CEO Update: Support for clients

Norman DonatoPartner, Bartier Perry Lawyers

  • Bartier Perry has put in place a dedicated COVID-19 online resource and hotline to help clients navigate financial and social upheaval. The hotline number is (02) 8281 7980.

  • We’ll work with you and we are committed to seeing through these tough times together.

  • The firm has enacted its work from home protocols for all our workforce from Monday 23 March.

From the outset I want to emphasise to all our clients that as we move into a new phase of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic we are committed to working with you to navigate the enormous challenges we face.

This pandemic is having far reaching consequences for us all in both our personal and professional lives.

Certainty is in short supply.

Our approach then is focused on ‘Support. Inform. Adapt.’ through giving clients the information and insight to shape their short to medium term strategies to manage the social and financial impact over the next six months.

In our own pandemic planning we have steered clear of absolutes given the fast moving and ever-evolving situation, other than having an absolute commitment to standing by our clients during this difficult time.

As part of that commitment to our clients there are two major initiatives we have now put in place:

  1. hotline for clients to contact us and talk through the challenges you may be facing. If you are in a financial bind, we will provide some initial guidance in relation to credit & finance, supply chain, insurance, restructuring, real estate and construction related matters so together we can work out what your best options are. The number is (02) 8281 7980.  Or if you prefer please call your Partner contact.

  2. Secondly we have launched a dedicated online resource to keep you updated on developments and implications from the unfolding pandemic response. This will cover a wide range of issues from industrial relations through to supply chains and building & construction projects.

From Monday 23 March Bartier Perry is enacting our working from home protocols for our entire team. We have tested our systems and processes and we’ll be online and available as usual.

Our offices are not closed but there will be a protocol to ensure we keep people safe and adhere to Government recommendations if holding any essential face to face client meetings. For now though we’ve already seen over 100 clients join us for an online seminar in the last week and we’ll be increasingly using this technology to keep you updated.

As always please feel free to call me or any of our partners if you wish to discuss.