LAST week Weightmans completed its deal with Bruntwood to take 94,000 sq ft of space across the ground, first and second floors of The Plaza in Old Hall Street.

This is the latest – but not the last – stage in a project to relocate our national headquarters to a building that reflects our changing requirements following organic and M&A activity in recent years.

A break clause in our contract with India Buildings was scheduled for autumn 2012 so we began to consider our options back in 2009.

We appointed David Colvin at Matthews & Goodman to scour the market for premises that could better suit our internal culture and our clients.

Our criteria included space to give us room for growth (especially important given our merger with Mace & Jones earlier this year), an office layout which encouraged teamwork and integration between departments, a great working environment for our people and exceptional client facilities.

Weightmans’ culture is one of the benchmarks of the firm so it was really important that the new premises nurtured the team spirit that the firm fosters so well.

The Plaza fitted our designs for an open plan space across two floors which was preferable to dotting fee-earners across separate offices spread over a larger space.

After whittling our choices down to a shortlist of five, we invited consultants Claremont and TSK to carry out feasibility exercises, advising on which facilities fitted our criteria best and uncovering any potential glitches.

By September 2010, a shortlist of India Buildings, The Plaza and Walker House had been presented to the partnership which voted unanimously for The Plaza.

Now the details of the deal have been worked through with Bruntwood, we are working towards a move in date of July 2012.

There is plenty to do beforehand including the design and fit of the ground floor as a reception and client suite, providing top class facilities to our clients.

We are confident The Plaza will offer the premises and facilities from which we can continue putting our clients – and our people – at the heart of our business.