03-06-2024
The Covid-19 pandemic changed where and how lawyers work. Large law firms across the country are rethinking office space, given that fewer attorneys are coming into the office every day. Crowell & Moring told the New York Times it relocated to make better use of space, adding more sit-to-stand desks, higher-tech for video meetings, and soundproofing for conference rooms. Conceding ground on the struggle to get everyone back in the office full-time, some large law firms have downsized their real estate. One real estate expert said law firms used to allot 1,000 square feet of space per lawyer, but the new benchmark is more like 600 square feet. Goodbye to the big corner offices that indicated the most powerful lawyers. Instead, firms now focus on collaborative spaces and better multimedia to accommodate the changes in how they do business. Even firm "rainmakers" now sit in smaller offices like everyone else, with uniform furniture. Many firms selected new office space with more interior light — they hope it will entice more attorneys to work in beautifully lit spaces.
With these smaller spaces, rooms must be flexible to be available for different uses and different lawyers. Lateral movement among these firms has become more constant, requiring that flexibility. Law firms need less physical space for physical books and piles of documents, once essential requirements for law firms. However, less space does not necessarily translate into less cost. Many of these newer spaces cost more in desirable locations, particularly New York City. Venable moved to a better space with more light and the latest technology, which did not save the firm any money. These changes are happening in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other markets. A Chicago firm provides assigned office space only to those attorneys who commit to three days in the office, with other attorneys not getting an office with their name on it.
Some firms decided to expand rather than shrink. Davis Polk and Paul Weiss have expanded their physical footprints in New York. However, they, too, are expanding video and virtual capabilities to handle the continuing need for virtual meetings.