London, October 18, 2004 LAWFUEL – Law, legal, attorney, law firm news— As the Firm continues its stellar growth in the UK, White & Case today moved into 117,000 square feet of premium new office space in the heart of the City. The new premises are in the flagship development at 5 Old Broad Street, next to the Bank of England. White & Case has taken four out of six floors in the new building, with an option to take additional adjacent space, totalling 25,000 square feet, if necessary.
White & Case has been in the London market for more than 30 years, but the last four years in particular have seen exponential growth as the Firm has invested in creating a heavyweight presence in the City: four years ago White & Case had 60 lawyers in the capital, now the Firm has almost 240, equating to 400 per cent headcount growth.
London Chief Operating Partner Neil Upton commented: “Everyone at White & Case in London has been looking forward to this day: the quality of the premises we have moved into could not be bettered. Most importantly the move is illustrative of the extraordinary support we have received from our staff and reflective of the increasing recognition by our clients that we are committed to their service in London and across our network. It’s a tribute to how far we’ve come in the London market and of how ambitious our plans for the future are. One hundred and seventeen thousand square feet of premium City office space is not a commitment that is made lightly, but the message from us is clear: we are here for the long-haul and we are aiming high.”
The new premises are not only a reflection of the strong position the Firm has built for itself in the London market, but also provide it with the first class facilities that a business of its size and maturity requires. The new office at 5 Old Broad Street boasts, amongst other things: 15 meeting rooms; private client dining facilities; a client entertainment / function suite and business centre; and an in-house staff restaurant to cater for all 430 members of the London office. The site of Old Broad Street has been occupied since AD120, but the current building dates from the early 1800s, although only the original Grade II listed façade of the building has been left in place, with the interior gutted and then put through an ultra-modern renovation.
“We have made a substantial investment in and commitment to the development of our presence in London, which we view as critical both in itself and as a regional business hub to drive the growth of our global network,” added Managing Partner Duane Wall. “We are now reaping the dividends of that investment. Our business in London has grown into a major force in its own right and is also a significant driver in our ability to win complex, multi-jurisdictional business across Europe and the rest of the globe.”
About White & Case
White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with nearly 1,900 lawyers practicing in 38 offices in 25 countries. Global Counsel consistently ranks White & Case among the top global law firms. White & Case has also been named Best US Law Firm in London, Eastern Europe Law Firm of the Year and Eastern Europe Corporate/M&A Firm of the Year by leading legal benchmark publications. http://www.whitecase.com .
