Report to Clients and Colleagues – Business as Usual in Unusual Times

At a joint press conference yesterday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton, Director of Health for the Ohio Department of Health, announced that they believe the coronavirus has already infected more than 100,000 Ohioans – around 1% of Ohio’s population. And they project that cases will double every 6 days. While there is room to quibble about these staggering statistics, protecting the health and safety of our staff, clients, and business partners is a top priority for SS+D in this uncertain environment. We believe it is prudent to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control, Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Governor’s Office. As a result, we have initiated our Readiness Plan to help ensure we lead efforts in our communities to mitigate the spread of this virus and contribute to keeping our valued team and clients healthy. At the same time, our focus remains on providing our clients with uninterrupted service and trusted legal advice.

Our Offices Remain Open. Our Dayton, West Chester and Eaton offices remain operating on a reduced staffing model. Our team will diligently follow best practices for protecting the health and will stay home if ill. While we can meet with you at any time in any of our offices or your office as necessary, we request that appointments be rescheduled or changed to a phone conference if possible. We also ask attorneys and clients to stay at home if they have recently traveled to any affected regions as designated by the CDC or if they have been in contact with someone diagnosed or suspected to have the virus. As information continues to become available, we will continue to assess our plan and relay any changes that become necessary.

Technology, Telecommuting, and Phone Conferencing. We are strongly encouraging attorneys and staff to work outside the office and to use phone conferencing when circumstances allow to reduce face to face interactions. We have in place robust telecommuting technology that our employees routinely use to access files and work from home and on the road. Of course, we also have the capability to hold phone conferences with clients in multiple locations. All of our attorneys and staff are dedicated to maintaining our high standards for access and prompt response even when we are not literally sitting across the table from you.

Travel Restrictions. Like you, our attorneys will avoid travel to regions identified by the CDC to have heightened precautions in place. And we are curtailing non-essential business travel in the days ahead in consultation with our clients and Courts.

In light of these rapidly changing conditions, SS+D is keenly aware you and your businesses are experiencing unprecedented challenges. Any one of these can unexpectedly upend your budgets and cut deeply into the bottom line. Please know SS+D will continue to be available to support you with responsible, timely, and creative legal services. Count on us. Call on us.