Wellington Place move supports growth agenda for Squire Patton Boggs
FURTHER growth is “very much” on the agenda for Squire Patton Boggs, according to its managing partner, who says the law firm’s move to Wellington Place next year underlines its commitment to Leeds and the wider region.
Speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com following the announcement that the firm will take around 32,000 sq ft of office space on a 15 year lease at 6 Wellington Place when completed by MEPC next year , John Alderton said the relocation will give the firm room to grow as it looks to take advantage of a strengthening economy.
“We will be looking to increase headcount by at least 13%,” he said. “And the space at Wellington Place will make a huge difference to how we work collaboratively, with all the client facing fee earners based on one floor.
“We have been based at Park Lane for 25 years and with the lease up for renewal in December 2015 we decided to look at our options. We felt it was important to have offices based in the main business centre of the city.
“The investment made on this move is indicative of the support we have from our global board and for the aspirations we have in Leeds and the wider market.”
Squire Patton Boggs is noted for its strong international network, premier corporate, litigation, real estate and corporate tax practices.
Following its merger with Patton Boggs in the summer, the firm now consists of around 1,600 lawyers spanning 45 offices in 21 countries around the world, placing the firm among the top 25 firms globally in terms of lawyer headcount, and eighth by number of countries where they have offices.
“We are seeing an increasing number of global deals sourced in Yorkshire,” said Alderton. “One in particular was the acquisition of Leeds’ Callcredit by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR earlier this year.
“The deal saw Jonathan Jones and Paul Mann work across a number of jurisdictions including the US, Europe, and Asia. It was a deal which really showcased our global reach.
“More and more businesses are looking at suppliers in countries such as the Middle East and Asia and they want their advisors to have deep knowledge of those jurisdictions, which is exactly what we can offer.”
He added: “The merger has also given us access to an increased market in the Middle East and access to policymakers in Washington.”
Alderton said the middle market in Leeds has become “very competitive.”
“As a Leeds firm with global reach, we don’t feel we need to get down in the trenches and fight on price,” he said.
“We haven’t see any of our services dwindle. As the economy has strengthened, corporate has picked up, and our real estate and litigation proposition remain robust.”
