Chicago-based law firm Vedder is making a significant investment in its New York presence, taking an entire floor in one of Manhattan’s prominent Sixth Avenue office towers.
Global law firm Vedder has signed a long-term lease for 49,000 square feet at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, securing the entire 34th floor of the Rockefeller Group-owned skyscraper.
The firm will relocate from its existing offices at 1633 Broadway in 2027, according to the New York Post.
The deal brings the 2.6 million-square-foot tower, formerly known as the McGraw-Hill Building, to 98 percent occupancy. Savills represented Vedder in the transaction, while Cushman & Wakefield and Rockefeller Group represented the landlord. AOL+1
The move follows another significant change for the Chicago-headquartered firm.
In January 2026, Vedder Price dropped the second half of its name, adopting the simpler Vedder brand and launching a redesigned website as part of a broader identity refresh.
The firm, established in 1952, now operates nine offices across the United States, London and Singapore, with more than 400 lawyers and other professionals. Vedder+1
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Vedder’s decision also highlights an interesting feature of the changing law firm business model.
Even as firms grapple with hybrid working, rising operating costs and new technology, prestigious Manhattan offices remain an important part of their recruitment and strategies.
For Vedder, the move represents another visible investment in its New York operations following its rebranding earlier this year.
The financial terms of the lease have not been disclosed, but securing an entire floor in a major Rockefeller Center-area tower is a substantial commitment.
And despite the endless predictions about the death of the traditional office, BigLaw evidently remains reluctant to surrender its prime Manhattan addresses.
