Following a successful redevelopment of One Gray’s Inn, WC1, The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn have let the entire office element of the building to Hardwicke Chambers, measuring circa 21,000 sq ft.
The building benefited from a substantial redevelopment, which included, new façades on all elevations, a rear extension and complete rebuilding of the central core, comfort cooling and one new floor. Practical completion took place in June. Contracts with Hardwicke exchanged soon after with a lease commencement set on the September quarter date.
John Fox, Gray’s Inn’s Development Manager said: “We are delighted to welcome Hardwicke Chambers to Gray’s Inn and to be able to provide this leading set with flexible Grade A office accommodation that suits their long term needs as well as the other facilities and environment that the Inn is able to offer.”
Amanda Illing, CEO of Hardwicke Chambers agreed: “The high-quality new development at One Gray’s Inn presents an exciting opportunity in the next chapter for us as a chambers. This new building is ideally suited to our property requirements for the future which will enable us to be at the cutting edge of service to meet our clients’ needs, and provide a fabulous new work space for our barristers and staff. We are looking forward to taking up our new office in the middle of next year.”
Rob Rooney, BNP Paribas Real Estate said: “At a time of great uncertainty, this letting is a great vote of confidence for the Central London & Midtown Office Market. Our client (HSOGI), have delivered an exceptional building with first class amenity and we are glad Hardwicke Chambers have committed to the building in its entirety for the next fifteen years. It proves that despite the current economic climate and challenges posed by the pandemic, some occupiers are taking a longer-term view and see tangible value in their workspace.”
Malcolm Brackley at Farebrother, who advised Hardwicke Chambers, said “One Gray’s Inn is a newly developed building in the heart of the legal world in Midtown that is well configured for barristers’ chambers. Looking for available opportunities in a low vacancy market suitable for a set of growing chambers narrowed the search for Hardwicke. Barristers have differing requirements within a narrow-defined area and our knowledge of those local opportunities enabled informed decisions to be taken throughout the search and secure phases of acquisition. We, at Farebrother, were delighted to match their requirements within another building within one of the four Inns of Court.”
BNP Paribas Real Estate and Hunters Law LLP advised HSOGI. Farebrother and Fladgate LLP advised Hardwicke Chambers.
