International Law Firm, HFW, has chosen 8 Bishopsgate as its new London office. The firm has just exchanged on 62,000 sq ft of space and will occupy floors 7-9 at the building, which is owned by Mitsubishi Estate London (“Mitsubishi”) and being developed by Stanhope.
HFW, which has 20 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, will relocate from its existing London HQ at Friary Court to 8 Bishopsgate in 2023.
Jeremy Shebson, HFW managing partner, said: “We are very excited to be moving to one of London’s best and most sustainable new developments. We truly believe this will be transformational for HFW in London, giving us modern, agile and progressive space, while being flexible so that we can continue to adapt to the changing needs of our people and our clients. This includes giving us room to continue to grow in London, which is very much the plan.
“Sustainability is always a key factor whenever we’re looking at new offices around the world, so we’re pleased to have found a building that aligns with our commitments as a responsible business, with incredibly low carbon emissions as well as outstanding facilities for active travel and wellbeing.
“But what makes the new space really meaningful is that it is something we have created together. We are engaging with our people throughout the process on everything from layout and design to the choice of furniture, materials and colours, so this will be a space that really embodies the firm, our people and our shared approach.”
Shinichi Kagitomi, managing director of Mitsubishi Estate London added: “Deals with major occupiers like HFW confirm the City of London’s status as a leading global business location. We are progressing well with the build at 8 Bishopsgate and are confident of delivering a flagship well suited to the needs of modern businesses in the post-Covid working world.”
David Camp, chief executive officer at Stanhope PLC, the developer and asset manager behind 8 Bishopsgate, said: “This new addition to the iconic City of London skyline is the perfect example of why forward-thinking design is so important. The plans for 8 Bishopsgate were created pre-pandemic, yet despite how the last two years have impacted the way we live, this tower is still at the cutting edge of sustainability, as well as providing exceptional amenities for tenant needs and wellbeing. We are looking forward to welcoming HFW into their new office and to working together to ensure that, as asset manager, we support their business needs.”
8 Bishopsgate is a landmark fifty-storey office tower on the corner of Bishopsgate and Leadenhall Street, which will provide 560,000 sq ft of prime office space and 75,000 sq ft of amenity space, including the Think Tank auditorium and a communal deli, lounge and terrace on Level 26. The building is the UK’s most sustainable speculative office tower, targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and an EPC ‘A’ rating. It features smart floor-by-floor air provision that is filtered and controlled locally providing occupiers with complete control of their air quality within their own parts of the building.
HFW was represented by Knight Frank, Mitsubishi was advised by BH2 and Knight Frank.
