200 year-old law firm signs up to Sheffield offices

LAW firm Wake Smith has signed up to a 12,500 sq ft base for their headquarters.

They will become the largest tenant in the V1 Velocity building in Sheffield city centre.

The firm is moving from its split offices on Clarkehouse Road and Campo Lane to the site where it has signed a 15-year tenancy on two floors in the city’s West Bar district.

The 36,500 sq ft V1 building currently counts Brewster Pratap, Chase Medical, DLP Planning and Anytime Fitness as tenants.

Wake Smith’s move will be complete in the first half of 2016.

Nick Lambert, chairman of Wake Smith, said: “We are delighted to have entered into a formal agreement to lease on our new offices at Velocity after many years of operating from premises at Clarkehouse Road and Campo Lane.

“The decision to move comes at a very busy period for the company and in anticipation of further growth. Part of the strategy behind our move is to enable that growth to happen in an environment which is better suited to our needs and the needs of our clients.

“We will also gain eight meeting rooms, kitchen facilities on each floor and parking in the site’s multi-storey car park.

“The operation to consolidate our two current offices is well underway and the floorplates at Velocity are ready for final fit-out. The move will position us centrally, alongside other legal practices, many of our clients and contacts and minutes from the law courts.”

Wake Smith, which was founded in 1802 by Bernard John Wake as Wake & Sons. It became a limited company earlier this year and employs more than 100 staff including 46 fee earners and 18 directors.

Velocity, which is located on Tenter Street and Solly Street, is jointly marketed by the Sheffield offices of BNP Paribas and Knight Frank.

Guy Cooke, director at BNP Paribas, said: “Velocity is proving to be a great commercial success and following Wake Smith’s agreement on 12,500 sq ft, there is only one suite left to market at V1, measuring 4,000 sq ft.

“The offices have been pre-fitted to Grade A standard and boast floor to ceiling glazing, comfort cooling and flexible floorplates, 24 hour access, on-site car parking, shower facilities and extensive courtyard amenity space.”