Why Law Firms Take Differing Paths on Office Returns: Explained

The Covid-19 delta variant has delayed and interrupted law firm office returns. Many major firms are on the second or third versions of their plans.

Schiff Hardin delayed its mid-October return to Nov. 4, then deferred it indefinitely. Perkins Coie postponed its Oct. 1 return to Jan. 4, while Akin Gump is going ahead with its November reopening.

Regardless of what firms decide to do now—or ultimately—one thing is clear: Flexibility is here to stay.

“Change is in the air,” said McDermott Will & Emery chairman Ira Coleman. “You’re not just going to cross some line and go back to ...