To Our Valued Clients,

During this difficult time, the lawyers and staff at Gibson & Reitboeck LLP are working diligently to continue to provide legal services as well as keep everyone safe and healthy.  As of Monday March 23, 2020 our office is completely remote.  As of March 16, 2020 we have ended all face to face meetings with clients.  This presents a number of challenges, and I can assure you that we are working hard to ensure that all of your needs are met.

During this difficult time, if you need to retain a lawyer, please email us at info@gnrlaw.ca and one of our team members will contact you to schedule a teleconference.  Please note that as we may be using our personal telephones to contact you at this time, our number pay appear as a “Private Number”. If you do not have Skype, Zoom or Facetime, please indicate this in your initial email and we will be happy to assist you in setting up same.

For all new clients, and real estate clients, please note that before we can meet with your, or complete your transaction we will require two pieces of identification, and you will have to fill out a client identification form.  We must verify your identity on videoconference before we can proceed.  The following pieces of identification are acceptable:

• Passport;
• Driver’s licence;
• Government issued age of majority card;
• Valid credit card (required for most real estate transactions)

For all real estate transactions please have your agent forward your agreement of purchase and sale to info@gnrlaw.ca and we will direct your information to the appropriate team member.  Once we have your agreement we will open a file for you.  In some cases, we may require a retainer, and we will forward you a payment email using Lawpay.

Once your documents are ready for signing we will scan and email them to you.  You must then print them and arrange a videoconference meeting with your lawyer to sign same.  Once the documents are signed, you must scan them and return them via email.  If you cannot scan them you may place the documents in a sealed envelope and leave them in our drop-box the office.  If you cannot print your documents, please let us know immediately so that we can make arrangements for you to pick up documents. We are using our best efforts to use only wire-transfers at this time, but this is not always feasible, so you will have to arrange to pick up funds and or keys with a team member.

In the event that it is necessary for you to attend at the office you will arrange a time to meet a team member at the office. Our doors may be locked.  Upon arrival, please call the office and a team member will notify you of when you may enter.  Please wash your hands in the washroom located in the waiting room upon arrival. We are lucky in that we are in an old police station and there is a bullet-proof barrier between you and all team members.  Please respect everyone’s right to remain healthy, and note that we are doing our best in a difficult time.  Further note that on days that our firm is meeting with clients, the waiting room surfaces and door handles will be disinfected between each meeting.

We do share space with two other law firms, and we cannot guarantee that they are following as rigorous of a protocol as are we.  Our advice is that everyone follows the government’s advice and stays home.  When this cannot occur, please make arrangements with a team member and we will take steps to ensure everyone’s safety.

Thank you very much,

Gibson & Reitboeck LLP