US law firm abandons Salesforce Tower for 22 Bishopsgate
US law firm McDermott Will & Emery is to leave its Salesforce Tower HQ of more than a decade in favour of 22 Bishopsgate, EC2.
The Chicago-based firm will move to the 46th floor of AXA IM Alts’ recently completed office tower in the City early next year, occupying about 27,300 sq ft on a 15-year lease.
McDermott Will & Emery has been based at Gerald Ronson’s flagship skyscraper – formerly known as the Heron Tower – since it opened in 2011.
US law firm McDermott Will & Emery is to leave its Salesforce Tower HQ of more than a decade in favour of 22 Bishopsgate, EC2.
The Chicago-based firm will move to the 46th floor of AXA IM Alts’ recently completed office tower in the City early next year, occupying about 27,300 sq ft on a 15-year lease.
McDermott Will & Emery has been based at Gerald Ronson’s flagship skyscraper – formerly known as the Heron Tower – since it opened in 2011.
It initially leased the eighth and ninth floors, before moving to the 18th last year as an interim measure while it looked for new offices.
[caption id="attachment_1094593" align="aligncenter" width="847"] Salesforce Tower, where McDermott Will & Emery has been based since 2011[/caption]
London managing partner Hamid Yunis said the space at 22 Bishopsgate was “significantly more usable and efficient” owing to the way it was configured.
“Our priority was to secure premises that would provide an appealing environment for both clients and our people and we could not be happier with the outcome and the benefits 22 Bishopsgate will bring,” he said.
The deal means 11-and-a-half floors remain available at 22 Bishopsgate, according to its website, equating to just under 250,000 sq ft. McDermott is the 17th occupier to be unveiled by AXA IM Alts, which developed the building with Lipton Rogers.
It follows fellow law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, which signed for three floors last year, as well as Cooley and Covington & Burling, which signed in 2020. Other big-name tenants include Apple and insurer Hiscox.
US investment bank William Blair is in talks to take about 66,000 sq ft across three floors in the 62-storey building, as revealed by EG.
Phillip Shalless, senior asset manager at AXA IM Alts, said: “[The deal] highlights the appeal of high-quality buildings, complete with amenities and sustainability features that are future fit and meet people’s work needs in a post-pandemic environment.
EG has approached Heron International for comment.
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