P2P

29 I L T A N E T . O R G T he backlog of trials continue to pile up in jurisdictions around the country. After a nearly six-month hiatus, courthouses are beginning to open up and likely in-person trials will again be taking place all over the country in a "New Normal." Many of us will be taking our first flights and staying at our first hotels since the nationwide lockdown back in March. With so many things to consider on top of the normal craziness of preparing for a trial, we thought sharing our recent travel experiences and communications with hotels would be helpful. New Sanitation and Health Safety Standards Major airlines and hotel chains have all publicly shared their plans for sanitation and health safety standards to assuage guest concerns. • Marriott International • Hilton Worldwide • United Airlines • American Airlines These procedures along with simple steps like wearing a mask, washing your hands and sanitizing surfaces will help to keep travelers healthy. Looking specifically at hotels, the plans are very well thought out and detailed, but it is up to the individual property and staff to carry them through. Will you have to wait 10 minutes for an elevator with no one inside? Are all staff members required to wear a mask and what about vendors and other hotel guests? In addition to sanitation, you must consider the hotel's ability to accommodate distanced meetings, war rooms and working spaces. Will your remote network work all over the hotel? We have seen more firms inquire about large meeting spaces instead of or in conjunction with using suites. We have asked for exact measurements and floor plans to illustrate how 6ft spaced desks will look. Assuming you are comfortable with the standards and specifications of the room set, you also want to consider what food and beverage options are available and the processes being followed to ensure safe handling. Are you more or less inclined now to order catering from outside the hotel and if you are in a meeting space is that even allowed (most hotels don't allow food to be brought in to banquet space). Generally, you want to minimize the amount of outside contact that will be taking place and keep the team as isolated as possible. These brings up a very important point about the trial team. Similar to what is taking place in professional sports, decisions will be made on whether a bubble is created with a lead-in quarantine time or if distancing and masks will be enforced at all times. Does the case require the team to physically meet in a room? Will you share a vehicle to and from the courthouse? Some of you may first have new norms established in your recently reopened firm office. However, for many this will be the first time back in a non-virtual working environment. The key is open communication with your team members and there is not a "One Size Fits All" answer. You will want to play out scenarios and have backup measures in place should anyone feel sick. Everyone should feel confident and comfortable with the plan, so they can focus on the case. Your Business is in Demand Let's assume you have the plan set and you are now preparing to go to trial. Depending on the city your trial is taking place, some hotels are still not be open. They could be in the process of setting a reopening date and your trial could be a determining factor. This provides a great opportunity to leverage your business and negotiate better terms. Most markets are still struggling to reach

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