Luring lawyers and cohorts

LAW firms are springing up in Sandton or moving to newer, bigger premises at a rapid rate.

Whereas two decades ago most firms occupied one or two floors in a building in downtown Johannesburg, today many have moved into sprawling and glitzy premises, spurred by consolidation, the growing need for legal advice in an increasingly regulatory environment and more corporate activity.

Redefine Properties executive chairman Marc Wainer says the government is creating so much legislation that nobody knows what to do or when to do it, and competition for legal advice is thus stronger. Along with this, lawyers’ fees have escalated, spurring growth.

Rob Otty, MD of Norton Rose Fulbright, says legal firms have tended to have the same life cycles in terms of leases and many are now moving out of long-standing leases as a function of real growth.

He says law firms prefer to be close to clients, that everything is in walking distance and the Gautrain has made a huge difference, allowing easy access to the airport.

Norton Rose has been in its new building for four years of a 10-year lease. The law firm leases 16 000m² of the total 20 000m² available.

Webber Wentzel will take 26 000m² in the central area of Sandton. Bowman Gilfillan will occupy 22 000m² of a threebuilding development. ENS is considering where to move in the district to bigger premises. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr recently moved to new premises in Sandton and Eversheds in Sandton is planning to move.

Adjacent nodes are also benefiting. Fluxmans is redeveloping offices in Rosebank.