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London's newest skyscraper to be legal HQ

A major US legal firm is to move its 250 London staff to the city’s newest skyscraper, according to the Law Society Gazette of England and Wales.

The Gazette says that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates is to move to 22 Bishopsgate from Canary Wharf late next year.

It has agreed a 15-year lease to occupy floors 38 to 40 of the building, which was completed in December.

60% let

22 Bishopsgate contains a food market, gym, restaurant and bar, public viewing gallery, and London’s first ‘sky-wall’ climbing window.

AXA IM Alts, the investment-management company that developed the skyscraper, says that it has seen an increase in occupier enquiries since the British government began to lift lockdown restrictions.

Just 60% of the building is currently let, however, and the Gazette says that many leading London law firms have indicated that they will reduce their office space in the coming years.

DWF and Gowling WLG have both reviewed their property portfolio to cut costs, while Allen & Overy has said its need for office space will “reduce considerably” because of remote working.