Large firms make their moves

The new year is seeing a spate of office moves for large law firms, with City giant Slaughter and May, Birmingham firm Gateley Wareing and leading south-coast firm Coffin Mew & Clover all packing crates.Slaughters' move into purpose-built premises near the Barbican centre next month comes a few weeks later than anticipated following flooding problems.The 260,000 square foot block - rented two years ago - will have about one-fifth spare capacity after the firm's 1,100 staff (including 580 lawyers) move in.

The last time the firm was under one roof was in the late 1960s.Executive partner Mervyn Hughes said a large restaurant and coffee bar on the ground floor would form the focus of the building, but there is no gym or swimming pool.

Mr Hughes said: 'Those things are better left to people who can run them properly.'Gateley Wareing, a 16-partner commercial firm, has set course for a major expansion by buying Birmingham's former Ear and Throat Hospital for 12 million.The firm will move into the Grade II listed building in 18 months' time, once it has been totally redeveloped.Senior partner Mike Ward said: 'The redeveloped hospital will provide almost twice as much office space as we have now, putting us in an excellent position for continued growth.'Another Birmingham firm, four-partner Simpson & Co, has just bought the building it has occupied for the past five years.

The city-centre firm occupies four of the five floors at 65 Church Street.Coffin Mew & Clover has taken a new office at North Harbour, Portsmouth to house its residential conveyancing, childcare, mental health, and crime operations.

Managing partner Pauline Johnson said the building offered a readily accessible location for its private client practice.

In addition, the firm's business services division is set to move into larger premises in Southampton later this year.Jeremy Fleming