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Nov 7 (Reuters) - Lawyers at a growing number of large U.S. law firms will be spending more time in the office by next year, as flexible attendance policies sparked by the pandemic continue to fade. Cooley, Goodwin Procter and Dechert each said over the past week that at least some of their lawyers must come into the office four days per week beginning early next year, joining other major firms that have adopted similar policies since 2023. Sign up here. "The pendulum is absolutely swinging back toward the majority of partners' and associates' time being in person, in the office," said Rachel Nonaka, a Washington, D.C.-based recruiter at Macrae. Many firms have gradually tightened office mandates as the COVID-19 pandemic receded, citing benefits such as in-person collaboration, training, mentorship and maintaining firm culture. Recruiters said that not all attorneys welcome the shift, and some could seek out firms with greater flexibility. Some firms including Quinn Emanuel, Husch Blackwell and Fennemore Craig continue to promote remote-work options, in some cases as a recruiting tool. The number of firms with expansive flexible policies is steadily shrinking, however, particularly in certain markets like New York, said Stephanie Biderman, a New York-based recruiter at Major, Lindsey & Africa. Boston-founded Goodwin Procter will require lawyers in the U.S. and UK starting January 5 to work in the office Monday through Thursday, up from its current three-day mandate. "Delivering on our ambitious strategy takes the kind of strong relationships that benefit from close and frequent in-person connection and collaboration," Goodwin managing partner Mark Bettencourt and chief operating officer Mary O'Carroll said in an internal memo to its U.S. offices on Monday. "Many of our clients – and many of our peer firms – are embracing similar approaches," the Goodwin leaders said in the memo viewed by Reuters. Cooley, founded in Palo Alto, will also require lawyers in the U.S. and Europe to be in the office four days a week starting January 1, a firm spokesperson said. Cooley in 2022 allowed lawyers to work remotely with no office mandate. It was not immediately clear when that policy ended, and a spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the timing. At Philadelphia-founded Dechert, the new policy varies by seniority. Rising second-year associates and business services professionals must be in-office four days a week starting February 2, according to a source familiar with the matter. Rising third-year associates and counsel will have a three-day requirement, while partners were previously asked to come in four days weekly, the person said. "When together in person, we collaborate better, our junior team members benefit more from coaching, and we can more effectively respond to client needs," Dechert co-chairs Dave Forti and Mark Thierfelder said in a joint statement. Reporting by Sara Merken
