Devry Smith Frank LLP has been helping our clients navigate this new, COVID-19 world. As an essential service, our offices have remained open and adhere to best practices as recommended by the various levels of government. We have modified how our office functions both for our lawyers and staff, and in relation to our clients. We continue to work hard to keep everyone safe while remaining available and accessible to our clients. To ensure the health and safety of our firm members and clients, we have been operating and continue to operate under restrictive measures.
Where possible, please contact the lawyer or other person with whom you wish to speak by calling their direct phone number, or by e-mail. Direct phone numbers and e-mail addresses for all our lawyers and other personnel can be found at meet our team page.
We have also developed a COVID-19 resource centre through which we update our clients on the evolving legal implications and requirements related to the pandemic. DSF recognizes that the pandemic has created a myriad of legal issues. Each of our practice groups has the expertise necessary to help our clients navigate the new COVID-19 realities and to understand the new legal protocols that are developing. For example, our labour and employment lawyers can assist with issues related to staffing, temporary and permanent layoffs, hour reduction and constructive dismissal, occupational health and safety, CEWS and CERB benefit programs, and workplace sharing programs.
Our corporate and commercial litigation teams can assist with COVID-related tax planning, landlord and tenant issues such as rent deferrals, non-payment of rent and lease terminations, and business transfer, reduction and closure issues. Our family law group can assist with applications to vary support payments due to job losses and salary adjustments, and issues arising in relation to custody and access arrangements impacted by stay-at-home and social distancing rules. We also have significant expertise in the areas of collections, bankruptcy and insolvency which we expect to play a significant role in a post-state of emergency financial environment.
Among other useful information, our resource centre includes options for tax planning during COVID-19 and a summary of the highlights of the federal and Ontario governmental COVID-19 relief measures, both prepared by Elisabeth Colson, who heads up our Corporate and Commercial Law Department.
Immigration lawyer, Asher Frankel, serves as Regional Chairperson North America of the GGI Global Mobility Solutions Practice Group. In this special Covid-19 edition of the GGI newsletter, Asher discusses the Canadian immigration approach to Covid-19 containment.
Additionally, we have an entire blog section as follows dedicated to the most updated information regarding daily legal challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic:
