Regarding the vaccine requirement, presiding partner Michael Blair wrote in the memo: "This requirement, which is strongly recommended by our medical advisors, will lessen the likelihood of community spread at the office, and the potential for a vaccinated individual to bring the virus home to family members who may be ineligible for a vaccine or have a pre-existing health condition."

A Debevoise spokesperson declined to comment on the memo.

The firm's vaccination policy goes into effect Sept. 30 for U.S. personnel, and those who wish to come into the office must be fully vaccinated—meaning two weeks must have passed after the second dose of a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The memo encourages those with disabilities or religious beliefs that preclude them for vaccination reach out to the firm for accommodation.

As for the firm's offices outside of the U.S., Debevoise's vaccination policy will be rolled out "in due course."

In making this decision, Debevoise joins a growing chorus of Big Law firms that, in light of the COVID-19 Delta variant's spread, are now requiring attorneys and staff be vaccinated in order to come into the office. Firms that have opted to require vaccination recently include Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Davis, Polk & Wardwell; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; and McDermott Will & Emery, among others.

Wednesday, the U.S. reported 96,036 new COVID-19 cases and 51,661 hospitalizations—a 131% and 87% increase over the past two weeks, respectively.

Office Return

In the same memo, Debevoise also outlined its return to office policy, which will slowly ramp up and for the most part hinges on personnel being in the office a certain number days per month, rather than the weekly requirement common in many hybrid work policies. Beginning Oct. 11, the firm is asking that its personnel in the U.S. and, where safe, in Europe come into the office at least one to two days a week.

Beginning Nov. 8 through Nov. 30, firm personnel will be required to come into the office for at least 10 days per month. Starting December, lawyers and staff will be expected to come in at least 14 work days a month, or roughly 67% of each month through April 2022.

After April, Blair wrote, the firm will make "adjustments to our policy based on what we learn from its initial implementation."

Additionally, lawyers will be allowed to take two nonconsecutive weeks to work remotely each calendar year. One of the weeks may be taken during the firm's November through April phase.

But there will be caveats. The memo goes on to say that, in some markets, the policy will be amended to "more accurately reflect local market practice." Practice group leaders and offices will also have discretion in requiring that attorneys come in on certain days—subject to approval from the management committee.

Days spent traveling for client or business reasons will count as "in-office" days, and during months where personnel take vacations or there is a public holiday, the minimum number of days required to go into the office that month will be reduced.

Blair also noted that, given the evolving situation regarding the Delta variant, plans may be subject to change.

"It is important to state we find ourselves in a dynamic public health situation, particularly with respect to the Covid-19 Delta variant. Our primary focus continues to be the health and safety of our people, and we are in constant communication with our medical advisors to ensure that our approach to our return to the office is consistent with that objective," Blair wrote. "I will update you if circumstances lead us to change our approach."