Our Coronavirus Response - Q&A

Updated: 24/06/2020

Our Coronavirus Response

Our number one priority is the health and safety of our clients, staff, colleagues and communities.

The firm is following government guidelines to ensure that all of our clients, staff, colleagues and communities are protected.

All of our offices, except for our Head Office are now closed until further notice. However, to ensure its business as usual, all of our lawyers are now working remotely, and are still fully available to assist existing clients and take on new work by telephone, email and online conferencing.

We will update this page regularly with all the information you may need. If you have any further questions please contact:

• Jason Bruce (Practice Director) – email: jasonb@duncanlewis.com
• David Head (Director of Compliance) – email: davidh@duncanlewis.com

How do I communicate with my lawyer?

Our lawyers are available during business hours and are happy to communicate with you via a number of non-face to face communication channels, whichever is the most suitable to you.

• Email: Email is the preferred form of correspondence during this time.
• Telephone: We have extended our switchboard hours from 7:00am - 9:00pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Outside of business hours (Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm) our dedicated switchboard team will take your details and one of our lawyers will call you back at their earliest convenience. All direct dials and office telephone numbers are displayed on our website and will remain functional.
• Post: We encourage communication via email rather than post, unless advised otherwise. If you need to post us documents, please continue to do so by sending this to our Harrow Correspondence Address.
• Video Conferencing: Our lawyers have access to video conferencing if this would be your preferred method.

If I attend your office – what protective measures are you taking?

Our Head Office in Harrow remains open and a number of our key offices nationwide are beginning to open in a phased manner for scheduled appointments and non-scheduled walk-in clients. Please contact us for more details.

If you visit one of our offices that is open, please be assured that we have taken all reasonable steps to reduce risk to the lowest level by implementing measures that safeguards all visitors’ health at all times and minimises the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Following our Covid-19 Secure Office Safety Measures Policy, visitors can be assured that our office is cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis and we have hand sanitisers available in our office, reception and meeting rooms.

All visitors are required to wash their hands using hand sanitiser upon each arrival and exit of the office, this is widely available throughout our buildings. Our meeting rooms will allow two parties to be 2m apart and at the end of each meeting and after visitors have left, the room’s contact areas will be sanitised using anti-bacterial sanitising wipes.

We have ensured that there is clear and appropriate signage and communication in the office to build and maintain awareness in relation to: maintaining appropriate personal hygiene standards, how the company is keeping the office as Covid-19 safe as possible and complying with the government’s current social distancing measures.

In support of this policy, we maintain a Covid-19 secure risk assessment, which sets out mitigation measures in place to risk-manage all identified risks. This is available here.

If you are unwilling to follow our Covid-19 Secure Office Safety Measures Policy and signage and communications in the office you may be asked to leave the premises to protect the safety of our other clients and staff.

If you are displaying any known symptoms of the Covid-19 virus or any member of your household is experiencing any symptoms that you do not attend our office. In these circumstances, we have a number of communication options available to discuss your matter safely.

If you are attending a scheduled meeting at our office we politely request that you do not bring non-essential family and friends to your appointment.

How can I contact my lawyer who may be working remotely (away from the office)?

You can contact your lawyer as per normal.

Following government advice we are encouraging our employees to work from home, where possible. If you are an existing client please get in touch with your lawyer directly for more information.

Using our remote access lawyers have full access to their emails, phone, and facilities such as conferencing and video calling. As the company has been operating a paperless policy for some time now, your lawyer has secure access to your electronic file too.

What about court dates and deadlines?

The courts have made it clear that if and where they make any changes in response to this pandemic, they will update lawyers accordingly. Your lawyer will keep you fully up to date with any changes, such as court closures, that may affect your case. If in doubt, please contact your lawyer.

I am a new client – can I get in touch?

Yes, the firm is fully prepared to continue its provision of legal advice and assistance across all its practice areas. Please contact us by calling our switchboard 0333 772 0409 or emailing contact@duncanlewis.com. Our lawyers will be able to advise you either face to face or remotely dependent on your circumstances and whether your local Duncan Lewis office is open.