Big Firms in Australia Evacuate Offices Due to Mass Floods

Some of Australia’s largest law firms evacuated their offices as mass floods hit the state of Queensland that includes Brisbane, the country’s third-largest city. The flood is recorded to be the worst Australia has experienced over the past 50 years, with an estimated damage cost of $6 billion. Flood water in the city is expected to reach depths of 60 feet in some parts of the city, affecting thousands of  homes and businesses. The operations of Australia’s “Big Six,” the country’s largest law firms, have been greatly disrupted by the flood and now bracing themselves for the amount of damage the disaster may cost. The “Big Six,”  Allens Arthur Robinson, Blake Dawson , Clayton Utz, Freehills, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Minter Ellison , all have offices in Brisbane.

Don Boyd, Norton Rose Australia managing partner, said that the flood has caused the city immeasurable damage disrupting their firm’s operations and other businesses. “It’s like a war zone. The floods have decimated Queensland. It literally hasn’t stopped raining for weeks.”

A spokesperson from Allens Arthur Robinson said that their office in Brisbane has been closed for now and the firm is currently under a business continuity plan to continue its operations while the city is recovering from the impact of the mass flood. “The safety of our staff is paramount. The firm has implemented a business continuity plan to allow staff to work remotely on time-critical matters.

Meanwhile, Clayton Utz made an immediate donation of $30,000 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society despite the fact that their firm has also been affected by the mass flood. The firm is now focusing on assisting those flood victims and aid organizations in the effect of the disaster.