A&O Shearman will relocate to its new London office at 2 Broadgate by late October, offering employees an on-site GP, reformer Pilates sessions, and a wellness program. The firm vacates its current location at One Bishops Square to occupy approximately 360,000 sq ft across eight floors in the new premises.

The new office will have a Nuffield-operated fitness and wellbeing centre with a gym, bike studio, and reformer Pilates classes. An on-site GP, nurse, and physiotherapy services will also be available, along with nutrition advice.

Each working floor will have its own balcony or terrace, and windows that open to provide fresh air. The building will also have relaxation rooms, parent rooms, and over 550 cycle spaces. Sit-stand desks will be standard for all employees. The firm’s new HQ is designed to bring lawyers closer together, with flexible workspaces, focus rooms, and staircases linking different practice groups and business teams.

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A&O Shearman tested the proposed layout with a “full-scale trial floor” at its existing office for over 18 months to gather staff feedback. This approach allowed the firm to make informed decisions about the design of the new office.

Clients will have their own dedicated entrance and an entire floor with meeting rooms, dining facilities, event spaces, and an auditorium. The move is expected to reduce the firm’s annual London office carbon emissions by around 90% and energy consumption per square metre by 61%.

The relocation ends two decades at One Bishops Square, where the firm has been based since 2006. London is A&O Shearman’s largest office, with over 1,800 lawyers and business professionals, including nearly 200 partners. Around 1,500 items of furniture are making the move, while staff have been offered the chance to snap up unwanted pieces, with proceeds going to the firm’s global charity partner, United for Global Mental Health.