Drinker Biddle Opening New Office Location to Accommodate Expanding Chicago Presence
Philadelphia, PA (March 15, 2006) – Law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is establishing its Chicago office, leasing 17,400 square feet at Equity Office’s 161 North Clark Street in the Central Loop.
According to John Dames, Drinker Biddle’s partner-in-charge of the Chicago office, the new office is twice as large as the firm’s previous space at 115 South LaSalle Street, serving to support the firm’s expanding Chicago presence.
"Our relocation to this larger, more strategic location demonstrates Drinker Biddle’s commitment to the Chicago legal market," said Dames. "We are actively pursuing opportunities to expand our profile here, and this move provides an ideal foundation for launching that growth."
Established in 1849 with a national footprint of 10 offices, Drinker Biddle formed a strong base in Chicago in April 2005 when veteran litigation partners John Dames and David B. Sudzus, together with associates and support staff, joined Drinker Biddle from the firm of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.
Drinker Biddle’s team of lawyers and administrative staff occupy the entire 48th floor of the Class A, 50-story office tower. The offices are ideally located across the street from the State Court and the State of Illinois Building, as well as nearby City Hall.
"Drinker Biddle needed a presence in Chicago that reflected its national reputation as one of the most well-established law firms in the country," said Tiffany Winne, managing director at Studley, the tenant advisor firm that represented Drinker Biddle in the transaction. "With its sweeping views and amenities, 161 North Clark will be an ideal location from which to build its practice here."
161 North Clark is owned by Equity Office, in joint venture with national financial services organization TIAA-CREF. Typical floor plates are approximately 17,000 to 26,000 square feet, and provide impressive views from every floor. The building is in proximity to commuter transportation routes, with access to various restaurants, hotels, retail shops, theatres, and government buildings and courts. Jack O’Brien, leasing director for Equity Office, represented the landlord.
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP maintains law offices in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Florham Park and Princeton, NJ, Berwyn, PA and Wilmington, DE.
About Studley, Inc.
Studley is the leading commercial real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation. Founded in 1954, Studley pioneered the "conflict-free" business model of representing only tenants in their commercial real estate transactions. Today, with 18 offices nationwide and an international presence through its London office and affiliation with Global Property Alliance, Studley provides strategic real estate consulting services to top-tier corporations, not-for-profit organizations and law firms. Information about Studley is available at www.studley.com.
About Equity Office
Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE:EOP), operating through its various subsidiaries and affiliates, is the nation's largest publicly held office building owner and manager with a total office portfolio of 620 buildings comprising 111.0 million square feet in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Equity Office has an ownership presence in 22 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and in 99 submarkets, enabling it to provide a wide range of office solutions for local, regional and national customers. For more company information visit the Equity Office website at http://www.equityoffice.com.
About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF is a national financial services organization with more than $370 billion in combined assets under management (12/31/05) and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. Further information can be found at http://www.tiaa-cref.org.