Leading National law firm, Gateley Plc, has expanded within Evans Property Group’s Minerva office building in central Leeds by signing a 10 year lease on the whole 5,000 sq ft 7th floor, taking its total space within the building to 12,500 sq ft.
Gateley entered the Yorkshire market in 2012 and has since become a regional success story, growing from 6 to 42 members of staff in Leeds providing clients with expertise across Corporate, Corporate Recovery, Real Estate, Residential Development, Regulatory and Commercial Dispute Resolution.
Gateley’s presence in the city has moved beyond the legal sector as its Leeds office has also become the base for the regional Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Honorary Consul of Germany in the North of England, Mark Green, who is a Consultant for the firm, advises German citizens and businesses from the office.
The growing office relocated into Minerva from Toronto Square in September 2014 in a move that saw it double its offices in size with a 7,500 sq ft lease comprising half of the 8th and the whole of the 9th floor on a 10 year term. Just over a year later, Gateley has expanded with an entire additional floor within Minerva to facilitate continued growth.
The news follows the recent announcement that leading discretionary investment manager, Standard Life Wealth, signed up for a 2,700 sq ft suite on the second floor within Minerva, which has attracted a host of high-profile occupiers since Evans unveiled the 30,568 sq ft of Grade A, BREEAM Excellent offices following a comprehensive refurbishment programme. In addition to Gateley and Standard Life, property firm BNP Paribas relocated from the neighbouring Capitol office building into a 1,600 sq ft, 1st floor suite, UBS agreed a lease for 2,500 sq ft on the 8th floor and existing tenant CDI AndersElite also expanded into a larger suite.
Evans’ investment into Minerva and its neighbouring office building, Capitol, forms part of an overall ongoing £25m programme of works which is transforming the whole Bond Court area of Leeds City Centre and will include new restaurant/bar space below Minerva, a new 95 bed 5* Dakota Deluxe hotel and extensive public realm works.
Alan Syers, Portfolio Director at Evans Property Group, said; “Minerva was created to appeal to organisations with an appreciation for the highest quality working environment in the heart of Leeds City Centre. Our decision to focus on the finishes has proven to be successful in attracting and retaining high-profile occupiers and we are delighted that Gateley is experiencing such success at Minerva and that we were able to accommodate their continued growth.”
William Ballmann, Corporate Recovery partner and head of Gateley’s Leeds office, commented: “The decision to increase our space in Minerva was an easy one. Our continued growth, particularly in our RDU team, means we needed greater space available to us. The location of Minerva means we are at the heart of the Leeds business community and easily accessible, which was an important factor given that many of our key clients are Leeds city centre based”. ”.
JLL and CBRE are joint agents on Minerva and Gateley was unrepresented.
Alex Hailey at CBRE added; “It is impossible not to be impressed with the sheer quality of accommodation at Minerva and as we have seen with CDI Anders who also expanded, occupiers want to commit to the building. Bond Court is going through some really exciting changes and there is definitely an element that at both Minerva and Capitol, occupiers want to be a part of the new quarter and recognise that they need to act fast to avoid missing out.”
