefit, including in respect of professional and personal development for our lawyers, when we work together in the office. As a result, we have implemented a 4 day per week in-office attendance.”

The firm’s London corporate group was informed Monday of the move to require them in the office from Monday-Thursday, in an email seen by Bloomberg Law.

The policy does not apply to the firm’s London support staff, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

A US based spokesperson did not respond for request for comment on the firm’s US policy.

Sidley Austin joins a range of fellow US-led law firms in the move to increase in-office requirements.

Wall Street law firms Davis Polk & Wardwell and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom moved to mandatory in-person workdays four days per week earlier this year. Weil, Gotshal & Manges has required its lawyers and staff to hit the office at least four days per week since Sept. 5.

Sidley Austin is among the firms to have previously told its junior attorneys that they may lose bonus cash if they spend too little time working from the office.

Firms went fully remote at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and largely stuck to a three days a week in-office expectation upon return. In-office work requirements are expected to ramp up amid an economic slowdown that has spurred cuts at some firms.