Aug 9 (Reuters) - A push to bring more U.S. lawyers back to the office at least four days a week is spreading, most recently to Houston-founded 700-lawyer firm Vinson & Elkins.
Vinson's lawyers and staffers will have to work in the office every weekday except either Monday or Friday starting Sept. 11, its leaders said Wednesday in an internal memo viewed by Reuters.
Prominent New York-founded law firms Davis Polk & Wardwell; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges each said earlier this summer that their lawyers would be expected in the office Monday through Thursday starting after Labor Day.
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Late last month Boston-founded Ropes & Gray adopted a similar policy, extending the four-day-a-week trend.
Many U.S. law firms that moved to largely remote work due to COVID-19 began ordering lawyers back to the office at least part-time as the pandemic receded. Others continue to offer greater flexibility, with some allowing indefinite remote work.
Law firm leaders are increasing their demands for in-person work as other U.S. sectors, including the finance industry, also press for stricter office attendance.
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Wednesday's memo from Vinson chair Keith Fullenweider and vice chairs Hilary Preston, Michael Holmes and James Fox said opportunities for the firm's personnel to connect can be "jeopardized when a substantial number of our people are away from the office on any...
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