DLA Piper starts search for new Manchester base
INTERNATIONAL law firm DLA Piper is starting to search for a new Manchester headquarters as it enters the final years on its lease at Barbirolli Square.
TheBusinessDesk.com understands that senior partners from the firm – which currently has space in both 100 and 101 Barbirolli Square – are this week running the rule over One St Peter’s Square – which will be the new home for KPMG from 2014 – and is currently under construction.
Other sites under consideration include a new 250,000 sq ft building planned for Spinningfields on the current site of Quay House and an office on the next phase at First Street, but that is seen as an outside bet due to the fact that it is somewhat removed from other professional service firms.
Another current Barbirolli tenant, accountants PwC, is also said to be weighing-up its options too, and sources close to DLA Piper said one option is to co-locate in a new office, or to plough its own furrow.
If the two firms do combine to potentially secure more favourable terms from a landlord or developer, One St Peter’s, Square would be less likely due to KPMG’s presence there, which would make the Spinningfield new-build a more likely option.
A source close to the selection process said: “The firm has three years left on the current lease and the time is right to weigh-up options for the future.”
Last week 100 Barbirolli Square was sold for £41m to Moorfield in a joint venture with US private equity house Oaktree Capital Management. As well as DLA Piper it is home to rival firm Addleshaw Goddard and accountancy practice EY.
