The COVID-19 pandemic created a public health emergency that has had a profound impact on all aspects of the clinical trial industry. Quarantine requirements and limited access to hospitals and clinics made it very difficult for investigators and site staff to conduct in-person informed consent discussions with potential clinical trial participants. It was also hard to identify and contact participants’ legally authorised representatives (LARs) when they were unable to provide consent themselves. Heather Kim at WCG IRB, discusses that industry transition and addresses some of the questions and issues it provoked.