Clyde on course for Royal Exchange move

EXPANDING law firm Clyde & Co is to expand into The Royal Exchange in Manchester city centre.

Joint venture Trinity IM and Starwood Capital – branded Trinistar – has signed up Clyde, which will already base occupied by 322 staff in Chancery Place, to takea further 11,022sq ft space after a comprehensive refurbishment of the Grade II listed Royal Exchange has been complete.

Fifty-seven staff will move over to the newly fitted out offices when work is finished.

Partner and head of Clyde’s Manchester office James Dadge said: “Our Manchester office has been one of our firm’s greatest success stories.

“It has grown 19% in the last year, with a 22% increase in headcount, positioning us as one of the largest firms in the city.

“To enable us to continue to expand our portfolio of business in Manchester we are delighted to be moving to the beautiful, historic and central premises at The Royal Exchange.

Executive director at Trinity IM Richard O’Boyle said: “To have secured this sizeable deal prior to the commencement of the main refurbishment works demonstrates huge confidence in the scheme. Clyde & Co is completing its fit out and will be in occupation soon.”

James Dickinson, director at Canning O’Neill, office agents for the scheme, said: “An iconic building with an exceptional fit out will always attract a high calibre occupier.  The fact that The Royal Exchange offers large floor plates of 16,000 sq ft and a further 60,000 sq ft of space available also proved to be a winning factor in Clyde & Co.’s decision to take space here.’

Acting on behalf of Clyde & Co Rob Yates, director at DTZ, said: “As a rapidly growing global law firm Clyde & Co needed to relocate to a space which supported its continued expansion and was centrally located. The refurbishment planned is of an extremely high standard and is very much in keeping with the firm’s brand.”