Perkins Coie relocates to Chicago's Bank of America Tower

Perkins Coie relocates to Chicago's Bank of America Tower

Seattle firm takes up a slightly smaller footprint in three storeys

Perkins Coie, an international law firm, founded in 1912 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has relocated its Chicago office to the newly constructed Bank of America tower at 110 North Wacker Drive.

The firm had signed the 104,000 square foot lease two years ago. It covers slightly less square footage than the Chicago base that was 118,000 square feet.

Richard Sevcik, Perkins Coie's Chicago office managing partner, said the new office would allow the firm to better serve its roster of clients across the technology, finance, fintech and healthcare sectors, among others.

He added, the move "also highlights a significant new investment in a major business centre that is a priority market in the firm's long-term national growth strategy."

The move takes Perkins Coie's 60 partners, 61 lawyers and more than 100 staff members in Windy City to the riverfront where it occupies three of the skyscraper's 55 storeys. The location is about a mile away from its current base at 131 South Dearborn Street, where the firm has been a tenant since it opened the Chicago office in 2002.

The new office has been designed with a focus on collaboration and employees' wellness in mind. The lawyers and staff will have access to a number of dedicated private spaces, including for wellness, meditation and for mothers.

The key features of the space include 'state-of-the-art' technology, collaborative meeting spaces, a community lounge and a conference and event centre.

The firm has focused on steadily building its platform in Chicago since it first entered the city 20 years ago. From three attorneys, it ranked among the largest law firms in the Windy City this year according to Crain's Chicago Business data.

The Chicago base is currently its largest office outside the Seattle headquarters, which houses 159 partners amid a team of 463 lawyers and staff.