NEW YORK CITY-Global insurance broker Willis Group signed a long-term lease for 205,000 sf of space at the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan in Battery Park City. The company will relocate its New York Associates to One World Financial Center from its current locations at Hanover Square and Wall Street Plaza. Terms of the deal we not made immediately available to GlobeSt.com. Willis Group was represented by the Studley team of George Martin, vice chairman and senior officer, Iselin, New Jersey; Philip Lipper, corporate managing director, Iselin; Joseph Messina, managing director, Iselin and Mark Jaccom.

Consistent with the company's One Flag approach of close cooperation and coordination around the world, this space will bring all of Willis' New York Associates together under one roof. "This is a great day for Willis," Joe Plumeri, Willis chairman says in a statement. "It is first-class space for first-class people and I could not be more proud of what we have all accomplished together such that we can make this great commitment to our future."

"We're pleased that Willis has chosen the World Financial Center as the new home for its US headquarters," says Jeremiah Larkin, senior vice president and director of leasing for Brookfield Properties. "Their decision to move to the World Financial Center reaffirms Lower Manhattan's West Side as a preferred location for industry leading organizations like Willis."

Empire State Development chairman Charles A. Gargano adds, "Willis' plan to relocate its US headquarters to a location in Downtown Manhattan is another step forward in the rebuilding of our vibrant business community. Not only will this move keep over 600 jobs in Lower Manhattan, but it will also solidify the area as the long-term home to two of the largest global insurance brokerage firms."

Owned and operated by Brookfield Properties, the World Financial Center is located near major transportation connections and offers many amenities--from shopping (Ann Taylor, GAP, Banana Republic) and restaurants (PJ Clarke's, SouthWest, the Grill Room) to outdoor parks, a marina, the Hudson River esplanade and the world famous Winter Garden atrium. Construction for the build-out of the space--including first class conference facilities and technology--will start in the fall and the anticipated move-in date is in the second quarter of 2007.