CHICAGO—After 25 years at 227 W. Monroe, yesterday McDermott Will & Emery officially opened its Chicago office in the new River Point tower at 444 West Lake St. The move is part of a broader shift of the city's global law firms away from their traditional homes in the CBD's center, and into the West Loop, where developers have created millions of square feet of best-in-class trophy space. But for McDermott Will & Emery, the shift was affordable,

“By being the anchor tenant, we feel we were able to get a reasonable financial arrangement,” Chicago partner and former chairman Jeffrey Stone tells GlobeSt.com. In fact, the firm “will pay less than we did in our old building.”

In addition to signing up early for space in the 1.1 million square foot tower, located at the bend of the Chicago River, McDermott Will & Emery has figured out ways to operate more efficiently and shrink its footprint. It took 201,000 square feet at River Point, about 20% less than at 227 W. Monroe, but with roughly the same number of people. “227 West Monroe was a best-in-class building when we first moved in, but its footprint no longer worked for us,” he says.

Due to increased digitization and technology in general, for example, the firm no longer needs a library, and the number of paper files has been drastically reduced. The modern conference space boasts state-of-the-art technology for both employees and visitors alike. Offices also feature adjustable stand-up desks, allowing people to work more efficiently and ergonomically.

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Furthermore, Hines, the developer of River Point, made sure to give its tenants the option of having large amounts of common space, something many large office users now covet. Twenty-five years ago, lawyers did not need much contact with colleagues that practiced in other fields. But today, all that has changed. “We need to have space where our tax lawyers can come together with those that practice health law,” says Stone.

The new office will facilitate that interaction through “The Commons,” a community center outfitted with high-end food and beverage options, plentiful seating, and technology. “It's a very comfortable, beautiful, airy space,” says Stone, which makes it easy for people to have serendipitous encounters and collaborate.

“We need a space that people feel good about coming to each day,” he adds, and it certainly doesn't hurt that River Point offers spectacular views of the river as it stretches east toward the lake. The aesthetic quality of the space, combined with that early-mover price, leads Stone to conclude that “we got the best of both worlds.”

The firm now has a 20-year lease, he adds, and by the time it runs out, the legal profession will probably have undergone another round of unforeseen changes that will require a move to whatever is then considered best-in-class. “I am sure my successor will be thinking about all of the things I have thought about for years. But for now, we couldn't be happier to be in this building.”

McDermott Will & Emery

Instant Insights /

Moving Day for River Point's Anchor Tenant

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