The Birmingham office of national law firm Browne Jacobson is to relocate to 103 Colmore Row.
The firm has signed a ten-year lease on 12,146 sq ft on the 15th floor of the 26-storey building, with joint venture partners Sterling Property Ventures and Tristan Capital Partners. The rent is undisclosed.
The move to 103 Colmore Row will see Browne Jacobson’s 185-strong team relocate the short distance from its current home at Victoria Square House and is in line with its commitment to adopting flexible working practices.
Richard Medd, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “We are delighted to have agreed a lease for 103 Colmore Row. Since we opened our Birmingham office back in 1999, we have seen exceptional growth and we believe that this move heralds an exciting new chapter for us in the city.
“For us, this move is a reflection of our long-term commitment to grow our Birmingham team, continue to deliver exceptional client service and attract and retain the best talent we can in one of the most active and vibrant legal markets in the country.”
James Tait, head of Browne Jacobson’s Birmingham office, added: “Birmingham is without doubt one of the most exciting cities in the country to live and work in.
“Birmingham has undergone a major transformation in recent years and with the Commonwealth Games just around the corner there is a palpable buzz in the city. Against this backdrop we are thrilled to announce our move to 103 Colmore Row.
“The building’s central location, innovative design, state of the art facilities and first class ESG credentials are second to none and offers the perfect agile and collaborative working destination for our people and clients.”
103 Colmore Row is the tallest office building (108 metres) in Birmingham, comprising 223,631 sq ft of Grade A, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ office space, as well as a two-storey top floor restaurant and ground floor café – to be operated by D&D London – and a members’ business club on the 18th floor.
It’s also one of the most energy efficient commercial buildings in Birmingham, with its heating and hot water supplied by the low carbon District Energy Scheme and electricity provided from renewable energy sources. The office space has also achieved an EPC A rating – the first for an office building in Birmingham.
More than 65 per cent of the building is now let with tenants including Gallagher, Grant Thornton, Knight Frank, Shoosmiths, Tilney Smith & Williamson, and flexible workspace operator x+why.
James Howarth, managing director of Sterling Property Ventures, said: “Businesses are having to re-evaluate their offices to ensure they are fit-for-purpose in a post-pandemic world, both from an operational, cultural and environmental perspective.
“Can the office accommodate flexible working? Is it tech enabled? Does it meet modern ESG standards? Does it portray the right image of the business and fit the company’s values? These are all key considerations for companies when choosing a new office. Fortunately, 103 Colmore Row ticks all the boxes.”
The office space is being marketed by joint agents Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank. OBI Property advised Browne Jacobson.