Magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has signed a lease to take up 80,000 sq ft of office space as a long-term base for its low-cost services hub in Greater Manchester.

The space has been leased in One New Bailey in Salford and will double the size of the firm’s current office space in the area. Freshfields did not give any details on the number of staff the new office will hold.

The lease will replace the 40,000 sq ft the firm took earlier this year. Staff will move to the new building from early 2017.

Anup Kollanethu (pictured below), the director of the legal and services centre, who was hired in May to assist with the Manchester move, said the firm has the flexibility to adapt the amount of space it will occupy to reflect the evolving needs of the business.

Anup

He added: ‘One New Bailey gives us both the high-quality and attractive location we want for our staff. We have been extremely impressed by the premises in the Manchester area.’

The legal and business service centre opened in July this year, when Freshfields relocated back office services from its London headquarters in Fleet Street to an office in Arndale House.

Salford city mayor, Ian Stewart said: ‘It’s exciting news that Freshfields has selected Salford as the long-term location for its global services centre. We welcome the creation of new jobs in Salford and the city council is ready to work with the firm to make their staff welcome and to assist with recruitment support.’