Sponsored by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, the Labor and Employment Law Section, and the City, County and Local Government Law Section

Richard Greenberg presented “Ethical Issues in the COVID Litigation Era” during the 47th Public Employment Labor Relations Forum (PELRF), the longest running annual seminar put on jointly by two sections of The Florida Bar. The PELRF focuses on the labor and employment issues that affect public employers, public employees and the unions that represent public employees.

During his presentation, Richard shared:

1. There is no COVID-19 exception to the rules of professional conduct. Every lawyer must make sure to have a plan in place to maintain competence in regard to technology, secure confidential information found in both paper and electronic form, and ensure that lawyer and nonlawyer staff comply with the rules.
2. Be prepared for the next crisis. Consider providing information about how to contact you in the event of an emergency in your fee agreement or engagement letter. Also, you should provide for another trusted signatory on trust accounts in the event of your unexpected death, incapacity or prolonged unavailability. Finally, every Florida lawyer, with the exception of government employees, must have an inventory lawyer under Rule 1-3.8, R. Reg. Fla. Bar.