Law Firms Keep Manhattan’s Office Market Humming

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Manhattan’s office market remains tied to law firms’ presence, as evidenced by a pair of expansions in recent weeks.

Law firms Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Kirkland & Ellis both grew their Manhattan footprints by more than 50,000 square feet apiece. The leases were both disclosed in a recent first-quarter office report published by Savills.

Willkie Farr increased by 53,000 square feet at CommonWealth Partners’ 787 Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the Commercial Observer reported. The firm’s occupancy of the property jumped from 315,000 square feet to 368,000 square feet.

The law firm renewed the lease of its headquarters at the property less than two years ago. The length and asking rent attached to the expansion were not disclosed.

Newmark’s Neil Goldmacher and Brian Goldman represented the tenant in the deal. Other tenants at the building include law firm Sidley Austin, which grew by 52,000 square feet at the building late last year.

Meanwhile, Chicago-based Kirkland added 52,000 square feet to its Midtown East property at 900 Third Avenue, according to the Observer. The 36-story building is owned by Elecor Properties, the firm formerly known as Paramount Group before it was acquired by Michael Nierenberg’s Rithm Capital.

Kirkland leased 131,000 square feet at the property last April, quickly choosing to expand to 257,000 square feet. With its latest lease, Kirkland will occupy more than 309,000 square feet at the property. Kirkland also has 520,000 square feet nearby at BXP’s 601 Lexington Avenue.

The length and asking rent attached to the expansion were not disclosed in that deal, either. CBRE’s Ken Rapp and Andrew Sussman, while a Cushman & Wakefield leasing team led by John Cefaly represented the landlord.

Major law firms committed to 1.9 million square feet of Manhattan office leasing in the first quarter of 2026, according to Savills; 70 percent of those transactions were either renewals or expansions.

— Holden Walter-Warner