The ever-changing face of the Manchester legal sector took another turn this month as one of its biggest names announced plans to move. Irwin Mitchell will move all 200 staff members based in the city into one and a half floors within One St Peter’s Square in June. 

The national firm has signed a 15-year lease, with a break clause after 10, for 33,300 sq ft of office space: 10% more than the firm currently has at its Quay Street base. 

One St Peter’s Square, Manchester

One St Peter’s Square, Manchester

Roy Beckett, regional office managing partner at Irwin Mitchell, said the relocation is a ‘transformational move’ for the firm in the city. ‘One St Peter’s Square is a superb building and this move represents a significant milestone and clearly demonstrates our commitment to our people, our clients and the city,’ said Beckett. 

As well as staff of the firm, employees of the Irwin Mitchell group’s debt recovery subsidiary Ascent will also move into the new offices. 

Completed in 2014 and already the Manchester base for international firm DLA Piper, One St Peter’s Square is in the heart of the city’s business district opposite the Central Library. 

Irwin Mitchell is the latest to relocate within the city centre as firms seeks to expand their Manchester presence. 

Top 60 firm Browne Jacobson moved its team of 48 lawyers and support staff in December to the recently-complete No.1 Spinningfields site. 

Global firm Squire Patton Boggs has moved into three floors of the same building, while national firm Weightmans will bring its two Manchester offices and their 150 staff together on the site later this year.