Law firms are among the most active office tenants. They have for years shown a strong preference for central HQ locations, trophy offices and a high standard of finish, reveals the latest research from real estate advisory firm Savills.
Out of the 20 largest law firms in Poland, 17 are headquartered in Warsaw and have a combined headcount of approximately 2,300 lawyers. According to the research data from Savills, central locations accounted for a vast majority (92%) of office demand from the legal sector in Warsaw in recent years. Since 2016, law firms have leased a total of 125,000 sq m in central Warsaw, favouring office towers and refurbished tenement buildings.
The largest offices have been leased since 2016 by: CMS (7,000 sq m, Varso Tower), DZP (6,500 sq m, Rondo 1), Dentons (6,300 sq m, EC Powiśle), DLA Piper (5,300 sq m, Atrium 2), SKS Kancelaria (5,200 sq m, Jasna 26) and Greenberg Traurig (5,000 sq m, Varso Tower).
Savills tenant representation and building and project consultancy teams have in recent years had an opportunity to collaborate with and support many law firms in office selection and fit-out projects. Their experience and findings, including data collated by Savills analysts, underpin the firm’s report “Offices for Law Firms”.
“Office space plays a pivotal role for the legal sector not only in work, but also in image building. Elegant offices that inspire trust and add to a company’s reputation must serve both employees and clients. The legal sector is therefore one of those industries where an appropriate office is still an essential requirement as remote working has not been widely embraced. This translates into the preferences of law firm tenants who are less focused on optimising their footprints or saving on location or fit-out costs,” says Jarosław Pilch, Head of Tenant Representation, Office Agency, Savills Poland.
Savills explains in its publication that office design trends in the legal sector have evolved over the years from single or double offices through to open and semi-open plan setups and multifunctional spaces requiring implementations of diverse solutions suited to the unique type of work that lawyers do.
International law firms which have recently moved and opened new offices in Warsaw include Greenberg Traurig and Bird & Bird. Real estate advisory firm Savills provided comprehensive support throughout their leasing processes as well as technical advisory and office fit-out project management.
“Workplace design has changed over the years, but the key factor shaping an office layout is the model and nature of work in order to create optimal conditions for heads-down work. Modern workspace must meet the highest standards and needs of law firms while ensuring supreme efficiency, functionality and aesthetics,” says Jakub Jędrys, Head of Building & Project Consultancy, Savills Poland.