You're in Safe Hands with VWV - Our Business Continuity

Update - 24 September 2021

All of our offices are open and we are pleased to be able to welcome clients once again, on an appointment only basis.

We are committed to providing a safe working environment and would like to reassure you that we are complying with social distancing measures issued by the government, and carry out our own risk assessments.

As part of the hybrid model of working VWV has adopted, our lawyers continue to work securely from home and remain fully available to you.

For more information or if you wish to visit one of our offices, please contact us or your usual contact at VWV.

Update - 1 June 2020

The last few months have been challenging. Plans have been put on hold, and many of us are having to stay away from our loved ones.

At VWV, as we continue to adjust to this new normal, coronavirus has highlighted the formidable resilience of our staff. Although  our lawyers and many support staff are working from home we have been able to remain open for business and have continued to support our clients.

The legal implications of coronavirus are wide-ranging and complex. So however this is impacting you  please don't forget that we are here to support you.

Thank you, and stay safe and well.
 
Simon Heald - Managing Partner

Update - 24 March 2020

Further to our previous message, I wanted to give you an update on the measures we have put in place to ensure that we remain fully accessible and available to you.
 
In response to the latest developments and government advice, we are making some further changes to our operations and would ask that you please take note of the following.

Electronic Communication

Where possible, we request that all documents you wish to send to us are sent electronically. Your VWV contacts are now working remotely, and electronic communication means that they can respond to you in a timely manner. 

Electronic Payments

We request that any and all payments to VWV be made electronically. If you need to speak to a member of our Finance team for bank details, please contact them on 0117 314 5645.

Please note that, effective immediately, VWV will only be making payments electronically. This applies to all payments and our Finance team can assist should you have any questions.

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If you need to send us any hard copy papers, please can you let your VWV contact know in advance and they will advise you which office to send them to, which will likely be our Bristol (Centre) office. They will then make provisions for you papers' receipt.

Office Closure 

Although our offices are currently fully operational, we have now closed our doors to all non-essential activities.
 
As mentioned before, our IT systems, security and remote working capabilities have been fully tested meaning that we don’t expect you to be impacted.  Advice on how to contact staff at VWV is accessible in my previous communication.
 
If you have any difficulties making contact with anyone, or have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly on my details below.  Please also make use of the dedicated resource centre, which is being updated daily with articles, advice, questions and legal information.
 
We are continually monitoring the situation and will keep you updated of any changes as and when they happen.
 
Thank you in advance for your understanding.  And stay safe and well.
 
Simon Heald - Managing Partner

Update - 17 March 2020

How Is VWV Approaching the Situation?

The health and safety of our staff, clients and community is our utmost priority. As part of our routinely tested business continuity plan, we have implemented several measures that align with the efforts of the NHS and government to delay the peak.

Our responses include mobilising our staff to work at home with immediate effect, cancelling our events until the end of May (and possibly beyond - we are reviewing weekly), restricting business travel to the absolute necessary, and strictly adhering to the government's advice in relation to our people who may feel ill or may otherwise be at risk.

Are My Usual Contacts at VWV Still Available?

Absolutely. We are doing everything possible to ensure that our services remain uninterrupted and that we continue to deliver excellent client service in these extraordinary and uncertain times.

We already operate a comprehensive agile working programme and our lawyers are all equipped to work securely from home. Our IT systems and remote working capabilities have been fully tested meaning that we don’t expect you to be impacted.

Whilst all of our offices are currently open, our preparations will ensure uninterrupted service to our clients in the event that a temporary office closure is required.

How Do I Contact Them?

You have several options available to you to contact us:

• Contact Details
  Email addresses, mobile numbers and direct dials can be found on our email footers and are also listed here.
  
  
• VWV Website
  Up-to-date content on the coronavirus and the latest legal developments are available on our website.
  
  
• OnStream Portals and Newsletters
  Free updates are available on our OnStream portals (for independent schools, academies, higher education and charities) or by subscribing to our newsletters.
  
  
• WhatsApp and Facetime
  Where our lawyers have downloaded the apps (we are encouraging them to do so), you can also use this communication method, which utilises end-to-end encryption.

How Can VWV Support Me?

The coronavirus poses considerable challenges for businesses, education providers and individuals.

Whilst the implications are far-reaching and the risks are significant, many of the assurances lie in various laws and regulations, as well as official government guidance.

To support you with the unprecedented challenges you are facing, we have developed a dedicated resource centre and team, which will help you identify and take appropriate steps to protect your organisation and manage risk. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update you with any changes we make to our approach in response to developments.

In the meantime, if you have any queries regarding coronavirus or need any support responding to it, please complete the form below or speak to your usual VWV contact.

We hope you and your loved ones stay safe and well.

Simon Heald - Managing Partner