City law firm set to relocate – into the home of a former rival

LAW firm Pinsent Masons has announced it is to relocate its Birmingham operation – by taking space in the former home of a city rival.

The firm has confirmed plans to take a new client space at 55 Colmore Row – former home of Wragge & Co.

The firm will take two floors occupying over 40,000 sq ft. The intention is that this will be a client space for meetings and will house staff primarily engaged in serving the regional, national and international markets.

A fit-out will take place in the coming months with the firm expecting to formally move in during 2017. The decision to change premises comes ahead of the expiration of the firm’s lease with Wesleyan next year.

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John Hammond, of IM Properties, which will be the firm’s new landlord, said: “They are exactly the calibre of tenant we had set our sights on when we pressed the button on the £30m redevelopment of the building last September.”

But this is just the first phase of the relocation.

The firm is also intending to open a second base in the city of equivalent quality to 55 Colmore Row. This will house staff providing operational services to Pinsent Masons’ business across the UK and internationally.

The as yet unnamed premises will be located within a short walking distance of 55 Colmore Row, with fit-out aimed at better reflecting the professional needs of the staff based there.

The firm said an announcement about these premises would be made in due course.

Shirley De Roché, Pinsent Masons’ Director of Facilities said: “In addition to the legal team delivering services from our Birmingham office, we also have a large number of other professionals based in Birmingham who provide services to the whole firm.

“Combined they create a need for a significant amount of office space, and that has afforded us an opportunity to think innovatively about meeting our property needs. That fuelled our idea to design one office specifically around the needs of our clients and one office specifically around our operational needs. Both offices will be of matching quality, but to those working in them they will feel like a more appropriate fit for their work.”

The firm said the plan to take new and enhanced premises in Birmingham underlined its commitment to the city, and followed a period of sustained growth in its scale of operations.

Greg Lowson, head of Pinsent Masons’ Birmingham office, said: “The West Midlands remains a crucial market for us and this is a significant moment given our roots in Birmingham dating back to 1836.

“Birmingham is going to be among the most vibrant legal and commercial centres outside of London over the next decade, and our flagship new office reflects that.”