Growing litigation firm Gibbs Wright Litigation Lawyers have expanded their office footprint at 193 North Quay with the help of Caden, more than tripling their initial lettable area.

After less than two (2) years in a smaller spec suite delivered by Archway Commercial Interiors on behalf of the owners, Kyko Group, Gibbs Wright were bursting at the seams and required a greater number of offices for their lawyers and to help attract the best staff on the market. A neighbouring tenant was in the process of vacating a good quality fit out which would allow Gibbs Wright the opportunity to punch a hole through the wall and connect their existing tenancy with the additional space.

Although a significantly larger tenancy, a few consecutive ‘record months’ for the business was enough to give confidence that the space would be well utilised.

Brisbane’s CBD office leasing market is seeing positive signs of life as confidence around the reopening of state borders increases and NSW and Victoria’s pathways to freedom are providing a degree of certainty about an improved business environment coming into 2022. In the grander scheme of things this is having a positive effect on absorption rates and allowing building owners to maintain and grow face rental rates.

From a more acute perspective, the legal industry has been a sector experiencing significant growth to a volume that is necessitating a relocation or expansion of premises. There is some speculation as to what exactly is driving the refreshed office requirement for this part of the industry, but the nature of a typical legal layout being office intensive might suggest that there is a greater level of comfort for staff to come into the office, or, for those with a billable hours structure, a high level of productivity and accountability is best achieved by being in the office environment.

Whatever the cause, smaller private legal firms across Brisbane have been expanding their premises and looking to secure high quality premises reflective of their brand and the quality of their work.