Holman Fenwick cruises into Bishopsgate as lawyers jostle for position

Holman Fenwick is to move more than 250 lawyers into one of the City’s most hotly anticipated upcoming office towers, becoming the latest law firm to sign a major Square Mile leasing deal this year. The firm, which specialises in maritime law, is to take nearly 62,000 sq ft at 6-8 Bishopsgate, EC2, EG can reveal. The deal will encompass floors 7-9 at the building, which is due for completion in late 2022, and which is being brought forward by developer Stanhope and investor Mitsubishi Estate as a joint venture. Holman’s floors include 59,715 sq ft of offices and a 2,206 sq ft terrace on the ninth storey, marking a downsize from its current headquarters at Friary Court, where it has about 72,000 sq ft. This is to accommodate a new hybrid working policy across the company, which will move into the new space in 2023. The move comes amid significant movement in the office leasing market among law firms during the pandemic, as legal giants jockey for position amid a flurry of upcoming lease expiries. Baker McKenzie, Allen & Overy, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Kirkland & Ellis have all struck significant leasing deals in the Square Mile this year. Holman Fenwick’s space at 6-8 Bishopsgate was briefly the subject of competition, with Addleshaw Goddard looking at the same floors in recent months but deciding against making an offer. An Addleshaw Goddard spokesperson said the firm was still “looking at a number of options”, which include staying at its current headquarters. Meanwhile, Clifford Chance is believed to have drawn up a list of 11 potential new offices, only three of which are in Canary Wharf, where it is currently based. Most of the remainder are understood to be in the City of London. Mitsubishi and Stanhope’s £300m development at 6-8 Bishopsgate will include 560,000 sq ft of prime office space on the corner of Bishopsgate and Leadenhall Street. There will be a viewing gallery at the summit and retail units on the ground. It is being billed as the UK’s most sustainable speculative office tower, targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating and a WiredScore platinum rating. View the latest leaderboard of agents doing deals in the Square Mile >> To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@eg.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @EGPropertyNews